Marbles. || Sunsun AU

One.

The remaining players slowly gathered in the white room. Their thoughts were interrupted when a woman's voice played through the speakers.

"Players, welcome to the fourth game. For this game, you will be playing in teams of two."

Many lifted their heads in confusion. Working in teams wasn't expected by most, but after the third game, some considered the idea prior. One player, however, dreaded playing in pairs. Park Sunghoon, Player 067. The lone wolf that was lucky enough to find a team to make a truce with on the night of the event he decided to call the "mini game". He was always hesitant when talking to anyone, but in a room full of people in crippling debt, he figured keeping quiet and avoiding the gaze of attention was the best option. 36 billion won was on the line, along with their lives. Definitely better to be safe than sorry.

The voice began again.

"Please look around and find someone you wish to play with. When two people agree to play together, shake hands to show you have become partners. Let me repeat the instructions,"

Sunghoon stood still while others scrambled to find a partner they deemed trustworthy. Did the game require physical strength? Mental? No one knew. Everyone was on edge, including him. The voice once again knocked him out of his thoughts.

"There can only be two players per team. You will have ten minutes to find your partner."

Those who were still before were now looking around in a panic. Sunghoon had decided to take a seat on the stairs leading down from the door they previously entered through. He watched as a woman who was notorious for being loud and obnoxious begged for two of the "leaders" of the team, Lee Heeseung and Park Jongseong, to be her partner. Before she could say anything else, Sunghoon found himself speaking.

"No one will want to play with you like this. And you should all be honest," He looked at those sitting on the stairs below and those standing in front of him. "You don't want a girl to team up with you or an old guy."

"Of course we don't. We could die. We already almost died in the previous round." Sunghoon couldn't help but roll his eyes. Of course the man wasn't in the wrong, however he thought it was incredibly stupid to only choose those who are strong physically. He realized in the second game that not everything is about how hard you hit, but where. Before he could respond, another player followed up with a religious rebuttal to Sunghoon's comment.

"This man is right. It was Adam's rib the Lord used to make Eve after all. And that's the reason we're only choosing men. They played different roles than women-"

"You idiot." The man was cut off by a voice to Sunghoon's lower left. Player 240, Kim Sunoo. A member of his previous team in the third game. Sunoo continued, "We're not playing in Eden right now."

Sunghoon got up from the cold stairs. "Wait." Heeseung reached his hand out a bit to try and stop him from leaving. Sunghoon turned to him, straight faced. "Why? You want to team?" he asked, sarcasm laced heavily in his tone. Heeseung's hand dropped and Sunghoon proceeded in walking away. Sunoo stood up immediately, following Sunghoon.

Despite the short time that had followed Sunghoon leaving and Sunoo following, Sunghoon had made it over halfway across the room in only a few seconds. A little less than four minutes remained on the timer. Sunghoon wondered what would happen if someone was left alone.

"Hey." Sunoo's voice brought him back to reality. He turned towards him. "Wanna do this?" Sunoo asked. A look of boredom plastered the boy's face, but Sunghoon was sure there was at least a little bit more to the other's current emotions. Sunghoon suddenly remembered where they were and what position him and everyone else were in. This is no place to make friends, don't cave so easily.

He hovered over the shorter. "Why should I?" he asked. Sunoo took a small step back, making eye contact with the other. He spoke up, "I can't picture you going around and begging these jerks." He took a small pause and then, "That'd be embarrassing." Sunghoon felt his eye twitch a bit in response. "What matters is winning. Embarrassing or not."

A small smile made it way to Sunoo's face. "Then play with me." His expression then became more serious. "I'll make sure you win." Sunghoon wouldn't admit it, but he didn't need Sunoo to bargain with him in order to play with him. As soon as he was approached by the younger, Sunghoon was already fine with it. This offer made Sunghoon confused, especially with how serious Sunoo appeared to be about it. "What will you do?" Sunghoon questioned. Sunoo's face slightly softened. "Whatever it takes." Sunghoon stayed silent for a moment. "What do you see in me?"

Sunoo, now back to his bored, expressionless state didn't hesitate. "Well, I wanted to ask you that." Sunghoon thought for a second. "You were someone who looked like they would come with me." Sunoo gave a barely visible smile, "That's how I feel." Sunoo extended his hand, to which Sunghoon stared at for a moment or two. He looked back at the smaller boy before lightly shaking his hand. Sunoo slightly tightened his grip around Sunghoon's hand.

Both boys are brought back to the present when the timer goes off. The woman who Sunghoon had confronted earlier was left without a partner. All of the players walked through the doors, leaving her with the staff. Her screams could be heard even after exiting the room.

The room was built like a small village. Warm colors coated any and everything. Yellowish light, orange walls, brown wood, and an orange sunset for the room's wallpaper. Nineteen men with triangle masks stood in front of them. The players took in their surroundings.

"All players, please follow the staff to your designated positions for this game."

A staff member quickly walked up to Sunghoon and Sunoo, stood for less than a second, and walked down the path. The pair followed the staff member as they were told. They walked next to each other, no words exchanged. The only sound that could be heard was the dirt under their shoes. Sunghoon was focusing on the path ahead, not caring too much about the set. Sunoo, bored expression still plastered onto his face, looked around at the scenery. Even if Sunghoon wasn't very interested in the designs, he had to admit that this entire location was incredibly impressive.

Once they arrived at their spot, a few seconds passed before another announcement.

"Please take one bag each from the staff member before you."

The man in front of them held up both arms, one bag dangling from each hand. Soft clinks were heard from the bags as both boys grabbed them.

"There should be a set of ten marbles in each bag. Please check to confirm the number."

They poured the marbles into the palm of their hands in sync. They counted. Sunoo stole a glance at the other.

"In this game, using your set of marbles, you will play the game of your choice with your partner. The player that manages to take all ten marbles from their partner wins. Let me repeat the instructions,"

Sunoo's eyes widen, although not by much. He looks up at the older. Sunghoon's eyes are set on the ground. He doesn't want to meet the others eye's. He doesn't want to think of what's next to come.