After the game, we all made our way silently back to the main hall. In-hos hand never left mine— I didn't want it to, either. Although just an act, his steady hand anchored me. I was used to blood and death— watching bodies fall was nothing new to me. Why did it disturb me so much today?

I wondered, was it because I had nearly lost those who were starting to become close to me? I pushed the thought away. After years of being alone working the game, I never needed anyone. I was fine by myself, so why did I feel myself becoming more attached to Gi-hun, Jung-bae, and Dae-ho?

Since we were the last group to go, everyone's eyes were on us as we walked through the room towards our corner. I'm sure there were some people who expected and wanted us to die, but I found myself not caring.

In-hos hand finally slipped from mine once we had reached our beds, the absence of his warmth sent a cold chill through me.

The guards came in while we were playing and removed the beds of the eliminated players, leaving about half the beds. Since we added an extra player to our alliance, we decided to claim five beds that were all in a line. We would move them before lights out, but for now it was enough.

We all settled in our beds as we waited for what was to come: the vote. Honestly, it could go either way. Some people would be desperate to leave, others would be money hungry and greedy. If I wasn't basically forced to press O, I would be hesitating. Would it be better to go home destitute or have a high chance of dying and a small chance of becoming rich?

I figured the best thing to do would be to press O. Everyone came here by their own choice, so technically I shouldn't feel guilty for their decision.

I tried to avoid thinking that they agreed without knowing the full truth.

Pulling my blanket over my torso, I let out a heavy sigh. The blanket didn't help at all and the bed was so uncomfortable. Was it always so cold in here?

Before any of us could talk about the game, the masked guards came into the room. The triangle masks held guns while the square mask carried just himself.

He announced the results: 110 players were eliminated, leaving 255 alive. My stomach churned at the numbers. In only two days almost half of the players were dead and the most deadliest games haven't even happened yet.

The piggy bank was illuminated and the euphoric music rang throughout the room as the money was deposited. With the near silence of the room and the darkness, my eyes threatened to close. I was beyond exhausted.

Before I was able to shut them, the voting started. This time, votes were cast in the reverse order from last time: the lowest number went first. As our group stood up and made our way towards the middle of the room, I noticed Gi-hun. His eyes were cast down, but I could see the flicker of doubt that shone in them. But yet, there was a flicker of something else— hope.

He, unfortunately, was naive to think that they would be getting out. Most of the people here were desperate for an escape from poverty and debt. Fight all he wants, Gi-hun would never be able to win against desperation.

"001."

In-ho navigated his way through the players with confidence. It seemed that all eyes were on him as he stood at the voting station, maybe because they were. This first vote would set the tone for the rest, acting as a sort of ripple effect. I never studied psychology, but I knew that people tended to go with the crowd and feared social dissonance.

A sharp beep echoed throughout the room as he voted, casting a blue light over his face. As he walked towards the O side of the room my number was called.

I made my way through the crowd and walked up to the voting station. There was no hesitation— I knew what I had to do. I had to press O. It wasn't just for me, but rather for those who joined the game for an opportunity, a possibility for a better life.

Yet, I found myself hesitating. What about those who wanted to go home? Those that regretted coming here and just wanted to go back to their families?

Almost like ripping a band-aid off, I pressed O and quickly walked towards In-ho. I could feel everyone's gaze on me as I stood next to him. I decided not to care.

Time passed both in a blur and at a crawl as the players cast their votes. I wanted it to be done so I could get some rest, but I also wanted it to last as long as possible to delay our fates. We appeared to have started a trend: most people voted to stay in the game.

When it was Dae-ho and Jung-baes turn to vote, they both voted to stay, surprising both me and In-ho based on his subtle intake of breath—not quite a gasp but more than a normal breath. Our side was filling up fast.

When it was Gi-huns turn to vote it was already decided. The O's had a significant lead over the X's. Their votes stopped mattering over 20 players ago.

He walked up towards the voting station, but I could tell every step was a fight. He so obviously wanted to scream and curse everyone out for being so stupid to keep playing, but he knew it was worthless. Not only because the guards would stop him, but because it was useless fighting against greed.

As the final vote was cast, the cheers on our side of the room drowned out the heavy sighs of the other side. The masked guard announced that the next game would be held tomorrow and they started distributing our food.

We all got in line to get our rations and, thankfully, everything went smoothly.

I was the first to reach our spot near the corner, followed by In-ho, Jung-bae and Dae-ho. A few minutes went by but Gi-hun was nowhere to be seen.

Eagerly unwrapping his food, Jung-bae was the first to finish eating and the first to talk, "Where is Gi-hun?"

We all shrugged our shoulders, trapped in the trance of our bland food. Sure, it was bland, but it was better than nothing. I knew that I needed to eat to have energy for the game tomorrow, mingle was a killer.

From beside me, In-ho decided to answer. "You don't think he's mad at us for voting to stay?"

He was quick to respond, "No, not the Gi-hun I know. He will sulk but he will never be mad. If anything, he would be over here trying to change our vote, not completely avoiding us."

Before we could all get lost in our self-deprecating spirals of guilt, doubt, and abandonment, Gi-hun walked over towards us, holding his rations.

I tensed instinctively, unsure of what to expect. Would he be mad at us for going against his advice, or would he forgive us like Jung-bae said he would?

As he reached us he stood still for a moment, looking each of us in our eyes. "You guys really screwed us over, you know." He looked specifically at me and In-ho, like he was pinning the blame on us. I suppose partial credit could have been given to us as we were the first people to vote to stay, but that doesn't mean we are to blame.

I opened my mouth to respond, but In-ho beat me to it.

"You can blame us all you want, but don't forget there are still 123 other people who want to stay." His gaze remained firm on gi-hun, almost as if holding him in place.

He said let out a huff and sat next to Jung-bae. "So, why do you guys want to stay so bad? Are your lives so horrible out there that staying in here is better?"

We all sat in silence save for a few nods and murmurs of agreement. Dae-ho was the first to break the tension, "Well, what's one more game? After the next game I should have enough to pay my debts."

Gi-hun whipped his head around to look at him, giving him a glare so sharp it could be cut. Dae-ho visibly recoiled, shocked by the intensity of his reaction.

"The last time someone said that you know what happened to them? They died."

Gi-hun looked particularly distressed remembering his deceased friend. His cheekbones stuck out and his eye bags sunk into his face, making him look uncanny, not unlike a skeleton.

The group ate in a tense silence after that, no one dared to challenge him. No one wanted to face his wrath. I didn't blame him for being so uptight, though. Anyone would be after going through what he did.

Jung-bae decided to break the silence after a few moments, "What took you so long to get your food, Gi-hun?"

This seemed to catch him off guard. His head tilted slightly to the side as he decided how to respond. "I was just using the bathroom? Sorry, I didn't realize I was gone that long that it would have you questioning."

"Oh, they're letting us go to the bathroom now?" Jung-bae put his plate on his bed and quickly stood up, "I've been holding it forever! Every time I ask they just ignore me." He started making his way down the steps, but he turned back towards the group looking like he had forgotten something.

"Does anyone want to come with me? Who knows when they will let us go again."

Dae-ho eagerly accepted and went to join Jung-bae on the steps. "Young-il, Min-ji, you guys coming?"

I glanced towards In-ho and gave him a subtle nod, silently signaling I wanted a moment alone with Gi-hun. Much to my relief, he understood immediately, standing up and going with them without any questions or looks.

That left just me and Gi-hun. I had to hold in a laugh—this seemed too good to be true. This is the perfect opportunity to learn more about him and why he returned to play. With a little luck, he would open up to me and start trusting me, I just had to sound convincing enough.

"Gi-hun, sir, can I ask you something?"

He looked up from his food and gave me a nod.

"Why did you join the games in the first place, and why did you come back?" My voice came out a bit more timid than I had hoped, but he didn't seem to notice. He did say why he joined the game yesterday, but I wanted to prompt him to explain more. I knew that his mother was sick and he wanted to pay for her treatments, but was that all?

"It's a long story..." He sighed and I stayed silent, waiting for him to continue, "but I suppose we have nothing but time in here."

"The first thing was the loan sharks. I had spent so much money gambling that I went into debt. The loan sharks wouldn't get off my back, threatening me every chance they got. I feared that if I didn't get the money soon they would harvest my organs." He shuddered at the thought and I couldn't help but feel empathetic. From the files I had read, most of the players had joined the game because of the loan sharks. Maybe the loan sharks were the real issue here?

"Next, my mother." He took a deep inhale, his breath shaking slightly. I went to reassure him, but he kept talking.

"My mother was diagnosed with diabetes. Because of her old age and late diagnosis, she had to have expensive surgeries to keep her alive. I had no money and she didn't have nearly enough to pay for them. I intended to join the game to pay for her, but she passed before I got out."

"I'm so sorry, Gi-hun." I did feel sorry for him. Losing a parent was hard enough, but losing your mother after you had just fought for your life for her was even worse. And without saying goodbye? My heart truly ached for him.

"I understand the pain of losing a parent." I took a glance at him to make sure he was comfortable with me talking. I didn't want to be rude and cut him off, but I also wanted him to know that I related to and understood him. He didn't seem opposed to me talking, so I continued.

"When I was 16 years old, I came home after work and found both of my parents dead on the floor." His eyes were so full of emotion and understanding so I felt I had no choice but to elaborate. This part of my alias was true, so I wasn't too uncomfortable telling him this. If he was to ask In-ho, our stories would align without a doubt.

"Overdosed. Never knew what from though because I didn't have enough money to pay for forensics. What I did know, though, was that they had tons of debt between the both of them, which was passed down to me."

He placed his hand over mine and gripped it, letting me know that he was there for me. "Min-ji, I'm so sorry. That is not something that a teenager should be burdened with."

I nodded my head as tears filled my eyes. The days where I was homeless and running from loan sharks was the absolute worst time of my life. Every night, I had to sleep somewhere they wouldn't find me. Dumpsters, train stations, parks, I was there, alone and afraid.

I really owed my life to In-ho and the game. If it wasn't for him sending the recruiter who found me at my absolute lowest, my organs probably would have been sold by now.

I wanted to change the topic before my tears fell. I told myself that I wouldn't cry over my parents, but here I was— tearing up telling a stranger my life story. They would be laughing at me, if they were here.

"So, why did you join the game again? Surely you had enough money to live comfortably and pay the loan sharks?"

Using my other hand that wasn't under Gi-huns, I wiped my eyes before the tears fell.

What had been a moment of shared memories and nostalgia turned dark in an instant. Gi-huns anger and remorse was unmistakable.

"That money wasn't mine, not really. It belonged to the people who died for it." He cast his gaze downward, as if remembering the first time he was here.

"You shouldn't think like that. They all had an equal chance of winning." I took a breath before continuing, "They would have wanted you to spend it."

I knew Gi-hun didn't want to argue about this as he just grunted in response. "The real reason I came here was to stop the game, to stop innocent people from dying."

Oh. So that was why he came back. Not because of his debts, not because of gambling, but because he wanted to save lives. In a sense, though, that was gambling. The chances he would be able to stop this is slim to none. He had no idea the length In-ho and the organizers went to protect the game. I did admire his determination but it would be futile. There is no way one, singular, man would be able to take down this place.

He took my silence as a signal to keep talking. "If we keep playing, keep dying, we'll be falling right into their trap."

We were both so focused on the conversation we didn't hear the footsteps behind us until it was too late.

"Who's they?" Dae-ho said— a bit too loudly—from behind, causing me to jump, but Gi-hun stared straight ahead as if in a trance.

The people who run this place, he turned his gaze and we all followed until we were looking straight into a camera. "There's a man in a black mask who is the head of the game. If we can get to him, we can stop this."

I had to hold myself together to not burst out laughing. In-ho? The head of the game? It took every cell in my body to suppress my smile. If only he was here, I could only imagine how he would react.

In-ho was the front man —emphasis on the front. He was the person who was seen as the head of the game, but he really wasn't. Yes, he did control what games were played and who played them, but if Gi-hun wanted to stop the game he had to get to the VIPS. They had the real power. Money makes the world go round, after all.

It was hilarious how little Gi-hun knew of the game.

If they got In-ho, yes, the game in Korea would temporarily stop while the search for a new front man, but the game internationally would continue. It was a concept that screwed with everyone, even me when I found out. The game being held in several other nations of the world was a surprising concept. What was even more surprising was the way they were able to escape the authorities.

But—like I said— money is the real power. The VIPS had enough money to pay off any authorities that challenged the game.

Breaking me from my thoughts, Dae-ho responded. "How do you plan to do that?"

"I...don't know."

I did admire his dedication. It takes courage to come back here and dance with death just to stop something that wasn't a direct threat to him. And without a plan? His attempt was almost laughable if I wasn't so curious.

"Let me know how I can help, those bastards need to go." I said, false determination and disgust etched on my face. Dae-ho chimed in how he wanted to help too and Gi-hun gave us nods of approval.

Before we could start scheming, Jung-bae and In-ho came back and sat next to us: In ho on my right and Jung-bae on Gi-huns left. It's not that Gi-hun avoided talking about how he wanted to take down the frontman, the conversation just shifted away from that. The five of us formed a sort of semi-circle as we conversed.

We talked about everything and nothing. We had the rest of the night, after all, we had to do something to keep ourselves occupied. Most of the night we talked about our lives back home and what we would do with the money.

As hard as I tried to listen, my eyes threatened to close. Now that I was sitting in my bed the weight of the day hit me like a ton of bricks. My breathing slowed and I found myself dozing off. The conversation blurred in my ears and my head drooped— until it hit something hard.

I shot awake with a gasp but everyone—thankfully— was too absorbed in laughter and reminiscing to notice. No one but In-ho, who was the one I unknowingly rested against.

I felt my face threaten to burn from embarrassment, but before I could do anything In-ho adjusted slightly, making it more comfortable for me to lean against him. For a moment, I debated sitting up and forcing myself to stay awake, but the warmth of his body and the steady rise and fall of his breathing relaxed me. I found myself learning into him.

Maybe it was the long day. Maybe it was because for the first time in a very long time, I felt safe going to sleep. Whatever it was, I let my exhaustion take over and I was out cold within seconds.

—

I woke up because of a steady tapping on my back, I could only guess who it was. I wanted to pull the blanket over my head and tell him to fuck off, but I wanted to keep my job.

I stood up with a quiet sigh and a silent stretch. In-ho didnt have to say anything as he started walking towards the door: I knew where we were going. I followed behind him in the dimly lit room, weaving through scattered beds and sleeping bodies. It seems that they moved the beds into a protected area while I was sleeping.

The faint sounds of steady breathing and sheets ruffling filled my ears, but the silence in the room was almost deafening. Me and In-hos steps seemed to echo throughout the room. I could only hope everyone was sleeping. They no doubt would be suspicious if they saw us both leaving in the middle of the night, two nights in a row.

Finally, we reached the door. It slid open without hesitation and we both stepped into the bright hallway. The walk up to his room seemed to take forever, each colorful twist and turn blending with the others. It was painfully bright, my eyes stayed in a permanent squint as we walked. Curse whoever designed this place— their choice in color scheme and endless flights of stairs was definitely questionable.

We reached In-hos room and the dark ambiance almost put me back to sleep. But, I endured my drooping eyelids and sat on his couch, facing the large screen which displayed the dark main hall.

He sat next to me and handed me a drink—a glass of water. Honestly, I couldn't complain. I would rather have water than whiskey or wine, the rations they provided us weren't nearly enough to quench my thirst.

I decided to wait for him to speak first, assuming he had something important to tell me. He woke me from a dead sleep, for his own sake it better be important. The one thing I don't mess about is my sleep.

What time was it anyways? The last thing I remember was... falling asleep on In-ho. My cheeks instantly burned and I took a sip of my water to hide my embarrassment. Although it might've looked like it, it wasn't an act. Somehow— in one day— I was trusting In-ho more than I had in my years of knowing him. But that was an issue for another day, so I decided to blame it on my exhaustion and move on.

He took a few moments before saying anything. Whether he was collecting his thoughts or waiting for me to speak, I didn't know, but the silence was becoming unbearable.

Finally, he said something— something I wasn't expecting.

"Are you okay...?"

I thought for a moment before answering— was I really alright? After today's game, almost losing my new friends, and starting to trust In-ho, my thoughts swirled like a whirlwind.

Did he really care? We were in his room, so we both knew we could drop the act. But did I really want to? Did I really want him to?

"Yeah, just tired." I decided to omit what I was really feeling; though, if he tried hard enough I'm sure he would be able to figure it out.

I was afraid. Afraid of becoming close to Gi-hun and the other players and scared of losing them. But more than anything, I was scared of In-ho. I was afraid of what he was starting to mean to me.

"It's different actually playing the game, huh?" He said, looking at the screen to avoid my gaze. His voice carried a tone of understanding and— perhaps— a slight bit of empathy.

I said nothing but nodded slightly, the absence of my voice seemed to portray a silent understanding as he dropped the topic.

"What did you and 456 talk about when I was in the bathroom?"

I brought my knees up to my chest and leaned against the armrest in an attempt to get more comfortable. "The reason he came back to the game was because he wanted to..." I brought my hands up to do air quotations, "...stop the game and stop innocent people from dying"

He let out a soft chuckle at that. "Easier said than done." He took another sip of water and crossed his legs, "He doesn't even know of the complexities this place holds."

I nodded again because I had no words to give him, even I didnt understand the full particulars of the game.

"He also mentioned that his plan was to get to a man in a black mask." An involuntary smirk spread on my face as I continued, "If he was able to get to him, he would be able to end the game."

In-ho let out a scoff, the intensity of it almost scared me. He shook his head, "How, exactly, does he plan to do that?"

"I don't think he's planned that far ahead," I suggested, resting my chin on my knees. "But I did ask to help him, so I will let you know when he tells me."

"Good work." His praise sent a shiver down my spine but I willed my body to ignore it.

"I'm sure he knows that he will need more help than just you— no offense. He will have to recruit the rest of the players to even have a fleeting chance."

I watched him carefully, searching for something that would give away what he was really thinking. Did he find Gi-hun admirable or laughable? The two were oddly similar, though they went down opposite paths. Did In-ho, too, want to stop the games or was he just feeding into Gi-huns delusion?

"Do you think he has a chance?" I finally asked, my voice quieter than I intended.

"Against us?" He chuckled again but there was no trace of humor in it. He set down his cup on the side table and simply said "Not a chance."

I did feel a twinge of disappointment at his words. Some part of me— deep, deep down— wanted Gi-hun to succeed. These games were twisted, though they did provide people with an opportunity they wouldn't have had otherwise. But the mass murder wasn't something that could be ignored.

I traced a finger along the rim of my own cup, my thoughts twisted between logic and empathy.

Before we could continue the conversation a guard knocked at the door and In-ho let them in.

"The lights will be turned on in a few minutes, you should start heading back—sir."

Lights will be turned on soon... How long was I out for?

"W-What? What time is it? How long did you let me sleep?" I turned my gaze towards In-ho, but he was already standing up and gathering our cups.

"I let you sleep as long as I could before I had to wake you up."

I blinked, trying to do the math in my head. I must have been asleep for at least eight hours, depending on when I did actually fall asleep, which I couldn't remember. I did appreciate him for letting me sleep, though I still felt exhausted.

I whispered a small thanks but I wasn't sure if he was just ignoring me or if he didnt hear it.

I stood up and stretched, my legs and knees tense from the position I had been sitting in. The last thing I wanted was to get a cramp, especially not right before mingle. I let out a quiet sigh and started moving towards the door. The dim lighting cast long shadows across the floor which shifted when I moved.

"By the way," In-ho started as he stepped out of the room. He started walking down the steps and I followed closely behind. "You're playing the part well. It was a nice touch— falling asleep on me."

There was a hint of sarcasm in his voice and though I couldn't see his face, I knew he was smirking.

In my whole life I had never been so thankful to be walking behind him. I knew my face was bright red because it felt like it was on fire. I let out a scoff to let him know that I had heard him, but that was all I could manage.

Besides, it's not like I could tell him it wasn't an act.