Everything was dark... i didnt know where i was...

I only remembered being knocked unconscious and then waking up here...

The sounds i heard seemed like they were coming from a car... i realized my wrists and ankles were tied together too...

I suddendly heard the vehicle come to a stop...

"We can leave them here alone, they should be able to get free"

"Yeah yeah, just be gentle with them"

I heard the door next to me slide open as i felt someone carefully pick me up.

The fabric somehow felt a bit familiar...

I pretended to still be knocked out as i felt myself get set down on the cold concrete ground...

I heard the car starting as it drove away again.

I lifted my torso off the cold floor and pushed up the blindfold...

I didnt seem to remember this place... i quickly bit open my restraints and untied my legs...

'Shit its cold...'

I put on my clothes quickly before looking for a bus stop to get home somehow.

My phone was dead and i barely had any money left...

I waited at the bus stop and after a few hours i finally arrived in my street.

I walked down the alley to my house and slowly unlocked the door...

"Dad?"

"Im home..."

He didnt answer as i slowly opened the living room door...

"Dad?"

"Oh y/n sweetheart! Its nice seeing you... uhm.. brought any money home?"

'Is he not even worried i was missing for so long?'

"I gave you 100.000 won only 2 days ago. Where did that go?"

He paused for a while...

"You spend it all on gambling again...?"

He didnt answer...

I sighed slamming the door shut behind me...

I sat down on my bed in sorrow, grabbing my head frustrated...

'I should keep thinking tomorrow...'

I laid down and got a comfortable as i could before quietly dozing off...

...

...

...

...

I heard a loud bang... it was awfully loud...

My head shot up from my mattress as i heard shouting down the hall.

I left my room and went towards the kitchen.

"DAD!"

My father was laying on the ground, his face was completely bloody...

There were four men standing over him...

"Get out of here kid, your dad didnt manage to pay up in time. Who cant learn must feel"

"Please stop! Ill..."

I paused.

"You what? Hm? Your gonna pay? I doubt you have more money than this motherfucker"

"N-no... ill pay you... ill pay you the money next month!"

"Are you sure? If we dont have the money by next month your fathers organs will have to pay for it. And yours too"

I gulped in fear...

"Y-yeah... youll get the 168 million won by next month, i promise..."

"Alright then... its a deal"

He held a small blade to my throat.

"You little piece of shit better not think about lying"

He delivered me one last hard kick into my stomach before him and the other men head off...

I scrouched down holding my stomach in agony...

My dad had already regained his foothold again, "y-y/n... how do you expect to...?"

"Its fine dad, i know how ill get the money... "

"Y/n... what are you gonna do?"

"...Ill simply play some games"

I walked over to the broken windows and saw a card on the tile...

.. a card... a card with 3 shapes on it...

'Time: midnight, june 23

Place: same as previous'

"Y/n! Dear, please hold up-"

"Ill be away for some time. Ill get the money dad..."

I was waiting at the sid eof the street, just like i did last time... this time though... i wasnt as nervous... i was honestly calm...

I hummed quietly as i suddendly heard the van pull up again.

I smiled, "Good evening, its quite a beautiful night we are having, dont you think?"

The door opened and i quickly hopped in, i knew the procedure now...

I could hear the sound of the gas being dispensed, i took in a few deep breaths before falling unconcious...

...

...

I heard the pleasant classical music playing... it was a nice way to wake up... and the bed was a lot more comfortable than the mattress at home...

I knew i hated this game but the idea of seeing my father and myself happy was so uplifting and energizing...

I sat up and saw i was wearing my number again...

I saw a few familiar faces here and there...

I climbed off my bed quickly jumping to the ground.

It reallx looked like everybody had returned... even though some beds were empty most of them belonged to the deceased...

I looked up at the screen, 187 players...

I was a little suprised when i spotted the lady that was the first one to beg to be let go... guess i shouldnt have sympathized with her as much as i did...

I looked to the side, and saw someone quite familiar...

"Number 456? You came back?" I asked.

"Huh? Sorry, do we know each other?"

"No worries, i didnt expect you to remember me. Im number 304, i saw you get saved during the first game"

"Oh yeah... what was his number again?"

"199 if i remember correctly..."

"Gi-hun." I suddendly got interrupted

"Oh, Sang-woo"

I guess they knew each other...

"So your here... didnt think id see you"

"...neither did i"

"And you? Your mom did you see her?"

The other guy paused for a second.

Luckily for him, someone else came up to us.

"Hey good sirs!"

'Ah... the 199!'

"Hey! Its my angel!" The 456 laughed

"Im glad to see you again, sir"

He seemed pretty sweet honestly, something about him was really loveable...

"Were like a bunch of soldiers in a training camp!"

"A training camp is what?"

I almost had to laugh a bit.

"You know the military? Where you shoot guns and go trough training"

"Oh, where soldiers live together?"

"Thats right"

"Wait a minute, since we are on this subject... why dont we team up like were in the military?"

"Your right. We dont even know what well have to play..."

"Hey, thats not a bad idea... mind if i join too?" I smiled

"Of course, the more the merrier. What about you? Why dont you join us?"

"I mean hes crazy strong! You two saw it right? He lifted me up with one hand!"

"Yeah... hes really good!" I tought back on it

"You mean... i can really join you three?"

"Yeah sure. Youre the private, a new lackey!"

"Thank you sir!" He bowed a bit

"Please just drop the sir will you-"

"Excuse me?" He was cut off

I looked over, it was the 001, the old man!

"If its alright with you, can you let me join too?"

"Yeah of course" 456 said... i should really ask for his real name shouldnt i?

"Thanks so much"

"My goodness, our team checks off all the boxes."

'Nice! Now ive got some partners too!'

After a while it was meal time, everyone lined up and got their food.

I sat down next to the others and started shoveling the food down my throat.

"Jeez..." i looked up confused.

"Its really not that much... they could have least heated up the rice a bit..."

"Hmph? What do you mean? This is the height of luxury!" I smiled with stuffed cheeks.

"Hmm... this beings back old memorys..." the old man said.

"You remember eating lunches like this too?"

"Of course... my wife was always busy every morning, packing lunches for me and my children"

I smiled... honestly old people talk was always quite amusing...

"Hey, you said that this food was luxurious to you... what do you normally eat?" 219 asked.

"Hm? Well when i get to eat its usually instant noodles or cheap candy..." i scratched the back of my neck.

"Geez... your family doesnt have that much money, does it?"

"Hm... well i technically make enough to live a normal life but i gotta save enough to make the loan sharks leave my dad alone for a few weeks..."

"Oh... poor thing... you have to deal with your fathers debt?"

"Yeah... hes unable to work... but i try my best.."

We started to talk a bit but 219 quickly interrupted.

"Gi-hun."

"Hm?"

"Lets try and stay on our subject, try to figure out what the next game will be"

I finished my food and laid the empty lunchbox beside me.

"Oh your name is Gi-hun?"

"Well, you can call me that, his name is sang-woo by the way"

I smiled and nodded, "im y/n"

"Y/n, do you have any idea what the next game might be?"

I let my head sink a bit, "sorry, i have no idea.."

"Hey, no one can figure that out. Dont beat yourself up over it"

I nodded hesitantly.

"Well find out when it begins"

There was a short silence, i reached into my pocket and pulled out the apple i was given.

'Its still good...'

I remembered most apples usually have a thin coat of wax so they could stay fresh for years... quite fascinating if you think about it... a thin coat of wax can do so much- wait y/n, stay on the subject!

"Hm? Whered you get that?" Gi-hun asked me.

"Hm? Oh well... i just found it..!" I lied.

He looked a bit suspicious but shook it off.

"Well, if i think about what we did so far, its probably a childrens game from back in the day..." the old man told us...

"Yes, i think so too" gi-hun added, "but there are so many games. There are Ddakji Game, Dabanggu, Hopscotcj, Biseokchigi, Tag, Dont Katsu, Freeze Tag. And for girls... Gonggi, Elastics and cats Cradle"

"...What else is there?"

"Uhm... i dont know how to play any of those..." 199 spoke from my soul...

"Yeah... me neither" i scratched the back of my head nervously

"You two dont know any of the games i just listed?"

We both shook our heads.

"Dont worry, childrens games have simple rules. Well help if you guys dont know"

I nodded swiftly

"Thats much appreciated.."

I only wondered if you could really modify any childrens games to turn into a game of life and death...

But when nighttime rolled around... it was a pure nightmare...

The woman with the unnamed child kept screaming and demanding to go to the bathroom... since i was laying om the top bunk right on the outer edge i could hear her loud and clear...

After a while the guards finally let her go.

I shot a glance to the guard, i felt like i made some eye contact.

Even though i was laying down i still semi-bowed a little to show him my gratitude while i smiled a tiny bit.

He seemed to just look at me for a second before leaving

After some time, i calmly fell asleep...