THE MECHANICAL VOICE echoed across the vast arena, cold and detached, like it didn't care about the lives it was toying with.

''All players will step onto the platform in the centre of the arena. Once the game begins, the platform will spin. Shortly after, a number will be called out. You must then form a group that matches this number, enter one of the surrounding rooms, and close the door within 30 seconds, or be eliminated.''

The rules were simple enough, but simplicity didn't mean safety. I glanced towards Thanos, who stood a few paces away, his eyes scanning the crowd. 

''Stick close,'' he muttered, catching my gaze. I nodded silently.

The platform in the middle of the arena was large. Around it were multiple doors, evenly spaced, each one a potential sanctuary—or a death trap, depending on how the game played out.

We stepped onto the platform with the others. I could hear faint murmurs, hurried whispers from players trying to strategise or cling to some sense of control. But control was a myth here.

When the platform began to spin, the disorientation hit immediately. The world blurred, faces and doors blending into a nauseating whirl. I reached out instinctively, gripping onto Thanos for support. 

The first number was called: ''Five.''

Chaos erupted as players scrambled to form groups. People were shouting, pulling at each other, desperate to avoid elimination. I spotted a room nearby and bolted with Thanos and a few others, just making it inside before the timer ran out.

As the game continued, the spinning grew faster, and the numbers kept changing. ''Seven.'' ''Three.'' ''Six.'' Each round brought more panic, more desperation. In the confusion of the next round, I lost sight of Thanos.

''Minji!'' his voice called out over the chaos, but the platform's momentum and the sea of players made it impossible to reach him. I stumbled into a group with Se-mi and Min-su just as the number ''Four'' was announced.

We barely made it through the door in time, the heavy metal slamming shut behind us. My heart pounded as the countdown ended, and we heard the telltale sound of gunfire.

''Are you alright?'' Se-mi asked, her voice trembling as she looked at me.

I nodded, though my hands were shaking. ''I'm fine,'' I replied.

Min-su, leaning against the wall, let out a shaky breath. ''That was close.''

When the final round ended, and the spinning finally stopped, I felt my legs nearly give out beneath me. We emerged from the room cautiously, scanning the crowd for familiar faces.

Thanos was there, standing near Nam-gyu. His expression shifted the moment he saw me, relief flooding his features as he closed the distance between us in a few long strides. Without hesitation, he pulled me into a hug, his arms wrapping around me tightly.

''Thank God you're safe,'' he murmured.

I stood frozen for a moment, caught off guard by the embrace. But then, as the residual fear began to fade, I let myself relax, leaning into his warmth.

Nearby, Nam-gyu was hefting both Se-mi and Min-su in his arms like they weighed nothing, a feat that earned a small laugh from the others around us. ''You two are getting heavier,'' he joked.

We returned to the dormitory together, exhaustion etched into every step. 

Dinner was a quiet affair at first. But as we ate, the atmosphere began to shift. Conversations picked up, and for a brief moment, it almost felt... normal.

''So,'' Nam-gyu started, leaning back against the wall, ''what would you all do with the money? Assuming you win, of course.''

Se-mi, chewing thoughtfully, smiled faintly. ''Pay off my mum's debts. Then maybe open a bakery or something.''

''A bakery?'' Min-su teased, grinning. ''Didn't you once tell me you can't even bake bread without burning it?''

Se-mi swatted at him playfully. ''It's the idea that counts.''

Thanos, sitting next to me, leaned forward. ''I'd get out of here, first of all. Somewhere far away. Maybe buy a studio, start over.''

I looked at him curiously. ''Start over how?''

He shrugged, a small smirk playing on his lips. ''Not rapping, if that's what you're worried about.''

The corner of my mouth twitched upwards in the faintest hint of a smile. ''Good,'' I replied, taking another bite of my food.

When the conversation shifted to lighter topics, I found myself speaking less, content to listen. The sound of their laughter, even in this grim place, was strangely comforting.

While eeryone was having their own respective conversation, I sat on the edge of my bunk, absentmindedly folding and unfolding a corner of the blanket. 

Thanos approached, his steps deliberate but not heavy. His presence had a way of drawing attention, though not in an overbearing way—it was more like gravity, pulling you toward him without you realising. He stopped in front of me, his expression unreadable.

''Minji,'' he began, his tone softer than usual. ''Will you come with me to the bathroom?''

The request caught me off guard. I glanced up at him, trying to gauge his intentions, but his face remained calm, if not a little tense. There was no teasing in his voice, no grin tugging at the corners of his mouth like usual.

''Alright,'' I replied quietly, standing.

The walk to the bathroom felt longer than it should have. The air in the hallway was cooler, making me hug my arms against my chest. Thanos walked beside me, his hands tucked into his pockets, his gaze fixed straight ahead.

When we entered the bathroom, the harsh white light flickered briefly before steadying. Thanos leaned against the counter, his reflection in the mirror staring back at him. He hesitated, then turned to face me fully.

''Look, I... I'm not great with words,'' he started, his voice a little uneven, which was unusual for him. He always spoke with confidence, even when he was joking around. ''Or feelings. Or... relationships, I guess.''

I tilted my head slightly, watching him as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other.

''But you,'' he continued, meeting my eyes. ''You're the first person who's ever... cared about me. Like, really cared. Even though you're scared sometimes.''

My breath caught in my throat. I wanted to interrupt, but I didn't. Something about the way he looked at me made me freeze in place.

''You're the first one who's accepted me,'' he added. ''Not just the stupid rapper stuff or the loud guy who's always trying to make people laugh. You saw through all that. You made me feel like... like I mattered.''

Thanos, who was always so confident and sure of himself, now stood in front of me, baring his soul.

''I'm one hundred percent sure we'll win this thing,'' he said, his voice growing steadier. ''We'll get the money and get out of here. But just in case... I wanted you to know.''

I felt my chest tighten as he spoke.

''I want to be close to you,'' he admitted, his voice dropping to almost a whisper. ''I want to protect you, hold your hand... and when we get out of here, I want to treat you like a princess. Make up for all the times I've been an idiot, or an asshole.''

He let out a nervous laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. ''I don't know if that makes any sense. But it's how I feel.''

For a moment, I didn't know what to say. The honesty in his eyes, the way his voice trembled just slightly—it was overwhelming. So instead of replying, I stepped closer and kissed him, just barely brushing my lips against his.

When I pulled away, his expression was one of pure shock, his eyes wide, his mouth slightly open as if he wanted to speak but couldn't find the words.

''Minji...'' he began, but before he could say more, he leaned in, this time kissing me gently, his hands hovering near my arms as if unsure whether to hold me or not. His touch was soft, almost hesitant, like he was afraid of breaking the moment.

I pulled away first, my heart pounding in my chest. His eyes searched mine, as though trying to figure out if what just happened was real.

I stepped back, a small smile tugging at my lips. ''You can ask me out properly when we get out of here.''

His face lit up with a grin, and for a moment, I could see the boyish excitement. ''Deal,'' he replied, his voice barely above a whisper.

As I turned to leave, I caught his reflection in the mirror. He was practically bouncing on his feet, a goofy smile spread across his face as he pumped a fist in the air.

''You coming?'' I asked, glancing over my shoulder.

He froze, spinning around quickly. ''Yeah, yeah, of course,'' he replied, his voice suddenly higher-pitched than usual. He coughed, trying to mask it, and added in a more even tone, ''I'm right behind you.''

I shook my head slightly, a quiet laugh escaping me as I walked back toward the dormitory, Thanos trailing behind.

The dormitory was quiet as usual when we returned to our group. The others were scattered, some lying on their bunks and others whispering in hushed tones.

When we reached our spot, Thanos suddenly glanced at me. ''Did I ever tell you... your hair is really beautiful?''

I froze mid-step, unsure if I'd heard him correctly. My eyes flicked to him, and for the first time, I saw a faint blush colouring his pale cheeks. His gaze darted away as if the words had escaped before he could stop them.

Instinctively, I reached up to adjust my bangs, brushing them aside awkwardly. ''Oh... um, thank you,'' I murmured, feeling warmth creep up my neck.

Thanos laughed softly, almost nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. ''And your face too,'' he added, his tone lightening. ''I mean, you're just—'' He stopped abruptly, as if realising he might be overdoing it.

I couldn't help but laugh at his fumbling. It was rare to see him like this—unguarded, a little unsure of himself. ''You're embarrassing yourself,'' I teased, trying to keep my voice steady despite the way my cheeks burned.

''Yeah, probably,'' he admitted, grinning. ''But it's worth it.''

We settled onto the stairs near the bed bunks, the cold pressing against my legs as I sat down. Thanos dropped down beside me, his shoulder almost brushing mine. He was quiet for a moment, staring at the floor as if trying to gather his thoughts.

Finally, he turned to me, his eyes narrowing slightly. ''You know, I've been thinking about something,'' he began.

I raised an eyebrow. ''What is it?''

''Back in the first game,'' he started, ''you told me you didn't know who I was. That you'd never heard of me or my music.''

My stomach sank. I knew where this was going. ''Right...''

''But then,'' he continued, a smirk tugging at his lips, ''you made this comment the other day. About one of my songs. A very specific comment.'' He leaned closer, his tone playful but probing. ''Care to explain, Bunny?''

I let out a small sigh, averting my gaze. My hands fiddled with the hem of my sleeve as I tried to find the right words. ''I might have... lied about that,'' I admitted quietly.

''Oh?'' he prompted, his interest clearly piqued.

''I mean, I did know who you were,'' I clarified, my voice barely above a whisper. ''I just didn't want to admit it at the time. It felt... embarrassing.''

Thanos tilted his head, his curiosity now mingled with amusement. ''Embarrassing? Why?''

I hesitated, then forced myself to look at him. ''Because I used to be a fan. A big fan. I knew all your songs, even the ones you only performed live.''

For a moment, he didn't react. Then, his expression lit up with pure excitement, his grin spreading wide across his face. ''Wait—are you serious?'' he asked, his voice rising slightly.

I nodded, feeling my cheeks heat up again. ''I just didn't want you to think I was some... obsessed fangirl or something.''

He laughed, the sound warm and genuine. ''Minji, that's the best thing I've heard all week!'' He shifted closer, his knee brushing mine as he leaned in conspiratorially. ''You were my biggest fan, huh?''

''Don't push it,'' I warned, though the small smile on my face betrayed my words.

Thanos leaned back, his eyes sparkling with mischief. ''You know, this changes everything,'' he declared dramatically. ''Now I've got inspiration for a new song.''

''Oh no,'' I groaned, already regretting my confession. ''What is it this time?''

He grinned, tapping his fingers rhythmically against his knee as if envisioning the beat already. ''It's going to be called 'My Pretty Bunny'.''

I rolled my eyes, though I couldn't suppress the laugh that escaped me. ''You're impossible.''

''Impossible?'' he echoed, pretending to be offended. ''This is art we're talking about, Minji!'' He winked at me.

I shook my head, but my laughter lingered. Despite the absurdity of the moment, I couldn't deny that Thanos had a way of making me laugh even at the worst moments.

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