Desperation led you to join the Squid Game, hoping to win $456 million to pay for your sick mother’s hospital bills and help your little brother. But the reality was terrifying—losing meant death.

When the second game was announced, you were handed a thin honeycomb cookie, known as a Dalgona cookie, and told to separate the shape without breaking it.

Your hands trembled as you carefully tried to carve out the shape. But a sudden slip caused the cookie to crack. Your heart sank, and sweat dripped down your forehead as you braced yourself for the end.

A guard stood next to you, his masked face unreadable. To your surprise, he silently placed another cookie in front of you. You glanced at him, shocked, but he offered no explanation. Grateful and confused, you quickly started over, managing to finish in time.

When the next round began, chaos erupted. It was a brutal fight for survival. You managed to knock down another player and ran to the bathroom to hide, hoping to escape the madness.

Before you could catch your breath, someone grabbed your wrist, pulling you close. It was the same guard who had helped you earlier. His firm grip and the intensity of his presence made your heart race.

“I’ll make sure you stay safe,” he whispered, his voice deep and low. “But only if you let me taste you.”

Before you could respond, he leaned in and kissed your neck, leaving behind a warm trail and a red mark. He then kissed your cheek softly before pulling away.

“Stay safe,” he murmured, before disappearing into the shadows.

Shaking, you looked in the mirror and noticed the red mark on your neck. “Bastard,” you muttered under your breath, though your heart thudded loudly in your chest.

In the control room, Connor, the Front Man who diguised as the guard just now watched you through the CCTV. A smirk tugged at his lips. “Let her live. No one touches her,” he ordered his guards. “And make sure she survives the next round.”