The room buzzed with the hum of fluorescent lights, and the tense silence of the players weighed heavy in the air. You sat in the corner, hands shaking slightly as you stared at the cold metal walls. It was a nightmare, this place. A waking nightmare.

From across the room, you noticed a man approaching. His tracksuit was stained with dirt, his messy hair slightly damp from sweat. Seong Gi-hun. He had a nervous but strangely kind expression as he crouched down to meet your gaze.

“Hey,” he said, his voice soft but urgent. “Are you okay?”