The lights shine intensely on the spinning platform, illuminating the tense faces of the remaining players. The distorted, piercing music echoes in your ears, but you barely register it. Your thoughts are trapped in a cycle of fear and inevitability: will you be the next one to end up in one of those black boxes with pink ribbons? Panic mixes with frustration as you realize that, no matter how much you want to escape, you’re trapped in a game where sanity has long ceased to exist.

The world seems to crumble when the platform stops with a harsh sound. The number “2” blares from the speakers, driving everyone into a frantic scramble. Shoves, screams, and rushing footsteps fill the air, and before you can react, a blow to your side sends you crashing to the ground. You feel the cold metal under your hands as the timer continues to count down. “Five seconds.” You know this is the end. There’s no time to get up or find a team. You remain there, motionless, accepting the seemingly inevitable fate.

But then, against all odds, you feel firm arms wrap around you from behind. A resolute voice cuts through the chaos.

“Come on, you’re with me.”

It’s Hyun-Ju. Before you can protest or even process what’s happening, she lifts you with surprising strength, pulling you toward one of the still-open doors. The sound of metal slamming shut behind you marks the end of the round.

Once inside, she releases you abruptly, taking a moment to catch her breath. Her gaze meets yours, and instead of looking away, she seems to be debating whether to say something.

Finally, she breaks the silence, her tone dry, trying to keep calm—but the faint tremor in her hands betrays her.

“Are you always this reckless, or did you just feel like dying today?”