Mr. Fame's employees are waiting for us, like they knew where we were hiding the whole time. They're dressed in immaculate business suits, hair combed back and dark glasses masking their faces. There are two of them, and their mouths are set into expressionless lines. Their guns are raised at us.

They only lower their weapons when Jungkook and I flash our items. I hold the necklace to catch the light of the street lamps. Jungkook raises his wrist to do the same.

The employees lower their weapons. One of them talks in rapid whispers into his pager.

"Wait here," he says afterwards.

"We need food and water," I say.

"Wait," he repeats, and Jungkook and I have no choice but to stand between these two men. Jungkook holds out his hand, and I take it. He's the only force and reason why I'm standing right now. The overwhelming part of me is tempted to collapse and not open my eyes until daylight. But I have to remain strong for Jungkook. As he remained strong for me, saving me more times than I can count. He is the reason I survived this competition. The reason why I can see Zion and my parents again.

We stand for what seems like a half hour. Then, a carriage pulls up alongside the apartment road. The carriage is golden, driven by a pair of horses—one brown and one white. The driver is another one of Mr. Fame's employees, holding the reins in both hands. The whole thing seems to be pulled from medieval times. Back when kings and queens would want to flaunt their power to the public. If not for the man in the suit, I'd think I was pulled to another era of history.

Jungkook is the one who pulls me out of my daze. He gestures to the carriage, like a gentleman giving me the first choice of seat.

I sit in the carriage, which is an elaborate design with an intricate arrangement of loops and rings, all culminating in an open-air seat for two. We have a full circular view as the horses carry us back to the direction of the League of Fame building.

As we draw closer to the headquarters, I realize that we've drawn a crowd. Even though it's past midnight, throngs of people have gathered in the heart of Gangnam. Some of them stare, some clap or cheer loudly. Most of them just seem curious to see the future stars of Seoul.

"You made it," I tell Jungkook, squeezing his hand. "You're going to be a star."

Jungkook is silent. But he does seem more alive in the heat of so much attention. He was meant to be on stage, to perform for a crowd like this one. I, on the other hand, just want to go home. I wonder if my stardom will ever be put to good use. Or if I will fight Mr. Fame teeth and claw to remain a mysterious recluse.

The crowd is suffocating as we draw nearer to the League of Fame building. There must be at least a thousand gathered in sight of the headquarters. There are people of all ages, as if toddlers would be more interested in us rather than their toys.

"What are you thinking?" I ask Jungkook, as we almost draw beside the League of Fame building.

"I just want to go to sleep," he says.

"Me too," I say, as we draw into a stop.

The crowd is leering at us, some of them clapping as we stand on the carriage. Most are silently assessing us as we exit the carriage and enter the building. We're barricaded on each side by Mr. Fame's employees. People couldn't reach out and touch us even if they wanted to.

The lobby is just as red and elaborate as I remember it. I can't believe it's been five weeks since I met Jungkook here, discovering that we'd enter League of Fame together and making the decision to pursue him as my ally. I hold Jungkook's hand as we take a few deep breaths, registering the emptiness of the room.

"Where are the other winners?" I ask, to no one in particular.

"Only you two made it," an employee answers.

Shock runs through my system. "What do you mean? There were others who got their hands on an item."

"All dead in battle," the same employee says. "It's you two. That's all."

Jungkook and I exchange glances. Sophiya and the other man? Simply gone? "I guess it's two winners again," Jungkook says to me. "Just like the other years."

Just like the other years. I wonder if Mr. Fame had any hand in manipulating the results. I wouldn't put it past him. Maybe promoting any more than two stars at once would be too much of a burden. Or maybe Sophiya and the other man really did die while trying to protect their items. I can't register what I feel for them—anger at their sabotage mixes with the pity of yet more lives lost in the pursuit of fame.

"Mr. Fame is waiting for you on the top floor," the same employee tells me. "You two should head up now."

Jungkook and I enter the elevator alone. It's the first moment of solitude we've had since the trumpet sounded and we were accosted by the two employees.

Jungkook's voice is soft, yet tense. "Cosma, promise me something."

"What is it?" I ask, keeping my volume low too. A spike of panic enters my system.

"Mr. Fame," Jungkook says. "He will try to use us, no doubt about it. Promise me that we'll stick together. That when the time comes, we'll fight against him."

I nod, knowing that Jungkook's words are true. I don't know much about Mr. Fame, but I know enough that he'll want to exploit me and Jungkook. "I promise," I say.

The elevator opens on the top floor.

The six idols are waiting here, flanking Mr. Fame, three on each side. The idols raise their hands to clap for us. Mr. Fame simply smiles. For a second I can fool myself into thinking this is a family reunion. The lights are bright and inviting. The scent of the room is a cinnamon that almost lets me forget about the iron scent of blood. The idols are dressed in casual clothing, and Mr. Fame his suit. Mr. Fame's smile is almost genuine. As if a warm gesture is enough to allow me to forget the horrors I've experienced.

"Congratulations," he says, voice booming. "Cosma and Jungkook, you two are now stars. The power is in your hands. You can choose to make the life for yourself that you've always dreamed of."

I don't let go of Jungkook's hand. He squeezes once. As if reminding me of the promise we've made. Promise me that we'll stick together. That when the time comes, we'll fight against him.

Jungkook, I promise. How could I do anything else? 

A/N: Thanks for reading! Which BTS member would you want to team up with if you entered League of Fame?