C H A M P I O N O F D E A T H

〇△□

     THE RIDE TO THE APARTMENTS WAS QUIET, AND COMFORTABLE BETWEEN THE FRIENDS. YET SAE-BOM FELT ALL BUT THE OPPOSITE.

       Barks from dogs in the distance echo through the eerier streets outside of the building, it looking nothing like what she pictured her childhood friend to be seen in since she knew he was rich.

     And how she found that out was, how money sometimes would end up in her bank account on her phone from him, as he use to send her a little smiley face through message to notify her when he did it.

       That didn't happen anymore however, and she was still grateful regardless even if she told him to keep the money. That was also another reason she figured out he was missing, and probably because of how they drifted apart after a while. She didn't take it to heart.

     Jun-ho lead the ever so tensed Sae-bom inside the building, making sure she was close to his side in case something happened. He did most of the talking to the landlady, something she was thankful for.

      "How long has it been since he came by?" He asked the lady walking along side them in the hallway, currently inside the building now that In-ho apparently lived in.

        The elder lady fumbled with the keys in her hand, as they walked towards one of the many closed doors in the hall, "Well, I...." She trailed off, and Sae-bom shared a look witn Jun-ho, "don't bother tenants every day. Still, I mean, his rent was due a week ago. I've stopped by every day since then."

        They rounded the corner in another hallway, where it lead to a window at the end and the lady stopped at the first room on the corner, "He was never here, though, and never picked up his phone."

        Sae-bom furrowed her brows, and fiddled with her sister's necklace between her fingers, "That's probably why he never answered you or me." She mumbled to Jun-ho, who grunted in agreement from beside her.

       "There." The landlady smiled politely, as she twisted the doorknob open with the key and turned to look at the duo expectedly, "Actually... are you gonna pay his rent? Otherwise, you'll have to come and move all of his things out."

       The pair shared another knowing look between each other, and Jun-ho clicked his tongue, but nodded at her anyway, "We'll take a look now and I'll pay his rent later."

      She just giggled anxiously, gaining a deadpan from Sae-bom as the landlady fully opened the door to the male's room, "Well, I'll be down the hall." She told them with a crooked smile, before disappearing behind the door and down the hallway.

        When she was out of ear shot, Sae-bom scoffed and rolled her eyes, "All she wants is your money, Jun-ho." She grumbled as he motioned for her to walk inside first, "Not that I blame her for that, but still, she could have been more helpful with information."

       Jun-ho sighed through his nose tiredly, and his fingers find the light switch by the door which clicks on, "That doesn't matter right now, Sae." He lightly scolded her, use to the girl's temper as the room began to brighten up for them to see.

       Her dark eyes scanned the room silently, spotting the small bed that was neatly made, some of his jackets hanged up on the wall, and a shelf with a desk fulled up with different books. One that caught her eye was titled, 'Theory of Desire', which made her face scrunch up.

       She moved forward away from Jun-ho, who was busy looking through the draws, and she saw two unmoving fish inside the bowl on the desk. It hinted at how he hasn't been back inside the apartment for ages, it seemed.

       More photo frames were hanged up on the wall, and she glanced over them all quickly. Two caught her attention out of the many placed everywhere.

       Sae-bom's heart clenched painfully as a photo of her younger self stared back at her, beside her in the photo having a younger version on In-ho with his arms wrapped around her, posed in front of a playground. Those were the older times, the better ones where she wished she could go back.

      Her fingers trembled brushing up against another photo, it being placed in a frame on the table where his lamp was. It was a picture of her smiling self only, when she got dressed up in a beautiful gown for one of the police officers weddings, and he kept that all by itself on the desk.

       "You idiot. Where have you gone?" She whispered to herself, feeling her throat getting more tighter as she stared at the photos. It didn't help that her sister had just gone missing also -- a lot of emotions were building up, and close to being released.

       Jun-ho's eyes softened on his friends figure, knowing how much his brother meant to her and vise versa. He came up beside her, sliding his arm around her shoulder and gently pulled her inside his side for a small embrace for a few seconds.

      "Don't worry. We will find them," He gently murmured into her hair, his arm squeezing her tightly against him as she fisted the back of his jacket trying not to cry, "I promise, Sae-bom."

      She savoured the embrace for a few seconds longer, before pulling back to give Jun-ho a thankful smile that didn't reach her eyes. He squeezed her shoulder in response gently.

       They both turned back around to examine the desk some more, hoping to find a clue of sorts. Both their eyes land on a black box with a pink ribbon around it, the object placed inside the shelf hidden away.

       Sae-bom gulped not liking the sudden sick feeling she got in her stomach, and reached for the card inside her pocket out of instinct. She watched closely as Jun-ho picks the box up, and pulls the lid open to reveal what made her breath hitch.

      The same card she found in Sae-byeok's room stared right back at her.

      "Jun, ho..." She breathed out shakily, eyes wide as her fingers grasped the card in her pocket and pulled it out to show him, "This is what I wanted to talk to you about. I-I found the exact card in my sister's room today."

       His brows furrow in confusion and also worry, gaze moving from the card in her palm to the one inside the box he held, "This can't be a coincidence. All these cards are somehow linked, and so are the people who received them."

      They both stare at the numbers on the back of cards they each held, noticing how the they were different and it caused the duo to share a wide eyed expression.

      "I think if we want to find our siblings," Sae-bom tapped her ringed finger against the numbers, and spoke in a steady tone then before, "we need to find Gi-hun or the person who gives these out. And I have a feeling I know where we can start."

───────────

       THE SUN HANGED LOW ON THE HORIZON, PAINTING THE MORNING IN SOFT GOLDS AND PINKS, AS SAE-BOM APPROACHED THE ORPHANAGE WHERE HER LITTLE BROTHER, CHEOL, LIVED. Her steps felt heavy despite the comforting weight of the stickers in her bag—small tokens she'd picked up for him on her way.

      She knew how much he loved them, always plastering his belongings and creations with bright, colorful shapes. It was one of the few ways he made the world feel like his own.

       Her heart ached as she walked past the familiar gates, greeted by the caregivers with polite nods and forced smiles. They knew her situation, understood why she couldn't take him home. No matter how many odd jobs she juggled, it was never enough to give him the life he deserved.

        She had made a plan with Jun-ho after seeing the connection last night with her missing sister and his missing brother, her childhood best friend, that he would try talking to Gi-hun first before she did, while she tried to look for the person who gave the card's out. A pretty silly plan on her behalf, but she had to try at least.

       Sae-bom took a deep breath and stepped outside to the playground, where laughter and squeals filled the crisp air. Children darted across the yard, their joy unburdened by the weight of reality.

      Her dark eyes scanned the scene, searching. She spotted Cheol off to the side, sitting alone on a step near the sandpit, his small frame hunched over a book.

       She sighed softly. It wasn't unusual to find him alone like this. Cheol had always been quiet, introspective—a trait they shared. Still, she wished he could find a friend here, someone to keep him company when she couldn't.

       The clink of her necklace against her collarbone drew her back to the present as she crossed the yard. Her sister's jacket hung loosely over her shoulders, its worn fabric a comforting reminder of Sae-byeok.

       She knelt down beside Cheol, catching a glimpse of the book's title. It was about space—an unusual find for the orphanage's modest library.

      Curiosity sparked in her chest, "Where'd you get that?" She asked, leaning closer to catch the title that she only saw briefly.

      Cheol's face lit up when he looked up and saw her, and his grin was so pure it momentarily melted the tension she carried, "A nice man gave it to me," He replied, clutching the book to his chest like a treasure.

       Sae-bom's brows knitted together. The orphanage wasn't exactly known for its vast library, let alone books about space, "A man?" She repeated, lowering herself to sit on the step beside him, "What did he say to you?"

      Cheol hugged the book to his chest, a shy smile spreading across his face. "He told me to say hello to you." He tells her, his small legs swinging idly, "He was visiting the staff."

      Sae-bom froze. Her pulse quickened, and a chill crept up her spine, as her widen eyes stared at her brother's unfazed figure, "He... said that?"

      He nodded innocently, his expression untroubled, unlike hers, as he continued to glance down at the book in his hands.

      For a moment, Sae-bom couldn't speak. The coincidence felt too sharp, too deliberate. It was possible the man had heard Cheol mention her before—it wasn't uncommon for him to talk about his sisters—but something about it didn't sit right.

       She forced herself to smile, pushing the unease down where it wouldn't show, "Well, that was nice of him," She said, her voice steadier than she felt.

       Reaching into her bag, she pulled out the stickers she'd bought. Cheol's face lit up even brighter as he took them, his grin spreading ear to ear, "Thank you, noona!" He chirped, leaping forward to hug her.

       Sae-bom wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly, her fingers threading through his soft hair, "You're welcome, little man." She murmured, her voice catching.

        She wanted to say so much more—to tell him about Sae-byeok, to explain why she might be gone for a while—but the words lodged in her throat. She couldn't bear to worry him. Not now.

       Instead, she held him closer, memorizing the feel of his small frame in her arms, the warmth of his love. When he pulled back, his excitement bubbling over as he talked about the book, Sae-bom simply listened, her heart aching.

       She smiled gently, but inside, she felt as though something was slipping away—something she couldn't quite hold onto. Yet, for Cheol's sake, she kept her emotions buried, the way she always did.

───────────

         SAE-BOM STOOD AMIDST THE SEA OF BODIE PACKED TIGHTLY INTO THE BUSINESS TRAIN, HER TALLER-THAN-AVERAGE FRAME giving her a small advantage in the stifling crowd. Her hands gripped the overhead handles as the train jolted to a stop, her balance steady despite the chaos.

       As the doors hissed open, people spilled out in waves, and she moved with them, blending into the throng with practiced ease. Her bag, now empty after visiting Cheol at the orphanage, bounced lightly against her side.

      Tucked into her pocket were her phone and the beige card—a hauntingly familiar piece of evidence from Sae-byeok's room and Jun-ho's investigation they did on her childhood best friend's room.

        With her hands stuffed deep into her pockets and her eyes fixed on the ground, she moved through the station without sparing a glance at the faces around her. The weight of the card pressed against her leg, a reminder of her mission, but her focus was shattered by an odd, sharp sound ahead.

         Slap.

       Her head snapped up. Another slap echoed louder this time, reverberating through the subway hallway. Frowning, Sae-bom squinted down the pathway, catching sight of a tall man in a suit slapping another across the face in what looked like a game of ddakji.

      Her pace slowed, her brows furrowing as she tried to make sense of the scene. The suited man's movements were fluid, calculated, as he handed the other player a card and a stack of cash.

      Her blood turned to ice as her eyes caught a glimpse of the card—a beige rectangle identical to the one she carried.

       She froze mid-step, her breath hitching in her throat. The world seemed to blur around her, the crowd dissolving into background noise. That card. That game.

      "Hey!" She shouted before she could stop herself, her voice sharp and cutting through the ambient noise.

       The suited man's head turned toward her, his expression shifting momentarily to one of surprise before settling into a tense calm. For a fleeting moment, his eyes seemed to harden, his jaw clenching before his lips stretched into a lopsided, unnerving smile.

      Sae-bom didn't hesitate. Her legs moved on instinct, propelling her forward at a sprint. She shoved past onlookers, leaping over benches and dodging barriers in her path. Her bag bounced on her shoulder as she did so.

      Her black hair whipped wildly around her face as she closed the distance between them. The man remained seated on a bench, watching her with a raised brow and an almost amused air.

       By the time she reached him, she was breathless, palms braced on her knees as she struggled to catch her breath. He stayed quiet for a few seconds, quietly watching her till he opened his mouth to speak.

      "Can I help you?" He asked, his deep voice smooth and rich, as if her frantic arrival was nothing out of the ordinary.

        Sae-bom straightened, her dark eyes narrowing into a glare, "I know about the so called game cards," She bit out, her voice low and steady, "And I need to know how to get into it."

       The man's fingers tightened imperceptibly around the briefcase in his lap. He tilted his head, his expression feigning polite curiosity, "Why do you want to know about these...games?"

       "None of your business, but I expect it's not the same like the other's you've given cards to. " She snapped, forcing herself to stay composed, "Just tell me how to get in. Or tell me who I need to talk to."

        The man hummed, his gaze raking over her from head to toe as though assessing her resolve. The rumble of an incoming train filled the station, and he rose hastily to his feet, brushing off his suit, "I'm afraid I can't help you. Good day—"

       He turned to leave, but Sae-bom moved faster. Her arm shot out, slamming into his stomach with enough force to make him double over.

       With surprising strength, she grabbed him by the collar and shoved him back into the bench. The man grunted, his briefcase clattering to the ground as she leaned in, her grip tightening.

       "Listen," She sneered, her voice low and full of menace, "You're going to tell me how to get into the games, or you're going to find someone who will. If you don't..." She yanked him forward slightly, her fists twisting the fabric of his suit,  "I'll break your pretty face. You don't want that, do you?"

       For the first time, a flicker of unease crossed the man's face. But then, his hand moved subtly, producing a sleek phone. He held it up, showing her that the call was already in progress.

       Sae-bom's eyes darted between the phone and his unsettlingly calm smile. He gestured toward the device with his uneven eyes, his silence more chilling than any words.

      Her heart pounded as she snatched the phone from his hand and brought it to her ear. The man continued to watch her, his gaze dark and calculating, making no movement to get up anytime soon.

      She took a deep breath, the air catching in her throat. Before she could speak, a distorted male voice crackled through the line.

        "Kang Sae-bom,"

      The voice rumbled, her name laced with an eerie familiarity. Her grip on the phone tightened as a chill ran down her spine, "How do you know my name?"

       She listened closely to try and hear something other than the voice or static over the line, but nothing came to her ears. It both made her nervous, and frustrated.

       "I know the name's of all my players--" A pause in the distorted male's voice, almost like he was realising something as he speaks, "or those who want to peruse the games. Are you surprised?"

       A scoff got caught in her throat, having a feeling she was either talking to the person who was in charge or someone who was pretending to be, "No, I'm not. I do find it creepy you do however." She answered blunty, "Who even are you?"

       Something shuffled over the phone, causing her eyes to dart around the station around her, as people continued to pass around her and the salesman's sat behind her still.

       "I'm afraid you are asking the wrong questions." The distorted voice crackled again, and she heard how it slipped the slightest into something tenser, "Get on that train, Sae-bom. Stop trying. Stop looking."

       An icy chill washed over her, just as the incoming train was heard from down in the subway. She suddenly felt herself being watched. Whether it was the salesman, a civilian or someone else, she didn't know.

There was no way the guy across the phone knew where she was, nor how the train was about to stop. There was no--

       "Tell me how to get into the games." Her voice dropped into a sneer, coming out quiet but the male still felt the anger behind it, "Even if you don't tell me today, I won't stop. No matter what you say. Tell me, and we can end this conversation."

       Sae-bom's eyes flickered to the salesman, who somewhat went pale in the face under her harsh stare and she chuckled deeply into the speaker, "I don't think your salesman likes me very much. You wouldn't want one of your workers to suddenly go missing too, do you?"

      A long pause.

        "Get on that train, Sae-bom." The distorted voice crackled over the phone more louder, desperation that she picked up leaked in, "Whatever your end goal is, it won't end well. I just don't let everyone in these games, especially not cases like yourself."

        She looked taken back hearing his words, and clenched her teeth together as the train now came to a slower stop, "Like me? What's that supposed to mean, huh?!" She exclaimed into the speaker, gaining some side eyes that had her giving it back, "Look, I don't give a shit what you think -- just let me play these games. Or I'll find someone else who can."

      Another long pause. And this time the salesman suddenly stood up, catching her attention. His intense stare made her skin crawl, as he looked at her without blinking and smirked crookedly lifting up something in his hand.

      The beige card with three black shapes was shown in his open palm.

     "Very well. Take that card, and go to the location on the back." Not a comment, it was a demand from the male across the phone, one that she knew she couldn't refuse, "Or don't, it might be better that way. For you and me."

       Sae-bom didn't have time to ask what he meant, nor how the voice sounded strained, as she was faced with the salesman waving at her tauntingly from the closed doors of the train departing, and the phone line going dead.

      Her eyes followed the train till it was out of eyesight, and cursed the male under her breath. She flickered her gaze down to her free hand, and saw the card was placed inside of it.

       She clenched the object inside her hand tightly, and gritted her teeth noticing how the number was completely erased from the phone she was given. If that so called game owner wanted to contact her, only he could and not vise versa.

       None of that mattered now, as Sae-bom was one step closer to hopefully finding her sister and her old beloved. But first, she needed to let Jun-ho know of the news she found out.

───────────

❪ ✏️ ❫ 𝚆𝙾𝚁𝙳𝚂 : 3632
─►☆ AUTHOR'S NOTE :
yeahhh longer chapter because i wanted to smash out that end idea i've had since i started cooking this fic. im sorry if it seems.... cringe?? i don't know im probably overthinking it but i dearly hope it doesn't seem to cringe because i will deadass cry if it is 😭

im sure it's pretty obvious who is on the phone with her but i wont say anything yet. im also hoping i can get her into the games next chap but we shall see how much or what i write

also silver springs is so sae-bom and in-ho coded i cannot, i've been listening to that on repeat while writing and it is SO them ugh my heart 💔

anywaysss you all know the drill, vote,
comment, ect mwah <33