(POV In-ho/Young-il)

Forks distributed with the kimbap had led to bloody fights in the bathroom, resulting in five more people killed. It was exactly what I had expected, exactly my point, that those were not human anymore, just crap. It had all been so predictable and more fights were inevitable. It was exactly why I had decided to become the Frontman after my wife's death, to put an end to inhumanity, criminality, hate and greed. In my opinion the majority of them deserved to die in a far more cruel way.

People were shouting at each other, threatening each other, ready to murder. We sat in a circle discussing about what we should do now.

"As soon as the lights go out they will attack us.", Gi-hun predicted. "But we can't attack them first, it would make us no better than all of these bastards up there."

"What bastards?", No 120 asked. "Those who manage the games, who bet on people like they were horses, those and their boss, with the black mask. Frontman." Gi-hun spit the word out like a curse and I winced. "They are up there, watching us all the time, enjoying themselves by watching people suffer. If we don't stop them now we can never end this game once and for all." Everyone looked up into the cameras above us while I was only watching him. I knew that he planned something, something dangerous and reckless, something that would put his life at risk and I felt like it was slowly killing me.

'Please don't, please just let it be, everything could be alright', I wanted to beg but I knew I couldn't. Gi-hun explained his plan to us, to hide and wait until the fights were over and then when the guards would come in, taking their weapons and storm the control room. He was even willing to sacrifice some of the X-players by not fighting by their side against the Os.

"So you're saying some sacrifices must be made to achieve a greater goal?", I repeated after him. 'Please, Gi-hun, don't. Don't lose it now, please. I'd let the world burn for you, just don't do something stupid.', my mind was screaming but on the outside I remained silent.

"If we don't stop these games they will kill hundreds of people every year and no one's going to stop them. All we have is this chance and if we don't take it, it'll be over."

His words were final and even though everything in me wanted to convince him that there was something waiting outside for him – for us – I already knew that I couldn't stop him and that I would follow him through hell if I must. It hit me like a truck that I wouldn't even hesitate to follow him on a suicidal mission and that I was ready to set heaven on fire or freeze hell, only to protect him at all costs. Without me noticing he had revived feelings in me I didn't even know I could feel anymore.

"When the guards come in to examine the dead bodies we act dead and grab their weapons while they are distracted. The men in charge won't see us coming and that's when we attack them.", Gi-hun explained and I nodded slowly. I knew that it was extremely dangerous, I knew that I should probably prevent my employees – but at the same time I wanted to know if we stood a chance in this battle. And I was far deeper in this than I could have ever imagined – even if I knew that I had to betray them some point, I had become one of them and I would fight alongside them. I sighed.

"Then...I'll do exactly as you say." Our eyes locked and for a moment both of us knew that this could end fatal for many of us. "Gi-hun..." I wanted to say so many things, wanted to tell him to be careful, wanted to scream at him what in hell he was doing, wanted to grab and shake him until he stopped this suicide-mission, wanted to tell him that I cared about him way too much... but he interrupted me by placing his hand on my shoulder. "I know.", he said and the hint of a smile appeared on his face. "I know."

I looked at his lips and felt the urge to make him shut up in a way he had never seen before. Without thinking I leaned in, for once not giving a fck about that we were surrounded by people and that probably everyone was already watching us – when suddenly the lights went out and we heard the others whisper to hide under the beds. I exhaled, squeezing Gi-hun's hand comforting and we hid with the others. It took barely a minute until the screaming broke lose. The O-players attacked the Xs with forks and glass bottles, causing a blood bath. It was cruel to watch and next to me I saw Gi-hun clenching his jaw.

'I told you, this world is a merciless place where people don't hesitate to kill each other. You didn't want to believe me and here we are, both in those games, both ready to kill.', I thought. I remembered when I first saw Gi-hun during the games 2020 – a kind, happy man with a wide smile. Kindness saved his life and he was one of the few who actually deserved to win. Yet here he was, about to lead our suicide squad knowing that he was most likely about to lose his life. My heart ached when I realized that he deserved better. He deserved a carefree life full of love and maybe, just maybe, him and I could've actually had a chance if I had chosen a different path all those years ago.

BANG BANG BANG (*yeah we all imagine the Thanos song*)

The guards intervened and we knew what we had to do: play dead until the guards with their weapons approached us. The lights were turned on and they started to examine the bodies. This was the moment: the first of us tackled a guard down, grabbed his machine gun and shot him right in the head. I did the same with the guard next to me and killed him mercilessly. Those useless employees who let themselves get overpowered by unarmed players were nothing more than collateral damage. As I turned I saw Gi-hun had also succeeded to get a weapon, but he hadn't noticed that right behind him there were three other guards aiming at him. 'NOT HIM!' The thought pierced through my brain and without hesitation I shot all three of them in the back, screaming in rage. Gi-hun turned around and realized how close he had been to death. For a second our eyes met, then we continued the shooting. The fight didn't last long. Some guards sought salvation by fleeing, others were killed except one, who was kept hostage. He was forced to take his mask off and uncovered a boy, not older than sixteen. Jung-bae gasped:

"Does your mother know what you're doing here?" He remained silent, fear in his eyes.

We collected every weapon we found with the dead guards' bodies: 12 machine guns, some pistols and some ammunition. Gi-hun explained his plan to the other players and some of them volunteered to join us. In the end members of the suicide squad were Jung-bae, Dae-ho, the trans-woman who appeared to be an excellent marksman, six other players whose names I didn't know, Gi-hun and me.

"Thank you for...earlier", Gi-hun said quietly and I gave him a sarcastic smile. "Invite me to soju when we get out.", I answered, far more confident than I felt. I knew exactly that the odds were not in our favour if it was about us going out for a drink someday, but still the imagination gave me peace.

"You will lead us the way to the control room. Now!", Gi-hun shouted at the caught guard and shot the dormitory's door open. "Ready?" He took a look back and I nodded, staying right behind him. "Ready when you are."