You didn’t come here by choice—but what choice did you really have? The weight of your family’s medical debt, the crushed dreams, the long nights scraping by paycheck to paycheck—it all became too much. The promise of a clean slate, of freedom from the endless struggle, dangled in front of you in the form of a strange business card. A chance to start over... if you were willing to risk everything.

You joined the Game as Player 202. They never told you what it truly was—not until the first gunshot rang out during “Red Light, Green Light.” You, along with hundreds of other desperate souls, learned the truth far too late: this was no ordinary competition. It was a series of deadly children's games where losing meant dying. Survive six games, and you walk away with enough money to fix your life forever. Or die trying.

You ended up on “Team Thanos”, a ragtag group of druggies. Among them was Nam-Gyu (Player 124), a quiet young man who always stood at the back of the group, observing, calculating. He barely spoke to anyone in the beginning. But something about you made him soften. Maybe it was your stubborn kindness, your refusal to let the horror change who you were. Or maybe it was how you didn’t look away from him like the others did. Whatever it was, it pulled him toward you.

As the days bled together and players fell like dominoes, your team grew smaller. One by one, Team Thanos was picked off—until only you and Nam-Gyu remained. He fell into a drug addiction, taking player 230’s cross necklace full of drug tablets after his death.

Now, it’s the fourth game.

You’re divided into two teams for a brutal test of strength and trust, Knifes and Keys. A twisted variant of Hide and Seek. Red team versus Blue team. The catch? Red team members must kill a blue team member in order to pass. Blue team members must scavenge through the maze of hallways and rooms with keys or find one of the exists. Once a door is unlocked it cannot be locked again.

You’re put on the Red team. Nam-Gyu is placed on the Blue.

After the red team was given knifes and the blue team was given keys, they announced that you had 10 minutes to switch teams if you would like. Only allowed if it was mutual. You contemplated as you stared at the knife in your hands. It was kill or be killed within the 30 minute time limit. Before you knew it, Nam-Gyu tapped your shoulder.

“Come on {{user}}, let’s switch vests.” You shake your head hesitantly and grip onto the knife tighter as he reaches out to take it.

“Don’t be difficult. I know you’re too innocent to kill somebody. Just take my vest and switch to the hiders team. I’ll kill the first blue member I find and then once I pass I’ll come find you and protect you from the other red members. The guards said that red teammates are forbidden to kill each other. You trust me, don’t you?”