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━━𝒜fter the horror of the third game weighed heavily on the remaining players, a suffocating tension filled the air, making the silence unbearable. Everyone's eyes were full of fear, grief, and disbelief as the room stood in heavy contemplation. The game had pushed them to the brink of madness, forcing them to become more aggressive, more desperate.

Mira was sitting on the worn-out floor, leaning against the cold metal wall, her legs drawn up to her chest. She hadn't been able to stop thinking about Junseo, the one person she thought would make it out. He was gone now, and it felt like a piece of her had died with him. Beside her, Namra and Yuro were doing their best to hold it together, though they, too, were struggling. The weight of what had happened was almost too much to bear. They had all lost so much already, and yet the worst was still to come.

The sudden creak of the heavy hall doors broke the silence, and Mira's heart skipped a beat. A masked guard, his dark visor reflecting the dim lights above, stepped into the room. His presence immediately brought the usual chill that swept through the group. His voice, mechanical and void of emotion, cut through the air like a blade.

"You have made it through yet another game in the series. Congratulations to you all. Now, if I may have your attention, I will announce the results of the third game."

The guard's tone was flat, as though he was announcing the outcome of some mundane event. But for the players, every word felt like an omen of doom. He paused, as if savoring their discomfort, before continuing with a detached, almost indifferent air.

He gestured towards the screen behind him, where the familiar cold numbers flashed across the digital board.

The huge, glaring figure was unmistakable: 356 million. It was a staggering amount of money, a fortune beyond imagination. But it meant nothing to Mira. Her debts, her losses, none of it mattered anymore. She had bigger things to worry about-namely, how to survive this twisted game and get out of here, out of this nightmare. The thought of her debts seemed trivial now. Even the thought of Myunggi-despite the confusion in her heart-felt distant.

For a moment, she lost herself in the numbers flashing on the screen, her mind drifting. It was hard to think about anything else when her head was spinning with the weight of everything.

The room was tense. The players began to gather around, casting sideways glances, whispering quietly to one another. They all knew the next step: the vote. The next choice was going to decide their fates.

The announcement came. "We will once again conduct the vote in reverse order from highest to lowest. Player 456, please cast your vote."

The guard's voice was like a monotonous drumbeat, reminding them of the cold reality they were in. He continued without any real sense of urgency or emotion, like a spectator at a grim circus, indifferent to the suffering he was causing.

"To ensure this process remains fair and democratic, starting now, disruptive acts of any kind are strictly prohibited. We appreciate your cooperation."

Mira glanced at Myunggi, who was standing at the back of the group. She had barely spoken to him since the third game ended. Her heart was still a whirlwind of confusion. But when he stepped forward to vote, something caught her off guard. He was going to stop the games.

The thought hit her like a wave, and she turned to look at him as he made his way toward her. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes-they were soft, full of a kind of regret and guilt that made Mira's chest tighten.

He came closer, and for a fleeting moment, their gazes locked. She could feel his warmth, his presence like a magnet pulling her in. He opened his mouth, but no words came out at first. His silence was heavy, and Mira felt her throat tighten, almost as if she was choking on the words she wanted to say.

"I'm sorry," Myunggi whispered, his voice barely audible, as if confessing something too painful to say aloud.

Mira blinked, fighting back tears. Her eyes burned, but she refused to let them fall. Not here. Not now.

She almost wanted to reach out and comfort him, to tell him it was all okay. But she couldn't bring herself to do it. There were too many emotions tangled up, too many things left unsaid.

"You don't need to apologize," Mira said quietly, barely able to keep her voice steady. "I... I don't know what's happening to me."

Before he could respond, the voting continued, each player casting their decision. When it finally came time for Player 001 to vote, the results were announced. The room was silent as they processed the news. The vote had ended in a tie.

"The final player has made their choice, and the vote is now over," the guard declared, and immediately, a low murmur of confusion began to ripple through the group.

"What happens now?" someone asked, their voice tinged with panic.

"To ensure you have enough time to properly consider your options," the guard continued in his emotionless monotone, "the second vote will be conducted tomorrow. Until then, please take this opportunity to think carefully about your future."

His words hung in the air as the last sentence echoed through the room. The players were left in a thick silence, unsure of what to expect next. The guard left without another word, his footsteps fading into the distance as the muffled sound of voices and quiet sobs filled the hall.

Mira, still reeling from everything, walked back to her uncomfortable bed. Her mind was spinning. How was she supposed to sleep after all this? How could anyone?

She started to prepare her bed, making it as comfortable as possible, trying to forget everything that had happened, if only for a few hours. The thought of the vote tomorrow, the uncertainty of whether she would survive or not, gnawed at her.

"What are you doing?" Myunggi's voice cut through her thoughts. She looked up, startled, as he leaned casually against the metal frame of a bunk bed, watching her every move with an intensity she couldn't ignore.

"Get lost," she snapped, frustrated by his presence but unable to hide the fluttering in her chest. She tied her hair into a messy bun with her claw clip, trying to focus on something, anything that would keep her grounded.

"You think that will work?" Myunggi's voice dropped, his tone teasing yet laced with an underlying seriousness. He knelt down beside her, adjusting a small pillow under her bed, a quiet gesture that sent a shiver down her spine.

"Stop. I can do this," Mira muttered, her hands shaking slightly as she tried to set things in order.

Myunggi's gaze softened, and without a word, he reached out, taking her trembling hands in his. The warmth from his touch was grounding, and within moments, her shaking hands stilled. She looked up into his eyes, feeling like the world had paused for just a moment.

They stood there, frozen in time, staring at each other as if the weight of the world had lifted, if only for a fleeting second.

But the moment was interrupted when Namra and Yuro suddenly spoke up from across the room.

"Ahem. Mira, do you need help? Should we kick him out?" Namra asked, her voice laced with humor, though her eyes were full of concern.

Mira couldn't help but smile a little, but her heart was still heavy. "No, it's fine. He's just... confusing."

"Are you alright?" Yuro asked, moving toward Mira with a soft expression. He watched as Mira unzipped her sweater, revealing the white player t-shirt she'd cropped. "We saw him approaching you and thought we should check on you."

Mira's lips quirked up in a sad, tired smile. "Thank you, but I can handle him. It's not a big thing. I just hope he doesn't make my feelings even more complicated than they already are."

Namra, ever the wise one, moved to sit beside her, rubbing her back comfortingly. "It's fine to feel conflicted. I may be younger, but I understand what love can do to people. The way he looks at you... Mira, it's obvious. You might want to have a real conversation with him, and maybe, just maybe, be kinder to him. Let yourself be vulnerable. You pushed him away, but you shouldn't let this slip through your fingers. Don't ruin something that could be beautiful, even in a place like this."

Mira felt the weight of Namra's words, her gentle advice sinking deep into her heart. The tension in her chest eased, but only for a moment. She knew what Namra said was true, but she wasn't sure if she was ready to face it.

Before Mira could respond, the PA system crackled to life, and the robotic voice sent a cold chill through her.

"The following players have been eliminated: Player 230, Player 268, Player 299, Player 331, Player 401."

Mira's heart stopped. She couldn't breathe. Her body went rigid, and her chest tightened painfully as the announcement echoed in her mind.

Thanos was dead.

Her ex. The one person she hated with her entire heart even though they shared so many great memories with each other.
The realization hit her like a sledgehammer, and her mind spun in a daze. She could feel the tears welling up in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. Don't cry.

As the players began returning from the bathrooms, Mira's eyes instinctively searched for Myunggi. She didn't know why, but she felt a sense of dread building in her chest. What if something happened to him too? He went to the bathroom after their small conversation.

But as she walked into the hall, her heart plummeted again. Myunggi wasn't among the people.

He wasn't gone. The PA announcement didn't mention his player number, yet Mira felt scared.

Mira's heart pounded. What if he got injured. What if...?

Her emotions twisted in every direction, but one thing was clear: her feelings for Myunggi were only becoming more intense, and the stakes were higher than ever. She had to apologize for pushing him away only to save herself.

She was selfish.

And now it was time to face everything.