Chance? [Ji-yeong x reader] // discontinued.

Chapter 4 - Voting

It was the early morning of day 2. Everybody was sitting down besides their beds. Nobody could sleep - how could they? 

I have to admit, yesterday was fun. It gave me adrenaline nothing else had. I loved it, and I even made a new friend - 240. Apparently her name is Ji-yeong, but I only heard her mention it once when she was telling me a story. 

Suddenly, the lights switched on again. The red-suit men, also known as masks walked out onto the stage once more, like they did yesterday. Everybody stood up abruptly.

"Congratulations for making it through the first game. Here are the results from that:"

The giant screen that usually showed the clock counted down from 457 to 201 instead. 201 players left. I gulped.

"Out of the 457 players, 256 have been eliminated. 201 have completed the first game."

There was a lot of heavy breathing around the room. For some reason, I laughed. Seeing other people's panicked faces just made me feel powerful. So did falling. I was still scared, but laughing. 

"Sir!" a small voice game from the crowd. Everybody parted aside to see the woman who had just spoke. The woman ran up front.

"I'm sorry, please forgive me! I'll pay of my debts no matter what. I'll pay it back at all costs!"

The woman fell onto her knees, and started to whimper. 

"Please, sir. I have a child! I haven't even named my baby yet, so I couldn't register the baby's birth. Please let me leave. Sir, please forgive me."

After this, many people started to kneel down and beg. Everybody wanted to leave. Well, at least half of the place. I stood there, standing, watching their sad faces. It almost made me want to pity them. 

"There seems to be an misunderstanding," square mask spoke again. "We are not here to harm you or collect your debts. Let me remind you - we are giving you an opportunity."

"An opportunity?!" somebody shouted. "You called us here to make us play children games and then kill us, how is this an opportunity?" 

Many people nodded in agreement. Next to me, I saw 240 roll her eyes. 

"We are in debt, but we don't deserve to die-"

"This is just a game-"

"You killed all those people, and yet you call this a game?" 369 said. 

I thought about the bleach haired boy in front of me, his best friend. I thought of all the innocent lives that had been lost. This just made me feel stronger - I outlived them, i'm better.

The square mask sighed and then replied to 369. "They were simply breaking the rules of the game. As long as you follow the rules, you will safely exit this game with the promised prize money."

They were outbreaks once more. Everybody started shouting about wanting to leave. I personally didn't care. I was in prison, not like that was any better than this. 

"Clause one of the Player Consent form: A player is not allowed to voluntarily leave the games."

I sighed. Everybody was shouting and screaming, I could barely hear the masks. Suddenly, the square mask shot at the air.

"Clause two of the Player Consent form: A player who refuses to play will be eliminated."

Out of the blue, 218, the first man shown in the video, stood up. "Clause three: The games may be terminated upon a majority vote."

The square mask nodded. I could tell they played by the rules. 

"As you wish, we will take a vote to see whether to terminate the games or not. But first, let us show you the prize money from the first game."

"The number of players eliminated in the first game: 255. Allocated prize money for each player - 100 million won. Therefore, the current total of 25.5 billion won has been accumulated into the piggy bank. If you quit the games now, the 25.5 billion won will be sent to the families of the eliminated players - 100 million each. However, all of you will return home empty handed. If you win all the games, you will win a total of 45.6 billion won."

I heard gasps everywhere. 45.6 billion won? Maybe I could bribe my way out. I could start a new life. Start so many things. I would become rich, and famous!

"We will now begin the vote," square mask said. "You can see two buttons in front of you. If you wish to stay in the games, press the green O button. If you wish to leave the games, press the red X button. Once you finish voting, go to the other side of the white line. The vote will be held in the reverse order of the number on your chests. Player 457, please cast your vote."

I felt Ji-yeong push me forwards. I looked back at her and she smiled. A genuine smile. This made me grin slightly. I walked towards the buttons in confidence. 

I looked at them both and thought for a while. I had nothing to lose, but everything to gain. What if I did die here? What if everyone else died here? The real world is just as bad, why don't I give this a shot?

I pressed the green O. Then, player 456 pressed X. Then 453, and so on. I felt my heart racing. Ji-yeong went forwards and also pressed the green O. I grinned again. She walked through the crowd and towards me. She held my hand in hers, but did not speak. I did the same. 

It was now 50, 50. Player 218, Sang-woo or something, pressed O. Number 212 pressed O as well. She walked back. I quite liked her, even though she seemed crazy. She was, well, cool. Annoying, but cool. 

As she walked back, I heard somebody shout. "Have you all gone insane? We're all going to die here!"

212 sighed. "So what? Is anything different out there? It's hell out there anyway, fuck."

She walked back towards the crowds.

"She's right!" I heard somebody yell. "If we stop now, we're only doing the dead ones a favour. They're going to get 100 million won. We're the ones who made it past! That makes no sense."

This made the crowds erupt again. "Jesus, just go on with the voting," I heard Ji-yeong whisper, as though she didn't want anyone to hear. 

"I don't have a home to go back to anyway. At least here, I have hope. But out there? I got nothing. Let's stay and stick it out to the end!"

The person said a few more words about dying here, but then suddenly a man grabbed him by the neck. 

"Son of a bitch, go die by yourself if that's what you want, but don't drag us all into this, you fucker!"

Out of the blue, a mask arrived next to him and pointed his gun at the person. They both raised their hands in defeat.

"We will no longer condone any acts that impede on this democratic process. Now, let's resume the voting."

A few more people passed, then I saw somebody I overheard was called Ali or something. He pressed red. Then, 101 pressed red. 

A few more reds, then 067 pressed green. "Nice," I muttered under my breath. 

Then, eventually, after ages, it evened out to 100, 100. Then, player 1 went there. I heard he had a tumor or something and would die soon, so I was hoping he would continue the games. He had nothing to lose too. 

After what seemed like centuries of me holding my breath, and 001 deciding, he finally pressed the red button. My heart sank, and I felt Ji-yeong's grip tighten.