Chapter Text
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––--------------
After the failed rebellion, in which In-Ho/Young-il decided not to leave the games quite yet, sparing the lives of Jung-Bae and the members who would’ve died if he had, the players are led into the next game by the pink guards through the colourful maze that is the hallway connecting the games to the main dormitory.
The players enter a dark room, illuminated only by the large entranceways at either end of the room, one a keyhole, the other a knife. In the center of the room is a large gumball machine housing red and blue coloured balls around the size of a baseball.
The now hauntingly familiar voice echoes from the speakers,
“Welcome to your fourth game. Before we start, you will divide into two teams. Please take turns drawing a ball from the gumball machine in front of you.”
One by one each player draws a ball, separating to each side of the room.
Jung-Bae, Dae-Ho and Hyun-Ju are sent to the blue side, while Jun-Hee, Nam-Gyu and Guem-Ja are sent to the red.
Player 007, Yong-Sik spins the dial on the gumball machine, a blue ball rolling out of it. This leaves only one of each colour left. One red, one blue. Gi-Hun and Young-Il are the last two players who haven't drawn yet. They look at each other, concern showing clearly on each of their faces.
“We don’t know what the game is yet, Gi-Hun, I’m sure we will be fine.”
Young-Il gives Gi-hun a reassuring pat on the shoulder, along with a half convincing smile before walking up to the gumball machine and turning the dial.
The few seconds before the ball rolls out feel like days, but eventually a red ball comes to a stop before Young-Il. He turns around to give Gi-Hun a thumbs up before walking to the side with all the other players in red vests.
Once Gi-Hun drew his ball, a square guard began to explain the rules while each member of the blue team get handed a blue box each. A circle, triangle and square mark the top,the otherwise plain box feeling heavier than it should.
“The game you will be playing today is Hide-and-seek. The blue team must either find the exit and escape within 30 minutes, or stay hidden from the red team until the time is up. The red team, the seekers, must find members of the blue team and kill them within 30 minutes. Failure to do so will result in elimination.”
Young-Il catches Gi-Hun’s gaze from across the room, a worried look in his eyes, hands in tight fists at his sides.
Player 120, Hyun-Ju, is the first to open her box, a small pink and teal key resting inside.
“What’s this?”
The attention drifts to her, then back to the square guard standing in front of them all.
The square guard continues,
“You’ve been given keys to doors in the arena. You can use that key to go through the doors, but once a door has been unlocked, it cannot be locked again.”
A person from the red team points out the unfair advantage that the blue team can just hide in rooms until the time runs out or find the exit, along with them not having weapons to eliminate members of the blue team.
“We understand your concerns, that’s why we have prepared a small gift for members of the reed team as well, please take a look inside of the boxes.”
The players pull out pink and teal knives that match the keys the blue team was given.
“Members of the red team are not allowed to attack each other.”
The guard takes a breath before continuing,
“If you are not satisfied with your team, you can choose to switch sides with someone from the opposing team and trade your items and vests. Both players must be willing to trade.”
Young-Il finds Gi-Hun sitting near the entrance, key dangling around his neck over the small blue vest.
“Gi-Hun.”
Gi-Hun looks up at Young-Il and takes his vest off.
“Young-Il, trade teams with me.”
Young-Il looks confused, Slightly tilting his head to the side like a puppy.
“Why? You will be much safer as a hider”
“Because what if you can’t find someone to eliminate in time?”
“No. When you get in there, find somewhere to hide. I will find you, I promise”
“Please, Young-Il-”
Young-Il cuts him off, “And what if you can’t find someone to kill in time? Just find somewhere to hide, Gi-Hun…I can’t lose you.”
Gi-Hun insists a bit more before giving up, seeing that Young-Il had made his mind up and nothing can change that…which doesn’t last long considering how stubborn Gi-Hun can be.
A few moments pass before Gi-Hun decides to try one last time. Though he admittedly doesn’t think before he speaks, not often anyways.
“Is it really that easy for you to kill someone? What would your wife think of that?”
Young-Il turns away from Gi-Hun's face.
Realizing he might have touched a nerve, Gi-Hun pats Young-Il on the back in an attempt to apologize.
“That was rude of me… I’m sorry Young-Il.”
“No, you’re right…”
The silence stretches for a while before the players in blue vests get called to line up and enter the arena.
Before joining the line, Gi-Hun glances back at Young-Il.
“Good luck, Young-Il”
“Be careful, Gi-Hun. I promise I will find you.”
The line of blue players thins out, slowly leaving the red team alone with the guards when the others had entered the arena knowing not many people would leave it after this game.
Young-il watches the last players filter out before walking over to Nam-gyu and Myung-gi, arms crossed and eyes dark in possessiveness.
“If you lay a single finger on player 456 I won’t hesitate to track you down and gut you myself. Understand?”
After Young-Il putting Thanos and Nam-gyu in their place a few days earlier, he has a feeling they won’t dare go near Gi-hun.