•□♤♡•
-2021-

"YOU CAN PAY WITH YOUR BODY"

The man widened his eyes to the woman in front of her. She resembled a raven, a morbid aspect surrounded her sparkling ominous eyes as she smirked back at him.

"Y-You mean-"

"You can pay what you owe to me by letting me slap your face." She said in a soft carefree note. "What do you think?"

The man adjusted his glasses, he wasn't one to give up so easily, well, he did actually, he was sort of a loser. So successful in the beginning, graduating from the top university of South Korea, to now live hiding with debts, while his mother was fooled with lies he told her.

He inhaled deeply, nodding in agreement, as the woman's grin spread wider, satisfied. There was a solemn minute before she stretched her fingers, and a whistle cut through air, as the woman wearing a ponytail in the jet black suit slapped the man, making his glasses fly away.

A red mark occupied his left cheek as he tried to recover himself from the shock. The woman continued neutral, waiting for him to take a breath and recompose himself.

"One more round." The man turned to her, with a finger in the air. There was something about his expression that paid off the game. Something somber, lifeless.

He was the one.

Playing ddakji never seemed so hard to Sang-Woo. In his childhood things seemed easier, life was easier back then. But any amount seemed better than to continue miserable as he was now.

But he could never win.

His face was marked over and over and oger, turning into a bright crimson shade, until he finally flipped the card. Before he could get any ideas of snapping back, she offered him the money.

"Your 100 grand." She said, as the man took the money from her hand, counting down if it was correct. "That was a good game. Well done." He was horrible, but still, fun.

Before Sang-Woo could say anything to the woman, she was long gone, disappeating through the subway station.

That was a spot they would usually go, the recruiters, multiple people all gathered around for public transport, you could find all sorts of economical classes there, including the very poor to the soon to become poor.

It was almost the end of the day, she was holing her briefcase, when a smooth voice approached her.

"You must be Recruiter 10." The Saleswoman turned around to meet a tall men with dark hair with a suit, holding a briecase just like hers. His eyes held some curiosity, a slight grin om his face hilightned his enthusiasm with that discovery. "I believe we weren't properly introduced, I'm Recruiter 03." He stood out his hand for her.

Recruiter 10 remained in silence, not moving a single muscle to greet him. "I know who you are." She simply answered, bothered already by his presence.

She knew who he was, knew the wlaking threat he was, she has already been warned. Proximity would only lead to her own risk, and she couldn't allow herself to fall in that man's hands. She would get her job done and leave, that's it.

The Salesman sniffed at her response, lowering back his hand and closing it in a fist. He adjusted the collar of his shirt, attempting not to look too offended by her gesture.

"So you're that type, I see." He mocked, staring back at the trains leaving through the tunnels. "Fesity thing."

She started to walk away, but the Salesman rushed instead, keeping up her tempo and stopping in front of her path.

"Still couldn't reach your number of players?" He asked, gaze up and down, almost too interested in her figure. From all the saleswomen he faced, she was the most beautiful he has ever seen, not the sort of dangerous pretty he'd expect, but somehow still delicate but mostly hurt and broken. The sort of beauty you'd like to discover where each scar came from.

"Already did." She continued walking as he followed close behind.

He scoffed. "It has been only 1 day it's impossible-"

She showed him a list of names filled with names, almost shoving it on his face. The Salesman almost coughed by the sudden attitude, he could barely believe it.

"I thought you were new to this..."He furrowed his eyebrows, trying to smile, but holding jealousy.

"What? Still far behind?" She mocked, making his blood boil. If he would keep walking un her shadow, she might as well tease for the sake of it. Make it clear she wasn't one to be fooled with.

Little did she know she was the fool.

"Me?" He grinned. "I already finished the list. I'm just picking extras. You know the trash is never enough for them."

She shrugged, not being able to care less about what he would tell her.

Fine, she was a pain in the ass, he had to admit. The smile was over, war was declared.

"And you?" He raised his chin. "Gloating yourself when you barely started, Number 10?" He sniffed bitterly. "Let me guess, you're one of those guards who got lucky..."

"You're mistaking me for you" She crossed her arms."Why don't hurry up now and try to reach your number of players instead of envying mine?"

The Salesman laughed, almost like in a maniac manner, as he approached her, looking down in a deceiving aspect people outside would think looked like friendship.

"Careful, Yeol (10)" He whispered. "You're playing dangerous now."

"Don't call me that."She groaned. "Besides, that's a very pathetic menace" The saleswoman snapped back. "Let me honest with you, sir." She pointed to him, he smirked at the sir, it almost pleased him to listen it. "Whatever you're doing, I don't care. Just leave me alone and let me do my job. If you can't do yours just as great, don't interrupt mine."

"You think you can do better than me? Now that's a very conceited attitude, Yeol. Haven't you learned to hold respect for the more experienced?"

"I have learned to do whatever it takes to succeed." Yeol established at last. "So don't play nice, I'm not your friend, I'm not even your coworker." She continued serious.

"How scary." He mocked. He looked away, at thr subway station, thinking. "What about we play a game instead?"

She raised an eyebrow. He did it, got right into a weak spot. That woman enjoyed a challenge, she just needed to get her off her shell.

"Which game?"

"It's more like a bet." He suggested. "I bet one of my players will win, you do the same to yours. Whoever wins, must do the other a favor."

"That includes asking you to cut off your own tongue and choke yourself to death?"

Salesman laughed with satisfaction, she could be fun when not being a complete bitch. He stood her hand to her, as a way to mark the deal.

"I'm afraid that's not available." He smirked. "But other...services might be." His eyes sparkled as he observed each detail of her serious façade. "What do you say? Do you want to play a game with me, new recruiter?"

Lucky for him, he had realized instantly the woman was too stubborn not to refuse his offer. But one should always be careful when making deals with devil.

Too bad she did not realize that, in front of her, was the devil himself.

An electric wave ran through both their bodies as she held tightly his hand and shook it with so much certainty he almost admired it.

"Be prepared to lose." She advised.

"We'll see."

That was only the beginning of that cursed competition.

...

It was raining, the water ran down the busy streets of Busan, washing away all the dirt as the sky was completely dark by nighttime. Shadows lurked in alleyways, where some awaited anxiously for upcoming news.

Swear words echoed in the air as someone kicked a trash can nearby, the same persona ran through the stairs of a building, until reaching the rooftop, where another figure in a suit waited for them.

"Where are my congratulations?" He stood his arms to the city filled with blinding lights, still with his back turned to her.

"Shut up, player 218 was supposed to win, you know that." Yeol growled as she got closed to the edge of the rooftop, where the man stood.

He didn't seem afraid of falling from that enormous height, in fact, he didn't seem scared of anything at all. That's what added to his strange personality, a mysterious to many, and a mystery Yeol wasn't willing to find out, but surely would soon.

"Now you're just being a bad sport, recruiter" The Salesman looked back at her, clearly joyful by his win. "456 Had a fair win, it's not my fault your player simply gave up instead of fighting till death." He opened up the scar further. "You're just being a sore little looser."

He hopped off the edge, now at the same level as her, walking closer. Yeol instinctively reached for gun, aiming at him. Set raised his hands in the air, faking surprise

"You're not getting rid of me." She hissed. "You heard me? I'm not going to be dragged down that easily."

"And what would be the fun in that? We promised to enjoy the game and deal with the consequences, relax, recruiter." He sighed, stepping closer as she didn't back away. "You're so defensive and ferocious, I wonder where they got you from." He smiled, touching his forehead against the gun. "You want to shoot me?" He whispered in a maniac smile.

"What...?"

"Come on, shoot me." He asked more in a flirting manner than an actual wish for her to do so. "I know you want to."

"You're fucked up." She made a disgusted face. "Just stay away from me."

"Ah come on, stop playing the puritan, I know you're just as sick as me to be here. All of us are." He retorted, feeling the cold metal against his face. "I've heard many stories about you, number 10..."

It was almost as a ghost had crossed her sight, even her breath got heavier by his sudden comment.

"What are you implying?"

"You know what I'm talking about." He whispered. "The merciless shooter of the games...you're a real mercenary. A true sniper."

"The fuck you want?" She hissed, already impatient. "You're starting to piss me off."

"I think you've made that pretty clear already"

"Then that gives me plenty of excuses to just kill you."

"Allow me." He opened wide his mouth, and slowly lowered it to the barrel, taking the gun inside.

"What the fuck-" She gasped as The Salesman chuckled against the metal, blurring it with his hot breath. "Your psycho, get off-" He shoot his head, almost encouraging her too shoot his brains out.

Yeol had to admit, she had seen many disturbing things over her years as a silent, merciless guard in the games, but never in her whole life she had met someone so twisted as that man. He had the soul a mean bitch, the determination of a fighter, and the mind of a mentally ill.

But most of all, a complete whore.

"Are you fucking deepthroating the gun?" She almost laughed if not completely repulsed by that insanity.

The Salesmen only grinned in return, not likely refusing the idea. She quickly took the gun off his mouth, allowing him to breath properly, chuckling to her still shocked sight.

"Now I finally got a reaction out of you." He sighed, movibg his jaw already hurting from being so wide open.

"My gun is dirty and I'm disgusted, is that what you wanted?"

"Better than your bratty attitude from before." He smirked. "Now that you have accepted the loss and we've broken the ice, I believe it's time for you to grant me my prize."

Yeol crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow doubting his intentions. "What do you want?"

"No objections this time?"

"Rules are rules."

He was utterly satisfied by that answer.

"Kiss my shoe."

The woman looked at him in disbelief "Excuse me?"

"It is exactly what you've heard, dear." He repeated. "Time to learn your lesson."

The woman looked at him.furious, fists closed next to her sides, feet stepping hard on the ground. Her stance showed him she wouldn't move, a force to be reckned with.

He would have to make her do it himself.

With a soft click, before she could react, The Salesman had his gun in his hands, his smooth voice now had become an authoritary tone "Kneel." He ordered, but she remained still. That's when he approached, gripping onto her hair, and screaming in her ear "I said: kneel!"

The saleswoman was pratically thrown on the ground, her hair covering half of her face, as the hatred she was developing for that man started fo reach the surface. She looked up, as he casually continued aiming the gun at her, pointing.

"What are you waiting for, Yeol?" He teased. "Go on, be a doll and kiss the shoe."

The Saleswoman held her fists so tight her nails were sinking into her skin, almsot hurting it, but even the pain was better than the humiliation. She has been humiliated for long enough in her life.

She wished she could say something, react, but nothing would come to her mind. Tears reached her eyes caused by the anger, bloodshot and alluring to the man standing in front of her.

"What happened to your courage, recruiter number 10?" He asked. "Go on" He adjusted the gun's trigger in his hands. "Time's running out."

"You wouldn't kill me." Her lips quivered. "They would come after you."

He sniffed. "Accidents happen" The Salesman shrugged. "Do you want to bet again? Last time you've lost..."

She clenched her jaw, frustrated, trembling with rage. The floor in her hands dirty and cold against her hands as she leaned down, as a mere dog, until she could only watch his dark glistening shoes in front of her.

"There you go..." He hummed as her lips finally touched his right shoe, her sobs silenced by her pride. "Now that's a good girl." The Salesman grinned victorious. "You see that's how you should've behaved since the beginning. Sweet and submissive. That attitude you have won't let you go too far"

Yeol looked up, the gun still aimed at her before he resigned, taking a step back. But before she could say a word, his feet reached her stomach with a painful kick. She groaned in pain, as he repated the process two times.

"That's what you get for being a mouthful piece of trash." He sighed, adjusting the hair strands that had fallen above his face. He kicked one last time, her mouth already coughed blood. "People like you are rats. Rats that think they've reached the surface, when deep down, you belong in the sewage."

"Fuck you." She mumbled in the ground, her whole being burned in pain, body curving in a fetal position. She bit her lip, almost making it bleed in an attempt not to cry, she wouldn't allow him to laugh at her tears. "I'm gonna fuck you up, I'm gonna kill you!

"You're cute when angry, Yeol." He chuckled, squating down to meet her eyes, his fibgers gripped on her team. He was so close she could feel his breath and his eyes darting on her lips. "Try to be a bitch again and I'll cut off your pretty eyes." She let her go in a rough gesture, as if she was trash.

The Salesmen stood up again, adjusting the suit, cleaning invisible dirt, heavy and slow steps walking away from the rooftop.

When Yeol realized, she was alone again, cheek on the floor, tear rolling down her cheek, and pure loathing now infecting her veins.

She promised herself, back when she got into that life, to never be mistreated as a mere insect by someone again. Now, the better strategy would be to simply kill her enemies.

Starting with that man.

•♤♡♧•
-2024-

The invitation came in a box. Similar to those influencers usually receive, large, black with a bright pink bow, a previous guard like her could almost think of it as a coffin from the games.

Inside were the package any recruiter could ask for. Three new guns, all discrete with silencers and bullets to recharge them, another package with game invitations where the new phone number was written in dark brown, and a small tablet, which should indicate all details of recruitment process.

Including a renewal contract.

Terms and conditions, bla bla bla, she had read that shit before, no one who quits make it out alive, it was a non ending cyle, but still better than being stuck to that shitty isle shooting players in the head.

Sometimes she'd dream about it, the screams, the blood on her hands, the children songs. Her body shivered, unaware if she was horrified or missed the adrenaline.

Indeed, she wasn't sane, the man who told her that 3 years ago was correct. When she first begun shooting, she could be perceived as sane, not completely, but still more average minded than now.

Well, it couldn't be said the same for her now.

She signed the contract, the pact, in a better way to describe it. Under all the items, was a dark suit, some details in sparkling in silver. That was a very informal suit, a party like one.

The tablet changed the image on the screen, now showing an invitation to a special meeting. No address.

The saleswoman dressed up, the suit oversized, no shirt or bra underneath, her mullet brushed slim and neat, dark eyeshadow in her eyes, lipstick daring and bold matching it.

The limousine was outside, waiting just for her, only a secret message to the driger and it would be open easily.

A guard was inside as she got in, and the Saleswoman didn't even move as he blindfolded her and the gas was leaked.

The usual night out with the girls.

...

Neon lights and music, more people dressed in dark and silver, some chattering, others awfully quiet, all sorts of creeps you'd see in those meetings.

"Well hello, gorgeous." A man approached her, he seemed already drunk.

She gripped onto the collar of his suit, noses touching as she whispered. "Say that again and I'll cut off your little dick."

The man instantly backed off once she let him go, running to another corner. Eyes turned to her, great, she had already started the party as the meanie.

But who wasn't mean in that environment? After all, those were a bunch of butchers, callers of death to the miserable searching for a sparkle of hope. Judging her would be, at least, hypocrite of them.

The music was stopped, as the image of The Leader appeared in a huge pannel, masked as always, voice distorted protecting his image. He spoke his usual greetings, continuing to enlight them of their important job to the games. As alwas very brief, she didn't even wish for it to be long, couldn't wait to reach the bar already. As a last message, The Leader only wished a good event to mark the beginning of the new cycle of games, and hoped for a wonderful performance.

There were over 15 recruiters in that room, always a small number that would be updated over time. If you were good, remarkable even, you'd continue un your function, if you were bad, you wouldn't even return to your functuon as a guard, the alternative game to recruiters would be over and you'd be instantly executed.

It wasn't a bad life if you put perspective of the benefits, the amount of money per game could give a pretty comfortable lifestyle, without speaking of having all your facilities being paid by the secret organization.

It was the rich life all players seeked for but never reached. Except for the Leader, but no one really knew how he got to that position, neither were allowed o ask.

The Salesoman hit over the bar, a masked bartender approached her with a scarlet drink before she could even order. "A gift from that man."

She turned her head, flashes crossed her mind, blood pumped into her veins. The figure took a seat next to hers, taking a sip of his own whiskey with enthusiasm.

"Haven't we met before? Maybe in my dreams?" The Salesman, the same man who had kicked and humiliated her 3 years ago was there, with that same cynical, twisted smile. He chuckled at her lack of response. "Always so serious, God." He sighed. "I like the new style, who are you trying to cosplay as? Morticia Addams?" She didn't laugh, his eyes continued to scan her, he seemed to have liked the visual more than he'd say. "Daiquiri." He pointed to the drinm. "Red fruits, rum and lime juice, try it." She refused. "The night's still young, Yeol. Why don't we have some fun?"