NO TIME TO DIE. Squid Game
╰┈➤ Ddakji ( Chapter Two )

"A GAME?" Nari repeated softly. The air around her suddenly grew stiff. The station was suddenly quiet, any by standers from just moments ago nowhere to be seen. The girl's heart pounded and she spoke through a nervous breath, but straightened her posture and tucked away a stray strand of hair. She swallowed the lump in her throat and met the salesman's gaze as he looked back at her, gaining her composer and returning to her act. He wore a gentle smile as their gazes met, nodding as he stepped closer to the girl. He clutched to his brief case. "A game." He said again. bringing up his suitcase and glancing between it and the girl before him.

"Ddakji." He said softly. His thumb reached forward and unlatched the briefcase he had been holding to, then ventured to lift the lid. Nari watched as the man revealed what was inside, her eyes landing first on the stack of money it held. Her eyes grow large at the sight of the won. She swallowed the lump in her throat, trying her hardest not to show the excitement on her face.

She puts her hands in her pockets, rocking on her heals as she notices the origami squares that sat above the bills, waiting to be picked up. She looked at the Salesman.

"What will it be?" He asked.

She stayed silent for a moment, looking at the briefcase in his hand. The cash filled to the brim waiting patiently to either be won or be used to scan someone. "Why?" She asked instead of answering. She took a step closer, inspecting the contents for a moment. Eventually, she wrapped her fingers around the blue square and took it.

"What's the point?" She asked once it was in her hand, waving the square in the man's face.

"Don't you see the money?" He asked, glancing from her down to what he held in his grasp. He gestured it toward her as if he was trying to let her get a better look.

She nodded slowly. "How do I get it?" She asked. It came out as an impatient demand, her fingers tightening around the paper. Her thumb slid along the soft material as she shifted her weight on one leg and waited for him to answer. Her eyes narrow and her head tilts to the side every so slightly as she scans his face. His smile was unsettling.

"Flip my square." He said simply.

Nari nodded slowly, skeptical. The answer was simple, which Nari had learned a long time ago usually meant there was a catch to be learned. She used her eyes to look in up and down, waiting to see if he mentioned the catch, then crossed her arms when she found that he was done with his explanation. "You're not just handing money out for free." she said impatiently, "what's the catch?"

The man took the red square that remained in the case, then closed it, quickly flicking the latch. He set the brief case to the side and out of their way, Nari's eyes lingering, then turned back to face her. He held up the red paper and waved it as he spoke. "If I flip yours I get the same amount from you." He added.

"What?" She said. She didn't mean to allow it to slip past her tongue, but her heart sank. Her eyes lost hope and her shoulders fell., her grasp around the square loosening.

She didn't have any money to give. The girl grew silent, paused for a moment, rocked on her heals, then looked down at the square in her hands. "How much?" She asked softly, running a finger along the surface of the paper. As she spoke she knew very well it didn't matter the amount, she couldn't afford it regardless.

"100k won." He said simply.

Her eyes widen again. Her heart jumps and she nods, sticking out a hand before she can stop herself. "Deal." She says quickly.

The salesman beams, grabbing her hand and shaking it firmly. His grip was strong for just a moment, then he slipped his hand away and set his square on the ground. He stood aside and gestured for her to go. He offered her a reassuring smile, his movements quick and simple.

She looked at him for a moment and blinked. She blinked again and dropped her gaze to the square. Her heart pounded in her chest and she adjusted awkwardly on her feet. She let out a shaky breath, nervous of failure. She couldn't afford failure.

She adjusted her grasp on the square, then threw it at the corner of the other, before she had the chance to overthink. She watched, hoping it'd get the job done and she could go with her money.

It was never that easy.

With a loud noise that echoed through the subway station and fizzled out as it was carried away, the square landed directly beside the man's shape, leaving it untouched.

"Fuck." She choked. Her heart sank even deeper as she spun around, avoiding the salesman's gaze. She ran a nervous hand through her hair and cringed at the scenario. Fear filled her eyes as, having no other choice, her gaze finally met the salesman. He held out his hand. Watching. Waiting.

"Well?" He asked calmly.

She swallowed the lump in her throat, dropping her eyes to the floor. Assahmed, she placed her hands in her pockets and spoke in a mumble. "I don't have any money." She admitted in a quiet breath.

"Okay." He said softly, his smile still remaining.

Nari looked up and met his gaze again. "What? That's it?" She asked. Her shoulders grew lighter and her heart returned to its normal speed for just a second, only to regain the weight and abnormal speed as he continued.

"Of course not." He said, lifting a hand. He glanced to his palm then back to Nari. "For each slap, I take off 100k." He said. He stepped closer, meeting her eyes and bringing his hand up to her cheek. He rose an eyebrow, waiting for her confirmation.

She closed her eyes and dread flooded over her. Weights tugged on her shoulders as she slumped, preparing herself. "Okay." She said, bracing herself for a sting across her cheek. She closed her eyes and tensed.

Within an instant his hand struck her left cheek. The slap was firm and loud, painfully echoing through the station to be carried away and drift into silence. She swallowed the lump in her throat, the bitter sting slowly fading away as she reached us and touched her her skin where his hand had made contact.

She looked at her finger tips, for some reason expecting blood to stain them.

"Another round." Nari demanded without hesitation, grabbing her square. Suddenly fueled by adrenaline and anger, she threw the square at the ground where his waited before he could answer, watching as it was ineffective. Seconds later hers was flipped.

"Shit." she cringed, wiping her sweat palms on her pants legs. She closed her eyes and ran a hand down her face. She froze and waited for the salesman to keep up his end of the deal, his hand soon making contact against her cheek once more.

"Again." she demanded. They each tried a round again and once more his hand struck her face as the result of failure.

"Again." hissed, wiping the sweat away that built on her forehead.

Seconds later she was met with a hand across her left cheek yet again.

"Again." She said. With each round, her voce slowly grew quieter and filled with defeat, but with each round she grew more desperate. So she threw her square again.

It was unsuccessful.

"Again." By now her cheek stung and eyes watered. Her skin was red and burned, feeling as though he'd slapped her face until he'd reached down to the bone. She winced as she reached up and touched her cheek, gritting her teeth through the pain.

"Again."

It was at this point her act had fizzled out completely. With each slap, her show of no emotion was replaced with desperation and shame and she blamed failure. It was truly crazy what failure could do to people. It was such an odd experience that it could drive someone to such vulnerability.

"Again." She choked once more. Her hands shook as she spoke, her fingers barely grasping the square. She could taste blood and feel her skin bruise and ache. Her left eye had puffed and her lip on that side had busted, already scabbing over.

She let out a breath, swallowing the lump in her throat and giving it everything she had left. After hours, it wasn't much. Nor was it enough. Failure mocked her again, laughing at her and spitting in her face. She laughed, running a hand through her hair.

"Fucking shit!" She shouted. Seconds later the Salesman through his and enjoyed his victory, turning to Nari and raising a hand. This time when hers was flipped, she kept her eyes open as her face was struck. Despite the pain that filled the entire left side of her face, she wanted to see his expression. Wanted it to fuel her.

Pain radiated across her skin, spider webbing down to her neck. Her lip was busted, her eye puffy. It had been hours. She needed this money, regardless of how many tries it took. So she looked at the salesman's asymmetrical face, watching the smirk that formed on his lips.

He was enjoying this.

And she'd enjoy when she got this money.

So she threw her square.

Nothing.

"Son of a bitch!" She yelled, she ran a hand down her face, instantly regretting it as her skin burned at her touch. She paced, spinning nervously in a circle, then stopping as she groaned and watched as her squares flipped. She sighed.

She didn't even flinch. Her face was numb.

"One more." She choked. "One fucking more." She said angrily. She narrowed her eyes at the square on the ground, wrapping her fingers tighter around the square of her own. She mapped it out and threw it. She gave every once she had, weak and brittle.

It flipped- It finally fucking flipped.

"Ha!" She yelled. She jumped up in her spot, clapping loudly. The sound echoed through the station as she hollered in celebration, the weight on her shoulders vanishing. "About fucking time!" She said. She grew a smile, her face burning at the gesture, but feeling glorious all the while.

It was just as crazy what victory could do to people. Whether it was the win they'd earned or what they'd do to get there, the actions could be either ugly or beautiful. It either brought out the best or the worst in people. As for Nari, what it brought out was hope.

After another long while, the girl composed herself, leaving her square on the ground as she turned to the salesman. His smile was still there, but ever so slightly smaller.

He stuck his hand out, cash in hand.

"Keep it." She said.

And then she struck him across the cheek with all the might she had, the loud sound echoing louder than any of his slaps had against her cheek.

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