Alicia POV-

I am sitting in my room, preparing my portfolio for university. I have my earphones on, songs playing in the background, eliminating the world. If you were in my room, the only thing you could hear was the pencil and the paper's sound. It was that quiet. No one is at home.

I kept working on my portfolio; I heard my rooms' door opening.

"Where's the money! I know you have it, bitch!" She starts searching my bag, no luck I guess. I could feel her coming near me. She grabbed my hair forcefully which lead me to drop the pencil and hold her hand. "I have it" I struggled to say. "where!?" "if you leave you I'll give you." she pushes me to the table and stomped out of my room. 

I look under my books, there's an envelope containing 10 million Wons. My 8-month salary as an editor. I take out only 500,000 wons because I know she will spend it on some shit. I go out of my room and see her sitting on the couch. I place the money on the coffee table in front of her and look at her. "only 500!?" Suddenly she grabs my collar and hits me hard on my face. I feel blood coming out of my nose. I push her off me. "At least be grateful," I yell and went to my room.

-later that day-

I'm all dressed up. I take my bag and leave the house to the bank to pay the money before my mother takes it. I could hear her voice demanding me to come back. And yea... she found out about the money but I can't let her touch it. Everyone around me is staring at my 'mother' and giving her dirty looks.  

I walk to the nearest train station. I paid for the ticket. And wait for the train to arrive. Until the train arrives, I sit on the bleachers. I am scrolling through my phone. A man with a suitcase sits beside me.

"Ma'am, is your face okay?" I look at him, it looks like he is faking it. "Why do you care?" I snap.

"Ma'am, would you like to play a game with me?" He asks I give him the deadliest look ever. Is this the time to play games? "No," I said monotonously. He doesn't bulge. "If you win, I'll give you 100,000 wons every time you win." "I know it is a scam." He opens his suitcase and shows it to me.

There is money inside. He takes out red and blue paper tiles, "would you like to play a game with me." "Alright," I finally agreed because of the money. "I am pretty sure you have played ddakji before. Every time you win I'll give you the money." he says while looking at me intensely. "but if I lose, I don't have the money to pay." I say and turn around, facing the other direction. "You can play with your body." I looked at him with disgust. "I mean you will be slapped every time you lose." I nod my head. "So which colour do you wanna play as?" "blue." He gives me the blue one and places the red one on the floor.

I try to hit the red one. But it doesn't flip. I looked at him. He takes his turn and he wins. He slaps me, hard. We did a few rounds. I won 5 times. At least I won. Now my face is like a tomato with all the slaps. He gives me 500,000 wons.

"You know, Ma'am. There are other games like this where you can make even more." "I don't want to get slapped anymore. And I have loads of work to do." I say. "Alicia Wag. Your father owned a company in Malaysia but failed. Came to Korea for a better opportunity. But your father died. Your mother is abusive. You are a student. And work as an editor in a magazine company part-time. Has 175 million won in debt. Now you are going to the bank to pay 10 million won." He says everything with that stupid smile on his face.

"Who are you? Are you one of those loan sharks?" I ask him, stuttering. Then he gives me a card. With 3 shapes on one side and a few numbers on the other. I take the card and just stare at it. "think about it." He says. Just then a train arrives; he boards the train. 'Good luck' he mouths. Then he leaves.

-time skip-

I arrived at the bank. I go to the counter, and the counter lady greets me. "Hello Alicia, are you here to pay?" "yea." I take the money out of the envelope along with the 500,000 wons, I have 'earned it'. "Thank you," she says. Then she does something on the computer. After a moment she looks at me. "Alicia, now you have 165 Million to pay." "Yeah, I know." She smiles at me. Then I leave the bank.

I go straight to my workplace, which is just a 10-minute walk from the bank. When I enter the building, I greet everyone. Then I took a seat at my place.

While I am editing something on the computer, I recall what that businessman has said before. 'think about it.' I take out the card and dial the number. The line rings.

"hello. Who's calling?" the man from the other side says. "You gave me the card earlier," I replied. "Do you wish to participate in the game? If you wish to participate, please state your name and birth date."

"Alicia Wag. 26 June 2001."

It was midnight. I am standing where I was told to. It was pretty cold, but it was okay. I was playing with the stones on the floor, and I saw the van's flashlight. The car stops in front of me. The window slides open. "Alicia Wag" I nod in confirmation. "password?" "red light green light" Then the back door slides open. When I was about to get in, I saw people passed out already. I didn't say anything. I just sit and the door closes on its own. I was about to sit comfortably, smoke fills the car. The next thing I know, Blackness.

I open my eyes as the light flashes on my eyes. I blink my eyes several times to adjust the lighting. I hear classical music playing. I looked around. I see many people, either waking up or already standing on the floor.

I took the blanket off me. I am not wearing the same clothes. I am wearing a white shirt and a green tracksuit with the number '315' written on it. I get out of bed, following where everyone is going. I go to the centre.

Then I hear a man. It was '101'. He was saying something to '067' "it is a little world right? Look at your eyes. Full of temper, huh." He steps closer to her. "the fact that you were brave enough, I fed you when you had nothing." "I just went independent," she says. He laughed when he heard her reply. "independent?" He punched her, but luckily she ducked. He grabs her by her collar and throws her to the ground. He starts kicking her in her stomach. Everyone gasps.

I can't take it anymore. I go and stand in front of him. "That's enough," I say to him in my monotone. He looks at me and chuckles. "Who is she to you?" I looked back at her. She stands up. I observe her. Her messy hair, blooded lips, sharp facial features and thin body. I look back at him. "my neighbour" I replied boldly. "Oh really, but she used to live with me. She became your neighbour, out of nowhere?" He starts laughing.

But just then, I see '456' grabbing '067' collar. "That scar!! you're the pickpocket!! Where's my money." He yells at her face. I push that '456' dude. I go near '067' I help her to stand up. '456' and '101' face each other. "Who are you?" 101 asks. "Me? Well . . . I'm Seong Gi-hun from Ssangmun-dong," he introduces himself. "Hey, Mr Ssangmun-dong." "Yeah?" '101' takes a few steps forward. "I and those two bitches weren't done talking." Then '456' says, "I understand, it's just that me and... this woman should talk about something important."

"You bastard. How are you both related?" He spat. '456' mockingly laughed and said, "me!? What is your relationship with those two girls? I bet that you are a thug and use girls!" '101' The dude gets frustrated and tries to hit '456' but he moves back. "we need help! This man is trying to hit me!"

Then the alarm buzzes. Everyone looks at where the noise came from. '456' continues to yell. "sir!! we need help! There is a pickpocket and her friend and also him." He points at us three.

The doors slid open, revealing numerous men dressed in red outfits and black masks with a shape on the mask. One with a square and the rest with a circle. They all walked into the room. The ones with circles moved to the side and stood there as the square stood in the centre. Everyone's attention was fixated on them. No one dared speak a word as Square took a few steps forward and looked at them.

The square-headed dude starts speaking, "I would like to extend a hearty welcome to you all. Everyone here will participate in six different games over six-day. Those who win all six games will get a handsome cash prize."

"Why should we believe you?" someone in the back yells. Now, everyone's gaze was on him. "You suddenly put us to sleep, took our phones and wallets, then bring us to this unknown place. Now you're saying you'll pay us handsomely for playing a few games? Do you expect us to believe you?" I nod at his statement. I mean, he's true, isn't he?

"It has been taken care of. Everything shall be returned when the game ends." the squared headed dude stated.

Then a woman says, not too loud "then... Why are you guys wearing masks and not us?" He replies, "it is for the staff's safety. It is a measure to ensure there is fair play."

"I don't believe you. You tricked us. And kidnapped us. You expect us to believe you?" a man with glasses, says boldly. "Player 218, Cho Sang-woo," Square states, pressing a button on the remote control and the screen changes from the number of players to a video of the male getting slapped by the 'salesman' and everyone looks at the screen. "Age, 46. The former team leader of Team Two at Joy Investments. Syphoned money from his clients, then invested in derivatives and futures options with it and failed. Current loss, 650 million won." I look at him; he is looking down, embarrassed. A few other names also flash on the screen, including mine. Everyone looks down, ashamed. But I don't. Lol, bold me.

"Everyone in this room is living on the brink of financial ruin with debts that you can't pay. When we first went to see you, none of you trusted us, but as you all know, we played a game and gave you money as promised. So everyone here trusted us and volunteered to participate in this game of your own free will. I'll give you one last chance to choose. Will you go back to your old lifestyle of being chased by your creditors? Or will you act and seize this last opportunity to play this game?" As soon as he said that, I could hear murmuring around me.

Eventually, a man says, "what kind of games are we playing?"

"to play fair, we are not saying anything about the game."

"One question, How much is the grand prize?" '456' asks.

Then the square-headed dude clicked a button on the remote, and above the middle of the room, a large, glass piggy bank was being descended. Now, everyone's gaze was up towards the ceiling. "Your prize money will be accumulated in the piggy bank after every game. We will disclose the mount to everyone after the first game is over. If you do not wish to participate, please let us know now."

Everyone is moving in a line, waiting for their turn to sign the papers. I am standing behind '067'. I am thinking about what kinda game we will be playing. Soon it was my turn. I looked at the paper.

PLAYER CONSENT FORM

1: A player is not allowed to stop playing.

2: A player who refuses to play will be eliminated.

3: Games may be terminated if the majority agrees.

That's it? It's easy. I sigh deeply. I take the pen and sign the paper and hand it to him.

"attention, all players. The first game is about to begin. Please follow the staff's instructions. Please make your way towards the game hall."

Everyone obliged. Everyone walked in line as we walked up the colourful stairs and into the check-in area. I am standing in front of '324'. "Hey dude, look. This place is gigantic." I rolled my eyes at his statement. No, this place is not gigantic. It is so tiny and we are ants.

I stand between two walls. "look at the camera... smile." I smile halfheartedly. A white flash then appeared. I followed everyone else who finished their pictures and went up more stairs in the pastel-coloured room. I observe the entire room. There are cameras everywhere.

Then a pair of doors open, and a bright light enters my eyes. I try to cover my eyes. Then we enter a room, I mean a ground. I see others entering from other doors. I go and stand in front.

"Attention all players, after you enter the game hall please stand behind the white light and please wait for the instructions." Then the doors behind, closed

In front of me, I see two staff members and a doll?

'The first game is Red Light, Green Light. You can move forward while "it" shouts "Green Light" but when "it" shouts "Red Light" you must stop. If your movement is detected afterwards, you will be eliminated.' The doll slowly spins around to face the tree, lifting its arm to cover its face. Realistic. And what does it mean by 'eliminated'?

'Those who cross the finish line without getting caught in five minutes pass this round. With that, let the game begin.'

I hesitatingly stood there, waiting for 'it' to start the game. The clock starts ticking. 'Green light' At first, no one starts moving except for those two boys. Then everyone starts taking steps forward. I take small steps.

'red light'

Everyone freezes at their spot, except for the blond-haired boy. He stops but still wiggles. 'player 324 eliminated' then there was a gunshot. The player collapses on the floor. Now my breath is getting heavier.

The dolls' head turns back. 'green light' everyone moves slowly. 'red light' the blond-haired boy's friend starts to move back in fear. But gets shot. His blood splashed on the woman's face. She wipes her face, then she lets out an ear-piercing scream. She gets shot in the forehead.

There's chaos everywhere. People running back to the gate as well as getting shot. I try to stay still, even though people are pushing past everyone. I closed my eyes, hoping no one would push or something.

After a few moments, everything went calm. I open my eyes and see half of them are lying on the ground, dead. Blood everywhere. This scene is making me kinda sick.

'I will repeat the rules, You can move forward while "it" shouts out, "Green Light" but when "it" shouts out, "Red Light" you must stop. If your movement is detected afterwards, you will be eliminated.' More like killed. My heart is beating fast. I think I may die due to my heart, not these gunshots.

The doll whirled its head back around, 'green light' no one moved, except for the old guy. 'red light' he stopped.

'green light' I took a few steps hesitantly. Following the old man. 'red light' and stopped instantly.

'green light' I took a few more steps, a bit confident. 'red light' pause. Two gunshots.

'green light' a few more steps. Sweat running down my face. 'red light' pause. Five gunshots

'green light' move forward. 'red light' pause. Another five shots.

'green light' I am taking slower steps. 'red light' pause. Three shots. I am in the front. Like literally in front, I don't know what's happening behind me. But I could hear whispers.

'green light' small steps. 'red light' pause. Four shots. The man falls in front of me.

'green light' more steps. 'red light' pause. Six shots. I can feel someone behind me.

'green light' I move across the field. 'red light'  pause. Five shots. Also, the man who followed me got shot. Now I feel so guilty.

'Green light' steps. 'red light' pause. Three shots. Now it is getting harder.

'green light' slower steps. 'red light' pause. Two steps. A man beside me gets shot. My heartbeat is rising even more.

'Green light' steps. 'red light' pause. Three more

'green light' forward. 'red light' pause. Two more. The blood splashes on my neck and face. I tried not to flinch.

The moving and pausing continued for a while. Also more shots. I am almost near the finishing line.

'green light' I ran to the finish line. I lean onto the wall, catching my breath. This was hard.

The clock beeps, indicating that the time is up. The next thing I hear is only gunshots. Tears fill my eyes. I can't imagine their family finding out about their loved one, who died like this.

The metal rooftop starts to close. Now there are five other games. How deadly would they be?