As we patrol the streets, looking for a place to sleep, I can tell Jungkook is upset.

"I'm sorry," I say. "I didn't know we would have to dance. I can't dance."

"You think I'm mad about that?" Jungkook says.

I pause, pulling at his arm so that he looks at me. "Then what are you mad about?"

"You rushing toward him like a fool," Jungkook says, shaking off my grip. "You could've gotten killed. That was so reckless."

"He was right there," I say. "I wasn't just going to let him walk away."

Jungkook shuts his eyes. I wonder if he has voices in his head, whether he is trying to silence them. "Whatever. We're both alive. And now we have a clue. The idols will challenge us to showcase our artistic abilities."

"I wasn't expecting that," I say.

Jungkook shakes his head. "Me neither. But Mr. Fame and his pop stars have a different idea of what makes an interesting competition."

"You're a great dancer," I say. "And I'm not just saying that to change the subject. You're really good. You're meant to be on stage."

Jungkook pauses under a lamp post, and the shadows on his face seem painted. His grin is a bit sad. "I learned that in school. It's all thanks to my parents. They worked their asses off to send me there."

With the pensive look on Jungkook's face, it almost seems wrong to speak. I let him have his moment of reflection. I may not believe in God like he does, but I know that some memories can be holy.

I wonder what Jungkook was like when he was a child. Maybe he was a bit like Zion. I will never know the boy who hadn't yet suffered loss. Who had dreams of being a pop star in the traditional sense. Not in the League of Fame bloodbath.

The moment passes, and Jungkook decides to break into a medicine store. "I'm tired of sleeping in the cold," he says. "We'll be up before the owner gets back anyway."

I make my way inside, breathing in the scent of peppermint and tea tree oil. The place is warm, and in the darkness hidden between the shelves and boxes I'm sure no one will ever find us. Jungkook settles into one of the corners, sitting with his knees drawn to his chest. I follow suit. The medicinal smell keeps me awake. Seeing Jungkook's wide eyes, I question whether he'll sleep easily. Whether he'll convince me that he needs to keep watch again.

"Do you think Jimin had to kill anyone?" I ask. I don't know where the question comes from. But it's certainly partly because I haven't yet accepted what I did to the nameless girl.

"Of course," Jungkook says, without a second of hesitation. "How do you think he and V won? They teamed up. Then they took down their opponents one by one."

"We'll ask them what their games was like," I say. "I'm sure it was very different from this treasure hunt."

"Yeah," he agrees. "More like a battle royale than a grand quest. Though I'm sure it was creative too. Mr. Fame seems like the type of guy who changes things up."

"They said he got government approval because the stars he makes would raise the country's morale," I say. "What bullshit. But I guess you and I are fooled to buy into it."

"I don't think Mr. Fame is pure evil," Jungkook says. "Do you?"

I shrug. "Nothing feels evil after the war. Everything pales in comparison to the world leaders who decided to nuke the whole world. Billions of people. Dead for no good reason."

"In history class, we learned that the first bomb was a mistake," Jungkook says. "Though some people challenge that."

"Making the bomb wasn't a mistake," I say. "It's a weapon of mass destruction. Our governments knew exactly what they were doing. They knew it could be used one day to kill people."

"I agree with that," Jungkook says. "Sometimes, I think that it would be easier for everyone to be dead. We could all be in heaven right now. Just think about that."

"Ah, the three shields of the world, preventing all human beings from going to heaven." I smile. "Actually, I agree with you. It would be easier. Living in Seoul, barely getting by. It isn't really a life."

"You think the world of your family, right Cosma?" Jungkook's voice is serene, not at all breaking the peace in this pharmacy.

"Of course," I say. "It's the reason why I'm competing."

"Same here," Jungkook says. "This is for my parents. Even though they would never approve of me entering. I hope from where they are, they only see the good parts. Like me winning the games. Not all the suffering that comes because of it."

"They hopefully saw me meeting you," I say. "Isn't that the best thing that happened to you this year?"

Jungkook makes a face like he bit into a lemon. "I guess so?"

I laugh. Because we're surviving together. Because I find his cool exterior to be hiding a soft heart. Because maybe I'm getting a bit delusional—with death hiding around every corner. I laugh for both of us. Jungkook turns away, but I can tell he's suppressing a smile.

A/N: Thank you for reading! Please feel free to vote and leave a comment.