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THIRTY ONE | THE DEAD ARE
NOT DEAD

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SOO-JIN SAT BY the window, looking at the world. A few large, white clouds linger in the pale, washed out blue of the sky. Outside the window was a backyard - safe, comfortable, familiar. Plastic playground equipment sat on a scraggly lawn, shaded by the looming maple trees that provide shade in the height of a Seoul summer. Beyond that cheery playground, the roads are empty, save for one or two cars that race by, and houses line it side by side, each the same dull brown color.

It had been eleven months exactly after the nightmare she experienced. She had been busy ever since she left the hospital, going around to fulfill every task she wrote in her journal. Gi-Hun accompanied her in every trip of hers, and they both became each other's comfort whenever they're haunted by the games.

To be honest, the first five months were difficult for the two bestfriends. They almost couldn't sleep or eat without thinking all the deaths they witnessed. Soo-Jin couldn't look at dalgona candies, marbles, or even dolls because she would always remember it all. She recalled everything vividly. There was even a time she thought she heard the song of the red light, green light game that she dropped down on the ground and let out an agonizing scream. She and Gi-Hun were tormented every night by these memories of theirs that they both fell into desolation.

Depression, the third stage of grief.

It had gotten better now though. They no longer wake up screaming in their beds, drenched in cold sweat. The heavy burden was still in their chests, trying to overwhelm them, but thankfully, they found a way to handle it.

Gi-Hun never spent his prize money for his own needs as he was disgusted by how he obtained it. It was blood money, after all.

He instead gave away some of the prize money he received to the families they searched like Soo-Jin.

Actually, she, Gi-Hun, and Sang-Woo all received the same amount of prize money. It wasn't divided at all. The three of them got 45.6 billion won and it was stored in the bank.

Soo-Jin hired someone to look for Ali's family in Pakistan and once she had done so, she gave them enough money to but their own house and start a business. She also tracked down Sae-Byeok's mother and were able to reunite her and her son. She bought them a new house and gave enough money for them to start over. The woman turned away and refused to look at them in the eye when they started to ask where Sae-Byeok was. She couldn't tell exactly what happened so she kept quiet even when she wanted to badly tell them the truth. Soo-Jin also paid Mi-Nyeo's due rents when she found out where she once lived.

"How are you, Soo-Jin?"

The brunette cocked an eyebrow and tilted her head to stare at her female therapist. She hired someone who she could voice out all her problems and trauma. The woman during their first meeting, thought she wouldn't believe her story, but she didn't. Everything went well and she was even advised to report her experience to the authorities, but Soo-Jin brushed it off since she was fully aware that the game leaders were careful and thorough in keeping themselves hidden. She and Gi-Hun already tried telling it to the police once, yet they only laughed at their story.

She placed two of her fingers on her wrist. "I still have a pulse, so I must be okay."

Her therapist, Ji-Hye, chuckled. "Hilarious, Soo-Jin."

Shrugging, she strolled over to the couch and landed on it without much care. "I'm kidding. I'm getting there. I can feel I'm getting better."

"That's good to hear."

"There are just some times you know where I think I could've planned better, acted better. Perhaps, I could've saved them all."

The female therapist set down her pen and paper on her table. "Soo-Jin, it wasn't your fault -- "

"I know, I know." The woman nodded and then sighed. "I think I am in need of a vacation."

Ji-Hye nodded, smiling. "Good idea. You need that. Why not book a plane ticket and go anywhere you want? It'll help you relieve your mind."

"I'm still waiting for my boyfriend to come out of prison. I don't want to enjoy life without him." Soo-Jin beamed, glancing at her watch. "Oh, speaking of the love of my life, I have to leave now to visit him."

The brunette stood up from her seat and picked up her coat. "I will see you next week, Ji-Hye. Hopefully, I'll have a good story to tell you by that time. When is Gi-Hun's session again?"

"Oh, he's scheduled tomorrow."

"Good." She nodded and left the room with a small smile. "Please, do everything you can for him. He's important to me."

"WHOEVER SAID THAT haircut on you looks great seriously needs an eyeglass." commented Soo-Jin, crossing her arms. Sitting in front of her was her beloved, Cho Sang-Woo, who had a new haircut and a trimmed beard. He looked a bit good despite the condition he was in. He had his eyeglasses again and she was sure she had her Sang-Woo back. "Anyways, you look quite great."

"And you look..."

"Like your future wife?"

Sang-Woo shook his head, and pressed his lips together as if forcing himself not to smile. "How do you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Find the good in everything."

Soo-Jin leant back on her chair. "I honestly don't know."

There was a moment of silence for them both. Sighing, she put her hand on the glass, displaying her palm. This was the least they could do for now. Touch through the glass, imagine that they could feel each other. Sang-Woo stared at her, forlorn, and a moment later, he placed his own hand on the glass.

She shut her eyes and smiled. "I miss you. I wish you're here with me right now."

"One more month. One more month and I'll be there with you." verbalized Sang-Woo, soothing her. "So, how are your classes?"

Actually, because of her lover's encouragement, Soo-Jin finally enrolled in SNU to finish her last semester so she can proceed to Law School. It helped take her mind off from the games since she was occupied with requirements and lessons. "They're going well. I'll be graduating in a two months."

"I'll be there when you graduate." implied he, hopeful. "Have you finished everything in your list?"

Soo-Jin laid her hand back on her lap. "Not yet, actually." She clicked her tongue. "I can't find any relatives of Minjun or even his friends. I only know that he attended Hansung Science High School. I'll be going there tomorrow to find anymore information about him."

"What about your biological family relatives? Did you already start looking for them?"

"Well," Soo-Jin shurgged. "they're the ones next on my list."

Sang-Woo raised his eyebrow as if he knew what was in her mind.

"Aish," grumbled the woman. "Why are you looking at me like that, huh? I'll look for them, okay?" She tilted her head. "I -- I just... is it necessary for me to really find them?"

"Soo-Jin, they're your family. They must know you're alive. Didn't your grandfather said they've been looking for you for a very long time?"

"Yes."

"Then, go find them."

"Okay." mumbled the woman even if she was uncomfortable about it. She really didn't to disrupt their peaceful life witb her sudden reapperance. "I'll do it if after this."

Patting her pocket, she pulled out the little piece of paper she received months prior. Truthfully, she didn't want to remember anything about the games. She pulled it out of her pocket and slid it across the table. bothered her for so many times, but she didn't investigate it since she didn't want to be reminded of that terrible time.

"Sang-Woo," she licked her lips. "Did you hear everyone's elimination?"

"Well, not everyone. I mostly don't remember who died."

"Someone sent this to me, three weeks after we won, asking me if everyone's death was announced." she voiced out her thoughts. "The only elimination I could remember not being announced was yours. I don't know about the others since well, I was too focused on surviving..." She swallowed when she remembered Minjun and her grandfather. "grieving. What about you? Do you remember any elimination that wasn't declared?"

"I'm not sure. I was focused mostly on surviving as well like you."

"You know, I noticed that the guards were lenient to me. They even took you and I away before the sixth game. When I woke up after being taken, I was in this lavish room and all of my previous wounds were treated. The stab wound in my hand was stitched close. The guards even offered me to watch the final game with the VIPs. They treated me like I was some royalty, Sang-Woo."

"Wait, VIPs? We were being watched?"

"I think so, yes."

"So, the leader favored you?"

"I don't know." Soo-Jin shrugged. 'Why would they do it, anyway? I mean, do they know me? I don't know."

"Now that you mentioned all of this," Sang-Woo looked to his side then whispered, "I am curious to know who took us away. Gi-Hun and I were brought here with you in that emergency helicopter." he expressed. "Hana told me that her kidney transplant was paid a day after we went back to the games. All of our debts have been paid. mother's shop is no longer in danger of being taken by the bank. Gi-Hun's diabetes had been attended too."

Soo-Jin pursed her lips. She had to find the reason why the game leaders favored her. Why they almost protected her during the games. Why were they doing that? Who gave them the orders?

More importantly, why would the one who gave them the orders favor her?

"You know what I think?" Soo-Jin clenched her fist. "I think I should add investigating the games in my list. I need answers."

"That's dangerous, Soo-Jin. You might go head-to-head with someone powerful."

"I have to do this, Sang-Woo. I just need to do this."

Knowing she will not be stop from doing what she wanted, her beloved nodded, "Okay, but you better be careful. Tell me everything you discover."

"I will."

And with that, Soo-Jin set off to investigate with the games. She had a plan in mind already. She knew salesmen targeted those who were in neck-deep debts so it wouldn't be hard to look for them. The woman walked down the street under a sun that warmed her skin in the same way her mother's apple pie brought warmth to my core. She hailed a taxi to get to Ssangmun-dong since Mrs. Cho called earlier, saying she prepared some delectable food for her and Gi-Hun.

They still haven't told his mother about their ordeal, but Sang-Woo confessed to what he had done. Mrs. Cho wasn't disappointed in him, but she wished he told her about it.

"Here," the old lady gingerly passed the bento boxes. Soo-Jin moaned upon smelling the aroma of the food, like it was a gentle massage to her soul. "I cooked it just how you both liked it."

"This smells so good, Mrs. Cho!"

"Aish, you girl, I told you already, call me eomma." The grey-haired woman chuckled. "And you should already go if you don't want to be stuck in traffic."

"Yes, yes, Mrs -- eomma! I'll see you again!" Soo-Jin bowed her head and rushed off to get another taxi.

As she strolled along the streets of Ssanmun-dong, she gazed at the ethereal beauty of the sky. The clouds were as puffs of radiant joy, ready to disperse into the wind, to travel our Earth. She watched them eddy, pure reflected rays dappled and swirling with sky, until all that remained was that perfect baby-blue, the same hue as before, as if inviting those born of wing to ride warm thermal air heaven-bound.

An unsettling feeling began to sink in through the gut of Soo-Jin. Something was wrong and glancing at a side mirror of a car, she saw a figure wearing a black hooded jacket standing not far away from her. Heart racing from anxiety, she unhesitantly turn to an alley where she immediately hid behind the wall to incapacitate her pursuer.

Once she finally caught that the assaulter, she swung her fist, a mighty swing that caught her pursuer off guard. They managed to duck out of the way just in time, but she was relentless. She threw off another one that it forced them off balance. She sprung up, and thrusted herself to them. They crashed to the ground, and Soo-Jin took the opportunity to lock her thighs around his waist and clip them in their jaw. Just then, her pursuer removed their mask and raised their hands in surrender.

"It's me! It's me, Soo-Jin!"

Soo-Jin almost stumbled from her position from the sight of the police officer who she thought was dead.

"Jun-Ho?"

"In the flesh."

"You're fucking alive!"

"Well, I won't be if they catch me..."

"Then, let's get out of here."

"TALK."

Jun-Ho sat at the center couch of the living room. Soo-Jin recently bought a condominium with the money she won, and let Gi-Hun and his mother stay with her and Hana since she wanted to take care of them for a while. Her bestfriend needed her, and that's what she was going to give.

"Jun-Ho!" She heard Hana almost drop the groceries she bought from the shop in shock. "Oh, my god! It's you!" Her sister set her things aside and tackled him in a hug, sobbing. "We thought you were dead!"

Soo-Jin watched as Jun-Ho shut his eyes and rubbed Hana's back. "We couldn't contact you for months! What happened, baby? Are you okay?"

The woman blinked, twice, almost forgetting what she wanted to hear from him after her sister called him baby. She coughed loudly, catching both of their attention. By this time, Gi-Hun waltzed inisde the living room with a tray full of cups of coffee and tea for each of them. They were going to need it after everything that would be revealed.

"I was shot by my own brother." blatantly stated Jun-Ho as he leant back on the couch. "I had to go off the radar for months since his people have been tracking me down. They've got connections almost everywhere, Soo-Jin."

The woman leant closer. "You were shot by your own brother?"

"Yeah. Turns out he's the leader."

"The one with the black mask?"

"Yes. He was a previous winner of the games. 2015, to be exact. He and the other VIPs watched you all play that glass stepping stone game, making bets on who would survive."

At this, Soo-Jin's chest caved in and she stumbled forward. The revelation that their struggle to stay alive during the games was entertainment for those VIPs was too much to handle. She stepped forward and sat down on the seat with Gi-Hun guiding her. "In the last game, Sang-Woo and I were abducted. They took care of me and offered me to watch the last game with the other VIPs."

"They even rushed her in the hospital using an emergency helicopter when she was stabbed in the back." provided Gi-Hun, bouncing his knee up and down. Soo-Jin patted his thigh to comfort him. She admired his courage to be with her at the moment even if it meant he had to relive those terrible memories.

"You were stabbed?"

"Yeah," the woman shrugged. "I was stabbed in my hand and back. Adrenaline really works wonders, you know. Saves lives everytime."

Jun-Ho nodded and raised his eyebrow. "But, why were you -- Did you know someone from the guards?"

"No, I don't. I don't even know your brother. I never met him and I'm sure as hell I don't have any relatives from those VIPs."

"Then, why did they favored you?"

"I don't know. That's what we should find out now." Releasing a sigh, she stood up. "Your brother was a previous winner of the games. That means this has been going on for a while."

"Yeah, since the late 1980s. The records I found showed this games started since 1988."

"Then, there's a creator." proclaimed Gi-Hun, standing up as well. "The one who really came up with this idea."

"I bet they're wealthy as hell. I mean, how else would they have stayed off the police's radar for decades? We have to find them and shut these games down before they kill any more people." Hana tugged Jun-Ho's arm, determined to help as well.

"They are wealthy, Hana. I'm sure of that. They are rich elites. The VIPs were Americans. I can only think that they have their own version of these games as well."

Soo-Jin dug her nails into the fleshy part of her palm. She was enraged. The rich elites poured out money to watch desperate people try to compete to the death to rid themselves of financial ruin for their sick entertainment and gambling. She gritted her teeth. All those deaths... just for entertainment. Their lives were just playthings.

"Do you have any evidence?"

"No, I lost my phone when I fell off the sea. I've been trying to recover them ever since, but I can't."

"Then, we find another way." Her bestfriend declared. "They prey on those who are desperate and make entertainment and profit out of it. I want to make them pay for what they did to us."

Soo-Jin reached his hand and squeezed it. "We are. We are going to. We're not going to stop until we do." She gritted her teeth. "We are going to destroy them, Gi-Hun, make them feel our pain. I promise you that."

She was going to make sure everyone who was involved would pay for what they did.

But, what if it was the people she trusted who sparked the idea and let it flourish?

Well, one thing's for sure, Soo-Jin always stood for what was right.