The lights went out and Eden had now just realized how scared she was. She was afraid of dying, she didn't have a reason to be afraid, but here she was, sitting down on the top bunk bed beside Daeho.

She wanted to tell him, she wanted to tell him that she loved him, but now wasn't the time. She had to defend and protect those on her team, if her friends weren't planning on attacking, then the least she could do, was protecting those who did attack.

Good thing she kept her gimbap, because inside of it, a fork in sigh made her gulp, grabbing it and twirling it around her hand to see if it could cause something.

And oh boy, it sure did.

If Myunggi stabbed Thanos with a fork, then that meant anyone with psycho sense grabbed their fork before throwing their food away. Eden only hoped that player 100 was stupid enough not to grab it.

The dormitory was bathed in shadows, the only light coming from the dim, flickering bulbs overhead. The hum of tension filled the air, thick and suffocating. The beds, stacked high in cold rows, seemed more like cages than places of rest. The players were supposed to be asleep, but the silence was broken by whispers from the 'O' team. 

"Bangs.."

Eden's gaze moved from the fork to the man sitting on the bed beside her, she stayed silent but still stared at him, and somehow, she could see him with the lights out.

"Don't fight." He whispered.

For a moment, it felt like all the screams that suddenly erupted in the room disappeared, but then again, she said she'd fight. And she would.

"I have to." She whispered back.

Before Daeho could say anything, she climbed down the bunk bed and slowly walked back, trying not to make any sound. Daeho mentally cursed himself as he did the same and stayed close to her.

"You should hide, Daeho." She told him, trying to walk away from him.

He was quick to grab her wrist and stop her, pulling her close to him. "And what? Watch you get hurt while I do nothing? Yeah, no way." He said with a cold tone.

Eden stared at him and nodded, "Im not just fighting because I want to kill them." She stated, causing Daeho to look at her. "Im doing it for those who died or those who are going to die tonight."

"No one's going to die tonight." He cut her off.

She shook her head, "some of us will."

He rolled his eyes but then flinched when he heard a scream, he grabbed Eden by the shoulder and stood in front of her protectively. Their eyes wandered around the darkened room, making the girl curse when she saw Nam-gyu running towards the tall girl.

With no hesitation, Eden threw the fork harshly at the boy, landing perfectly onto the back of his neck. Se-mi snapped jumped back and looked sideways to see Eden who grabbed Daeho and dragged him with her.

"Are you alright?" Eden asked the frightened girl.

She nodded, "thank you, thank you, really." She nodded repeatedly, making Eden shake her head then nod upwards. "Stay hidden...and bring your friend with you so he doesn't get killed." She gestured to Min-su who was glancing down a few times.

The unfamiliar girl rolled her eyes and signaled him to come down, he did as she said. The girl turned to Eden, "I'm Se-mi."

"Eden."

Daeho stood behind her, watching his surroundings, his eyes fell on the guy Eden threw the fork at and winced, scrunching his face as he looked away. The others helped Min-su down and then pushed them under the bed.

"Stay there, okay?" She told the two.

They both nodded and backed away, making Eden turn to Daeho, "maybe you should look away." She suggested.

"Why?" He asked.

Eden looked down at the lifeless body then back to Daeho, "I'm going to take the fork out and blood is going to spill..." he stared at her blankly then slowly looked away, the sound of the fork leaving Nam-gyu's neck was loud, making them both shiver in disgust.

Eden's eyes trailed down the floor, noticing the shiny object, without telling him, she pulled away from Daeho and went to grab it discreetly. She went back in one second and turned to Daeho, handing him the cleaned fork.

He stared at it blankly then turned his gaze down a little bit to face Eden, "what is that for?" He asked.

She shrugged, "just in case."

He slowly nodded and grabbed it with hesitation.

The two stood closely to each other as they watched the scenery unfold in front of them. Daeho wanted to be there for Eden, he really wanted to, killing someone was just too much. Not that he wouldn't do it for her, he would do anything. Literally anything.

"Are you scared?" Eden said quietly.

He looked down at her, and then nodded.

Eden nodded slowly and then sat down on the floor, taking it her shoe. Daeho looked around and discreetly sat down, "what are we doing?" He whispered.

She didn't respond as she took off a bracelet form her ankle. She out her shoe back on and stood up, wiping the dirt off from her body then turned to Daeho with a half smile, handing him the bracelet.

"Here."

Daeho stared at it, looking back and forth between the bracelet and her. She gestured for him to take it, making him shake his head, "I don't understand."

"I've had this bracelet for a long time and when I was fourteen, I told myself that in the future, I'd give this to someone." She explained shortly, her hand twitching. "So I want you to have it."

His eyes softened as he slowly took the bracelet from her.

"Thank you."

He managed to say, Eden nodded with a smile then looked away. She took her hair tie and did herself a loose ponytail that made her bangs stick out more.

Daeho stared at her as her jaw clenched at the sight, it was like a damn purge. And oh, he wasn't not letting her out of his reach.

$$$

The purge, as Eden called it, was taking longer to be stopped, those who were hidden under the beds thought that they wouldn't come to stop the fight. Why would they? They're also killers.

Eden could hear them plotting. Their voices carried a sharp edge, their intentions clear. This wasn't about the games anymore. This was about survival—about eliminating others for money.

Unlike Daeho stepping back anytime someone would push past them, Eden would knock them out with her fist so they wouldn't come near anyone.

That's how badass she was.

The weapons were crude—glasses, forks, and whatever else the players could scavenge. But that didn't matter. In the right hands, even the simplest tool could kill. 

He turned to smile at her but her smile disappeared as she reached for him, kicking the person that was coming behind him on the stomach and throwing the stranger to the floor, hitting their head on the bed pole.

Daeho stared at the man and then grabbed Eden by the hand, "we should hide now." He told her.

Before she followed him, Eden looked around in horror when she saw people on their beds with stab wounds, her heart ached as she turned to Daeho and followed him.

They saw Gi-hun and the others hid under the bed mattresses so they followed as well, Daeho told Eden to go first and she did, going under the bed next to Hyun-ju and player 246. Eden lay under one of the beds, her breathing steady, her muscles coiled like a spring. Daeho, on the other hand, was panicked. He was crawling across the floor, trying to squeeze himself under the opposite bed.   Just when Daeho was about to go under, he was harshly pushed to the ground, hitting his head. making Eden's eyes widen as she got out of the bed.

"Daeho!"

Player 100.

He held his head in pain as he opened his eyes and saw player 100 above him.

"I told you to be careful." Player 100 growled, his voice low and dangerous. 

Daeho stumbled back as he tried to stand up whilst player 100 took a step forward. He winced, still trying to scramble backward, but the older man stomped a foot onto his chest, pinning him in place. "Cowards don't get to live," he spat, leaning forward with a fork clutched tightly in his fist. 

"Where is that bitch now, huh?" He smirked down.

Eden saw it all from under the bed, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn't have time to think. She rolled out from her hiding spot, quick and fluid, and with all the force she could muster, she threw a punch. Her knuckles colliding with Player 100's jaw, sending him back in a stumble. 

"Right here, asshole."

He let out a grunt of surprise, his hand instinctively flying to his face. "You," he snarled, locking eyes with her. His voice dripped with venom. "I've been waiting to get rid of you." 

Eden didn't flinch. She stepped in front of Daeho, her fists raised. "Really? I didn't even notice." she said evenly, her voice cold. 

Player 100 charged at her with a roar, swinging his fists wildly. Eden ducked the first blow and countered with a sharp jab to his ribs. He grunted, staggering slightly, but recovered quickly. His size made him slower, but his strength was undeniable. 

Blow after blow, they fought. Eden struck fast, her movements precise, while Player 100 relied on brute force, swinging with reckless abandon. The flickering lights above cast erratic shadows on the walls, making it hard to see clearly. 

Eden dodged a particularly wild swing and landed a kick to his knee, causing him to stumble. But just as she thought she had the upper hand, he grabbed her by the arm and yanked her forward, slamming her against a bedframe. She cried out in pain but didn't stop. She twisted her body and drove her elbow into his stomach. 

"You're a feisty one," Player 100 sneered, breathing heavily. "Too bad it won't save you." 

He reached down and grabbed a fork that had fallen to the ground during the scuffle. Eden's eyes widened as he brandished it like a weapon, a cruel smile spreading across his face. 

Daeho, still on the floor, saw the fork glint in the flickering light. His heart raced as he reached out for the broken glass beside him. Just as Player 100 raised the fork, ready to strike, Daeho lunged forward and plunged the glass into his side of his neck.

Player 100 let out a guttural scream, dropping the fork as he stumbled back. He clutched at the wound, his eyes wide with shock, before collapsing to the floor, the blood splashing all over.

For a moment, there was silence, save for the sound of heavy breathing. Eden turned to Daeho, her chest heaving. "You... you saved me," she said, her voice soft, almost disbelieving. 

Daeho nodded, his hands trembling as he dropped the bloody glass. "I told you to keep yourself alive, bangs."

Eden stepped closer to him, her adrenaline still coursing through her veins. Her hands reached for his collar, pulling him close. Without a word, she pressed her lips to his, and for a moment, the chaos around them disappeared. 

Even though he was in shock, Daeho immediately melted into the kiss, his hands being quick to find her waist. After the small planted kiss, Eden pulled away, her forehead rested against his, a soft smile tugging at her lips. 

"I... I need to tell you something," she murmured, her voice faltering. 

A smile spread over Daeho's lips as he waited for her to say it, he so wanted her to say it. But before she could say more, her expression changed. Her eyes fluttered, and she stumbled back, clutching her head. 

"Eden?" Daeho's voice was sharp with panic. 

She swayed on her feet, her face pale. Daeho caught her just as she collapsed, cradling her in his arms. That's when he saw it—the blood staining her tracksuit, seeping from the wound in her stomach. 

"No... no, no, no," he whispered, his voice breaking. "Eden, stay with me." 

Her breaths came shallow and weak, her eyes struggling to focus on him. "Daeho..." she whispered, her voice barely audible. 

"Don't talk like that," he begged, tears beginning to stream down his face as he tried to cover up the wound with his trembling hands. "You're going to be fine. We'll get help. Just stay with me, okay? Please." 

She reached up, her fingers brushing against his cheek. "Dae, I'm... sorry," she said, her voice trembling. "I wanted... I lo..." 

"No!" Daeho shouted, his voice raw. "You can't leave me! Please, Eden, i told you to keep yourself alive! God dammit!"

But her hand fell away, and the light in her eyes dimmed. 

"Eden?! Eden, please don't leave me!" Daeho held her close, rocking back and forth as he sobbed. "Please!" he screamed into the darkness. But the only response was the flickering lights and the deafening silence of the dormitory.

Martina speaks: y'all....😅😅😅 raise your hands if you think I deserve jail!

🤚🏻🤚🏻🤚🏻

I don't really want to comment anything because I'm not sure if you guys are even going to pay attention...