N  A  R  I

After they left the hall, all the players sat huddled in the big bedroom, traumatised from the events of the first game.

Nari sat on her own, with her chin on her knees. Unlike others, she hadn't really spoken to anyone, at least not enough to sit with them without it being awkward.

At least, that was until footsteps reached her ears, and player 067 sat beside her, sitting the same way she was. When she sent her a confused look, she didn't say anything, just made eye contact and looked away.

Nari shrugged. She didn't mind the company. The only light source in the room was from the giant, still empty piggy bank above them, bathing them in a gold glow.

The silence didn't last long however, as the lights switched on, an alarm buzzed, and the guards walked through the door. All of the players quickly stood, anxious and wary.

" You have all made it through the first game. Congratulations, you are now moving on. I will now announce the results of the first game." The numbers started going down on the screen, and Nari glanced at 067, who was watching the screen.

They all watched anxiously as the numbers went down, and Nari gaped when the number stopped at 201. That's a lot of people dead.

" Out of 456 players, 255 were eliminated, and 201 players successfully completed the first game." Everyone seemed to shift uncomfortably, before 212 jumped forward.

" Mister, please. Listen, I'm so sorry. I swear I will pay what I owe." She cried, and Nari looked down at her feet.

" I'll do it, I'll pay it all." She fell to her knees, sobbing.

" Please, sir. I have a child. Oh! So young, I need to register, and I still need to name my child, sir. Please, sir, let me leave." Another woman fell to her knees and started to beg also.

" Sir, I'm begging you. Let me leave and I swear I'll find a way to pay it all. Let me go home." More and more people started to beg, and Nari felt uncomfortable. She wasn't used to seeing people like this.

" There seems to be a misunderstanding. We are not trying to hurt you or collect your debts. Let me remind you, that we're here to give you a chance."

" A chance?" 119 spoke up, in disbelief.

" We play some kids games, and you shoot us. You want me to choose that? That's some chance." The crowd nodded along with him.

" We may be in debt, sir," 271 added, voice shaking and his body trembling.

" But that doesn't justify killing us all." He held his shaky hands together.

" This is just a game." The masked man said.

" Killing everyone out there was a game to you, huh?" 009 cried, face scrunched up.

" They were simply eliminated for breaking the rules of the game." Nari sighs at this, sitting back down on the bunk beside 067.

" If you just follow the rules, you can leave this place safely with the prize money we promised."

" Just keep your damn money, I don't care!" Player 066 shouted, voice raspy.

" Just let me go home. That's all I want." He cried.

The crowd started to agree. Nari just stayed quiet, uncomfortable with the confrontation.

" Consent form clause 1: A player is not allowed to stop playing." The annoying voice of the guard spoke.

" Come on. You think you'll get away with this, huh?" 119 spat.

" The police will come. They'll bust in here any minute now. They'll be here since we all disappeared." 066 started nodding his head.

" Yeah. And I bet they have everybody's phones tracked here already. Look at all your hostages. You're doomed if you don't let us go!" The masked man pulled a gun out of his pocket and shot at the air, making Nari instinctively cover her head, even though she was out of reach.

" Consent form clause 2: a player who refuses to play will be eliminated." Nari was now starting to get frightened.

" Consent form clause 3." Nari looks up to see player 218 making his way towards the crowd.

" If all the players agree to stop playing, the games are allowed to end. Or am I wrong?" Smart man.

" You are correct."

" So let's vote on ending this. If the majority wishes to leave this place, then everyone gets to go home, right?" The masked man is quiet for a moment.

" As you wish. We will take a vote to decide on the termination of the game. Before we vote, let me announce the prize money for the game as previously promised." He presses a button on a pen, and the piggy bank starts filling up with money from a tube. Nari gapes. She'd never seen that kind of money in her life.

" A total of 255 players were eliminated during the first game. A hundred million won is at stake per player. Therefore, 25.5 billion won of prize money has been accumulated so far. If you wish to give up on playing, the 25.5 billion won will be sent to the families of the late players, 100 million won each. However, you will all return home empty handed.."

212 turns to the guards.

" Uh, sir, so then, if we can complete all six games, how much do we get?" Nari turns to the guards. She'd like to know.

" Since there were 456 players, the total prize money is 45.6 billion won." Nari knew what the guards were doing, showing them the money. It persuades more people to keep playing.

||

" As you can see, there are two buttons in front of you. If you wish to continue playing, press the green button with an O. If you wish to stop playing, please press the red button with the X. After you finish voting, move to the other side of the white line and wait. Voting will be done in reverse order of the numbers on your chests." Well, at least she could do it quickly.

" Player 456, please cast your vote." Said man stepped forward, seeming to contemplate his vote, before pressing the X.

" Player 455, please cast your vote." Eyes turned to her, and she left her spot beside 067 to step up to the podium.

Now, she thought she'd say no. Straight away. But, all that money. She could buy a lavish house for her and her mother. She could pay off her debts easily. She could lead an amazing life.

After thinking for a second, she reaches forward and pushes the green button. When she walks to the other side of the white line, 456 looks at her like she's lost her mind. She just shrugs.

Player 453 steps forward, and looks at the cash prize, before pressing the O. Nari sends her a smile as she stands next to her, which she returns.

This goes on for a good half an hour. Nari smiles when 067 presses O. It finally gets down to player 001, and both voting groups are at 100.

It's the elderly man, and he contemplates his decision. But, eventually, he presses X. Half of the people cheer in disbelief, the others look upset, Nari included. 067, who is beside her, looks upset too.

" The majority of the players have voted to terminate the game. Therefore, this game is now terminated." Nari could cry. Oh, how desperately she wants that money.

They start arguing again, and Nari sighs. The guards won't take it though, and they soon leave to get everyone going.

||

Nari is blindfolded in the vehicle, and is startled when she's thrown out of it, hearing two other people grunt as they are too, and their stuff is thrown out before the car drives off.

The two adults seemed to already have themselves untied, but Nari hasn't, and she's still blindfolded.

" Hey, why didn't you untie the kid?" A woman's voice speaks, and her blindfold is soon pulled up. 067 stands in front of her, and she cuts her ties before letting her stand.

Her face grows hot when she realises she's naked, and she quickly gets her clothes out of her bag and puts them on.

The other two start walking away just as she's done putting her shoes on, and they turn, wondering if she's going anywhere.

" Are you coming?" 456 asks.

" Oh, uh, yeah, just taking a break." She says awkwardly, and they nod before walking away.

Truth is, she didn't know how to get home. If she'd known that 456 was from the same place as her, she would have followed him, but she didn't.

So, she called the number again the next day, not giving up. She's going to win.

||

Just wanted to let y'all know that I actually have a playlist for this book! Unfortunately, it's not on Spotify, it's on Esound, and it has the same exact title as the book, and the picture is just solid pink. Fair warning though, it's a pretty sad playlist. They're the songs I listen to while writing and crying so good luck 😃