Choi Nabi's pov : 

I made my way through the weirdly colored hallways, my heart pounding as I followed the guards to the next game. Ji-yeong and Sae-byeok never left my side since I told them about my pregnancy just before the guards ordered us to follow them. Their reactions were a mix of shock and concern, but also a bit of disbelief. Honestly, it was a little funny seeing them so flustered over it.

But there was one thing I still hadn't told them—about the father of my child. They didn't know that the person who was supposed to be protecting us, who was also a part of the very game that threatened our lives, was actually someone I once loved. One of the guards. Sang-jun. I could barely even process it myself. How could I? How could he be the same person, the one who had broken my heart, and now the one risking his life to protect me and our unborn child?

I sighed, trying to shake off the overwhelming thoughts swirling in my head.

"A baby is carrying a baby?!" Sae-byeok exclaimed, her voice filled with disbelief.

"I'll be the aunt!!" Ji-yeong said excitedly, her eyes wide with a playful sparkle.

I couldn't help but chuckle at their reactions, even though my stomach twisted with nerves. Despite the circumstances, they somehow managed to bring a smile to my face.

When we finally arrived at the game area, my breath caught in my throat. The room was strangely decorated, almost childishly so, with four different columns—each one marked with a symbol: triangle, circle, star, and umbrella. It felt out of place, as though everything here was designed to throw us off, to make the game even more disorienting.

I stared at the columns, my mind racing. What would the game be? What did these symbols mean? My thoughts were a blur as I stood frozen, unsure of what was coming next.

"Players, before the second game begins, we need you to choose one of these four shapes and stand in front of it," the guard's voice echoed through the room, cutting through the tension that had built up.

I felt a knot tighten in my chest as I followed the others, unsure of what was about to happen. Despite not knowing the game, I trusted my instincts—and I trusted Jun’s warning. Without hesitation, I moved toward the triangle shape, the one he had advised. Ji-yeong and Sae-byeok followed closely behind, standing beside me.

We watched as the other players chose their shapes. Some looked confident, others filled with doubt, their eyes flickering nervously toward the guards. The atmosphere was thick with uncertainty, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that something terrible was looming.

The silence was broken as one of the guards spoke again, his voice cold and precise.

“Everyone, stand in front of your chosen shapes. The game will begin shortly.”

The rest of the guards entered the room, carrying metallic cases. Their footsteps reverberated through the space, and I could feel the air grow heavier with each step they took. My heart raced, and a strange, suffocating anxiety settled in my chest. Whatever this game was, it was about to test us all in ways we weren’t ready for.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. We had no choice but to play along. I had to survive. We all had to.

The guards positioned themselves around the room, their masked faces betraying no emotion. They were here to enforce the game, nothing more. No one knew what came next, and no one would until it was too late.

My heart raced as I stared at the honeycomb and the thin needle lying inside the case. I had no idea what was happening, but the ominous weight of the situation settled deep in my stomach. The guards stood still, watching as we processed what we’d been handed.

I glanced over at Ji-yeong and Sae-byeok. Their faces mirrored my confusion and unease. Player 240 was already studying the honeycomb closely, trying to figure out what was expected of us.

The tension in the air was palpable, and I could hear my own breathing growing louder, faster. This wasn’t just some simple game. It was a test, something twisted. My fingers trembled as I reached for the honeycomb, the soft, delicate edges reminding me just how fragile our lives were here.

The voice of the guard cut through the tension, cold and authoritative.

“You have 10 minutes to carve the shape out of the honeycomb. If you fail, you will be eliminated.”

I felt my breath catch. My hands instinctively clenched around the needle, its sharp point a stark contrast to the fragile sweetness in front of me. The shape was faintly etched into the honeycomb, a triangle.

A triangle. The very symbol we had chosen earlier.

I sighed in relief as Jun made me pick the right one but I quickly saw the players who chose umbrella turning pale , I looked at the with compassion and didn't wasted time and started scratching the honeycomb with my needle when the timer started.

I glanced around, seeing the other players struggling with the task. Some were in a panic, breaking their honeycombs too early and falling to the ground, eliminated. The sound of gunshots echoed in the room, each one a reminder of how high the stakes were.

Ji-yeong's eyes were filled with concern as she gently reached for my hand, her voice barely a whisper. "Hey... does your stomach hurt?"

I clenched my teeth, trying to fight the pain that was intensifying with each passing second. "Y-yes, a little , i want to vomit..."

Before I could say more, a dull wave of pain hit, making me gasp. My body trembled, and I gripped the needle tightly in my hand, trying not to let it slip.

The dull pain was relentless, but I forced myself to focus, determined not to let the pain stop me. With every ounce of strength I had left, I managed to carve out the honeycomb, my hands shaking, but I did it.

"Player 007 passed."

"Player 212 passed."

"Player 067 passed."

"Player 101 passed."

"Player 240 passed."

The words echoed around me, each one a small victory, but my heart raced, not just from the game, but from the unbearable pain I was enduring. I had done it. I had passed. But I wasn’t sure how much longer I could keep going like this.

I sighed in relief when I arrived at the bedroom and saw the girls alive.

"I’m so happy you made it..." I whispered, trying to hide the exhaustion in my voice.

Ji-yeong looked at me, her eyes soft with concern. "Do you still feel bad?"

"Yeah, I feel a bit dizzy but nothing too bad," I replied, forcing a smile to reassure her.

Sae-byeok clicked her tongue, her eyes burning with righteous anger. "Tch... I can’t believe that this asshole abandoned a pretty girl like you."

Ji-yeong nodded vigorously, a playful glint in her eyes. "I know, right? If I were a guy, I’d have definitely fallen for you!"

I couldn’t help but laugh, the tension in my chest easing for a moment. But as I scanned the room, my smile faltered when I didn’t see Jun anywhere. A pang of sadness hit me, and I quickly looked away, trying to hide the emptiness creeping inside. It was foolish to feel this way, I told myself. He was probably busy. He was just doing his job, after all. Still... something about his absence felt heavy.

As lunch time arrived, I made my way to the queue with the other players. My stomach churned with nerves, but I tried to focus on the task at hand. When it was my turn, the guard slipped me a bigger portion than usual, his movements quick and discreet. The mask concealed his face, but I knew it was Jun behind it. My heart fluttered, and I couldn't help but smile, even though I knew it was dangerous.

I sat down with the girls to eat, but they immediately insisted on giving me their portions. I shook my head, trying to convince them.

"Come on, guys, it's fine," I said, nudging the food back toward them. "Eat, please. You need it too."

Sae-byeok crossed her arms with a stubborn look. "It's not for you, but for the child," she insisted, glancing at my stomach.

Ji-yeong added, "Come on, don't be stubborn!"

Their concern made my heart swell with gratitude, but I was determined to not be a burden. Finally, after some gentle persuasion, I managed to convince them to eat their share.

When I finished my meal and stood up to return the cutlery, I noticed something odd on the back of the lunchbox. My fingers grazed the edge, and I hesitated, confusion swirling in my mind. What was this?

Some random numbers were scribbled on the back of the lunchbox, and at first, I thought nothing of it. Maybe it was just a mistake, or something left behind by a previous guard. But then, a memory flickered in my mind, and my heart skipped a beat. The numbers... they looked familiar.

It took a moment for it to click, but then I remembered the secret code Jun and I used back in high school. We would write numbers like this when we needed to communicate in class, passing notes secretly between us. It was our little trick—something only we understood. Even if the teacher caught us, the message would be impossible for anyone else to decipher.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought of Jun still using our secret code after all these years. It was such a nostalgic reminder of our past, of the innocent times when our biggest worry was passing notes without getting caught.

Luckily, I still remembered how to decrypt it, and as I pieced the numbers together, the message became clear:

"Meet me in the bathroom when the lights go off and everyone is asleep."

My smile faltered slightly as reality set in. Meeting him in secret was dangerous. If anyone found out, we’d both be in serious trouble. But despite the risks, my heart pounded with anticipation.

What did he want to tell me? Was it about the next game? About us? About our child?

I clenched the lunchbox tighter, taking a deep breath. Whatever it was, I had to go.

As curfew settled in and the lights went out, I lay still, counting the minutes. I waited at least twenty, making sure most players were asleep before carefully slipping out of bed. Every step I took was cautious, my heartbeat loud in the eerie silence. The darkness made it hard to see, and I had to steady myself to avoid tripping.

Reaching the door, I knocked as softly as possible, barely making a sound.

For a moment, there was nothing. Then, out of the darkness, a masked figure appeared in the doorway, making my breath hitch. My body tensed instinctively, fear creeping up my spine.

Before I could react, the figure reached out, taking my hand. Their grip was firm but not harsh. The door shut quietly behind us, sealing us in.

Jun removed his mask and immediately pulled me into his arms. His warmth, his scent—it was overwhelming in the best way. I couldn’t help but smile against his shoulder, feeling safe for the first time in what felt like forever.

"I missed you, Nabi…" he murmured, his voice laced with relief. "Did you eat well?"

I nodded softly. "Yes, don’t worry." My fingers gently tangled in his hair, stroking it soothingly.

Before I could say anything else, his lips suddenly met mine, catching me off guard. My breath hitched as he deepened the kiss, his grip on me tightening.

"Don’t worry," he whispered against my lips. "Everyone’s asleep… even the Front Man."

Jun’s expression was filled with worry as he held me close.

"The next game is Tug of War," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm really scared for you… It’s so frustrating to stand in front of you and not be able to help. I’m so sorry, Nabi."

My heart clenched at the guilt in his eyes.

"Tug of War?" I asked, slowly letting go of him. "What is it?"

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You have to pull on a rope until your opponent falls. It’s a team game—seven players on each side. Please… be careful."

His lips brushed against my forehead, lingering for a moment before he gently placed his hand on my belly, his thumb tracing soft circles. "I can't lose you… either of you."

Jun cupped my face gently, his eyes filled with determination.

"I promise I'll get you out of here. Once we leave this place, I'll pay off all our debts, find a new job, take care of you like a princess, and—above all—be a good father to our child."

A warmth spread through my chest despite the fear lingering in my heart. I reached up, brushing my fingers against his cheek, offering him a small but genuine smile.

"Of course you will, dear."

Jun sighed, his fingers lingering on my cheek as if memorizing the feel of my skin. "I'm sorry, Nabi. I have to go before someone notices I'm missing."

I nodded, forcing myself to be strong, but my voice cracked as I whispered, "I understand... but it hurts, Jun. You're right here, yet it still feels like you're a million miles away." My eyes welled with tears, betraying the emotions I had been holding back.

He gently cupped my face, his thumb brushing away my tears. "Just hold on for two more days, love. I swear, I'll find a way to get us out of here."

With one last lingering look, he placed his mask back on and disappeared into the shadows.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself as I slipped out of the room. But as soon as I turned the corner, I froze.

Sae-byeok and Ji-yeong stood there, arms crossed, their eyes filled with suspicion.

"Mind explaining what we just saw?" Sae-byeok asked, her voice low and sharp.

CHAPTER 006

to continue...( 2 chapters left )