The mall is dark. The place will soon be demolished to make way for another apartment complex. The people of Seoul have lost use for malls like this one. Windows are shattered, yellow tape surrounding the perimeters, signs reading to stay far away. The second floor is close to collapsing. The only light source is the moonlight and street lamps filtering in. But the center of the mall is completely shrouded in darkness. It almost looks like an endless dungeon.

Suga is waiting alone.

This part of the mall, I know for a fact, used to be a library. The shelves have long been raided for wood. All the books are taken as well. Dust coats every exposed surface. I cough just taking a few steps toward Suga.

"Welcome," he says, giving a brief smile.

My eyes are on his necklace, the same silver as J-hope's bracelet. It's a simple design. No pendant. If I could just get my hands on it....

"Seems like you're the only ones who are showing up," Suga says. "I'm guessing you got my note?"

"We got it," Jungkook says. I notice how he's tensed up, same as me—we both know how much is on the line here.

"The mission is simple," Suga says. "All you have to do is come up with a drama title and a short summary. If I like your pitch, I'll give you my necklace."

"That's it?" I say. "We just have to make it up?"

Yoongi holds up one finger. "Not just make something up. It has to be interesting. Worthy of a winner of League of Fame."

Jungkook and I turn to each other. His whispers. "I'll come up with the title," he says. "You can describe it for him."

"Are you sure?" I say, wondering if too much is in my hands. "I could ruin everything."

Jungkook reaches out, squeezing my hand. "You won't."

Suga grunts. "Hey, hey. Not too much planning. I want you both to come up with the drama on the spot. If I like it, I might incorporate the story into my next music video. Or even make my acting debut...."

I stare straight ahead, withholding the temptation to scream that I don't give a flying fish about his career right now. "We're ready," I say.

Jungkook swallows. I feel his nervous energy, like a thickness in the air. "The title of our drama is... The Price of Fame."

Jungkook nudges me. I realize it's my turn to speak, and I can't mess up our chances by staring ahead like a sloth. I channel all of my creative energy. It's such an outlandish thing that we're being forced to be creatives during a bloodbath of a competition. Shooting someone in one hour and making up a drama plot in the next. I shake my head, focusing on Jungkook's title. I latch onto it, and I think of Zion as I make up the story.

"A criminal boy and a scavenger girl join League of Fame, with a dream to perform on stage together. They successfully earn two items that are required to win. The story follows their journey in the competition up to their preparation for their first official concert. They will be performing in the Seoul Olympic Stadium for seventy thousand people. Their performance will celebrate the opening of the shield and the venturing into the outside world."

When I finish, I watch Suga's face carefully. He doesn't show any reaction immediately, which worries me. He smiles a bit, but he shakes his head the moment after. "I like the title. And the plot. But I don't like it enough to give you this necklace."

My stomach sinks. So this is how it will all end for me? I won't make it out alive because Suga doesn't like my ability to conjure up a drama on the spot?

Suga begins to walk toward the exit, which happens to be the same entrance behind us.

"Bump into him," Jungkook whispers. "When he comes close."

Suga is about to pass us. I don't have the time or the scruples to doubt Jungkook's instructions. I just pitch forward, launching myself into Suga's path.

The idol slips, swearing as we tumble together to the floor. Above, I see Jungkook's two hands wave above me. The glimpse of light catches against silver. And it isn't his bracelet. He managed to steal the necklace in the chaos!

"Run!" Jungkook yells.

I follow him out. Suga reaches for his gun, firing several rounds at us. But we're already swerving into the darkness, far out of his vision's reach. The idol curses at us, but I'm too overcome with adrenaline to hear anything but my own racing pulse.

"Keep going!" Jungkook says.

I have no reason to do anything else. Zion's life depends on it. My life depends on it. And no matter what I'd like to think, I'm also responsible for bringing back Jungkook in one piece too. I have so much weighing on me, too much on my hands. But I find enough lightness to run and not look back. Even though bullets are whistling past my head.

It isn't until Jungkook and I are safely locked inside an apartment complex's janitors closet when I allow myself to breathe. We keep the light off, scared to attract any attention. We are both breathing heavily.

Jungkook reaches over my shoulders to latch the necklace around me. His hands manage to find me in the darkness. The weight of it is a blessed relief.

"Where did you learn to do that?" I ask.

"Steal?" Jungkook says. "A long time ago. I wouldn't be a good thief if I didn't know how to separate jewelry from its owner."

I smile, even though Jungkook can't see me. "We're going to make it," I say. "We really are."

Jungkook is smiling too. I can't see him, but I can tell. "Cosma, you may just be right."

A/N: Thanks for reading! If you got this far in the story, I really appreciate you!