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TEN | WHEN THE CLOCK STRIKES ZERO

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SOO-JIN RAPIDLY TAPPED her foot against the smooth floor. Her fingers pinching her bottom lip as she waited for Gi-Hun and the old man to arrive. She was very relieved earlier when she saw her bestfriend's savior emerge from the door, grinning. They embraced one another, and gave each other a high-five for surviving the round. They were really going to be great friends.

Several players then came entering the room, each of them having blank, tired expressions. After all, they all almost died back there. The honeycomb game was very tricky for one wrong move may result to one's sudden demise.

Still, there was no sign of Gi-Hun and Player 001.

Her stomach seemed to rise to her throat as more players filed in and she clenched her fist. She gave her bestfriend a solution earlier and she could only hope he had accomplished. Sang-Woo and player 199 stood by her side, waiting for the rest of the team as well. Soo-Jin felt a sudden sickening sensation rise through her body, but then someone tapped her shoulder. Inclining her head, she saw Minjun offering a comforting smile.

"Ya, guardian angel, your friend's going to make it." he assured. "Don't worry -- oh, oh, look, there they are!"

"Sirs, you made it!"

Soo-Jin snapped her head to the door, breathing a loud sigh of relief when she saw Gi-Hun and his friend enter the room. Her heart pounded against her ribs and within seconds, she tackled her bestfriend and hugged him tightly.

"Gi-Hun! Oh, I'm so relieved you're alive!"

They both chuckled as he settled her down to the ground. "All thanks to you. You're the reason I got through this round."

Player 199 stepped forward, a genuine smile forming in his lips. "I'm glad you made it. I was really worried."

"Aish, it will take a whole lot more killing Gi-hun. Hah!" Her bestfriend wrapped his arm around Soo-Jin's shoulder, boasting, "I got Ssangmun-dong running through this heart, huh?

The old man chuckled, amused with Gi-Hun's humor. Soo-Jin and the foreigner turned their attention toward him. To be honest, she really felt relieved he was alive. She had a soft heart for the elderly and to see him be in a death game was breaking her heart. She couldn't imagine her own parents participating in this sick, twisted games. "Are you holding up all right here, mister?"

"I'm okay. Yes." He nodded, fixing his eyes on Soo-Jin. "All thanks to your sharp thinking. Gi-Hun and I are alive because of you. Your idea saved us, dear girl."

Soo-Jin's heart somersaulted and she reached out to hold his hand. "I am very glad you are safe, sir."

"I'm sorry. I was wrong to suggest separating."

If people could melt from a glare, Sang-Woo would've already been a puddle of water on the floor from how Soo-Jin was scowling in his direction.

Gi-Hun smiled. "Ah, don't say that. How could you know what it was? Choosing the umbrella was my call."

"Both of our calls!" butted in Minjun, making his presence known. Soo-Jin chortled. She didn't know how the boy could still be so cheerful despite the danger around them. He was like the light in a dark room, making sure everything was fine and feeling warm. She moved away from Gi-Hun and ruffled the boy's hair, feeling maternal towards him.

Actually, Soo-Jin always wanted to have a son and perhaps, in some way, that wish of hers was granted because Minjun was already beginning to be like her son.

"Don't worry, okay?"

Sang-Woo stared down at the floor again, nodding and then breaking into a relieved smile. "Yeah, the whole team made it."

"Attention, players." declared a woman again in the speakers, catching their attention. "I will now announce the results of the second game. Out of the 187 players who participated, 79 players were eliminated."

The brunette shut her eyes as the player count was decreased once again, increasing the prize amount to 34.8 billion won.

348 players. She breathed. 348 players with families waiting for them to come home. They're not going to see them again.

The woman's thoughts reverted to Jun-Ho who had now infiltrated the facility, concealing himself as one of the guards. Was it possible that she could get some information from him for the next game? So, she could already formulate a game plan ahead?

Soo-Jin, what are you doing? You know only one player will come out of this place alive. Why are you trying to save them all?

Why was she indeed trying so hard to save the others when she knew there could only be one winner? What was her purpose for that? What would she even gain from that?

The lights above them dimmed, and the yellow light returned to illuminate the already half-full piggy bank. 'The prize money accumulated this round is 7.9 billion won. The total prize money accumulated so far is now 34.8 billion won."

That money. She said to herself. That money is for Hana, for you. Are you ready to do whatever it takes to win it?

"Attention. Your mealtime begins now. All players, please form a line in the center of the room."

Classical music blared from the speakers and Soo-Jin accompanied Minjun to the line, filing themselves to get food. Her eyebrows crossed together when she caught a glimpse of their meal.

A boiled egg and a bottle of soda.

Soo-Jin couldn't help the words that came out of her mouth, "What the fuck? This is unbelievable." She muttered, taking her food for the day.

"I know, right?" Minjun noted, snickering. "We all almost died back there and this is only what we get. Do they want us to die of starvation? Is this part of the game too?"

The woman sighed, cracking her egg with her hand. "You sure that'll be enough for you? You can have mine if you want. I can go on without eating."

"No, no, no. You need to eat, guardian angel. The group will be needing your ideas to survive the next round. You and that... always brooding dude over there." he referred to Sang-Woo who was quietly eating his food.

Soo-Jin let out a chuckle, scratching her ear. "Guardian angel, huh? Why do you always call me that?"

"I just believe you're my guardian angel. It's like you're there to save me always from harm."

"Aish, you boy..."

"Uh, I didn't get anything. Where's the rest?" suddenly complained someone behind them. Five players, who Soo-Jin assumed were the last ones in line, approached the guards. Their eyes were frantic and hunger was overcoming them. There were no more bottles of soda left and all of the eggs were gone as well.

"Ya, we didn't get our meals either."

"One, two, three, four, five. Five meals are missing, sir!"

One of the masked supervisors answered him with, "We prepared food for the exact number of players."

"Then, where is ours?"

"Please, sir, we need to eat!"

"It was prepared for the exact number." insisted the guards, pointing a revolver at the hungry player. Soo-Jin frowned. Can't they just get another for them? Those players are starving.

"Excuse me." Player 198 raised her voice and pointed her finger at 101's group. "It was them. They... skipped the line and got seconds. I saw it."

The muscular man glared at them in retaliation. "Hey, what's the matter, everybody? Jeez. You never see a guy eat before, is that it? Shit." He sneered.

The hungry player with the number 271 in his chest confronted the group. "Who do you think you are? That's my food you just ate!"

"Ah. So, uh, is this yours? Is your name on it? 'Cause I sure don't see anything." 101 jeered, taunting him. His groupmates including player 212, the shrieking woman, laughed in contempt. "I'm sorry."

"Give me that." Player 271 groaned, reaching up to snatch the soda bottle so he could drink. "Give it back. It's mine. Give it back to me!"

Both of them struggled for the bottle and it wasn't long after that the bottle slipped from their hands, causing it to shatter and spill its remaining contents. 101 growled and lunged at him, seizing the hungry man's collar. "You little shit, goddamn it! Why did you break it, you jerk? How was this, huh?"

Soo-Jin gasped as 101 mercilessly struck 271, causing him to drop on the floor with a loud thud. The spectators around them tried to move forward, but they were terrified of the muscular thug. She glanced at Gi-Hun and Sang-Woo even Ali who just watched 101 beat up the lean man. She noticed that the guards weren't doing anything at all to stop the fight as if they were expecting it. Did they instigate it? Scoffing, she set aside her bottle of untouched soda and turned to Minjun. "Guard my soda, will you, kid?"

"Wait -- "

"Soo-Jin! Don't!" Both Sang-Woo and Gi-Hun attempted to stop her by grabbing her wrist and waist, but she pried their hands off of her.

"Ma'am! Don't interfere!"

"I'm not just going to sit my ass in here and do nothing when I know I can do something to stop that piece of shit." she snarled, pushing both men away. "So, get both of your fucking hands off of me if you don't want me to punch you both in your faces."

If there was one thing Soo-Jin was sure about herself was that, she will never tolerate a strong person take advantage of the weak. She had witnessed so many times how people abuse other people, trampling on them like they were doormats. She hated that. It was the reason why she wanted to become a lawyer. She wanted to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves.

"Hey, listen up. You should learn to share. Is it too hard, you dumbass?" 101 continued to kick 271's stomach. Soo-Jin rolled up her jacket's sleeves and clenched her fists. "You bastard! What the hell? You shithead! How come a scrawny guy like you is so greedy about food?"

Raising her open hand, she yanked back 101's long hair and with all of her strength, swung her fist, shattering his nose.

He knelt on the floor, yelling in pain.

"How come a fat piece of shit like you is so greedy about food?" She countered, feeling the impact of the strike in her knuckles just like in those underground fights she joined in. Her hands were going to be sore after this.

"You piece of shit! Why... do you always interfere?"

As expected, he lunged at her, but Soo-Jin already expected it, anticipated it even. She slipped to the left and smashed her elbow into the side of 101's skull, the soft spot high on the temple, disorienting him. He wobbled for a moment and shook his head before stumbling on his knees.

"I've dealt with men like you, meat loaf."

"Oh, I bet they've all fucked you." he sneered, wiping his nose before standing up.

Soo-Jin laughed hysterically then glowered. "Oh, I sent them all to jail, man." She then stepped forward, boldly giving him a death glare. "Listen to me very carefully. If you get out of here alive, which I highly doubt you will, I'll come for you."

"Hey, you okay? Hey, wake up." She then heard Sang-Woo beside her. He was checking player 271's condition and placing his fingers at his radial pulse, he swallowed. "He's gone."

Horror-struck murmurs rose from the spectators and the brunette knelt closely to the dead man. He just wanted his food. What did he ever deserve to die?

She and Sang-Woo exchanged looks. They already knew head-on that soon, thry were going to be forced to fight each other to death. This was a last-man standing competition, a survival of the fittest. Her eyes flickered to Minjun who was scared witless of the fight.

"Uh, hello, guards." Gi-Hun called out. "Can someone do something?"

The brunette turned her attention to the guards. They were all just standing there, stiff. They were already expecting this.

"Hey, didn't you hear that? A person died! That man there just died!" her bestfriend shouted, his breathing groeing unsteady. He then stood up and approached the guards. Soo-Jin knew it was futile to even complain and she only held the dead man's head, silently mourning since she wasn't able to help him. "Look, that man was killed. That bastard... That bastard just killed him! He just killed someone over there! He just died! Can't you hear me, huh? Help us now! A man just died!"

That's when the female noticed the cameras when Gi-Hun faced them, yelling, "We shouldn't be killing each other like this!"

It was quiet, no one spoke, not even a murmur arose. They were anticipating for something and then, it came.

"Player 271, eliminated."

That was it. That was the signal.

They could now kill each other.

The lights once again dimmed and piles of cash were added to the prize. Red-clad guards emerged from the sliding doors, carrying a black with a pink bow. It was as if the dead were gifts and this made Soo-Jin's blood boil. What were they in here? Slightly trembling, she felt Sang-Woo's hand tug her arm and she let her body move to his pull. He set her aside as she stared at the dead body.

The game was going to turn them into murderers.

Are you willing to do whatever it takes to win?

Soo-Jin glanced at 101 whose lips had now morphed into a deadly smirk. He tsked and shook his head as if he wanted to say, You're next.

THE STRONG FEMALE fighter stared at her knuckles, wincing at the sight of the bruised skin. She let out a sigh and washed her hands and face, leaning her arms against the porcelain sink.

"He's going to come for you."

Soo-Jin lifted her head and caught sight of player 67 standing behind her. She wet her dry lips and shrugged. "I know. I already saw it in his eyes."

The young girl walked up to one of the sinks and opened the faucet, washing her hands. "You should really learn when not to interfere."

Soo-Jin was then reminded of the times her younger sister scolded her because she always gets into physical fights. A soft smile etched its way into her lips when she remembered again her loving sister who was waiting outside for her. Hana was the reason why she was here. She had to live. She then clicked her tongue, "You sound like my sister."

"Is she the reason why you're here?"

"Yeah, I need to pay her hospital bills. She's going to have a transplant soon." the woman turned off the faucet, shaking her hands to dry them. "What about you? Why are you here?"

A pause, but 67 reluctantly nodded. "I'm here because of my brother and mother."

"I heard you're from North Korea." talked the fair woman.

"Yes."

"I'm Chang Soo-Jin. What's your name?"

Player 067 didn't respond.

"Uh, so where's your brother now?"

"In an orphanage, waiting for me."

The woman couldn't help, but feel protective and sisterly towards the young girl. Soo-Jin cursed internally at herself. She was so soft now unlike before. Truthfully speaking, she had always been soft, she just wanted to make herself believe she wasn't.

"Your mother?" asked the brunette.

"Still in North Korea."

Soo-Jin softly smiled, detecting the slight North Korean accent slipping out of her.

"Why are you smiling like that?" Player 067 frowned.

"I just can't help, but notice that you're hiding your North Korean accent. It's okay, you don't have to do it around me. You're safe with me." She patted the girl's shoulder, gently, to let her know she could be trusted.

"Sae-Byeok. Kang Sae-Byeok." She suddenly said before sighing.

"That's a very beautiful name."

Sae-Byeok turned to her. "People will naturally betray other people, that's what I always believed. But, you... you helped me on the first day even when you don't know me. Why?"

"I just... don't like people abusing other people."

The young girl nodded. "I noticed, but you really have to be careful. Deok-Su is a murderer. He will hunt you down tonight for sure."

"I'll try from now on."

Soo-Jin was aware something was going to happen. Now, that everyone was aware that murder was allowed to increase the price pool... it was impossible Deok-Su and his group will not try to eliminate those who will stand in his way of winning the money.

"321!"

The woman cocked an eyebrow, curious as to who called her. Her pink lips broke into a smile when she saw it was the woman she helped earlier.

"Thank you for the soda and the food. We're still hungry, but what you've given us is enough."

Right after the death of 271, Soo-Jin grabbed her bottle and divided it equally to the four remaining players so they may eat. She even gave half of her egg since she knew they were really famished. Minjun even offered his as well when he saw her, assuring her that he was fine. That he was already full.

"You're welcome. Please, be careful. I highly advise that you do not sleep. Just be prepared, okay?"

Player 233 nodded. "Yes, thank you."

And with that, she walked off to her group who were conversing with each other. She took a seat beside Minjun, patting his knee to comfort him. Her dark eyes then swept up to Deok-Su who seemed to be planning with his team.

"We can't fall asleep tonight, okay?" instantly voiced out Sang-Woo, looking at each of them. "Who knows what someone else may try. Look at them. It looks like they're planning something."

"Obviously, they're going to attack. They're going to weed out the weaklings and those who are a threat to them." Soo-Jin added, catching Deok-Su's sudden glance at her. "He's going to come for me. I just know it."

"If they try to attack someone, let's group together and fight them." Sang-Woo planned, turning to Ali and her. "Come to our side if anything goes wrong."

"Okay, I will."

"I'm scared." confessed Minjun, bringing his knees up. "It was better when the guards did the killing, not us."

"Hey, it's going to be okay." assured Soo-Jin. "You go jump down from your bed and away from me if they attack, okay? Go straight to Sang-Woo and Gi-Hun immediately."

"I'll leave you behind?"

Soo-Jin was aware Deok-Su was going to come for her. After all, she pissed him off. "Yes, listen to me, okay? You have to listen to me, this time."

The nervous boy pursed his lips, but nodded. "Okay."

It was then that she noticed that the old man was falling asleep. He was sitting up on his bed, his knees close to his chest. She softly reached out and tapped the elderly's shoulder, concerned.

"Sir, sir? Wake up." She held his shoulder and he stirred awake. "Wake up, sir."

Gi-Hun noticed her and the old man and he moved closer to them. "Sorry, sir, but you really can't go to sleep after lights-out, understand?"

"Why?"

"We gotta keep an eye out. It will be dangerous. And we'll come here if anything goes down."

"Uh, okay."

Soo-Jin led Minjun back to his bed as the clock ran down to the last ten minutes. She searched around her bed for something to use as her weapon, but there was nothing. She would have to use her fists and her own blanket to defend herself. The fair woman then remembered Sae-Byeok and went over to check on her when Sang-Woo blocked her path.

"Soo-Jin," he enunciated, her name coming off his lips firmly. "For the love of god, do not try to do anything heroic, okay? Once the lights go out and that clock strikes zero, you and Minjun head straight to Gi-Hun's area. Got it? Be careful."

The brunette stared at him, unconcerned and collected. "It's you who should be careful." She bluntly stated. "I'll be okay, Sang-Woo. Just watch yourself since you only care about your own well-being."

She then walked past him, but Sang-Woo grabbed her wrist, pulling her back. The force he exerted brought her close with him, their faces just mere inches away from each other. Their bodies were standing so close and she could feel his warm skin against her. "I mean it, Soo-Jin." he insisted. "Please, be careful."

"It's cute that you're worried about me."

Sang-Woo didn't find this amusing.

She sighed. "I will." And with that, she left him standing on the raised platform to approach Sae-Byeok when she heard Gi-Hun talking with her.

"It looked like you and that thug really had it out for each other."

"So, what?"

"Tonight, if anything happens, we'll all meet in my bed right there."

"Are you in?"

"I don't trust people. And that's twice as true for anyone who'd end up in here. Got it?"

"You think that's how it works, huh? Listen, you don't trust people here because you can. You do it because you don't have anybody else."

Soo-Jin leant against one of the beds, crossing her arms. She nodded to Gi-Hun, letting him know that she would take care of it. The two exchanged glances and sighing, the brunette sat down on her bed. She stared at Sae-Byeok who was still looking ahead, her knees close to her chest.

"Look, Sae-Byeok, I know it's hard to trust people, especially when money is involved. But, if you want to survive this night, you've got to go to Gi-Hun. We both know Deok-Su's going to come for us. At least, you'll have a group who'll defend you."

She didn't answer.

"We'll wait for you there. You have my word that I will not let anything happen to you tonight." Soo-Jin stood up from her seat, brushing her trackpants.

"I don't trust him... but I trust you."

She smiled. "Thank you, Sae-Byeok. That means a lot to me."

That's when she heard the countdown and the fair brunette made her way down to her own bed. Her mouth growing dry from the tension she was feeling. Soo-Jin laid her head against her pillow and gripped her white blanket, one that will be later splattered with blood. Her eyes were focused on Minjun's bed. She had to get the boy away from the fight first then ensure her safety.

"Three."

Soo-Jin's heart pounded against her chest.

"Two."

For the bloodbath was about to begin.

"One."

For Hana, I will live.

The lights went out.

And the clock struck zero.

soooo, team sang-woo or team gi-hun?

by the way, i found this perfect ost for all those backstories and scenes rn- AHHH

not me secretly wishing for minjun to live so he and hana can be endgame lmaoo- our faceclaims for those two babies are in the summary page sooo check them out