Jungkook and I walk along the river bank, searching for the golden L. He walks quickly and lightly, and I struggle to follow his grace. I imagine him haunting the alleys at night, searching for targets to practice his thievery. Why is it that in every mental image, he's holding his gun to someone's skull? I shake my head. I can't lose myself now. I need concentration, and I can't let the thought of killing someone burden me down.

"Are you hungry?" Jungkook asks. "Thirsty?"

I follow the horizon to the setting sun. Has so many hours already passed? I swallow, feeling the dryness of my tongue. "Just thirsty," I say.

He nods his head toward one of the river houses. "That ones empty. Stay here and alarm me if anyone comes."

Jungkook reaches into his pocket, revealing a shiny wire. He begins working at the lock of the door. It takes him less than a minute. I don't have to keep watch for long, because soon I hear the latch come loose, and Jungkook creeps swiftly inside.

He comes out with two apples and two bottles of water. He throws me one of each, and I catch them in shock. "Where did you learn to do that?" I ask.

Jungkook shrugs, but there is a glow about him, and I can tell he's fighting a smile. A boy in his true element. "After my parents died, I had to learn how to survive."

How did they die? I want to ask, but I stop myself. He will share when he's ready, uncovering himself layer by layer. Jungkook seems like the secretive type, trusting only a select few. If I ever gain his trust, he might let me in on his past. How he became a thief. Why stardom is so important to him.

Jungkook and I hide in the shadows of the house. I munch on my apple and take sips of water in between. Also, I keep a sharp eye out in all directions. The last thing we need is to be shot when taking a break.

"Your brother," Jungkook says, after throwing his apple core on the ground. "What is he like?"

I pause, visualizing my brother in my head. "He's like sunlight," I say. "Everyone who meets him says he's the most positive boy they've met. Even living in Seoul these days, he finds a way to look at the bright side and remain optimistic. I hope he never loses that. I hope he always looks at the world with wonder."

Jungkook hums. "He sounds like the opposite of me."

I glance at him, narrowing my eyes. "Maybe you're the moonlight."

"Moonlight?" Jungkook sniffs in distaste. "I don't think so."

"You're not exactly sunshine," I say, "But you're not the opposite either. Pessimism is necessary sometimes. So is mystery."

"You think I'm mysterious?" Jungkook asks. He's quiet, reflective. He's genuinely curious what I think—nothing like the rowdy and obnoxious boys I went to school with.

"Yes," I say. "You randomly save me on the outskirts, join League of Fame not for the money but for the fame... you head off like you can win without an alliance. And you only join me after I make you a deal. There's plenty of mystery there."

"If you get to know me better," Jungkook says, "I don't think you'll find me mysterious at all."

"That's what everyone says," I say. "But you don't get to decide yourself whether you're mysterious or not. That's for onlookers to decide. And you're plenty mysterious."

"You're mysterious too," Jungkook says.

I scoff. "Why? Because I'm a girl?"

He shakes his head. "Because I've never met anyone brave enough to scavenge on the outskirts by themselves."

"Maybe I'm just reckless," I say. "Not mysterious."

Jungkook's smile is like a sliver of light catching the ripple of a pond. He's almost painfully beautiful. There could be a thousand poems written about the way his eyes crinkle. How his whole face changes from guarded to brilliant.

I've seen my fair share of pretty boys. I've kissed a few, tried to find love in their shallow desires. But Jungkook isn't pretty. Jungkook is radiant.

He lifts a finger to his lips. "Listen. Do you hear that?"

I set my water bottle down, along with the apple I've almost finished. I train my ear, but I can't catch anything. "What?"

Then I hear it, a whistle piercing through the air. When I turn toward the source, I see the firework—gold against the sunset sky. A capital L, and not so far away from where we sit.

I stand at the same time Jungkook does. His face is guarded again, and cold. I imagine he's picturing what will happen if we follow the clue. How our lives will be at risk to gain a foothold for a chance at one of the six items. But this whole competition is a risk, and we can't spend the whole two months in hiding.

Without allowing time for doubt, and with eyes scanning every corner for other competitors, we begin in the direction of the firework.