THE DORMITORY WAS eerily still. The rest of the team had long since stopped their teasing, leaving Thanos and me lying side by side on the cold, uncomfortable mattress.

His arm was wrapped around me, his warmth a stark contrast to the chill of the room. My face rested lightly against his chest, and I could hear the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. It was oddly calming, even as I tried to ignore the smirks and soft chuckles our teammates had thrown our way earlier.

''Finally together, huh?'' Se-mi had muttered, and another had chimed in with something about ''lovey-dovey looks.'' I had pretended not to hear, but my cheeks had burned regardless.

Thanos had simply shrugged, pulling me closer as if to shield me from their words. ''Let them talk,'' he had murmured, his voice low and steady. And I had let it go, choosing to close my eyes and focus on the quiet, the fleeting sense of safety.

But that fragile peace didn't last.

I was startled awake by a rough, calloused hand clamping over my mouth. Panic surged through me as my eyes flew open, only to be greeted by near-total darkness. The faint glow of lights scattered throughout the dorm barely illuminated the chaos around me—figures moving, shadows blending together, and the unmistakable sounds of violence.

I thrashed against the grip, trying to scream, but the hand muffled my cries. My heart pounded wildly as I realised the hand didn't belong to Thanos; it was too harsh, too unfamiliar. I kicked and clawed, but the person's strength was overwhelming.

I felt myself being dragged away, my breaths coming in shallow gasps as my attacker's grip tightened around my throat. My vision blurred, and the sounds around me dulled, merging into a cacophony of bodies colliding, cries of pain, and the wet, sickening sound of blood hitting the floor.

Through the haze, I caught a glimpse of the guards stationed at the edges of the room. They stood unmoving, watching as the chaos unfolded. They weren't going to stop it. They were letting this happen.

Just as I felt the last of my strength fading, the grip around my neck vanished. I crumpled to the floor, gasping for air, as a familiar figure launched himself at my attacker.

Thanos.

His face was twisted with rage as he slammed the man's head into the concrete wall with a sickening thud. Again. And again. His voice was a low, furious growl, each word punctuated by another brutal strike. ''That's what you get for touching her!''

I watched in stunned silence, unable to move as the man's body went limp. Thanos finally turned to me, his chest heaving as his anger gave way to concern. He dropped to his knees, his hands reaching out to cup my cheeks.

''Minji! Are you okay? Look at me,'' he urged, his voice trembling slightly.

I couldn't speak. My throat burned, and my body felt frozen, paralysed by the shock of what had just happened.

''It's okay,'' he whispered, his tone softening. He pulled me into his arms, holding me tightly as if to reassure himself that I was still there.

He helped me to my feet, his arm firmly around my shoulders as he guided me towards a secluded corner of the dormitory. Min-su and Nam-gyu were already there, their faces pale and stricken. Min-su was curled up, his sobs muffled by his hands.

The moment I saw only them, I understood. I didn't need to ask what had happened.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I sank to the floor, my chest heaving with silent sobs. Thanos crouched beside me. He draped his jacket over my shoulders, his fingers brushing my hair back from my face.

''You're safe now,'' he murmured, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. ''I won't let anything happen to you.''

When the lights flickered back on, I instinctively lay flat on the floor, trying to steady my breathing. A guard stood nearby, his gun raised and trained on me. My heart raced as I froze under his gaze.

Before I could even process what was happening, the sound of gunfire erupted, shattering the tense silence. I braced myself, convinced that this was the end, but the shouts of Player 456 broke through the chaos.

''It's players fighting back!'' he yelled, his voice urgent.

I pushed myself up slightly, glancing around as a group of players scrambled for weapons and supplies. I felt a hand on my arm and turned to see Thanos, his expression filled with determination and fear.

''Stay down,'' he warned, his voice firm.

''But—''

''No,'' he interrupted, shaking his head. ''We're not getting involved. I can't lose you, Minji. Please.''

His words struck something deep within me, and I nodded reluctantly. Together, we moved to the stairs, sitting silently as we watched the chaos unfold. A man darted into the room, grabbing an ammo pack before ducking into cover.

Moments later, the guards surged in, their shouts echoing through the room as they ordered everyone to get back on the floor. Thanos grabbed my hand, pulling me under one of the bunks.

''Stay close,'' he whispered, his arm around me as I trembled. ''I've got you.''

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