⭐️ ———— The last thing Mi-Ya remembered was going to the location that she was told to go and got into a car.

The rest, she could not remember.

So, when she was suddenly woken up by a bright light, making her blink heavily as she sat up.

Mi-Ya ran a hand over her face, blinking a couple times before getting used to the sudden bright light.

That's when she took her time to look around at her surroundings. Her brows furrowed together as she looked at all the beds in the room, and the hundreds of people getting off of them.

Her eyes widened as she looked at how many people were in the room. She then glanced down at herself, noticing the jumpsuit she was in.

Did somebody change her?

She noticed a number tag on her jacket, her brows furrowing together.

'067'

What did that mean?

She had so many questions, where the hell was she? Who were all these people? What was going to happen?

Mi-Ya went to look for her phone, but it wasn't on her. Her eyes widened as she looked around at the uncomfortable bed she sat on. Her phone was nowhere to be seen.

Had they taken everything of hers?

Raising a hand to her neck, she sighed as she felt her familiar necklace around her neck. At least they didn't take that.

Mi-Ya watched as everyone started to huddle around, making her carefully climb out of her bed and walk down the steps, placing her hands in her zipped up jacket.

She quickly turned as she heard an alarm sound, looking towards the doors as they opened. Mi-Ya pursed her lips as she watched a couple of masked people in pink jumpsuits walk in.

Mi-Ya moved to stand somewhere in the middle of the crowd, leaning her back against one of the beds.

"I would like to extend a hearty welcome to all of you." One of the masked people spoke. She noticed the square on their mask, making her tilt her head. The rest of them had triangles. Was this the leader? "Everyone here will participate in six different games over six days. Those who win all six games will receive a handsome cash prize." They continued.

Mi-Ya glanced towards a woman who raised her hand before speaking. "Excuse me. You said I'd be playing games, but you practically kidnapped me." Mi-Ya had to agree with the woman. "So how can I believe that?"

"I apologise." The masked person said, looking towards the woman. "Please understand that it was necessary to maintain the game's security." They added.

Mi-Ya continued to look around at the various faces around her, biting her inner cheek. She slightly glanced over her shoulder as she saw a man look up.

She followed his gaze, seeing that he was staring right at a camera. She then glanced down at the number on his jacket.

'456'

Mi-Ya quickly turned around before he could realise she was staring, turning her gaze back to the masked people in the jumpsuits.

People around started to ask the masked people multiple questions. Some were decent questions, the others were idiotic.

Some asked about the clothes they were wearing, others were bothered about their shoes.

Mi-Ya heard someone scoff beside her, making her turn her head to the side to look up at the person.

The woman must have noticed Mi-Ya's gaze, turning to her with a shaking head. "People are really worried about their shoes?" She uttered with an amused look.

Mi-Ya couldn't help but let out a chuckle at the woman's comment, silencing her laugh by pressing her hand to her mouth. "You read my mind." She uttered, turning back to the woman with a friendly smile. She took note of the number on the woman's jacket. '120'

"At least give me my phone." A man then spoke up from the front, stepping forward as he looked up at the masked people. "I need to check the crypto market. If I lose money, will you compensate me?"

Mi-Ya tilted her head to the side at the man's words, turning her gaze back to the masked people. "We will return it to you once the games are over." The masked person simply told the man.

"I need to monitor the real-time prices!" The man continued to nag, making Mi-Ya purse her lips. "Do you know how much I've invested?"

The masked man simply ignored him, raising his hand and turning on the big screen above them. Mi-Ya glanced up at the screen, her eyes widening as the man who was talking showed up on the screen, only to be smacked.

"Player 333, Lee Myung-gi." The masked man started, making everyone turn to the man, who lowered his head in shame. "Age 30, used to run a YouTube channel called MG Coin." He continued to speak. "After convincing subscribers to invest in a new crypto coin called Dalmatian, causing losses of approximately 15.2 billion won, you shut down and disappeared. You're wanted for fraud and for violating telecom and financial investment laws. Current debt levels, 1.8 billion won."

"Woah." Mi-Ya uttered, glancing back up at the screen as it changed to someone different.

It went through some of the players getting smacked and how much they were in debt. The next scene was player 120, making Mi-Ya send her a sympathetic look, which Hyun-ju appreciated.

"All of you in this room have crippling debts
and are now on a cliff-edge." The masked person continued to speak, turning off the screen. "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." Mi-Ya pursed her lips at that. "And so you trusted us and volunteered to participate according to your own free will."

Mi-Ya pulled out one of her hands from her pocket, reaching to fidget with the necklace around her neck. "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 are offering?" The masked person asked them all.

Then, Mi-Ya glanced up above her, tilting her head to the side as a clear pig was lowered, a golden light shining down on everyone. "What you see now is the piggy bank where your valuable prize money will be stored. After each of the six games you will play, the prize money will accumulate in this piggy bank." The masked man informed them.

"How much is the prize money?" Somebody from the crowd asked, making Mi-Ya lean off of the bed, Intrigued.

"The prize money for the games is 45.6 billion won in total."

Mi-Ya's eyes widened at that, her lips parting as she stared back up at the glowing piggy bank. 45.6 billion won?! She could do so much with that type of money. She'd definitely find her siblings with that type of money, and get her mother from North Korea.

"And one of us will get it?" Mi-Ya hesitantly spoke up, dropping her hand from her necklace and shoving it back in her pocket.

She awkwardly looked down at the people that turned to her, quickly looking away and towards the front.

"We will give you the details about the distribution of the prize money after the first game." The mask man replied to her question, making her nod her head with a polite smile, not knowing if they could even see it. "For these games, you will be given a special new advantage."

"What is it?" Somebody asked.

"After each game, you will be given a chance
to vote on whether to continue the games or not." The masked man spoke, hands clasped in front of him. "If the majority votes to stop the games, you can leave with the prize money
accumulated up to that point."

The people started to talk to each other at that. Mi-Ya slowly nodded her head, thinking that was fair enough. But why would anyone want to stop the games?

Mi-Ya turned her head to the side as she felt somebody walk past her, recognising him as player 456.

But, she tilted her head as she recognised the man. She tilted her head, her eyes widening as she recognised him as the man she had accidentally bumped into when she was leaving the broker.

"Are you saying we'll still receive the money,
even if we leave after the first game?" Player 456 asked, a slight glare on his face, which made Mi-Ya frown.

The masked man paused for a moment before nodding his head. "That is correct."

After a moment, Mi-Ya glanced down as she watched a mother yell at her son. She bit her inner cheek as they went back and forth until the masked man spoke up once more.

"If you wish to participate in the games, please sign the player consent form." Mi-Ya watched as the doors opened once more, watching as more of the masked people walked in with some stuff. "Those who do not wish to participate, please speak up now.
We always give you a chance to leave the games."

Mi-Ya stood in the line, patiently waiting for her turn, her hands in her pockets. If she could play a couple of games and win some money, she'd be happy.

She'd atleast have enough money to keep her financially stable, as well as her family. Once the person in front of her was done, she stepped forward, flashing a polite smile at the guard who handed her the pen.

She glanced down at the consent form, reading every last word. She always checked the stuff that she signed.

After she had read all the words, she lowered the pen onto the paper, quickly writing her signature before handing the pen back to the masked person.

A quiet sigh left her lips as she moved out of the line and back towards her bed. Shoving her hands into her pockets, she politely smiled at the people who glanced her way.

She did not want to make enemies here.

Mi-Ya frowned as she felt eyes on her, her lips pursing as she looked over her shoulder, only to meet the eyes of player 456.

She watched as he looked down at the number on her jacket, then back at her face, making her awkwardly smile at the man before turning back around.

He must have recognised her from where she bumped into him.

Mi-Ya finally made it back to her bed, cloning up a couple of steps before sitting back down on the uncomfortable mattress.

She reached up to fidget with her necklace, watching as the rest of the players signed the consent forms.

Mi-Ya turned her head to the side as she watched player 120 move to sit in her own bed, a sigh leaving her lips.

When Hyun-ju glanced towards her with a friendly smile, Mi-Ya fully turned her body to face the woman, her legs crossed underneath her. "So, what kind of games do you think they'll make us play?" Mi-Ya started the friendly conversation, tilting her head to the side.

She thought that she should make some friends whilst being in here. She didn't want to be on her own.

It looked like Hyun-ju was surprised that Mi-Ya was speaking to her, but answered with a kind smile. "I don't know, but I think some kids games." She answered, making Mi-Ya hum.

"Yeah, especially considering we played ddakji." Mi-Ya nodded her head, turning back to the woman. She then offered her hand for the woman to shake. "I'm Mi-Ya."

Hyun-ju looked at Mi-Ya's outstretched hand, a genuine smile bracing her lips as she reached to shake her hand. "Hyun-ju."

"I love your name." Mi-Ya complimented, taking Hyun-ju by surprise. It was evident that Mi-Ya was a pure soul, which Mi-Ya would agree.

"Thank you. Your name is beautiful." Hyun-ju added, making Mi-Ya's smile widen, dropping her hand to her lap.

Before Mi-Ya could reply, yelling caught her attention. She shared a frown with Hyun-ju, both of them turning their heads into the direction of the yells.

The pair watched as two boys pushed player 333, accusing him of stealing their money. Mi-Ya pursed her lips, feeling bad for player 333.

She watched as the purple haired man shoved player 333, only for player 125 to stop him, claiming that the purple haired dude didn't want to be on the news.

"Do we class that as a fight?" Mi-Ya uttered, turning back to Hyun-ju with a raised brow. "Because we've not even been here an hour and people are already fighting."

"Yeah, I wouldn't class shoving people around a fight." Hyun-ju shook her head, an amused look on her face, which made Mi-Ya chuckle as she nodded her head.

"True."

The two women continued to talk amongst one and other, both talking about their lives and dreams. Mi-Ya was a rambler, and she was grateful that Hyun-ju sat and listened to her with a kind look.

But, their conversation was interrupted as someone walked towards Mi-Ya, making her turn around with a friendly look.

It was player 456.

"Are you Mi-Ya? Kang Mi-Ya?" He hesitantly asked, making Mi-Ya raise her brow. How did he know her full name.

She shared an alarmed look with Hyun-ju, who shifted closer to Mi-Ya. "Uh, yes I am." She awkwardly smiled, turning back to the men.

She noticed how his face dropped completely, making her furrow her brows. "How do you know my name?"

Before player 456 could answer, the alarms were sounded once more, making everyone turn to the masked people.

"The first game will now begin. I ask for you all to form a line." The mask man Informed them all.

Mi-Ya swallowed thickly as she turned back to player 456, watching as he glanced back down at the number on her jacket. "I knew your sister." He quickly said, making Mi-Ya pause.

"What?" She uttered, glancing up at the man with parted lips. "What do you mean you knew my sister?"

Player 456 looked over his shoulder as people stared to line up. He then glanced back down at the startled Mi-Ya, shaking his head. "I'll explain everything after this game. But whatever you do, do not move when the doll moves." He warned, making Mi-Ya completely confused.

"What doll?" She asked, glancing back at Hyun-ju, who was watching with a raised brow.

Mi-Ya's eyes widened once more as player 456 reached out to hold onto her shoulder, a persistent look in his eyes. "Just don't move, okay. Follow my lead in the game."

Mi-Ya slowly nodded, pursing her lips together as she stared up at him. "O-okay." She muttered, watching as he sighed and let go of her shoulder.

"Be careful." He warned her, moving away from her and towards the lines.

Mi-Ya remained frozen for a moment, her eyes flowing player 456. She was utterly confused and alarmed.

"What was that about?" Hyun-ju asked, evidently confused as Mi-Ya turned to face her.

"I have no idea, but that really shook me up."

—— MADELEINES NOTES

way to startle a girl Gi-Hun.

You can't just tell a girl "I knew your missing sister" then tell her not to move in the first game.

My girl is freaked OUT LMAO.

This random dude she had bumped into telling her all this, I'd he scared too LMAO.

But bro I am loving writing for this fic LMAO.

Already got loads of chapters out already in one day LMAO.

I'm just amazing and feeding you all my lovelies.

BUT I ABSOLUTELY FUCKING LOVE HYUN-JU! So had to make my oc and her besties. LIKE RAH power duo.

So if I see ANY hate towards Hyun-ju, I will throw hands. That's a promise!!!

But I hope you liked this chapter and the book so far! I already love all your comments!! Thank you for the love and support already!

You should all probably expect the next chapter today LMAO.

But bbg Dae-ho next chapter

YIPPEEEEEEEE

I hope you have a good day or night!

Mwah!

10th January 2024
2785 words