People were screaming. Bodies were dropping. The room was filled with the sounds of desperate struggles, grunts, cries, the sickening thud of fists and weapons meeting flesh.

Joo Yeon's breath came in short, sharp bursts as she tried to stay hidden beneath the bed. The shadows of players moved frantically around her, some running, some attacking, some falling and never getting back up.

Amidst the chaos, she turned her head.

Ji-yeong.

Her heart pounded as her eyes darted through the darkness, straining to find her friend. Then, she saw her, curled up beneath her bed, just as they had planned. Their gazes met for a fleeting moment. Ji-yeong looked shaken but unharmed.

A sudden, violent crash made Joo Yeon flinch. One of the bunks tipped over, sending a player tumbling onto the hard floor. A pair of feet rushed toward them, stopping inches away from her hiding spot.

She held her breath.

Then, another scream—cut short.

A player wielding a jagged piece of a broken bottle lunged at another, slashing wildly. They struggled violently before both collapsed, their bodies hitting the ground near Joo Yeon's bed.

Before she could react, rough hands grabbed her ankle, yanking her out from her hiding spot. She gasped, struggling against the grip as her attacker loomed over her, his bloodied bottle raised.

Instinct took over. Joo Yeon snatched her own bottle from where it rested on her stomach and smashed it against his head. Blood splattered on her face.

He staggered back, blood mixing with the shards of glass. Joo Yeon scrambled to her feet, heart racing as the chaos around them raged on.

She looked at the man she had killed.

His body lay still, eyes wide open but lifeless. Blood pooled beneath his head, dark and glistening in the dim emergency lighting. Joo Yeon's breath hitched. Her hands trembled, still gripping the broken neck of the soju bottle.

She had no time to process it. No time to think. She crawled back into her hiding spot and pulled her legs up to her neck.

A voice cut through the chaos.

"All of you, stop this."

Joo Yeon froze. Her fingers tightened around the broken bottle. She didn't know if the others were listening, if the fighting had stopped, or if it had only gotten worse. All she could do was stay hidden and wait.

"I'm... I... I'm scared. We are all gonna die in here! We are all gonna die in here!"

His cries echoed through the room, raw with desperation. Joo Yeon clenched her jaw.

"Please. I'm so scared. Stop this madness! If you keep this going, then we're all going to die in here!", he said and with that blaring of the door alarm cut through the room like a knife, sharp and deafening. The cries, the screams, the clashes of bodies all came to a sudden halt.

Then— BANG.

A gunshot echoed, silencing whatever chaos remained.

Joo Yeon's heart pounded in her ears as she curled tighter under the bed, her breath coming in shallow gasps.

A cold, authoritative voice followed. "Drop your weapons."

For a moment, nothing happened. Then, one by one, the clatter of makeshift weapons hitting the floor filled the silence—shattered bottles, sharpened scraps of metal, anything that had been used to survive the night.

Joo Yeon hesitated before loosening her grip on the broken soju bottle and letting it slip from her hands.

Beside her, Ji-yeong did the same. Slowly, cautiously, they crawled out from under their beds. The room was eerily still now, the air thick with tension.

The masked men moved through the dormitory, their dark uniforms making them look even more intimidating under the dim emergency lights. They checked on the umoving players using scanners and whenever it beeped it meant that person was dead.

Joo Yeon swallowed hard, her eyes darting to Ji-yeong. Neither of them said a word, but the look in her friend's eyes said it all.

They had survived the night.

After a few minutes on checking on them the PA system crackled to life.

"Player 277, eliminated. Player 74, eliminated. Player 198, eliminated."

Joo Yeon held her breath when the guard stopped near Joo Yeon's bed. He looked at her briefly before crouching and scanning the person who she had killed.

A sharp beep echoed through the tense silence.

Joo Yeon's stomach twisted.

"Player 222, eliminated," the PA system announced.

Her hands clenched into fists at her sides. She felt Ji-yeong shift slightly beside her, but neither of them spoke.

The masked guard lingered for a moment, staring at the lifeless body beside her. Then, without a word, he stood and moved on to the next player.

Joo Yeon exhaled shakily.

More names continued over the speakers, each one a reminder of the bloodshed that had just taken place. More proof of how brutal the night had been.

She didn't want to look, but her eyes betrayed her. She glanced at the corpse she had left behind. Blood still pooled beneath his head. His face was frozen in shock, a reflection of his final moments.

The realization hit her like a wave.

She had killed someone.

It had been him or her, she knew that. But it didn't make it any easier to swallow.

Ji-yeong nudged her gently, her voice barely above a whisper. "Come on."

Joo Yeon forced herself to nod, dragging her gaze away as the guards continued their count.

She sat on her bed and stared at her hands. It was covered in blood. In his blood. She took a deep breath and looked at the other players. Everyone was shaken up and she saw the genius's group talking to each other. They had all survived and other the other side was the thug's group.

The thug himself had injured him and the other player was stitching him up. Despite him being injured he still had the evil smirk on his face and when he felt someone staring at him , he turned his gaze towards Joo Yeon. The smirk widened, revealing a sense of triumph that sent a shiver down Joo Yeon's spine. It was as if he reveled in their fear, relishing the chaos he had created.

Joo Yeon looked the other way and laid back on her bed. She closed her eyes , trying to block out the sounds of the room.

In her mind's eye, she replayed the events that had led them here, each moment etched with fear and desperation. She could still see the blood, the panic, the hopelessness. It was all too overwhelming.

As she lay there, images of her past flickered through her thoughts: moments of laughter with friends, the warmth of family, and the dreams she had before being thrust into this nightmare. Joo Yeon clenched her fists, fighting back tears.

Suddenly, she felt a soft touch on her shoulder. Ji-yeong had come to her side, concern etched on her face. "Hey, are you okay?" she asked quietly, her voice a soothing balm amidst the chaos.

"Yeah, I'm alright," Joo Yeon replied, taking a deep breath. "I just need to use the restroom." She stood up from the bed.

"Okay... do you want me to come with you?" Ji-yeong offered, her eyes searching for reassurance.

Joo Yeon shook her head. "No, I'll be fine. I just need a moment alone." She forced a smile, hoping to ease Ji-yeong's worry.

"Alright, just be careful," Ji-yeong said, her voice still laced with concern as Joo Yeon walked toward the door.

She stepped onto the women's restroom and sighed.

She then turned on the faucet, letting the cold water run over her hands before splashing it onto her face. The icy sensation jolted her, grounding her for a moment. She gripped the edges of the sink, staring at her reflection in the cracked mirror. Her face was pale, her eyes wide and haunted. The events of the night played over in her mind.

Blood, screams, the weight of the broken bottle in her hand.

Then, a sound broke through her thoughts.

A low, breathy moan.

Joo Yeon's eyes flickered toward the row of stalls behind her. The noise came again, hushed but unmistakable. Pleasure, not pain. Her stomach twisted. In the middle of this nightmare, someone was... enjoying themselves?

She took a cautious step back, her heartbeat quickening. Should she leave? Pretend she didn't hear anything? But her curiosity got the better of her. Holding her breath, she inched closer to the stalls, listening.

Joo Yeon stood frozen, her breath caught in her throat. The rhythmic sound of bodies moving against each other filled the air, accompanied by a man's low grunts and a woman's breathy sighs.

Then, a thin trail of smoke curled upward from the top of the stall. Someone was smoking.

She stayed still, listening.

The woman spoke up first, "Old man. You and that doctor are hiding something."

Joo Yeon's breath hitched. The thug. She recognized his voice instantly. The same deep, rough tone from earlier in the games.

She took a step back and ended up slipping on the floor, landing hard with a thud.

The sound echoed through the empty restroom.

Joo Yeon froze, her heart hammering in her chest.

The conversation in the stall abruptly stopped.

She heard shuffling inside the stall. Hurried movements, like someone adjusting their clothes.

Then, footsteps.

The slow, deliberate sound of someone approaching.

Joo Yeon barely had time to react before the stall door creaked open.

The thug stepped out first, his sharp eyes narrowing the moment he spotted her sprawled on the floor. Behind him, the woman followed, adjusting her clothes, her expression unreadable.

For a moment, none of them spoke.

Then, the thug tilted his head, a slow smirk spreading across his face. "Well, well," he drawled. "Look who we have here."

"Ohh yes... Wanna have fun? I bet that's why this whore was listening," the woman said with disgust etched on her face.

"Yes, let's have fun," the thug said with a twisted grin, bending down and cupping Joo Yeon's breast.

Joo Yeon's breath hitched as his hand groped her. Disgust and rage surged through her, overriding the fear that had momentarily paralyzed her. Without thinking, she shoved him away with all her strength, scrambling back on the slick bathroom floor.

"Don't touch me!" she hissed, her voice sharp with fury.

The thug stumbled slightly but quickly regained his balance, amusement flickering in his eyes. The woman beside him crossed her arms and sneered. "Oh? Feisty little thing."

Joo Yeon's heart pounded as she pushed herself up, fists clenched. She knew she was in danger and no one was coming to save her.

"Now you did cross your line," the thug snarled, his voice cold and threatening. With a swift motion, he shoved Joo Yeon back onto the floor, pinning her down with force. His hands grabbed her arms, pulling them above her head and forcing them against the cold, hard ground.

Joo Yeon's breath caught in her throat, panic rising in her chest as she struggled against his grip. Her mind raced for a way out, her body instinctively writhing, but his hold was like iron.

"Let go of me!" she cried, her voice filled with desperation. Every fiber of her being screamed to escape, but the weight of the thug's presence kept her pinned.

His smirk widened as he loomed over her, the scent of stale sweat and aggression heavy in the air. "Struggling's only going to make it worse for you, sweetheart."

With that he used his right hand and trailed Joo Yeon's upper body to lower body and then back to the top. With a smirk his hand went towards her jacket's zipper and without breaking eye contact with Joo Yeon, he opened the zipper and slipped his hand in. His hand went towards her waist and slipped his hand under her white tshirt and he traced her waistline before moving up towards her breasts.

He cupped them hard making Joo Yeon to whimper slightly and before he could remove her bra he was interrupted.

"Let her go," the voice commanded, firm and unwavering.

The thug immediately froze, his grip loosening slightly as his head whipped around toward the voice.

He mumbled a string of curses underneath his breath.

It was none other than Sang-woo, standing in the doorway with a dangerous glint in his eyes. His posture was rigid, every muscle tense as if he were ready to spring into action at any moment.

The thug took a step back, his face twisting into a mix of confusion and irritation. "You got a problem, pretty boy?" he sneered, attempting to mask the unease creeping into his voice.

Sang-woo didn't flinch. His gaze never left the thug as he slowly moved forward, his eyes darkened. "You're the one with the problem," he said coldly. "Let her go."

"Okay. Fine fine. Enjoy your time with your girl," the thug said moving away from Joo Yeon and walking out followed by the woman who sneered at her.

Sang-woo didn't move until the door slammed shut behind them. Only then did he step toward Joo Yeon, his expression softening slightly.

"Are you alright?" he asked quietly, kneeling down beside her.

Joo Yeon, still in shock, nodded shakily, her breath still coming in quick, shallow gasps. "I... I don't know... but I'm glad you were here."

Sang-woo extended a hand, helping her up. "You don't have to thank me. I won't let anyone hurt you."

Wait what? Not let anyone hurt me?

Confusion bubbled up inside her as her eyes shifted toward him. This was the first time she was seeing him this close. He was tall, with sharp features. His dark eyes held a kind of depth that made her feel both seen and exposed at the same time. And yes, he was undeniably handsome, but now wasn't the time to be thinking about that.

Before she could gather her thoughts or respond, Sang-woo closed the space between them with a speed that took her completely by surprise. Without a word, he leaned in and kissed her.

The world seemed to freeze for a moment. Joo Yeon's heart skipped a beat, and everything else faded away. His lips were firm, warm, and urgent, as if he was trying to convey something that words couldn't express. Joo Yeon's body went stiff, unsure of how to react. Her mind screamed at her to pull away, to make sense of this strange moment, but she couldn't bring herself to move. The kiss lingered for a moment, then broke, leaving her breathless.

Sang-woo looked at her with a mix of resolve and something else.

"I... I didn't mean to surprise you," he said softly, his voice a little shaky now. "But I needed you to know that I'm not just going to watch you get hurt. I don't want you to feel alone in this."

Joo Yeon blinked a few times, still trying to steady her racing heart. Her mind was all over the place, torn between the shock of the kiss and the realization that something else was off. She swallowed, finally breaking the silence as the fog of confusion began to clear.

"What... what are you doing in the female restroom?" she asked, her voice a mix of surprise and suspicion.

"You were gone for too long. And I did see the thug and his whore going out. So when you didn't come, I felt something bad might have happened and that's what exactly happened," he said.

Joo Yeon's eyes narrowed slightly as his words settled in. Her heart was still racing, but now there was a new layer of confusion.

"So, you were watching?" Her voice was more guarded now, a hint of disbelief in her tone.

Sang-woo shifted uncomfortably, his gaze not meeting hers. "No, I wasn't watching... not like that," he said quickly, raising his hands in a defensive gesture. "I was just... keeping an eye out. I didn't want anything to happen to you or to anyone else."

"Still you shouldn't have come in here," she said quietly, her voice steady but firm. "This isn't your place to interfere like this."

Sang-woo took a deep breath, finally meeting her gaze, his eyes filled with a mixture of sincerity and regret. "I know. I'm sorry for barging in. I just... I couldn't risk it. I wanted to make sure you were safe."

"I don't know what's going on here, Sang-woo," she said, her voice softer now, but still laced with uncertainty. "I don't know if I can trust you."

Sang-woo's brow furrowed, a flash of confusion crossing his face. "How do you know my name?" he asked, his voice edged with curiosity.

Joo Yeon hesitated for a moment, unsure if she should mention anything about the others. But she knew she needed to say something, to clear the air a little.

"I overheard player 456," she said, her voice quiet but clear. "He was using your name when speaking witn you."

"Oh yes he was. that's Gi-hun. My childhood friend," he said.

Joo Yeon nodded slowly, taking in his words. Her mind was still trying to process everything, and now hearing about Gi-hun being Sang-woo's childhood friend only added more layers to the puzzle. She hadn't expected such a connection.

"So, you know him well?" she asked, her voice still laced with a hint of skepticism. She couldn't help but wonder how much she could trust what Sang-woo was saying. Everyone in this game had their own agenda, and so far, everyone had proven to be unpredictable.

"Yeah, we've known each other for years. We grew up together," he said and continued, "I didn't catch your name."

"I'm Joo Yeon," she said taking a deep breath in and without a word she walked out of the restroom leaving Sang-woo standing. 

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𝐀𝐧𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬? 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐬𝐨 𝐠𝐮𝐲𝐬?