Squid Game x Reader

Eight

Bloodshed. An experience I never thought I would be on the front lines of. Watching people get mowed down by bullets to the skull, to the chest. Suffering. Screaming. How are you supposed to act after witnessing this? 

I don't think any of us know the answer to that. The room is silent. We've been taken back to the place we woke up in. The lights have been dimmed as we sit in the dark. No one speaks. The air is heavy with grief, shock. 

Between metal bunks, I sit with my knees pulled to my chest. Next to me is Sang-woo, Gi-hun, and another man I haven't met yet. Our heads are hung low, lost in our own thoughts.

"Thanks." It's Gi-hun who breaks the silence. He's looking at Sang-woo, who gives him a nod. I guess we both have him to thank. It's funny how my first impression of Sang-woo was that he was a coward for refusing to help stop that fight earlier. And also that he was rude and pompous considering some of the remarks he'd given me throughout the day. And yet he was the one who helped me stay alive. I never could've expected it. Why would he stick his neck out for me, a stranger, when he's made it clear it's not something he makes a habit of? 

I've been feeling a bit awkward about randomly holding his hand after the game. He went tense when I did it, most likely confused why a strange girl is latching onto his hand. But the truth is, I was feeling so overwhelmed with gratitude towards him, I honestly could've tackled him in a hug. Maybe I would've made it out alive, even without his help, but I don't think so. If we leave this place, Sang-woo would be one of the reasons I get to see Dae-hyung's face again, and I'm unsure how I'll ever pay off such a debt. 

Sang-woo's eyes suddenly catch mine and I flush when I realise I've just been sitting here staring at him. Great, give him more reasons to think I'm creepy. "And thank you," Gi-hun says, staring at the other man with us. After I crossed that finish line, my mind went foggy due to the immense shock and adrenaline, but faintly I recall the man saving Gi-hun from falling over. If he hadn't, Gi-hun would've been shot. "You two saved my life."  

The unfamiliar man has tanned skin and black hair curling around the nape of his neck. "I'm glad you're alive," the man says with pure sincerity. 

A loud buzz rings out through the room. The lights turn on and the doors open. People clamber to their feet, the atmosphere tense with apprehension. Pink clad guards come marching in, now armed with guns. My throat dries looking at the weapons and I wonder again why I didn't listen to my intuition telling me to stay home yesterday.

"Congratulations for making it through the first game."

It's the leader who speaks again. He has no gun in hand compared to his pink comrades.

"Here are the results for the first game." 

Our attention draws to the screen on the wall. The number of players it reads plummets from 456 to 201. There are gasps, people covering their mouths in shock. 

The leader refers to the 255 people murdered in cold blood as being 'eliminated'. His tone is entirely factual, no sympathy, no emotion, like a robot. "201 have completed the first game." 

One by one, people are stepping forward from the crowd, begging for forgiveness and mercy, promising they'll pay off their debts as if this was all some sort of twisted punishment. This goes on until half the crowd are on their knees, bowing their heads forward as they sob for their lives to be spared.

"There seems to be a misunderstanding. We are not here to harm you or to collect your debts. Let me remind you: we are offering you an opportunity."

People demand how this could possibly be an opportunity when we're being forced to play kids games and have to pay with our lives if we lose. The guard enforces the idea that this is simply all a game, that those people were just eliminated for breaking the rules, and that we'll safely leave with our prize money if we don't make the same mistake.