PAWNS [squid game]

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Dohyun woke up to screaming.

He sits up carefully. The last thing he remembered was getting in the that van. He assumed his manager was the one driving and then he fell asleep.

He blinks, rubbing his eyes to adjust to the sudden brightness in the room. Had he been put in the studio of whatever broadcast he was supposed to be on? Hopefully, his crew did his makeup while he was asleep.

"Yah, really these bitches.."

Dohyun cringes at the language as he sets his feet on the floor.

His brain wasn't working quite right.

There were bunk beds all around the room. People in jumpsuits- matching, at that.

He hadn't seen a sight like this since he was on a variety show in China.

Everyone was gathered around, watching a scene in the middle of the circle. He'd better hurry and not mess up the flow of the show.

Dohyun stands, not even aware that he is in a jumpsuit as well. He jogs over to the commotion, making sure he is at the front line so the cameras can film his reactions as they needed.

Jiah side eyes the large man warily.

"What? Your boss kick you to the curb? You know if you would've stayed with me-"

"Fuck off, Dick-Soo" Jiah hisses.

The man laughs incredulously.

Jiah looks down at the girl she was standing over.

How could the past catch up so quickly?

Saebyeok was once in the red-light district with Jiah and her friends.

When Boss found out she was from North Korea, he kicked Saebyeok out to keep the other girls safe. He couldn't risk the other girls' safety for one loner.

Deoksoo, or as Boss always called him 'Dicksoo', was another gang leader. He threatened the red-light girls on multiple occasions. He didn't care about his employee's safety, not like Boss.

Jiah had even been set up once when Deoksoo sent one of his men in as a 'customer'. When they arrived at the hotel, the man jumped Jiah and took her money, clothes, and phone.

"You whores always stick together, huh?"

He swings at Jiah and she dodges it. From the ground, Saebyeok kicks upward and jabs the tip of her shoe into Deoksoo's balls.

Without a second thought, Jiah swings her own punch, nailing Deoksoo in the nose.

He retaliates quickly, swiping Jiah's legs out from under her. She falls on top of Saebyeok who tries to scurry the both of them backward.

Deoksoo storms forward, laying kick after kick into both girls.

Jiah throws herself over Saebyeok in an attempt to take the hits for her.

Suddenly, another man rushes forward, shoving Deoksoo aside and heaving Jiah away from Saebyeok. He grabs Saebyeok's collar, yelling something about a pickpocket. Then, Deoksoo kicks the man and berates him for getting involved in their business.

"Are you okay?" Saebyeok asks Jiah as the new man screams about a thug beating him up.

Jiah nods though her rattled breathing tells another story.

Jiah grabs Saebyeok's hand to help each other up when an alarm goes off.

Britney carefully steps out from behind a bunk bed as a group of people in red suits walk in. What kind of nightmare is she in?