Dead End | Jun-ho

3 | Don't Move

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Mi-sun's words crept into every single thought.

'You have hickies, like all over your neck.'

She could almost still hear her hysterical laugh, along with her taunting words.

Such a great conversation starter: coming up to someone and completely staying the obvious. But it wasn't the obvious, at all. Aera had no recollection of what had happened.

She was overthinking it too much, coming up with various solutions. Aera had tried to convince herself that maybe the masked men had accidentally dropped her whilst transporting her here. It wouldn't make much sense though as the bruised were in too much of a specific place.

The girl was overwhelmed, to say the least. She was worried; to the point she hadn't thought about anything else since. It kept repeating in her mind, terrified that someone had done something to her whilst she was passed out.

Whilst lining up to go to the game, she'd analysed some of the other players, specifically their necks. Nobody else had anything else there. Maybe she was allergic to something?

"Smile!"

Her expression didn't move; impassive and cold. Deep inside she was worrying so much, but she wasn't going to let anyone else see the weakness within.

A bright flash came from the camera, blinding her for a moment. Showing no reaction, Aera turned away and started to follow the other players.

Waking up, Aera felt confused and distressed, unknowing as to where she was. Being drugged had deeply worried her, she still barely knew where she was. The games hadn't even started yet and there was already a big red flag.

Other things were now on her mind.

Aera was going to try her best to win, to finally do something with her life. She wasn't thinking about what she would have to do in order to get the money. So set on getting it, Aera had almost forgotten about the drug situation. It was on six days; six days until she could finally get money that she had earned.

Nobody knew how much it was going to be, the masked man said the amount would be disclosed after the first game.

Two sets of double green doors opened into a large room, players beginning to file in. Aera followed along, glancing up at the supposed ceiling and instantly noticing there wasn't one. Instead, she could see the pale blue sky; a few birds passing over head.

All the players must have been knocked out for a long time, due to it being the day time.

The room resembled a children's playground: the walls painted to look like fields, and the entrance ways small houses.

Mi-sun had been right about one thing: it was definitely designed for children.

Aera's gaze shifted to the end of the room; a large animatronic doll stood there, two guards standing beside both sides of it.

"Isn't she creepy?" Aera heard the voice again. Mi-sun. Yet again, Mi-sun had found Aera and was now standing next to her again, pointing at the doll she'd only just noticed.

Disinterested, Aera responded. "Mhm."

She didn't feel like responding to Mi-sun's heavily irritating personality. Instead she focused on the scenery in the room, trying to figure out what the game involved.

Mi-sun sighed, seemingly disappointed with the lack of responses she was getting. "I didn't finish my question earlier," Aera lightly raised her eyebrows, knowing full well she enjoyed the fact Mi-sun had been interrupted. "What's your name?"