marbles // a loona squid game au

❦ yves & jinsol ❦

You have 9 minutes remaining.

The silence was loud.

Mostly because it was filled with the sounds of the other players. Distantly, Jinsol could hear Jungeun yelling and that was definitely Heejin crying. Jinsol's blood had went cold the moment the cheery automated voice announce their task. Terror settled in her gut upon the realization of this game. Death, either to her or to Sooyoung.

Sooyoung hadn't said anything. Neither of them had done more than draw slow and shallow breaths after the news. In her hand, the marbles felt cold and heavy, a grim reminder of their task.

"We..." Jinsol swallowed. "We play together?"

She hoped some information had gone over her head. She was hoping that just like always, she had been stupid and misunderstood what they were doing. Sooyoung would know, she was so smart, always the best at these sort of things. She had probably already figured out some way to outsmart the guards. She had done so with the honeycomb, she had gotten their team a win in the tug of war game. Jinsol knew that if she stuck by Sooyoung, she'd be safe.

When she looked over at Sooyoung, the girl's jaw was clenched and her eyes on the ground.

"I'm not doing this with you," She muttered, voice low and threatening.

Jinsol blinked. "Do what Sooyoung?"

Sooyoung turned and glared at her. "You understand, Jinsol, don't play dumb,"

Jinsol laughed. "No, it can't be-"

"They're making us choose," Sooyoung stood up, moving towards Jinsol. "One of us has to die,"

Jinsol felt terror coursing through her veins. Was Sooyoung going to kill her? But...Sooyoung protected her! Sooyoung cared for her! They were friends! They were...more than friends.

She cowered away from Sooyoung, hurrying to the corner of the yard they were in, backed against the wall. She shut he eyes, preparing for the worst.

"A player is not allowed to use physical violence to obtain their opponents marbles,"

Jinsol looked to the guard, who had given the reminder, and then to Sooyoung. Her heart clenched when she looked into the girls eyes. Sooyoung looked heartbroken.

"Jinsol," Sooyoung whispered. "I would never hurt you,"

Jinsol took her hands away from her face and swallowed nervously.

"You know that, please tell me you know that," Sooyoung's voice cracked.

"I know," Jinsol uttered, looking away. "I just... I'm scared,"

Sooyoung took a hesitant step forward, and upon Jinsol's lack of fear reached out and took Jinsol's hand.

"Sol," She said softly. "Don't be scared of me,"

Jinsol's jaw trembled and she could feel herself shaking. "I'm sorry, I just..." She closed the distance between them, putting her head on Sooyoung's shoulder. She didn't, couldn't finish her sentence. She just what? She thought Sooyoung was going to hurt her? What kind of monster would she be to think that?

Sooyoung ran her fingers through Jinsol's hair and Jinsol felt her pull them to a sitting position on a bench, Sooyoung kneeling in front of her.

"We said we'd make it out together," Jinsol's voice was so strained that her throat hurt. "You said we could go and start a life somewhere nice. We could find a place-"

"I-"

"It doesn't have to be fancy. It could be just the two of us. We said that. You...you told me you'd make sure,"