the dormitory room was eerily quiet and dark, the remaining players paralyzed by shock from the recent bloodshed. all that violence, just for losing a children's game. cecelia sat between the bunk beds, her back against the cold metal bars, legs drawn up to her chest.

her hand trembled as she wiped her face, smearing something wet. glancing at her fingers, she saw they were stained with blood. a shaky breath escaped her lips as she frantically wiped her face with her bare hands before using her sleeve.

blood had never unsettled her before. she was accustomed to seeing it after accepting her assignments — bloody noses, busted lips, lacerations. she had inflicted many injuries on many men without flinching. so why did this blood bother her so much?

the sudden sound of the buzzer made her jump. as the lights flickered on, the pink guards entered the room. quickly getting up, she peered past a few tall players. the square-masked guard stood in front.

"you have all made it through the first game. congratulations. you're moving on. i will now announce the results of the first game."

cecelia's eyes darted to the large screen. the digital display's whirring echoed through the room, and the number '456' dropped dramatically. her mouth fell open in horror as it stopped at '251.'

"out of 456 players, 255 were eliminated. 201 players successfully completed the first game," the guard announced. the remaining players gasped in horror, murmuring among themselves. cecelia's eyes widened as she looked around, biting her bottom lip.

suddenly, an older woman with the player number '212' dropped to her knees. "mister, please," she pleaded, rubbing her hands together. "i'm so sorry. i swear i'll pay what i owe. i have a child. i still need to name my child, sir." she sobbed on the ground.

her actions were soon mimicked by other players. cecelia watched as people knelt in the open space, pleading for their lives to the indifferent guards.

"there seems to be a misunderstanding," the masked manager spoke over the clamor. "we are not here to hurt you or collect your debts. let me remind you that we're here to give you a chance."

"a chance?" one male player shouted. "we play kids' games, and you shoot us. you want me to choose that? that's some chance."

"we may be in debt, sir, but that doesn't justify killing us."

"this is just a game."

cecelia released a shaky breath at his response.

"they were simply eliminated for breaking the rules of the game. if you follow the rules, you can leave this place safely with the prize money we promised."

"just keep your damn money! i don't care! let me just go home."

the players erupted in agreement, shouting at the guards.

"consent form clause one: a player is not allowed to stop playing."

the players started shouting again, claiming the police would save them. cecelia doubted it. the police had never acted quickly before. why would they now?

suddenly, a deafening gunshot rang out, silencing everyone. cecelia's heart raced as she ducked down, using another player as a shield.

"consent form clause two: a player who refuses to play will be eliminated."

"consent form clause three," a player spoke up, stepping forward. cecelia gritted her teeth, mentally screaming for him to move back in front of her. "if all players agree to stop playing, the games can end. or am i wrong?"

"you are correct."

"let's vote on ending this," player 218 suggested. "if the majority wishes to leave, everyone gets to go home, right?"

the masked manager hesitated as tense silence filled the room. "alright, as you wish. we will take a vote on terminating the game. but first, let me announce the prize money for the game as promised."

he raised his hand, pressing a button on his remote. the ceiling rumbled and a transparent piggy bank descended. under the golden lighting, stacks of money began to fall into it.

as the money piled up, cecelia felt her heart drop. her eyes drifted from the piggy bank to the other players, all watching in awe.

suddenly, not everyone was eager to leave. the pleas for freedom seemed distant. even she hesitated, torn between the lure of fortune and the fear of death.

"a total of 255 players were eliminated during the first game. one hundred million won is at stake per player. therefore, 25.5 billion won of prize money has been accumulated so far. if you wish to stop playing, the 25.5 billion won will go to the families of the deceased players. however, you will all return home empty-handed."

player 212 asked, "uh, sir? so if we complete all six games, how much do we get?"

"since there were 456 players, the total prize money is 45.6 billion won. now, we will begin the voting."

The prize money amount lingered in the air. cecelia's eyes widened at the amount. this was life-changing money. she couldn't leave empty-handed but didn't want to die.

"player 456," the guard announced. the last player went up first, choosing the 'X.' his face illuminated red as everyone saw his vote on the screen.

"player 333."

it was finally her turn. she walked to the front, feeling the weight of countless eyes. the social pressure was intense, with desperate stares following her every step. some silently begged her to continue the game, others prayed she would vote to end it.

her gaze flickered between the green and red buttons. the decision was agonizing. her hand hovered indecisively, contemplating her options.

before approaching, she had convinced herself it was a simple choice: end the games. but the green button, symbolizing the promise of fortune, taunted her. the money above her head, and even more later, if she just followed the rules.

impulsively, she hit the 'O.' she felt ashamed as her vote appeared on the screen. moving to the other side of the room, she kept her eyes lowered.

maybe the odds would be in her favor, she told herself. she had survived the first game; she could endure another. she just needed to hold on long enough to take care of herself and her family. she was exhausted from hiding and struggling.

cecelia watched the remaining players cast their votes. some who had no chance still chose to continue, while others voted to end the games. she didn't judge those who wanted to stop; they were smart, valuing their lives over money. yet, for many, including herself, the promise of money was a powerful temptation.

after what felt like an eternity, the results were tied: 100 votes to stop, 100 votes to continue. "Player 001," the guard called out the final player. cecelia's eyes shifted to the old man standing alone. all eyes turned to him as he walked up to vote.

everyone knew the outcome before he made his choice. they saw a frail old man with no chance of winning.

after a long pause, the old man hit the red button. the vote was now 101 to 100. half the crowd cheered, while the other half looked down in disappointment, unable to risk their lives for money.

cecelia was among the disappointed. but maybe this was a sign. she was meant to live. she got the opportunity to leave, alive.

"the majority of the players have voted to terminate the game. therefore, this game is now terminated. it is a pity to say goodbye like this. however, we will not completely seal the door of opportunity. if the majority wish to participate again, we will resume the game. goodbye for now."

                    the feeling of gloved hands gripping the back of cecelia's neck jolted her awake. her eyes shot open, but all she could see was darkness, the feeling of cloth tightly bound around her head, covering her eyes. the sound of metal screeching caught her attention, the van door opening, cold air rushing in causing her to shudder. but before she could react, she was roughly shoved out of the van.

her unclothed body coming into contact with the ice-cold pavement. her bare skin scraped against the ground, letting out a sharp hiss at the pain that shot through her knees and arms. but she couldn't even focus on the pain, only the restraints that bounded her hands behind her back, and her feet together. she tried to move, but she just struggled. pulling against the restraints in an attempt to break them.

then she heard something heavy hit the ground beside of her, the sound was unmistakable. a grunt left the person's lips. cecelia lift her head up, peeking out from under her blindfold, straining to see, but was able to see that it was a man. a man with brown skin.

they were both stripped down to just their underwear, both of them had their limbs bound. cecelia watched the van pull away. the man must have heard the vehicle speed away as well, his voice frantic, "hello! hello!" he shouted in the air with desperation.

she shushed him, "hey! what's your name?"

the man twisted his body in the direction of her voice, his voice shaky. "a-ali."

cecelia huffed, scooting her body backwards, her lower body closer to his face. struggling against her restraints, she quickly pulled his blindfold off. "ali, get these restraints off me."

for a moment he hesitated out of respect before he obeyed. with trembling teeth, ali bit down on the rope, pulling against the binds. the rope burning her wrists before they broke.

freed from the rope around her wrists, she quickly untied the binds on her ankles before turning to ali, removing his restraints. he thanked her as he turned his body to face away from her, giving her privacy to get dressed as he did the same.

shivering from the cold air, she moved swiftly to slide her clothes on. putting on her jacket, she flipped her hair out, slipping her hands into her pockets, feeling her phone, wallet, and knife.

"i'm sorry, do you have a cell phone? may i borrow it please?"

ali's voice drew her attention. she glanced at him for a moment before deciding not to be an asshole. she nodded, sighing as she took her phone out. pressing the button, her screen lit-up, revealing her lock screen: a photo of her, her grandmother, and jacob. the battery indicator showed a thin red line, ready to die at any moment.

"my phone's about to die. i think there's a convenience store around here," she said, starting to walk away.

"m-may i come with you? i do not have a phone, and i'm not sure where i am," he asked, taking a step behind her, his hands pressed together in a near-plea.

she nodded, gesturing with her hand in her jacket for him to walk beside her. he smiled widely, jogging to her side.

she didn't see him as much of a threat, but she still kept him beside of her. any time his pace slowed and he accidentally fell behind, she matched his pace, her hand wrapped around her flick knife in her pocket. the cool metal was a small comfort, just in case.

the walk to the store was quiet, the only sound being the scuffle of of their footsteps on concrete. as they approached the small corner store, the bright lights illuminated the dark street. ali rushed in front of her, pushing the door open, a bell chiming overhead. holding the door open for her, she mumbled a small thank you, heading straight to the cashier, grabbing one of the power banks from the end cap, paying for it as ali looked around the store in curiosity by her side.

she attached the power bank to her phone, allowing it to charge as she handed it over to ali. he bowed in gratitude before stepping away to make his call. while he spoke off in the corner, cecelia browsed the food aisle, her stomach audibly growling. selecting a cheap bowl of ramyeon for herself. glancing over at ali, him conversing in his native language. on a whim, she grabbed a second bowl and headed back to the cashier, paying for both.

as he finished his call, she prepared and cooked the noodles, walking over to the lunch counter. ali met her halfway, his eyes lighting up at the sight and smell of the steaming noodles.

she held out the other cup of ramyeon, waiting for him to take it.

"oh. i, i cannot afford this." he stammered, looking between her and the food with pitiful eyes.

she set her cup of ramyeon down on the counter, taking her phone from his hand and gently placing it beside her food. grabbing ali's hand, she made him take the food. "i already bought it. now, eat. i can tell you're hungry." she insisted, more like demanded.

walking back to the counter and taking out her chopsticks. she glanced back at him, noticing his hesitation. she gestured to him with her chopsticks for him to come stand next to her. "come on."

he walked over, setting his bowl down before he started bowing as he thanked her. "thank you. thank you so much."

she hummed in response, leaning against the counter as she picked up some noodles with her chopsticks, finally glancing at her phone.

"excuse me, what's your name, miss?" ali asked, mirroring her actions with his chopsticks.

"uh, cecelia," she answered absentmindedly, her mind still reeling from the past forty-eight hours.

staring at her phone, she scrolled through the missed calls and messages from her grandmother, jacob, and yun-hee. she sighed, feeling too drained to respond.

ali noticed the visible stressed etched on her face, a frown seemingly permanent on her lips.

"cecelia, are you okay?" he asked, concerned. she looked over at him, coming into contact with his earnest, dark brown eyes.

there was something about ali. he was a stranger to her. she did not know him or his situation. but despite it, she felt an inexplicable trust in his presence, which was rare in her life.

"yeah, i'm okay," she reassured, offering a small, faux smile. he knew she was lying. he visibly saw the weight on her mind. but he chose not to press further, not wanting to push her away. because she too gave him a sense of comfort and trust. her being one of few to truly treat him as an equal here.

"i saw what you did out there on that field," she began, attempting to shift the conversation. "grabbing that man like that with one hand, saving his life. that was really cool."

ali smiled timidly at the compliment, stirring his noodles. cecelia's eyes glanced down at his free hand that rested on her counter. her face falling when she noticed his missing ring and pinkie finger.

"what happened?" she gestured towards his hand.

he looked down, curling his fingers into a fist to hide the missing ones. "there was an accident at work," he said, insecurity lacing his voice.

"you weren't compensated? you had two fingers fucking cut off."

ali shook his head.

she felt awful. only assuming his situation, trying to figure him out. he was likely an immigrant, working an under the table job, overworked and underpaid. much like she had dealt with.

"i'm sorry," she said softly. ali's eyes glanced up at her, almost taken back her the genuine kindness she had towards him.

the two finished their food in comfortable silence. ali nearly scarfing down his meal before she told him to slow down. as they walked out of the convenience store, cecelia shuddered at the cold air blowing her hair back from the frame of her face.

"what way are you headed?" she asked, crossing her arms around her body for warmth.

"oh, uh, i live in ansan."

she hummed, knowing it was a distance away. "do you have money for a bus?"

ali shook his head. "no, no money. i'll walk."

cecelia raised an eyebrow. "walk?...all the way to ansan?"

she sighed, digging into her wallet, she pulled out a 10,000 won that was given to her by the salesman, and handed it over to ali. "here. take a bus home."

"no, i...i cannot take it. i have no money to pay you back."

she smiled warmly, placing the money in his hand. "don't worry about it. just get home safe."

ali looked down at the 10,000 won, gently folding it over. he started to bow, cecelia clicking her tongue against her teeth, putting her hands on each side of his arms, she made him straighten up.

"and you don't have to keep bowing to me," she chuckled softly. him nervously chuckling too. "oh, okay. i'm sorry."

his constant thanks and apologizes made her roll her eyes playfully. she turned on her heel and started walking in the opposite direction. "bye, ali."

"thank you! have a good night!" he shouted, bowing to her once again as he watched her walk off. the big smile never leaving his face.

                    cecelia spent the entire night wandering seoul, her mind restless and untouched by fatigue. she dreaded returning to her apartment without the money for yun-hee, so she roamed the city, eventually making her way back to the dobong district by day break. occasionally, she would sit on a random bench, gazing up at the sky scattered with stars that slowly started to fade away.

morning came quickly, and the rush of traffic soon filled the streets. approaching her apartment building, she walked through the entrance, her eyes going straight to yun-hee's office, seeing her talking to another tenant.

cecelia froze in her tracks, watching yun-hee hand over a letter. the tenant's body language and yun-hee's repeated apologizes made it clear it was an eviction notice.

anxiety washed over her. quietly stepping back and exited the building, releasing a heavy sigh. with nowhere else to go, she aimlessly walked the busy streets, blending into the crowd. disappointment in herself had become a natural feeling. she honestly wished she would run into the salesman again. one more game. a chance at easy money once again.

her thoughts were interrupted by a man's voice shouting through the crowd.

"hey! hey, you! i know you!"

naturally, she turned her head towards the voice. her eyes locked onto the man across the the crosswalk. his face was vaguely familiar. then it clicked. he was player 456 — the loud one who caused such a commotion after that thug beat the so-called pick-pocket. she didn't care to know him, but now he was drawing unwanted attention her way.

quickening her pace, she maneuvered through the crowd, trying to escape his calls. his footsteps gained on her, frustration spiking as he caught up, blocking her path. "ah, what do you want?" she groaned.

"you're from the games. you kicked the shit out of that thug!" gi-hun laughed. "wow. you weren't scared at all."

cecelia looked up at the tall, older man. her eyebrows furrowed. "is that all?"

silence hung between them. cecelia's dismissive attitude made gi-hun struggle for words. she scoffed, walking past him. but he quickly matched her pace.

"hey, what's your name?" he asked, trying to keep up.

"why do you care?" she replied curtly.

"oh. well, i'm seong gi-hun," he said, smiling awkwardly.

"i know. you announced it to everyone."

gi-hun's cheeks highlighted his closed, awkward smile. maybe she was being rude for no reason. she hated that she felt bad about her attitude towards others most times. she sighed in annoyance. "cecelia."

his smile widened. "cecelia," he repeated. "i'm heading to the police station. want to come with me?"

cecelia's forehead wrinkled. "why?"

"i'm going to report those psychos that kidnapped us. hundreds of people were killed—"

"i know. i was there," she interrupted, stopping to fully face him. his eyes widened. she clicked her tongue, "i don't think that's a good idea."

gi-hun looked at her with crinkled eyes. "what? why?"

"no one's going to believe you on your word alone," she said, exhaling through pursed lips.

"so let's go to the police together! we need to report them!" his voice rose, his gestures wild. people on the street shot them strange looks as he continued to rant.

cecelia awkwardly smiled at the passerby, her gaze flickering between them and gi-hun. "gi-hun," she murmured. she hated social attention, and his public display that made him look crazy. frustration growing, she grabbed his arm, dragging him to a quieter corner.

"listen, you need to stop talking so loud. and no officer is going to believe that hundreds of people were killed playing kids' games. i mean, i wouldn't even fucking believe it if i didn't see it with my own eyes."

gi-hun scoffed in disbelief, shaking his head. "fine!" he snapped, turning to walk away. "i'll go by myself!" his voice was loud, still drawing attention. he briskly walked away from her, heading in the direction of the ssangmun-dong police station.

cecelia stood frozen, watching his back. her jaw tightened, her exhaling sharply. i don't care. i don't care. i don't care. she repeated in her mind, but it didn't help.

letting out a low growl, she took off after him. jogging up by his side, gi-hun glanced over his shoulder, surprised to see her beside him. a small grin tugging the corners of his lips.

"stop smiling at me. i'm only going to see you be proved wrong."

                    "okay. let me sum up everything you've told us so far. just so i understand. you went to play kids' games because someone told you you'd get all that cash. so then they had you play red light, green light, and they shot everyone who got caught. but when you said you wanted to go, they said "okay, just go," and you don't know what they look like or where this all took place. is that everything mister?"

since the moment cecelia and gi-hun walked into the station, gi-hun had been loudly recounting his story to the police. she stood off on the sidelines, offering minimal emotional support. both officers at the front desk exchanged skeptical glances, clearly not believing a word.

cecelia finally stepping forward, "look, i know this sounds insane...especially coming from him," she remarked sarcastically, making gi-hun gape at her. she exhaled sharply, her hand flat on the desk.

before she could continue, the older police officer leaned in. "are you taking care of him, miss? or do you need me to call a local medical center?"

she opened her mouth to respond, but gi-hun beat her to it, flying into a rage. "who do you take me for?! i'm a tax-paying citizen of ssangmun-dong, got that?!"

his jerky movements made her take a step back. he rummaged in his jacket pocket, accidentally elbowing her arm, causing her to hiss in pain. "you—asshole," she whispered through gritted teeth.

"here's their number! it's on their business card. call and see what they say!" he shouted, pulling out a card identical to the one cecelia had received.

the station door opened, catching cecelia's attention. another officer walked in, not in uniform. their eyes met. he was around her age and strikingly handsome. his face vaguely familiar to her. the two stared at each other for a moment longer before she turned back to gi-hun.

jun-ho entered the station with a fellow detective. his ears perked to the sound of a man raising hell. his eyes immediately landed on a very familiar face. he couldn't believe it. she was here. the person he had not been able to get off his mind for days, right here, at his workplace.

they locked eyes, his heart quickening. when she turned around, it snapped him back to reality. his eyes were trained on her, walking at the end of the front desk, he pretended to look at paperwork, his eyes drifting to her every few seconds.

cecelia and gi-hun watched the officer dial the number on the card. it rang and rang. cecelia rubbed her jaw, feeling this was futile.

finally, a woman answered. cecelia shook her head as the officer spoke. the number was changed. total obliviousness on the other end as the officer mentioned games. the woman growing frustrated, eventually calling him a pervert before the officer hung up.

the officer looked up, disappointed. cecelia pressed her lips together, glancing down at the floor in embarrassment.

jun-ho watched cecelia and the man she was with. he didn't notice him before. too taken back by her. now his attention was there. was this man her father? no, they looked nothing alike. her boyfriend? the thought gnawed at him with jealousy.

gi-hun adjusted his hat, glancing at the officer before turning to cecelia. embarrassed but still determined. "cecelia, you were there! tell him! give him your card. maybe the number on yours—"

cecelia grabbed his collar, pulling him down to speak quietly. jun-ho strained to hear, only fragments of her words.

"stop. you're making us look like idiots. they've obviously covered their tracks. there's nothing we can do...so, let's go. now." her voice stern. he frowned, knowing she was right.

gi-hun nodded reluctantly. "just give him your card. come on," he mumbled, pouting like a child.

she tapped his shoulder. "no. let's go," she said, pulling him towards the door.

the older officer stood up. "miss, do you need help with him?"

"no, thanks," cecelia replied sharply.

she glanced at jun-ho one last time before exiting the station. outside, gi-hun continued to rant about the officers, but cecelia barely listened, scratching her head in frustration.

jun-ho watched her leave, his lips forming a frown. there she goes again.

rolling her head on her shoulders, she repeated, "gi-hun, gi-hun, gi-hun...just, shut up." she held out her hand, stopping his tirade. his mouth hanging open, no words forming.

she looked at him with pursed lips, stepping closer, she put her hand under his chin, lifting his jaw, closing his mouth for him. shaking her head, she patted his chest before turning to walk down the street.

"wait! where are you going?" he called out.

"to figure my shit out," she said. "you should do the same."

"the stupid game guy? that guy? what do you need his name for, detective hwang?"

jun-ho cleared his throat, leaning against the front desk of the police station, talking to the officers still on duty from earlier. he suppressed a sigh, his real interest lying elsewhere—the girl, cecelia.

"the woman who was with him," jun-ho started. "he mentioned her name, cecelia. did she happen to give her last name?"

the officer shook his head. "nope. she hardly spoke. her boyfriend did all the talking."

jun-ho tensed at the word boyfriend. the younger officer behind the desk turned to the older one. "you really think that man was her boyfriend? that man is like twice her age! he looked like a hobo."

the older officer laughed. "you're right. she is way too hot—"

"what was the guy's name? he looked familiar to me," jun-ho interrupted, feeling a surge of tension at their casual talk about her. redirecting their attention back to the man instead of her.

they thought for a moment. "something like saeng or seong...seong gi-hun! that's his name, seong gi-hun."

jun-ho nodded. "how about getting his address too?"

jun-ho felt the surge of disappointment and frustration welling inside him. seong gi-hun's current demeanor contrasted with his earlier behavior at the police station. jun-ho became incredibly desperate after finding the same invitation that gi-hun had left at the station, in his missing brother's small apartment. he needed answers about these mysterious games, but the man before him seemed utterly defeated, insisting that everything he had said at the police station was a fabrication.

as gi-hun turned away, heading toward the gate of his home, jun-ho made a desperate move, grabbing the man's arm, stopping him.

"mr. seong, the woman you were with today at the station—do you happen to know her last name? or her address? if you won't help me, maybe she can."

gi-hun turned his head, scoffing lightly. "i doubt that."

"please, sir," jun-ho implored, desperation evident in his voice. was he more desperate to uncover the truth about these games his brother might be entangled in, or was he desperate to find her again? he wasn't sure.

gi-hun hesitated, sighing as he tried to remember. he didn't know her last name, only her first name and her player number, and knowing she has a real attitude. thinking back to when he encountered her on the street, he shook his head.

"i-i don't know...uh, i saw her leaving this apartment complex earlier...i'm not sure if that's where she lives, though."

as jun-ho listened, he mused to himself that the man most definitely wasn't her boyfriend—he didn't know her last name or where she lived.

"where's the complex?"

she seemed to be in this never-ending loop. walking back to her apartment to finally face yun-hee after the failure she was to find any sort of money. her mind a tempest of thoughts. thinking back to the games constantly. how could she possibly forget as if she didn't witness mass murder? the same way she had moved on from her past transgressions back home: by gaslighting herself that it never occurred. and beyond the horror of it all was the lost opportunity of a lifetime. that large cash prize now a distant, unattainable dream.

about to open her buildings door, the ping of her phone notifications caught her attention. her grandmother's message flashed on the screen.

     grandma:  news article: three gang members arrested in
   connection with extortion, money laundering, and armed
   robberies.

     grandma:  this is good news. i'll keep you updated. i love you.

cecelia closed her eyes momentarily, preparing herself before opening the news article. three mugshots appeared on her screen, and one face being painfully familiar — vanni. the man himself that had drawn her into a life of crime for money, manipulated her, and provided her with names of those to extort.

she sighed deeply, unsure if it was from relief, fear, or both. relief that these men were off the streets and no longer a threat to her family, but fear for herself. she prayed vanni wouldn't be betray her for a plea deal.

after sending her grandmother a quick "i love you too," cecelia shoved her phone into her pocket. throwing open the doors to her apartment building, her feet lead her straight to yun-hee's office. where yun-hee sat there, engrossed in paperwork.

cecelia knocked twice before entering. "hey." she greeted nonchalantly, pulling her wallet from her jeans pocket.

yun-hee slammed her papers, scoffing in disbelief. "hey. hey?! i've left you countless messages! i'm an idiot for giving you another extension and then you just leave!"

ignoring her, cecelia pulled out the 300,000 won and put it down on the desk in front of her.

hesitantly, yun-hee picked up the money, counting it quickly, disappointment evident. "celia...this is, barely one month's rent. it's not enough to keep you here."

cecelia looked down, pursing her lips. she was seven months behind. she knew it was coming.

defeated, she rubbed her forehead, trying to soothe an oncoming headache before letting her arms fall limply to her side. nodding, she said, "alright, i'll just...i'll go get my things." she turned to leave.

"you can't," yun-hee's voice stopped her. "i had to change your locks. you'll need to get an officer to help you get your things. i'm really sorry."

cecelia could see the guilt in yun-hee's expression, hear the guilt in her voice. slowly, yun-hee handed her a card. cecelia's eyes widening at the familar card stock with ink-stamped shapes on the front.

"someone slid this under your door when you were gone. since you couldn't get in, i thought you might want to have it."

her jaw tightened as she stared down at the card. flipping it over, she saw a date, time, and location. tonight. at the same place she was picked up last time. she glanced at yun-hee briefly, walking out without another word, slamming the door behind her.

outside, the weight of everything seemed to crush her all at once. tears began to form in her eyes, feeling like all her options were gone. everything that was partially stable in her life, now spiraled.

"fuck," she whispered, brushing her hair back. she inhaled and exhaled sharply, trying to stave off a panic attack and the pounding in her head.

"cecelia?"

she was seated on the black metal bench outside her apartment complex, the weight of the day etched into her posture. the sun had long set, leaving her bathed in the in the soft hues of the sky and the streetlights. her elbows rested on her knees, face buried in her hands. when a male's voice broke the silence.

"who the fuck wants to know?" she muttered, a breath escaping her as she finally looked up. her eyes, once lazy and unfocused, sharpened as she recognized the officer from the station — his face already vaguely familiar.

despite her harsh tone, jun-ho's heart skipped a beat, a reaction that seemed to be inevitable every time their eyes met. he could see the stress visible on her features. clearing his throat nervously, he pulled out his badge.

"hwang jun-ho. detective."

he offered a kind smile, but cecelia merely raised a brow, glancing between the badge and his face with a slight grimace. unimpressed, she seemed more bothered than anything else. he quickly pocketed his badge, feeling a bit deflated.

"sorry, you may not remember me but...i was at a bar on hongdae street the other day, and i—"

cecelia cut him off, her face lighting up with recognition. "that's where i know you! you told me to get out of there after i punched that guy. holy shit, i knew you looked familiar." she laughed softly.

jun-ho smiled, shoving his hand into his jeans pocket.

"you come back to arrest me for assault?" she questioned, crossing her arms over her chest as she leaned back on the bench.

he shook his head. "no, no. i, uh," he stammered as he took a seat next to her. "i actually arrested him that night."

her brow arched in surprise. "really?" A smile crept onto her face.

"really."

she scoffed lightly, her smile widening as she looked at jun-ho. his unwavering gaze made her feel so seen. and seeing her smile was everything to him, and knowing he caused it made his heart swell.

"wow. my hero," she teased.

jun-ho chuckled softly. "no. i believe you would've been fine even if i didn't step in."

she hummed thoughtfully, her eyes momentarily breaking from his intense stare. she felt a flutter of something she couldn't quite name. jun-ho's admiration wasn't hidden; it was palpable. he felt like a teenage boy experiencing his first crush, caught up in the intoxicating proximity to her.

while cecelia was grateful to the universe for throwing a cop in her direction when she needed one.

cecelia smiled, a flicker of something warm in her eyes. "help me out with something?" she asked, scooting to the edge of the bench and preparing to stand.

his eyes danced between hers and her lips. without asking what, he nodded quickly, a smile stretching across his lips. he stood up with her, mindlessly following her into the apartment complex and straight to the building manager's office.

yun-hee glanced up from her computer screen, her eyes widening as she saw cecelia enter with a man she'd never seen before. a small flush rose in her porcelain cheeks.

"okay. i did what you said. now can i get the keys to my apartment?" cecelia asked, her voice firm. jun-ho watched her, entranced by her as she spoke.

yun-hee gawked for a moment, confused but unable to tear her eyes away from jun-ho. cecelia rolled her eyes.

"flash your badge," cecelia nudged his arm. jun-ho quickly obeyed, showing it to yun-hee. taken back, yun-hee glanced at the badge before looking back at cecelia and jun-ho, who stood there waiting impatiently.

clearing her throat, she handed the key to a confused jun-ho. "thanks," cecelia muttered, walking out. jun-ho bowed to yun-hee before following after her, like a dog on a leash, questions swirling in his mind.

when they reached her apartment, jun-ho fumbled with the keys, unlocking the door for her. he waited outside the threshold until she invited him inside.

"do you want anything? something to drink?" cecelia offered.

jun-ho shook his head. "no, thank you," he said, bowing slightly.

he stood by her kitchen bar, feeling out of place. she made him nervous, painfully so. he had never felt this way before, not even with past relationships. he didn't know her, and yet he could tell she was different in the most intriguing way.

shoving his hands in his pockets, he glanced around her apartment. it was sparsely decorated, almost as if she had just moved in. cecelia sat down on one of her kitchen bar stools, placing a bottle of water next to her and gesturing for him to sit.

as he did, he remembered the first time he saw her at the bar, sitting a distance away. now, they faced each other as acquaintances, not just strangers.

"thanks again. you have great timing," she said, flipping her hair over her shoulder.

the train of thought about asking her about the games that gi-hun had reported vanished as he noticed a mark on her cheek. his finger gestured toward the red bruising and slight swelling covering her cheekbone. "what happened?"

her brows furrowed in confusion before she touched the bruise, remembering. her mouth going into an 'o' shape. "it's, uh, weird," she chuckled softly. "there was this guy at the subway station. be asked me to play a game of ddakji. if i won, he would give me 100,000 won. if i lost, i'd have to pay the same amount or pay with my body."

jun-ho's heart sank at her words. his mind immediately going to the worst. but cecelia shrugged nonchalantly. "i won a couple, lost more...i didn't have the money so he took a hundred grand off per slap."

"per slap?" he echoed, his voice tight.

she nodded, raising her brows with a sigh. his finger gesturing to the mark on her face.

"he hit you?"

jun-ho audibly heard the shift in his voice. he didn't mean to sound so exposed. cecelia noticed, an upside-down smile appearing on her face. "don't worry," she patted his hand. "i can take a slap."

he stared at her, unable to fathom why she would let someone do this to her. his anger shifted to worry. "why did your building manager give me your apartment keys?" he asked, genuinely curious.

her expression hardened. screwing her mouth up, her eyes fell from jun-ho's for a moment. "sorry, but since you're not here to arrest me, what exactly do you want from me?" she asked, shifting the conversation.

he swallowed, realizing he had leaned in too close, he backed up a bit. trying to refocus to what he was initially there for. to get answers. but when he found himself just wanting to ask about her, he knew he didn't search for her to ask about the games. it was to just see her. talk to her. be with a total stranger he found alluring.

he pulled out a photo of his brother. "my brother, hwang in-ho. my family and i haven't been able to get in touch with him in a while...i found a card in his apartment — the same one seong gi-hun left at the station. have you seen him?"

she studied the photo. seeing that his brother was much older than him. a smile on both of their faces, them standing next to each other in front of a police station. jun-ho wearing a police uniform. she had looked at many different faces that day, but not his. she shook her head. "sorry, no."

jun-ho shook his head, telling her it was okay. his thoughts scattered around her.

"there were four hundred and fifty-six players," cecelia began, reluctantly detailing her experience. the hundreds of people that were there, the guards in pink jumpsuits and masks with different shapes on them, the deadly game she participated in that killed over two hundred people. the promised 45.6 billion won. she knew it was sounded absolutely absurd. it being all so crazy, almost impossible to believe.

jun-ho wished he didn't believe it, but her detailed account convinced him. she was sane, just caught up in something dangerous. hesitantly, cecelia pulled out the invitation card that she had gotten from yun-hee. showing it to him. it matched the one he found in his brother's apartment.

"i'm going back," she said softly.

jun-ho's eyes left the card and back up to her as soon as he heard her utter those words. "what?" he asked in disbelief, "why?"

cecelia looked down, her lips pressed thin. the longer she ignored him, the more anxious he get. without thinking, his hand grabbed hers and her attention. glancing up at him, their eyes bore into each others. his shaking, waiting for her to talk to him.

his eyes faltered, going between her lips and eyes like weights.

"tell me...please."

her eyelids fluttered, looking down at his lips as she spoke delicately. "i got evicted..." she confessed. "i have nowhere to go. i need that money."

jun-ho's grip on her hand tightened. "so you're going to risk your life for money?" his tone near-panicked.

she looked down at their hands, warily. reluctantly, he let go, no longer feeling the warmth of her hands. he sighed, his hand laying flat on the bar.

"unfortunately, without money, there isn't much of a life," she replied, her words hanging heavy in the air. her body shifting uncomfortably in her chair. they sat in silence.

"if you need help..." he started, but cecelia immediately shut him down.

"it's none of your business." she got up from her chair. her quick movements startling him as she grabbed his wrist, pulling him with her to the door.

"it was nice meeting you, detective. thanks for arresting that guy at the bar and getting me into my apartment. and i'm sorry about your brother." she pushed him out gently, cutting off his protests. "when i get back, i'll buy you a drink. but for now..." she shut the door in his face, leaving him staring at the closed door with a sigh.

she sat in her apartment until it was nearly time to leave. her suitcase was packed, containing only the essentials. she had discarded anything not useful to her, consolidating her life into one large suitcase and a duffel bag. her heart pounding in her chest as her mind raced with her options. descending down the stairs of her apartment building, she made her way to yun-hee's office. their eyes met in a silent exchange as cecelia entered, carrying her luggage.

yun-hee's inner eyebrows raised slightly as she handed her the keys.

cecelia hesitated before speaking, "you've done so much for me. i cannot begin to thank you enough..."

her eyes darted nervously around the room before she continued, looking down. "i know you don't owe me anything, but i have nowhere else to go. i can't afford storage. is it, is it okay—"

yun-hee stood up from her desk, rounding it to stand in front of cecelia. she extended her hand, nodding reassuringly. "your things will be here, waiting for you."

she looked into yun-hee's eyes, finding comfort in her kind smile. she slowly handed over her duffel bag and suitcase, which yun-hee gently placed behind her desk. cecelia bowed deeply in gratitude before turning to leave.

"i really am sorry, celia," yun-hee called out.

she glanced back, her voice soft and sincere. "thank you for everything." in that brief moment, she said her own goodbye to the one woman who had shown her kindness, incase she didn't come back.

waiting for the van to show up, she stood on that dark, desolate sidewalk, experiencing déjà vu from a couple of nights before.

it was late, and the time zone differences often messed with when she was able to speak to her grandmother and nephew. standing on the quiet sidewalk, she stared at her phone, longing to call them and assure them that everything would be okay. she wanted to explain her plans and promise to do everything in her power to come back to them. say her goodbyes, just so nothing can go unresolved. she couldn't; any message she thought about sending might send her grandmother into a panic.

her attention snapped up from her phone at the sound of tires on the road. flickering headlights approached, and the familiar silver van pulled up in front of her. the pink-suited guard looked at her through his mask for a moment before the van door slid open.

she swallowed hard and got into the vehicle, noticing three unconscious people inside. instead of sitting by the door, she moved all the way to the back on the driver's side.

huffing as she sat down, she waited. the van door closed, smoke began to fill the interior. she discreetly covered her face with her shirt, leaning her head against the window, her eyes fluttered shut, pretending to be asleep. her hand wrapped around the familiar cold metal in her pocket.

unknowing to her, jun-ho's hand gripped the steering wheel tight as he watched her get into the car. his car several yards behind, as he began to follow behind.

A/N:
HAPPY NEW YEARSS!
it took me so long to write and edit this chapter. jun-ho giving off obsessed boyfriend vibes, cecelia and ali being best friends, and cecelia and gi-hun = chaotic duo.
please don't be a silent reader !

with love,
chayla