Hyunrin awakes at the sound of some... alarm. She opens her eyes to see the bottom of a bed. Her eyes roll around, seeing more people wearing green tracksuits. She looks down at her body to see the same tracksuit on her.
     Hyunrin waited at the designated spot, hugging herself with her arms. It was safe to say she was nervous, however, her gut stayed silent. So, she waited.
     Just when she was about to leave, a small van drove around the corner and stopped before her. The door opened and for a brief moment, Hyunrin hesitated before she got in. She buckled up as the van started to drive away.
     A hissing sound along with the gas filled the van. Hyunrin looked around, watching the gas draw near her. She couldn't avoid it, but it didn't have an odd smell. Her eyes started to feel heavy and soon, sleep claimed her.
     Hyunrin climbs out of her bed, watching her white shoes—plain, just like everyone's. Soon, her eyes fall on three numbers on her chest: 132. She looks around to see that every person has a unique number. She walks down the stairs, curious how many people are there. The beds are arranged similar to the seats in a soccer arena. The middle is open for people to walk, yet it is divided into two halves: one with an x and one with an o. Its meaning? That remains unknown. Hyunrin gazes at the screen—456 players.
     A buzzer rings through the hall as the doors slide open, and men dressed in pink step into the room. The Pink Guards are all clad in identical outfits to maintain their anonymity: a pink hooded jumpsuit, black gloves, black boots, and a mask that obscures their identities. Everyone gathers before the guards.
     ''I would like to extend a hearty welcome to all of you,'' the guard with a squared mask greets. His voice sounds robotic. ''Everyone here will participate in six different games over six days. Those who win all six games will receive a handsome cash prize.''
     ''Excuse me!'' All turned to the voice as a woman with the number 120, Hyun-Ju, stepped down. ''You said I'd be playing games, but you practically kidnapped me. So, how can I believe that?'' All players turn from the woman to the guards.
     ''I apologize. Please understand that it was necessary to maintain the game's security,'' the squared guard explains.
     ''What's with the mask then?'' a woman asks. ''Is your face also a secret?'' Some people agree with the woman, asking why they hide behind a mask—even comparing these guards to gamblers.
     ''To ensure fair gameplay and confidentiality, it is our policy not to reveal the faces and identities of staff. Please understand,'' the squared guard says. Hyunrin glances at the guard speaking before turning his attention to the ones standing beside him. Their masks are circular—does that mean they have different ranks?
     ''Did you take off my clothes and put these on me?'' a woman raises her jacket.
     ''What's with these shoes?'' a man with purple hair asks, looking at the plain, white shoe. ''My shoes are limited fucking edition. They're hard to find. Are you going to replace them if they get ruined?''
     ''These don't fit and the color sucks!'' she continues, stating she rather wears what the guards are wearing.
     ''That is not possible. You must be in your uniforms for the games.'' Some people start asking questions about their phones and belongings, to which the guard replies by returning them to them after the games.
As the man with the number 333 continues to ramble, the guard calls his number and name before the remote beeps. On-screen is shown how Myung-Gi played Ddakji while the guard called out his crimes and debt, which caught some players' attention because they lost money because of him.
     The video plays several people and the guard calls out their debt.
''Player 132, Hwang Minsoo. 90 million in debt.''

The Front Man shot to his feet once player 132 was called out. A cold hand grasps his heart as disbelief flows through his veins.
     Do my eyes deceive me?
     The Front Man pauses the screen and stares, taking in what he sees. ''It cannot be,'' he whispered. He removes his mask, afraid it is all an illusion. However, she remains on the screen. Nine years older. Yet, as beautiful as ever. That cold hand melts and his heart starts beating again. It feels like he can breathe again.
     He grasps the papers from his desk, checking her information. His eyes roam over the paper, his eyebrows furrow in a scowl. Hwang Minsoo. That is not her name, yet her birthdate aligns with his wife's. However, his guards never found her. They never found Hwang Hyunrin... Unless she has changed her name to Minsoo.
     Minsoo.
Hyunrin.
My wife.
     In-ho knows his wife. He knows the face he has fallen in love with, the moment she passed him after silencing a man. The woman on his screen is his wife. He could never forget such a woman. He sinks to his knees as tears fill his eyes.
     He shakes himself out of his daze as he realizes where she ended up. He raises to his feet and reaches for the phone, his eyes never leaving the screen. In-ho puts on his mask to give orders as the Front Man.
     ''Sir?'' the head of security answers.
     ''Send a message to all guards,'' he starts. His voice has a low and threatening tone. ''If you eliminate player 132, you will wish you were never born.'' It stays silent on the other side of the line.
     ''Is that understood?''
     "Yes, sir. I'll ensure the order reaches the guards," the guard confirms. The line went silent and the game continued. In-ho sinks into his chair, letting the news settle down.
"My moon and stars," he whispers.

''All of you in this room have crippling debts and are now on a cliff-edge. When we first came to you, you did not trust us either. But as you know, we played a game and gave you money as promised. And so, you trusted us and volunteered to participate according to your own free will. You have one last chance to decide. Do you want to live like a piece of trash, running from creditors? Or will you seize the last opportunity we offer?'' the squared guard asks.
Ceiling rumble and glass. piggy bank comes down. ''What you see now is the piggy bank where your valuable prize money will be stored. The prize money will accumulate in this piggy bank after each of the six games you will play.''
''How much is the prize money?'' player 007, Yong-Sik, asks.
''The prize money for the games is 45.6 billion won in total.''
''And one of us will get it?'' he continues.
''We will give you the details about the distribution of the prize money after the first game. For these games, you will be given a special new advantage.''
''What is it?'' an older man asks, player 100.
''After each game, you will be given a chance to vote whether to continue the games or not. If the majority votes to stop the games, you can leave with the prize money accumulated up to that point," the guard explains.
     ''Are you saying we'll still receive the money, even if we leave after the first game?'' player 456, Gi-Hun asks, stepping down the stairs.
     ''That's correct.''

''Good heavens. Excuse me," an elder woman makes her way through the crowd. ''You idiot.''
     ''Mom! What... What are you doing here?'' Yong-Sik questions shocked.
     ''That's what I wanted to ask you! What are you doing here?'' she yells
     ''You're embarrassing me.'' The quarrel goes on before the guard continues.
     ''If you wish to participate in the games, please sign the player consent form. Those who do not wish to participate, please speak up now. We always give you a chance to leave the games.'' The circular guards stand behind seven desks with the consent forms.
Hyunrin moves to the middle line, behind the elder woman with her son. The son tries to talk his mother out of it, however, she struggles and signs the consent. They continue to quarrel as they move out of line. Minsoo walks up to the guard, then looks down at the consent:

1. A player is not allowed to voluntarily quit.

2. A player who refuses to play will be eliminated.

3. The games may be terminated upon the majority vote. In case of a tie, players will vote again.

4. If the games are terminated, players will divide the prize equally.

Signature....................

She frowns at the word elimination. That sounds a little harsh, but she hasn't much of a choice. She takes the pen and draws her signature, her original signature—with her original name.

The Front Man watches his wife fiddle with her locket. The locket he gifted her. A thought shot through his head: he hadn't returned because he heard his wife was dead... Then who paid for her surgery?
I believe I have a second reason to join the games.
He leaves his room to head to the control room since they will snap a photo to state their participation.
     Hyunrin... His beloved wife.
     His heart jolts, yet he needs to proceed with care. He cannot approach her like nothing has happened. God, he wants to see her face once she sees him.
     My moon and stars.
     He heads into the control room, where several guards sit behind their desks, watching the screens. He stands behind a panel, gazing down at the few photos being taken. There are no 132 or 456 yet.
     Player 456, Seong Gi-Hun. Winner of the Squid Game three years ago. The Front Man knows his purpose and will try to manipulate him.
     Player 456 is his main target. His focus.
     However, he never imagined in his wildest dreams that he would see his wife again. To his shock, her face appears on one of the tiles—132–Hwang Hyunrin. Soon after, his focus shifts to the tile with Gi-Hun's face. Unlike his previous participation, Gi-Hun now wears a look of determination.
     After all the players have had their photos taken, they move on to the first game—Red Light, Green Light. He knows exactly what Gi-Hun will attempt: to guide everyone safely across.

HWANG JUN-HO

"Mom, where is Nuna?" I question. I've noticed she's been absent, but Min-Ho still spends his days here. I haven't been able to look her in the eyes the way I used to—not since I found out her husband is very much alive. Well, her husband... the leader of some twisted game.
     "Nuna is alive!" I yelled, tears filling my eyes. I had to make an effort to bring him back to Nuna. Shock flashed across my brother's face, yet it swiftly disappeared.
     ''Liar,'' he hissed, tightening the grip around his gun. I could not believe what was happening. I found my brother as a leader of some twisted games and he was pointing his gun at me.
     ''Hyung, Nuna is—"
     ''LIAR!'' he bellowed. ''Don't you dare think you can use my wife to ensure your safety.'' Despair filled my chest. This was where my story would end, looking at my brother. The one who would put a bullet through my heart. I would never see my nephew or Nuna.
     ''Hyung, please,''  I pleaded.
     ''Don't waste my time with lies,'' he gritted through his teeth. I stumbled toward my brother with my arms open.
     ''In-Ho, why?'' my voice broke, but I couldn't care less. I stared into my brother's eyes as the world around us seemed to slow. The sound of his gunshot rang out, and the bullet moved in slow motion. This felt like the end of my story. The bullet hit my shoulder, and as I fell off the cliff, I never looked away from my brother.
     Darkness took me.
     "She got an offer to make more money," she replies, knitting a sweater. A scowl forms on my forehead.
     "Make more money? I thought she was alright," I answer. I watch my mother put down her needles and she looks me in the eyes.
     "She has an enormous debt," she sighs. "Her donor demands his money returned." My heart sinks as I know where this is heading. If she has entered the games...
     "Did she tell you where she went?" I ask, despair filling my voice. My mother draws a concerned expression as she shakes her head. My breath sped up as heat spread across my body.
     "What is going on?"
     I need to find that island.
     I need to find my brother.
     I need to find my sister-in-law.
     I need to find...
     I need to...
     I need...
     I...
     Darkness takes me as everything goes black. The last thing I heard was my mother calling my name.

ᵀᴿᵞᴵᴺᴳ 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚜𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚊𝚢 𝚞𝚙𝚍𝚊𝚝𝚎