𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲 - squid game

chapter 5: "sorry, i didn't catch your name"

5 ----------------------------------- ◯ △ ▢

The guards signaled everyone to go to booths to go over the basic rules of the games. Me and Ji Yeong walked over to the tables where they gave us a sheet of paper with different clauses that we had to follow. Kind of dumb for just six games that wouldn't do much.

"Hey, could I join you two?" A soft voice said behind us.

I turned around to see the girl that had been pushed over by Deok-su. She smiled warmly, her hands intertwined in front of her. She looked nice and she smelled like misty floral. I couldn't help but wonder where she got it. Her eyes lowered in weariness as she held onto her stomach.

"Yeah sure. We're going to check out the rules real quick if you wanna come." Ji Yeong smiled, fiddling with her nails.

"You smell really nice," I smiled. She blushed and began walking over with me to the table.

I looked down at the paper and read off the rules in my head. Fear flowed throughout my body as I realized that the rules weren't like any other. We wouldn't be able to stop playing but why would we want to in the first place. My mind told me to brush it off but my intuition said otherwise. I was only doing it for the money, nothing else.

"Clause 1: A player is not allowed to stop playing.

Clause 2: A player who refuses to play will be eliminated.

Clause 3: Games may be terminated if the majority agrees."

I sighed and signed the bottom box with my right hand and in my best signature even though I didn't necessarily agree with it.

"Attention, all players. The first game is about to begin. Please follow the staff's instructions. Please make your way towards the game hall."

A person in a red suit led me and the others into this colorful room with shapes and stairs leading in all directions. Honestly, I was super curious to see what the games were since they had really strict rules and weird costumes for the guards. And now this. A colorful entryway too. Screens had been placed on the bottom floor and everyone took turns taking a picture of themselves and moving along. I stood at the screen with the camera, displaying a clear view of how I looked. My eyes were bloodshot like I haven't slept in weeks. I looked extremely tired, probably from yesterday. I blinked a couple of times, hoping it would make my eyes look better before I'd have to take a picture.

"Hurry up!" A woman insisted, standing behind me.

I rolled my eyes and took the picture. It didn't look bad but I could look better if I hadn't been rushed. I trotted up the stairs behind a line of players. We all took small steps, avoiding falling from the height we were at. After everyone was done taking the pictures, we walked single file into a dark room, big doors with small windows lined up across the room. I peeked through the window to see a room with sand floors and fake clouds on the walls. Further back, a tree stood behind an interesting-looking figure. The doors opened with a loud creaking noise, people flooded out the darkroom and into the room with the sand. We stood at the white line, waiting for further instruction. I spotted Ji Yeong on the other side of the line but there was no use trying to get closer to her. I turned around to see the girl who got into the huge fight today.

"Sorry, I didn't catch your name," I said, trying to start up a conversation with her.

"Oh! It's Sae Byeok." She smiled warmly.

I smiled and began to start a conversation when I was interrupted by a blaring noise coming from the ugly figure that stood by a tree.

A speaker inside of the doll explained the basic rules of the game. Based on the rules, it sounded like a ripoff version of the game, red light green light. I used to always play it when I was younger. When she says a certain phrase, we run toward her but when she stops saying it, we stop. If she sees us still moving, then we are eliminated. We only had five minutes to make it across, which definitely would be enough time. I got in my running stance and waited for her to begin. She repeated the rules, though I'm sure we all heard her the first time. After two minutes of her saying the rules all over again, she began singing out of tune.

"The hibiscus flowers bloomed." She sang.

Everyone ran as fast as they could, hoping to reach the other side that was like a football field away. Unrealistic standards. Some idiot on the field kept on walking and when she stopped singing, he quickly froze, but out of fear, he tripped himself on his way.

"Player 007 is eliminated." The doll bellowed.

The guys' smile sank below and he stood there, waiting. Everyone's eyes were glued to him.

A loud deafening noise ricocheted throughout the room and pushed the man down. His body fell to the floor with a loud thump, he lay there frozen. He had been shot dead.

My eyes were widened. It had to all have been a joke. These people can't legally do this to us and if they did then we could call the police or something. I froze as the doll began to sing again but I couldn't get myself to move. The doll stopped singing and a ton of people ran towards the doors. They hit their hands on the doors, pleading for help but no one there wanted to pitch in and tell him to stop. If we did anything, we would be just like them. Dead. Once people realized what elimination meant, they began running around like chickens with their heads cut off.

The doll got rid of all of the people swiftly and quickly, there were only about 250 people still alive. Tears streamed down my sweaty face, if I would've known what this was then I wouldn't have signed up. My memories came back to me slowly. Why would my dad even give me this card if he knew it would be something like this. The dolls' loud singing cut off my thoughts as I began to run, attempting to catch up with the others. My insides churned and I felt like I wanted to puke. I started to whimper in fear.

We ran about more than halfway there, sand flew in the air. Sae Byeok took a huge step, tripping on a conveniently placed rock just as the doll's head turned around. I grabbed her hand, saving her from falling face first and dying. Her eyes widened as we froze in that position, only hoping that the doll wouldn't detect any movement. The doll began to start singing again, I sighed in relief. Saebyeok turned her head around, giving me a thumbs up and a weak smile. Luckily, we all made it to the next game.

We sauntered back to the military-base-like room and slumped in our beds, pondering what just happened in the last hour.