it started getting down to the wire, gi-hun and the rest still didn't bolt through the doors. kyung felt her hands grow shaky, everyone around her noticing. hyun-ju reached out grabbing her hand squeezing it for relaxation not minding her sweaty palm

"they were in the very back of the row meaning they probably will be one of the last teams to play." hyun-ju informed her with a head nod

kyung nodded, "i didn't notice that." she whispered with a quivery voice, her hands continued to shake uncontrollably

hyun-ju squeezed tighter making it stop, "i have no doubt that they will be okay." she tried to assure kyung being as positive as one could be while playing the waiting game

a voice emerged, "everything okay twin?" kyung frowned hastily then felt her eyes ease up looking at myung-gi who stood in front of her

"twin?" she asked with a shrug, sounding disoriented. her mind was doing laps, she wasn't thinking straight

myung-gi pointed at his black eye, "we both have matching bruises." he revealed kyung not even noticing that they both have black eyes on the left side of their eyes

his sarcastic tone and delivery was enough to make kyung and everyone sitting around her chuckle, "don't make me laugh pertaining to that." she murmured trying to hide her smile

"i had to get a smile on that pretty face of yours one way or the other." he complimented her highly, kyung felt her cheeks turning apple bottom red

they all were being messy communicating by with their eyes smirking at the two. silence wasn't too far behind them after myung-gi flirted with her.

"you're pretty popular in here aren't you darling? which man do you like more? him, the marine guy or that purple haired fellow?" geum-ja teased purposefully playing shaking her shoulders, kyung was completely flustered at this rate as all eyes were now officially on her

they all were waiting for an answer, "mama!!" young-sik covered his mother's mouth with his hand, "hush! stay out of her business!!" he barked at her in annoyance, she yanked his arm
down instantly punching him in the arm

"it's a simple question!!" she defended herself, myung-gi laughed quietly covering his mouth

kyung whistled loudly scratching the back of her neck. "i would like to know the answer." young-mi quietly said raising her hand instigating

kyung gasped whipping her neck around to look at young-mi feeling betrayed, "it's always the quiet ones who are messy!!" she yelled out loud burying her face in her hands. they all started to laugh at how serious she was being

the swish sound of the door opening could be heard, everyone stopped laughing. kyung removed her hands from her face, scared to look up. when she did, she looked to see that they made it. they all looked around trying to find kyung who stood up sprinting towards them

each of their faces lit up, she fell into dae-ho's arms first hugging him as tight as she could. his muscular arms brought a sense of warmth and comfort to her body, he hugged her back happily. they broke away from each other grinning, she then hugged the rest of them except for gi-hun and the pregnant girl who she barley knew

but nonetheless she was still happy to see her, "are you okay?" she asked jun-hee who smiled nodding her head rubbing her belly

"yeah, we're fine." she whispered, her eyes were showing grace towards kyung who looked worried about her

"good, good." player 001 gestured for jun-hee to come sit with them giving kyung and gi-hun a moment alone, they both stood amongst each other awkwardly

both of them refusing to look at each other, gi-hun eventually apologized to her. "i'm really sorry about earlier, i didn't mean it."

kyung nodded, "it's okay. i should have told you where i was going instead of just vanishing into thin air." her voice was sincere, she started popping her rubber band against her wrist feeling a stinging sensation

"no, you don't owe me an explanation for anything you do." gi-hun muttered

kyung frowned dropping her eyebrows lowly, "just like you don't have to protect me but you still do it anyway." she attested crossing her arms

gi-hun huffed loudly going to her, she walked over to him with them both hugging tightly. his chin rested on the top of her head, he began to gently stroke her long black hair which made her calm down. she shut her eyes taking in his sweet-smelling scent

they needed each other more than both could ever know, both of them thinking different things knowing that voting is happening soon...

it was time to go home, kyung knew she wouldn't be able to survive yet another game. her mind was going insane not knowing how soo or hana are doing especially after that nightmare she experienced

the two started walking to go join their teammates having to walk past thanos and his clique, he smirked deviously calling out to her.

"hey señorita!!" his deep voice yelled, by this rate kyung knew that voice all too well. she rolled her eyes, her feet coming to an abrupt stop

a sigh came out of her mouth, turning around seeing him look at her with frisky eyes, "what?" she asked already over the conversation that hasn't even began yet

"what year were you born in?" he asked looking into her brown orbs, kyung looked at his crew who all were staring at her not speaking

"don't worry about it." she hissed at him

se-mi cut in, "he is asking all of us our birth years, don't worry." she tried assuring kyung who fixed her attitude hearing her voice

while the gorgeous girl looked tough, her voice embodied kindness. her good heart was shown through the quick interaction they both shared

gi-hun finally noticed that kyung wasn't behind him anymore, "she is too young for you." he finalized grabbing her hand about to tug her away from them all

"why is it that somebody is always speaking up for her? is she a child or something?" nam-gyu asked being a smartass, him and the rest of the men snickered to themselves

gi-hun walked up on them, "she is nineteen-" the laughing came to an instant halt hearing that, all of their faces twisted up in despair feeling like they were being fucked with

they all looked over at her, "damn, she is a baby." nam-gyu said at a loss for words

everyone in here was at least pushing thirty and above, they all began questioning what a girl that young was doing here. "why the hell are you in here? you have no business being in a place like this kid." se-mi said worriedly

"the same reason as you all, i have demons i'm fighting every single day." kyung answered sounding tough as nails, she pretended not to feel thanos gazing at her excessively

someone cleared their throat, "excuse me miss?" kyung turned her body to see a young looking man standing amongst her who was absolutely alluring to look at

much taller than kyung, a gorgeous curl pattern enhancing his already beautiful features and a striking psychic. she gulped nervously as he towered over her, "yes?" she asked befogged by this random approach

"i was just wondering—-" he stopped speaking hearing the two players who stood behind him trying to hold in their laughter, the guy licked his lips then chuckled evilly

he walked up whispering in her ear smoothly, "can i get some action?" he asked confidently moving away from her ear, a seductive smirk budding on his full plump lips

kyung grimaced at him, "what?" she asked raising her voice not believing the audacity he had to ask a stranger that

"c'mon, we might as well have some fun in here. i could get a piece of whatever player 333 got, make you feel good." he asked with no shame running through his body, kyung scoffed in disgust

gi-hun gently pushed her back getting in front of her, "what'd you just say to her?" he asked lowly,  seeming astonished

"c'mon old man. it's pretty clear she is a little slut prancing around here jumping from man to man. me and my boys just want our share, we'll get it either—-"

"little slut?!!" kyung suddenly raged out about to run up and smack him and his friends upside their heads but gi-hun held her back with hyun-ju coming up helping drag her away

thanos got up swiftly getting all in the dudes face, no sort of fear in his eyes. "watch your mouth little boy." he warned with venom dripping from his lips, his sharp jawline was now clenched

nam-gyu got up going to stand beside his boy ready for whatever. the man took it all as a joke continuing to mouth off, "so tell me... what does she taste like?" he asked boldly with his boys laughing annoyingly

thanos rapidly punched the man in his face, everyone letting out startled breaths. his fist connected with the man's jaw knocking him to the floor, he groaned out in pain.

his two friends taking the initiative to try to jump thanos, nam-gyu running over tackling one to the ground while gyeong-su fought the other moron. each boy getting a good lick in on each other except for the man thanos was violently beating, not one chance was stood

he grabbed a fistful of his jacket going ham on him, the sound of bones crackling was distinct. with every hit, the back of his head violently thrashing against the hard, cold floor. enough hard thumps rattling his brain to cause him to fall into a coma. nobody jumped in trying to stop him, every punch seemed to overpower the other

the rings placed on his fingers made the injuries to the guys face more brutal. blood started to appear on his knuckles that were turning red. thanos growled angrily keeping the punches coming

his punches were so vicious that the man couldn't even beg for him to stop. when nam-gyu and gyeong-su were finished fighting, the two were groaning out in pain.

nam-gyu walked over looking in pure aghast, "bro that is enough." he claimed with a heavy breath flinching at how hard he was going in

"shut the fuck up!" thanos yelled out, kyung couldn't take it anymore and ran over to where the commotion was

she tried grabbing thanos on his shoulder wanting to rip him off the man, "stop it!! he has had enough!——-" dae-ho yanked her up, she did everything she could to be set free from his grip but he was too powerful

nam-gyu and gyeong-su pulled him off the man, thanos stopping when he heard kyung cry out. he yanked himself away from the two looking at them angrily, "don't touch me!" he yelled out with big eyes

heavy breathing suddenly was heard, everybody gasped inching closer to the man who now looked absolutely unrecognizable. both men who got light beatings limped over to their friend trying to help him but there was nothing they could do

"my goodness...." a female player whispered covering her mouth in shock, many players tried not to gag or throw up seeing the horrific injures sustained

his face looked like he had been stung by a bee. one of his eyes now had a popped blood vessel, the taste of metal was in his mouth due to the excessive bleeding happening. he looked unrecognizable, thanos stood there emotionless

players scared to even be near him now backing up with caution. he walked up looking the man in his eyes which were started to shut due to the swollenness. thanos watched the man take his last breath, everybody started to prattle

a tear escaped from kyung's eye, dae-ho turned her face away in time burying her head into his chest. "no!" her sobbing was muffled out, dae-ho picking her up bridal style carrying her away. his shirt started to get drenched with her tears. she was in pure distress, everyone of the men who promised to protect her trying to console her

the guards ran inside with their machine guns strapped to their sides, all the players scattered going to sit in their bunk beds. except for thanos who wasn't affected by any of it. even with a gun pointed towards his chest, he just laughed

one of the guards bent down checking for a pulse but there wasn't one. the man was long gone, cold as ice

"player 113 has been eliminated."

i love you all 💞