Sempiternal || Saeyeong

༄𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑒𝑒༄

 𝐼'𝑙𝑙 𝑃𝑙𝑎𝑦 𝐵𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟

  Panic settled in, where had she gone? Had she found someone else already? My eyes searched the whole room until they landed on an area stationed in a corner. It was the girl, the shadow, shaking hands with someone else. A female, just as short as her, hair tied up in a bun. The dreaded jealousy took over, a feeling I fought to suppress. My shadow had found another victim.

  Fuck it, I'll find my own partner. If that's how she's going to play this game, I'll play better.

  I looked over just in time to see Ali looking at Sang-Woo solemnly. His eyes finding two pairs of hands meeting, Gi-Hun's and another palm of the one he thought he could have befriended.

  I walked over to him, a pleading inside of my head. He is your last hope, do not drive him away. With a cold gaze I watched his eyes meet mine. He was scared, alone. In a way, so was I.

  "Be my partner." I held my hand out, saying it not so much as a question, but as a bargain. A hopeless trade of trust I would not give out so easily if it was not my last couple of days on Earth.

  Ali smiled, "You want to be my partner?" He had taken the bait so easily I almost felt bad. His trust was placed in my palm gently. Maybe it was for the better that I was his partner and not Sang-Woo. He trusted me now, but I could not trust him. It is my survival against his.

  "I need one to survive, right?"

  "Yes." Another smile. Another act of trust I didn't deserve. Ali took his hand in mine and shook it firmly. I glanced over to my former shadow and her new friend. They already seemed so close, smiling and laughing together. She left my side because she knew she couldn't get a smile out of me. 

  Maybe this was a sign to take a step back. I'm feeling. Feeling is exactly what I am trying to avoid. To feel means to care, to care means to need. All I have ever needed was myself.

  Oh well.

  The guards led us to a new room. Except it looked more like a neighborhood, dim lights filled the place to make it seem like dusk. Small homes connected by alleys lined up neatly, like someone's childhood neighborhood would look like. I felt at home here, like I could walk into one of the houses and my whole family would be waiting for me. Cheol, my mom and dad.

  But my dad was shot, I'd never see him again. My mom was stuck in North Korea, no way of getting out without me. Now my brother was stuck in a Children's home, not knowing if I was dead or alive.

  We were again moved to a small area that was fenced off. I analyzed every inch of it, reassuring myself it was safe here. The guard held out two pouches, Ali and I both took one and dumped out the contents.

  "Marbles?" Ali asked. 

  "I don't know how to play marbles." I simply stated. Deep inside I knew this lack of knowledge could cost me my life.

  "Once each player receives their pouches, both should have ten marbles in each. Your selected partner will compete against you until one partner has all twenty marbles. You will have thirty minutes to decide a winner, you may begin."

  I could sense Ali's slow movements toward me, yet I was frozen in place. Ali is sweet, Ali is pure. I'm sure he has a family outside of these games, a home he is familiar with. Ali has a favorite color and food. Ali has a comfort book and someone he loves. Ali has a lot in common with all of us, all of us who have once lived.

  "Sae-Byeok, I don't want to compete against you."

  "We have to." I responded quickly. Almost like I did not care. Almost like we were two completely different species on completely different planets.

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(Edited)(Re-edited)