(POV Gi-hun)

I love you... I love you... I love you... I love you...

The echo of In-ho's last words to me resounded through my head as I was still screaming his name. I felt the speed, the draft as I was catapulted into the air –while the Frontman was left to die alongside all his guards. I was shot into the clouds and as I saw the island disappearing beneath me. I wondered how much time there was left until the explosive device would blow up... probably just enough for the capsule to go far enough. I was aware that In-ho had built this emergency exit for himself for the worst case and yet he chose to save me instead. The Frontman gave his life for me, his enemy, the one who was fighting him from the beginning, he died so I could live. My body was still frozen in shock but I could feel the warmth of the tears running down my face. I opened my mouth to say something but only a gurgling noise came out. There were so many things I had wanted to say to him but now it was too late. The pain in my chest made my lungs want to give out and I was breathing heavily. Knowing that I would survive I still felt like I was dying inside. Of course I loved him, I had loved him all along, from the first moment he had defended me from Player 100 at the Pentathlon-game I had felt the connection between us. Whatever he did I had always believed in him because deep down I knew that he was the one. In a better world, a fair world him and I would have ended up together, we would have had a future together, a chance to start anew. In another life he would have been mine, we'd have kept all our promises until the very end. And now everything I had left was farewell. Sobbing I covered my face with my hands, consumed by the pain. It killed me to know that I would have to live this life without him, missing him every single day, wishing that he was here. I remembered the relief on his face when I had forgiven him, it seemed like it was the one thing he needed to find peace. My mission had always been to save lives – but now being the one surviving I realized that dying was much easier than remaining alone. There had been hopes and dreams in my heart, dreams that included us both – it had never occurred to me that one day I'd be the one losing him.

"I'll see you again", I sobbed, "One day we'll meet again, I promise." Whatever there would be in the afterlife, I would make sure I could meet him up there, even if it meant that we would rule hell. 'You'd probably like that, wouldn't you? To rule hell together?', I thought as my body was shaking from the tears. I didn't want to live on without him, I didn't want 30 more years with nothing to live for, I only saw emptiness ahead. What was there left for me? My daughter was far away in America and my divorced wife didn't want us to stay in touch. My friends Sang-woo and Jung-bae were dead and so was Sae-byeok. I hadn't heard from Jun-ho during all those days so he was probably dead as well alongside all the men who had been working for me. And Mi-na... after already losing her sister she now lost her brother-in-law as well and with the games being stopped there was nothing left for her here.

When I decided to go back on this island, to return to the games, I had a plan to save 456 lives – and now I was the last one standing on a pile of bodies. The games were over once and for all and yet I was paying the highest price I could ever imagine, losing the most important person in my whole life, the man who died in my place. Hwang In-ho.

I felt the capsule vibrate and suddenly the parachute opened. I looked around and realized in astonishment that I was quite close to the mainland. That was when I heard it: a noise from behind me made me turn around and I saw the gigantic cloud of smoke where the island had been – but there was no island anymore. The explosion had happened and everyone being on the island or in the surrounding waters was dead. Motionless I stared at the dark gray spot knowing that this was the moment that In-ho's heart stopped beating.



(POV In-ho/Frontman)

The beeping of the timer kept me company as I watched the first minute pass. I had done the right thing saving Gi-hun, he was the better man. I couldn't imagine a life where he wasn't existing so dying was the far better choice. This world needed people like Gi-hun, pure and good. 'He did it again.', I thought and couldn't help but smiling. Again he played the game and in the end he survived by kindness. But this time it didn't save just him; his kindness changed my life too and now that my time had come I could die a happy man who was able to experience deep true love once again in his life. Even though Gi-hun and I had only a few days together I found peace in the thought that I worshiped every second of it. Calmly I looked at the door; the guards hadn't broke through yet. There was no escaping for me, even if the guards didn't block the only way out: since the explosives were so deep in the subterranean the explosion would catch huge parts of the sea as well, so fleeing in a boat or diving was impossible, the only way was through the air. But frankly I didn't care, I had done it all: Mi-na was safe back at the shore, Jun-ho hopefully didn't get himself killed by playing Dora the explorer, and with the last power I had I saved the love of my life. I, Hwang In-ho, wouldn't die for nothing. After so many years without feelings or humanity I, the Frontman, died for love in the end. One last time in this life I had done something good, so maybe my soul could find peace one day.

Behind the door suddenly a deafening noise of hundreds of shots began: obviously the guards were trying to get the door open for good – weird, I also could hear screams, loud and many screams. I sighed and took my gun, ready to fight until the last drop of blood as the screams suddenly stopped. Then with a crash the iron door burst open.