PAWNS [squid game]

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Jiah had been tied up multiple times in her life.

She turns on the road, gravel scraping the skin that was exposed as she was only wearing her bra and panties.

Skillfully, she drags her tied hands under herself and all the way down her legs.

"Is someone else there?" someone asks.

"Well, fuck me," Jiah scoffs. "Go figure they'd kick me out with you."

Jiah brings her arms up in front of her, ripping the blind off her eyes.

068 was lying on the road beside her, bound and blinded just like she was.

"069? Is that you?"

"Unfortunately."

Jiah bites at the rope on her wrists, untying herself with ease. Once clear, she unties her legs and sees a bag beside them.

"Could you untie me? Please?" 068 asks.

Jiah opens the bag to find their clothes. She glances at the other girl for a second.

"Sure, hang on."

Jiah gets dressed before untying 068.

"Thank you," 069 breathes as Jiah hands her the bag of clothes.

Jiah hums, looking around the night scenery.

"We're in Seoul," 068 informs.

"Yeah, no shit," Jiah mumbles.

068 gets her clothes on and stands in full. "Are you going to try and make it back to Pyeongtaek now?"

Jiah looks up at the moon. Her phone was in her pocket, but dead. A bus ride to Pyeongtaek was at least an hour. She didn't know what time it was to know if any buses were even running.

"No.. I'll find some spa or something for the night."

"I know a place."

Jiah shoots the girl a look. "Isn't your district in Seoul?"

"Other side. Besides, if I show up now, my boss will make me work. Don't think I could get a guy hard when I just watched two hundred people get killed, you know?"

Jiah shrugs, hands slapping against her thighs. "Lead the way."

Dohyun eases into the dance studio.

He could've gone to his dorm. But, he figured his manager and staff were looking for him. He could lie and say he's been practicing all day.

He hurries across the room, shoes squeaking on the polished floor. He turns the stereo on, quickly finding the song that would be his title track in the next comeback.

Just as he pushes play, the door slams open.

Dohyun jumps, pausing the music once more and looking at the door.

"What are you doing?" his CEO questions.

"Ah.. I was.." Dohyun motions to the stereo. "You said I should practice more so I-"

He stops talking as the CEO steps closer.

"You want to practice more?"

Dohyun clasps his hands in front of himself, swallowing a nervous lump down. He nods a few times, lowering his head to not look the boss in the eyes.

The CEO's dress shoe taps on the floor and Dohyun internally flinches with every sound.

Somehow, the shoe tapping was just as scary as the guns popping from earlier in the day.

Dohyun keeps his head down until he sees those cursed shoes. Nervously, he pulls his head up to look at the CEO.

The older man laughs, placing something between a pat and slap on Dohyun's cheek.

"That's right," he praises. "See? Was this too hard?"

Dohyun laughs awkwardly.

"I'll leave you to it, then."

The CEO turns and Dohyun takes a breath.

"Ah," the CEO remembers. "One more thing."

Dohyun blinks and the CEO's hand is against his cheek in a brutal slap that forces him to his knees.

"I surveillance your sorry ass twenty-four seven! Staff saw you get into a shady van!"

Dohyun panics, holding his hand to his face.

"What? You going around fucking your fans now?"

"No.. No!"

"Another idol?"

Dohyun tries to plead his case but the boss bends in front of him, one hand grabbing Dohyun's chin as he lands more slaps the his face.

"Excuse me," Britney attempts. "Could you.. Rope. Please."

The man she'd been let out with scoffs, using his strength to break the bonds around his wrist.

"Please.." Britney pleads.

Deoksoo bends down, ripping the blind off from her eyes. Britney startles, remembering him as the one who was beating two women when they first woke up.

"Yah," he laughs, patting her cheek. "You'll be fun for someone to come across."

Britney whimpers in fear as Deoksoo stands, picking up the bag of clothes. He starts to walk away and Britney panics.

"Please.." she tries again, tears of worry in her eyes.

"It's cold, fatty. Best get inside."

Britney's chin wavers and Deoksoo walks away, leaving her tied up in the cold night of Seoul with no clothing or sense of direction.