─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
CHAPTER TWENTY:
two players!
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

        After Mei had helped save Geum-ja's life, the two groups had stuck close together on the platform. Before, Mei had been grateful they had such a large group—but now with it being even larger, it brought her anxiety. She imagined they'd all have to split up—and she wasn't sure of how long it would take for them to decide who went with who.

        "Six players!" Mei spun around, doing a quick headcount, feeling relief when she realised they had twelve people in one group—meaning they had the exact number they'd need to all get to rooms. No one would be left out.

         Everyone began grabbing onto each other, deciding quickly who would go with who. Mei reached out, grabbing onto Ji-ho and Ha-rin, pulling them closer to her, wanting to make sure they were together after the last round.
 
          She quickly looked around, "Gi-hun, Young-il. You're with us!" She exclaimed, beginning to make a move towards one of the rooms, urging them all after her.

        They followed without complaint, the group splitting up into two teams of six and making an immediate beeline for one of the rooms. Though, the room they ran for got quickly stolen, making Mei halt on the spot, "Over here!" Gi-hun called out, waving his hand in the air, gesturing them towards a room that wasn't being occupied.

         For the first time, they made it with lots of seconds to spare. None of them spoke as they sat in the room, the timer counting down the seconds. When it hit zero, Mei closed her eyes and breathed out. The gunshots followed a few seconds after, putting down those that hadn't been quick enough to form such a large group after so many players had been eliminated.

         They all waited, hoping and praying that round was their last—exhausted and wanting the game to be over. When the door clicked open, they left without saying a word, momentarily hesitating just in case the game was over—but it wasn't. The PA voice once again told them to step back into the platform.

        Mei sighed heavily, "Is this shit ever going to end." She mumbled to herself, dragging her feet towards the platform.

        Gi-hun put his hand on her shoulder encouragingly, earning a small smile from her as they stepped onto the platform—ready to play yet another round of the game that was taking so many lives.

          The platform spun around and around before eventually coming to a halt, the room darkening, "Two players!"

          Mei's heart dropped, feeling her feet stick to the floor. She didn't want to choose anyone—choosing someone felt like a death penalty for anyone else. But before she could even think or react, Ha-rin was suddenly grabbing onto her jacket, "Let's go." She urged, dragging her off the platform as she frantically looked back, trying to make sure everyone was finding them a partner.

         "Mei, we don't have the time to look back! Let's go!" Ha-rin exclaimed, giving her jacket a rough tug as she dragged her along behind her, Mei stumbling as she went.

       Something in Mei suddenly clicked, realising how dire their situation was. There wasn't enough rooms for everyone—if they didn't make it to a room fast enough, then they'd be dead.

        Finding her footing, she kicked off into a sprint after Ha-rin. She'd almost made it to the door when she was suddenly grabbed from behind, "Please! I need one person!" A hysterical woman cried as she clung to her, tears streaming down her cheeks and her body rattling with fear.

        Mei froze as Ha-rin reached the room, standing by the door and screaming her name, "I—"

        "Please! Please help me!" The woman screamed, trying to drag her off with her, making Mei fight her off.

         "I—I already have a partner I—"

         "Fuck your partner!" The woman screamed, her eyes wide and frantic, almost bulging out of the socket. "You're coming with—" her words were knocked from her mouth when she was suddenly grabbed and punched hard across the face, sending her tumbling onto the blood soaked floor.

        Mei didn't put up a fight as Ha-rin grabbed her, feeling far too numb. The girl dragged her back towards the room before slamming the door shut just as the woman began screaming and banging on it, wailing like a banshee and begging them to come out—pleading for her life to be saved.

         Mei turned away, putting her hands over her ears and squeezing her eyes shut as the woman screamed bloody murder. Ha-rin stood in the corner, watching on with a blank stare, her eyes glazed over as she watched the woman's fingers cling through the hole in the door. And then with a few gunshots, it went quiet.

        Mei slowly lowered her hands from her ears, daring to open her eyes. She turned around, looking at Ha-rin who stood there emotionlessly, staring into nothing, "Don't," She said in a low voice, looking up to catch Mei's gaze with a flat stare. "Don't give me shit for leaving her to die. It was her or us." She said, though there was a shake to her voice as he facade cracked a little.

        Mei moved towards her with shaky legs, making Ha-rin step back, flinching slightly. Mei watched her for a second before reaching out, grabbing her shoulders and pulling her into her arms, "Thank you." She whispered, her body shaking as she held onto the girl.

        Ha-rin's eyes were wide, her body stiff in Mei's grip, "Arent you mad?" She asked in a small voice, her hands bunched up into fists by her side.

         Mei shook her head on her shoulder, "All the rooms on this row were taken—even if I'd gone with her, we wouldn't have made it to a room," Mei said, her voice shaky. "If you didn't do what you did, we'd be dead alongside her." She told her, clinging tightly to the girl whose lips parted.

         "You're really not mad?" She asked for clarification. "I basically killed—"

        "Ha-rin," Mei said sharply, stepping back to grab at the girls shoulders as she levelled her face with hers. "You didn't kill anyone, alright? I don't blame you for that. You saved both of our lives—don't feel guilty." She assured her, giving her shoulders a shake.

        Ha-rin stared at her, blinking slowly before letting out a scoff, "I guess I do like you," She said with a small smile. "You were the first person I thought of taking." She admitted.

         Mei smiled at her, letting out a breathy laugh, "And I'm glad you did." She told her.

         The door clicked open, allowing them to leave the confined space. Mei gave Ha-rin's shoulders one last squeeze before leaving the room, Ha-rin following closely behind her with her eyes rooted to the floor. It was obvious that despite her tough exterior—she felt guilty and ashamed for what she had done.

        Mei looked around, frantically searching for her team. Slowly but surely, she began spotting all of them amongst the crowd—all of them had managed to make it. She let out a sigh of relief, glad to see that each of them were safe.

        They all greeted each other, telling one another how glad they were that they were safe before stepping back onto the podium, "Attention, players. The final round will now begin." The PA voice said much to Mei's relief, making her sigh heavily. One more round and it'd be over. They just had to make it through one more.

         When the music started back up again and the platform began spinning, Jung-bae stepped closer to Gi-hun, "What number do you think we're gonna get next?" He asked him, leaning around his taller frame to look at him.

          "Two again." Young-il piped in without hesitation.

          "Wait, why?" Jung-bae questioned.

         Young-il looked around, "We're at 126  people and there are fifty rooms," He began explaining, quick to do the maths. "Even if there are two in every room, then there's still only enough for 100 of us. If you don't find one fast, you're done for." He concluded, staring straight ahead.

Mei breathed out before flinching in surprise when she felt someone's hand slip into hers. She turned her head, staring at the side of Young-il's face who had taken her hand in his. Slowly, he turned to face her, his face saying what words didn't. They'd had no choice but to split up all game after promising to stick by each others side—but for the last game, he wasn't letting her out of his sight. They'd be making it to a room together.

         The overhead lights cut off as the PA voice called out, "Two players!" Just as Young-il had predicted.

          Ha-rin reached for Mei, but Young-il was already dragging her away. Ji-ho grabbed onto the girl without a second thought, taking her by the wrist and running off of the platform.

Young-il pulled Mei around a group of players who had stumbled over each other on the edge of the platform, each of them trying to scramble to their feet—but still, they continued to fall over each other, struggling to find their footing as the heat of the final round gnawed at them.

         The pair ran, Mei's cheeks burning hot as a fight began to break out behind them—players who didn't have a partner trying to separate those who did for their own survival just as the woman had done with Mei, "Don't look back!" Young-il yelled at her when he saw her take a peak at the madness ensuing behind her—it was absolute chaos, everyone losing their minds and desperately trying to get a partner.

          They were growing closer to their chosen door, running past those who were on the floor, fighting it out desperately. Suddenly, Mei's grip was torn from Young-il's when players smacked into them, separating them, "Surprise, bitch." Do-yun growled as he held onto her shoulders, tossing her to the floor—Mei had completely forgot about him which she scolded herself for. But he hadn't given her any bother since Young-il's interference—but it seemed like he was back for revenge.

         "Mei!" Young-il cried out for her as he was being held back by two of Do-yun's men, both of them holding onto each of his arms as he fell to his knees.

         Mei scrambled to her feet, but before she could find her footing, she was grabbed by Do-yun and another one of his cronies, "Get the fuck off of me!" She yelled at them, fighting against them as they dragged her kicking and screaming towards the room she and Young-il had previously been running towards.

      Young-il screamed her name as he fought against the two men that were holding him back, keeping him away from her. Mei was tossed into the room, her back hitting the wall, momentarily winding her, "Are you scared?" Do-yun taunted from above her, a wicked grin on his mouth. "You should be. Your times finally ran out." He sang, crouching down in front of her, reaching out to touch her cheek.

         Mei looked up at him through her hair, her eyes boring into his with a glare. She spat out onto his face, making him flinch back, "Are you fucking stupid?" She yelled at him, quickly getting to her feet in the confined space. "There's three of us in here! We'll all fucking die!" She exclaimed in disbelief at how stupid the men were. Was their own lives truly worth losing if it meant she died along with them?

         Do-yun laughed, wiping the spit from his face, "Not if you're dead by the time that timer runs out." He growled, his lips stretching into a smirk.

         Mei's eyes widened, scrambling to put herself as close to the wall as possible, her hand immediately reaching for the knife in her pocket. She grabbed it, pulling it out and flicking it open, "I'm not fucking dying in here." She seethed, moments before the two men were lunging at her.

        She managed to kick Do-yun in the chest, making him go flying backwards towards the door. His back collided with it, making it fly open as he tripped out. His crony took a jump at her as she slashed at him, missing his face by an inch. Her entire body was rattling with nerves, knowing she didn't have the time or else she'd be dead—and then there was Young-il. She had absolutely no clue what had happened to him.

         The man swung a punch at her which she managed to duck under, coming out from beneath him. She grabbed his shoulder, stabbing her blade into his back, earning a cry of pain from the man. She pulled the knife out, spraying blood over her and the wall just before he backhanded her, sending her flying into the corner, her head smacking against the wall, her knife slipping from her grip.

          The man stalked towards her, licking his lips as he laughed manically, picking up her knife from the floor. She stared him down, her shoulders heaving with each breath. He rose her knife in the air before bringing it down onto her. In a panic, Mei reached up, grasping onto the blade with her hand, the knife cutting deep into her previously injured hand.

         A scream of pain left her lips but her grip didn't falter as she held the blade at bay, both of their hands shaking. Thinking quickly, she kicked out, her foot landing on the man's knee, making him crumble and release his grip on the knife. Mei let go too, clutching her hand to her chest as the blood poured from the fresh wound, a wince leaving her lips.

       "You fucking whore." The man hissed as he stood to his feet, a little off balance as he began stalking towards her, his hands outstretched.

        Just before he could reach her, blood was suddenly spraying from his neck and all over her, making her flinch, her eyes instinctively squeezing shut.

          Slowly, she opened her eyes. The man stood, swaying on his feet as he gurgled on his own blood. His throat had been slit, the blood spitting out from the wound and onto the floor. Mei watched, breathing heavily before the man was yanked backwards and out of the room, revealing Young-il standing there with her pocketknife that was dripping with blood.

         He staggered towards her, blood sprays on his cheek, "Are you—"

         "Look out!" Mei cried out when she noticed Do-yun appear from behind him, blood dripping down his forehead from when he had fallen out of the room.

         Young-il quickly moved to the side, dodging Do-yun's attack. He managed to punch the man in the face, knocking him towards Mei who quickly jumped up, kneeing the man in the stomach—knocking him back towards Young-il, "Mei!" He cried out as he grabbed onto Do-yun from behind, putting him into a headlock. "Close the door!" He demanded as the man choked under his grip, his feet kicking out, trying desperately to get out of his hold.

        Mei rushed to her feet, grabbing the door handle and slamming it shut just as someone collided against it, screaming and begging to be let in. Mei held the door shut, pushing her cheek against it as her eyes watered. The desperate person began banging on it, ramming their entire body weight against the door, determined to get in.

         Mei glanced behind her, seeing that the timer was at three seconds, "The timer!" She yelled, squeezing her eyes shut as she gripped onto the door handle, only bringing pain to the injury on her hand, blood smearing against the handle and dripping onto the floor.

        Young-il glanced upwards as Do-yun smacked at his hands, trying to get the man to release his grip—but he was far stronger, not releasing his hold for a second. From the ground, Young-il scooped up Mei's knife that was already drenched in blood, making it slippery.

        The sound of metal slicing through flesh made Mei flinch before her body went still. The sound of Do-yun's struggle stopped.

        The timer came to an end and the person who had been ramming themselves against the door let out one final cry before the gunshots went off. It lasted a few moments before everything went still and silent, not a single sound being made.

         Mei heaved out a breath, daring to turn around. When she looked down, Young-il had his head resting against the wall, looking up at the ceiling as he breathed in and out. Her gaze trailed downwards. Do-yun's body was lying against Young-il's chest, her knife lodged into the side of his throat. He was completely still, not breathing—eyes wide open.

         Mei stared at his corpse, her nostrils flaring. Young-il slowly turned his gaze to her, expecting her to be terrified after what he'd done. She was drenched in the blood of the previous man he had killed mercilessly—and now, she was staring down at the body of the life he had taken without a second thought. 

        Mei took a step closer, her eyes beginning to turn into a heated glare, "You fucking bastard!" She screamed, kicking Do-yun's corpse, making Young-il's eyes widen in surprise. "You piece of shit fucking nobody! You asshole! Fucking lowlife scum!" She wailed as she kicked his body over and over again, her eyes burning, tears threatening to fall from her lashes.

        Young-il was on his feet in a second, Do-yun's body slumping against the wall, "Hey," He said, reaching out to grab at her as she continued to try and kick at Do-yun's body. He grabbed onto her shoulders, levelling his face with hers. "Mei, it's alright—he's gone. He can't hurt you anymore." He reassured her, searching her eyes that were glazed over from tears with a far off look—like her mind had gone somewhere else entirely.

        Her eyes flickered to his, flashing with the humanity he was used to. A sob left her lips before Young-il was pulling her into his arms, wrapping her up in a hug, "Shh, you're alright," He cooed, running his bloodied hands over her hair as she cried onto his chest, her sobs hysterical. "You're alright, Mei. Everything's okay." He shushed, holding her body against hers.

       Mei sobbed against him, feeling a relief wash over her. Do-yun had risked his life along with his cronies just to kill her—and they had failed. They'd been the ones that ended up dead for underestimating her and the alliances she had made. She knew she should have been afraid of Young-il after he'd murdered the two men that had attacked her—but she wasn't. She was grateful for him. Had he not stepped in, she would have been the body on the floor.

( authors note )

this chapter was A LOT! i love mei & ha-rin's friendship sm🥹 also mei doesn't have to worry about do-yun anymore (the pros of having a crazy love interest ig!!!)

— taylor x