—

Kyung-jun slowly stirred awake, his head pounding with an unbearable headache. A groan escaped his lips as he blinked against the dim morning light, his body aching from the events of the night before.

As his vision cleared, the first thing he saw was Minji—her soft, peaceful face resting against his shoulder, her breathing slow and steady.

For a moment, everything else faded.

His hand instinctively moved to her hair, brushing through the strands gently before pulling her just a little closer. She felt warm against him, grounding him in the chaos that had unfolded.

But then his gaze drifted past her—to the dried blood splattered on the floor.

And suddenly, it all came crashing back.

The mafia game. The vote.

Heo-yul’s strange behavior. His inhuman strength.

His death.

Kyung-jun ran a hand through his disheveled hair, his jaw tightening.

“Shit… what the hell is happening here…?” he muttered under his breath, frustration burning in his chest.

As if sensing his distress, Minji stirred, her brows furrowing before she slowly blinked her eyes open.

At first, she looked drowsy—confused—until her gaze landed on the bloodstains.

Her body tensed immediately.

“W…what…?” she breathed, her voice barely above a whisper as she rubbed her temples, wincing at the dull ache in her head.

Terror flickered in her wide, sleep-laced eyes as the memories started flooding back.

And just like that, the nightmare wasn’t over.

Kyung-jun felt Minji’s entire body stiffen against him. Her breathing grew uneven, and when she turned to look at him, her eyes were laced with fear.

He hated that look on her.

Without thinking, he reached up, cupping her cheek with a gentleness that seemed almost foreign for someone like him. His thumb brushed along her skin, as if grounding her back to the present.

“Breathe, Sunshine,” he murmured, his voice low but steady. “You’re okay. I’ve got you.”

Minji swallowed hard, her fingers clutching onto the fabric of his shirt like it was the only thing keeping her tethered to reality. Her lips trembled, but she nodded, leaning into his touch.

“B-but Heo-yul… he…” Her voice cracked.

“I know.” Kyung-jun exhaled sharply, his grip tightening ever so slightly around her. “I remember.”

His own stomach twisted as the horrific scene replayed in his mind—the way Heo-yul’s eyes had gone blank, the inhuman strength he’d shown, the sound of glass shattering as he threw himself out the window.

Minji pressed her forehead against his shoulder, shutting her eyes tightly. “This isn’t normal… this—this can’t be real.”

Kyung-jun wrapped an arm around her, shielding her from the sight of the blood on the floor. He didn’t know how to explain it, didn’t know what the hell was happening either. But one thing was certain—he wasn’t going to let anything happen to her.

“It doesn’t matter what this is,” he whispered into her hair. “I’ll keep you safe. I swear it.”

Minji let out a shaky breath, her hands still clinging onto him as if he might disappear too.

For once, Kyung-jun didn’t care who was watching. Didn’t care how vulnerable he looked.

He only cared about her , his pretty sunshine.

The eerie, robotic voice echoed through the dimly lit hallways, sending a chilling shiver down Minji’s spine. She clutched the hem of Kyung-jun’s white shirt, her fingers trembling as the weight of the situation settled in.

“Does that mean… we have to kill each other?” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the growing murmurs of panic around them.

Kyung-jun turned his gaze to her, his usual sharp, guarded expression softening. Without hesitation, he pulled her closer, tucking her against his chest, shielding her from the cruel reality unfolding around them.

“It’s going to be okay,” he murmured, his voice steady despite the chaos. “I will protect you, no matter what. You're my love.”

Minji slowly lifted her head, her wide, tear-filled eyes meeting his. Her lips parted slightly, searching his face for any trace of uncertainty—but there was none. Only fierce determination. Only him.

“Promise…?” Her voice wavered, fragile and afraid.

Kyung-jun exhaled, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear before leaning down to press a gentle kiss against her forehead.

“Promise.”

But before she could reply, a bloodcurdling scream tore through the air, echoing from the second floor.

“What the hell is happening?!” someone shouted in horror.

The moment shattered. Kyung-jun instinctively grabbed Minji’s hand, lacing his fingers with hers as they sprinted up the stairs, their hearts pounding in unison.

The stench of blood was suffocating.

A group of students stood frozen in front of Choi Ju Won’s lifeless body, their faces pale with shock. The metallic scent burned Kyung-jun’s nostrils as he pulled Minji even closer, positioning himself in front of her as a shield.

The robotic voice spoke again, unnervingly calm.

“Last night, the police used their skills. And Choi Ju Won was eliminated by the Mafia. Choi Ju Won was a mafia. Five mafia remaining.”

A cold silence filled the hallway.

“It’s now time to vote.”

Before Minji could turn her head, Kyung-jun moved swiftly, his hand covering her eyes, refusing to let her see the gruesome sight before them.

“Don’t look,” he whispered, his voice gentle yet firm. “You don’t need to see this.”

Minji clenched onto his shirt, burying her face into his chest as silent tears slipped down her cheeks.

Kyung-jun held her tighter, his jaw clenched.

Whoever was behind this twisted game—whoever thought they could take her away from him—

They were going to regret it.

Minji trembled in Kyung-jun’s embrace, gripping his shirt as if letting go would shatter what little safety she had left. His warmth was the only thing anchoring her, the steady rise and fall of his chest beneath her cheek keeping her grounded.

“It’s okay,” he whispered, stroking her hair gently. “I’ve got you.”

Her breathing was uneven, her fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt. “This isn’t a game, Kyung-jun… People are dying.”

“I know,” he muttered, his grip tightening around her. “That’s why I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Minji lifted her head slightly, her eyes searching his face. Even in the dim lighting, she could see it—the unspoken fear lurking beneath his usual cold exterior. He was scared too. But more than that, he was determined.

“Then you have to stay safe too,” she murmured, reaching up to touch his cheek, her thumb brushing lightly against his skin. “I don’t want to lose you.”

Kyung-jun froze for a moment, his eyes widening slightly at her touch. It was rare for her to see him vulnerable, even rarer for him to allow himself to be comforted.

With a sigh, he leaned into her palm, closing his eyes for a brief second before pressing a soft kiss to her fingertips. “I’ll stay safe,” he promised. “For you.”

Minji tensed, and Kyung-jun immediately pulled her close again, wrapping his arms around her protectively.

“Don’t think about it right now,” he murmured against her hair. “Just focus on me.”

She did. She focused on the steady beat of his heart, the way his warmth enveloped her, the way his voice—usually so rough and indifferent—was now soft, just for her.

No matter what this game threw at them, she knew one thing for certain.

As long as Kyung-jun was by her side, she wasn’t alone.

"We need to find out who's behind this. Where’s the broadcast room?" Woo-ram asked, wiping the blood from his face with shaky hands.

"I think it’s over there!" Jun-hee pointed to a dimly lit hallway. Without hesitation, the students followed, their footsteps echoing through the silent corridor.

Meanwhile, Kyung-jun stood beside Minji, steadying her as she struggled to suppress the nausea clawing at her throat. He gently placed a hand on her back, his voice low but firm. "Breathe, Minji. Just focus on me."

She nodded weakly, gripping the fabric of his sleeve like a lifeline.

When they burst into the broadcast room, expecting to find someone—anyone—behind this twisted game, they were met with an eerie emptiness. The only thing out of place was a cup of coffee sitting on the desk, steam still faintly rising from its surface.

"What the hell...?" Seungbin muttered under his breath.

With no answers, they returned to Ju-won’s lifeless body, the sight making Minji shudder. Kyung-jun instinctively stepped in front of her, shielding her from the gruesome scene.

"It’s the game," Da-bum finally spoke, voice laced with panic. "This is because of the mafia game! We’re all going to die!"

The room tensed at his words, fear settling in like a thick fog. But before he could spiral further, Kyung-jun grabbed him by the collar, his voice a dangerous growl.

"Shut your damn mouth. No one's dying."

"Kyung-jun…" Minji’s soft voice cut through the tension. She looked up at him, her hand brushing against his wrist. "Please don’t yell…"

Almost immediately, his grip loosened. He exhaled sharply, his anger dissipating as he let go and turned back to Minji, concern flickering in his usually cold eyes.

Yoon-seo knelt beside Ju-won, hesitantly reaching out to touch the blood pooling beneath him. She turned back to the group, her face pale. "The blood is still fresh… He died recently."

Before she could say anything else, a violent gag ripped from her throat, and she doubled over, vomiting onto the floor.

"Yoon-seo!" Jun-hee rushed forward, steadying her by the shoulders.

“We have to get out of here, now!” he shouted, snapping everyone back to reality.

Without hesitation, they ran toward the reception hall, their breaths coming out in uneven gasps. Desperation clawed at them as they frantically checked their phones, trying to find a signal. Nothing.

The exit was just ahead, a glowing white line marking the boundary between them and possible freedom.

"I don’t care what that voice says, I’m getting out of here," one of the students, Lee Sang-hwan, scoffed. He stepped forward, crossing the line without hesitation.

"See? I’m perfectly fin—"

His words cut off as his body jerked violently. His eyes rolled back, turning eerily white.

"Lee Sang-hwan has been eliminated for breaking the rules."

Before anyone could react, another student, Kim Hyeong-seok, followed him across the line—only to suffer the same fate.

"Kim Hyeong-seok has been eliminated for breaking the rules."

A sickening crack filled the air as both boys grabbed rocks and smashed them against their own skulls, blood splattering onto the ground. Their bodies collapsed in lifeless heaps.

Minji let out a broken sob, clutching Kyung-jun’s arm as her entire body shook. "Kyung-jun… I don’t want to die…"

He turned to her, and for the first time, there was no teasing smirk, no cocky attitude—just a rare, unguarded tenderness in his expression. He cupped her face, his thumb gently brushing away the tears spilling down her cheeks.

"Shh… you won’t die," he murmured, voice softer than anyone had ever heard from him. "I won’t let it happen."

The robotic voice spoke again, indifferent to their horror.

"Lee Sang-hwan and Kim Hyeong-seok were civilians."

A chilling silence fell over the group. The game was real. The deaths were real. And now, they were all trapped in a nightmare with no way out.