PAWNS [squid game]

△ 5 △

The first game was starting soon.

Britney followed behind the other foreigner slowly as the 456 people traveled in a line.

The structure of.. wherever they were was something out of a Dr. Seuss story. Bright colors, winding staircases, and abstract shapes.. Britney longed for the freedom of her youth.

But, the thoughts of games felt close enough.

Play games, and win a prize. The worst that could happen is she's sent home

Britney steps into the stall-like area. As the screen prompted, she had enough common sense to give a weak smile. Everyone in front of her had done it, she was following their lead.

Dohyun places his hands in his pockets and steps outside. There was a large field the doors led him to. A white line was crossed on the ground and he didn't get near it out of fear the race would mess up.

He wasn't certain it was a race, he just figured.

Two girls walk past him in a hushed conversation.

"You were awake the whole time?"

There were always twists in variety shows. They must be planted by the producers.

"Awake?" Dohyun repeats, walking over to them.

Jiah looks him up and down warily.

"What? You two can't handle a little gas?"

"Gas?" Dohyun repeats.

"Yah, is everything working up there?" Saebyeok scoffs, pointing at his head.

"I think enough Johns have tried to chloroform me that I have an immunity to gas and shit," Jiah reveals, falling back into the previous conversation.

"So, what happened? What'd they do to us?" Saebyeok wonders.

"Don't know. I was bored on the drive and fell asleep."

"Yah, Jiah.." Saebyeok sighs.

"But, when they pulled the car to a stop, I woke up."

Dohyun purses his lips. These women were really good actresses.

But, the storyline was still confusing.

"What happened when you woke up?" Saebyeok pushes.

Jiah begins to pull her sleeve, Dohyun steps closer and both women give him a dirty look.

"I don't understand the rules. Could you help me out? What's the code word for filming to pause?"

"Are you seriously that out of it?" Jiah asks.

"Out of.. what?"

"What do you think this is?"

"I don't know what we're filming for. I really need a break because I don't understand-"

A woman's voice rings through the field over a speaker, cutting Dohyun off.

"The first game is Red Light, Green Light."

Jiah looks across the field at the giant.. doll? Child? It turns, metal creaking and whirring as it looks at the tree.

"Like the password they made us say to get in the vans?" Jiah questions.

As the woman explains the simple rules of the childhood game, Saebyeok shrugs, figuring as much.

Run forward on green light, and stop on red. If they see you move, you get eliminated. Easy.

Jiah crouches down, extending her leg to stretch her flexible joints.

Britney stands still as the clock on the wall shows five minutes. She didn't understand the voice that explained the rules. Her head hurt as she realized she was going to get kicked out on the first game.