An unfamiliar sweet scent awoke Joon. This was a good sign; it meant he wasn’t dead. After surviving the explosion and two well armed players, his third of luck must be this. Miraculously, he was still lying in the street with his head on Mir’s chest, untouched. Wait; why was Mir’s body so soft, and fluffy? He blinked repeatedly, trying to clear away the dream he now was awake in. He looked down at himself, to see the foot of a bed and blankets. He wiggled his toes to see the covers move, causing a woman who was sitting at the bottom edge, to notice. Maybe he was dead after all.

“Hey there, how are you feeling?” she asked, sliding towards him.

When his eyes adjusted to the light, he was able to properly see who it was. Groggily, he replied,

“Hyuna? You’re here? How did I get here? Where’s Mi-”

“Shhh; don’t open any of your wounds. I did the best I could stitching them,” she hushed, gently pushing him back down into a flat position.

Obediently Joon waited in the bed as Hyuna brought him a glass of water. This had to be fake. Hyuna looked too good to be in Battle Royale. Her hair was brushed, her clothes looked fresh, and she calm; as if this was real. This wasn’t the first time he’s had dreams of women serving him drinks in bed. The room itself was very nice too, like it was a private lounge in some posh bar. Underneath the covers Joon pinched himself. It did nothing, so this indeed was reality. Hyuna, serving him drinks, in bed, was real. She continued to talk,

“Kevin brought you to us and-”

“Us?” interrupted Joon.  

“Yea. The other girls are downstairs. Anyways, you were a mess when he carried you in, bleeding everywhere. He said tha-”

“How long have I been here? What time is it now?” again interrupted Joon more urgently.

“Calm down and let me finish, ok?” sternly said Hyuna.

Anxiously, Joon complied and stared at the ceiling as she explained.  

“When Kevin brought you here, he said he found you unconscious in a store window. Apparently, you woke up briefly, told him there was a girl after you, then passed out again. He knew we were camped out here, and thought we could help. Do you remember any of this?”

Joon shook his head, replying,

“No; after the explosion I stayed there with Mir. Someone else moved me to that window. I remember a girl, kind of, but where’s Mir? How long have I been here?”

With a steady voice, Hyuna delivered that news.

“Mir is dead.”

“I... uhm...I know.” Joon shakily propped himself up on his elbows, elaborating, “But where is he? Is he here? I want to see him.”

She could tell him that Kevin left Mir in the streets, that Mir was a rotting corpse, but she didn’t. Silently, she just closed her eyes and shook her head, and that was enough for Joon. Mir and Joon, they were committed and close friends, and she couldn’t understand why Joon wanted to see Mir still. It was a foreign feeling for Hyuna, commitment, because everyone left her life before she could even ask them to stay.

Originally when Hyuna had stumbled into her alliance, it was made up of Minah, Woori, Naeun, Ga In, and Hyorin. Hyorin died on the first day, and today, no even mentioned her. There wasn’t room for grieving or remorse in this game. It was all the easier if you didn’t have friends here actually. All the girls had found a bizarre sense of enjoyment from the game. They could all eat what they want for once and didn’t have to “shut up and smile” when something bothered them. Even though they were trapped, it had granted them a type freedom. Maybe that is why Hyorin’s death was so easily looked over, because this was a fantasy world for them.

Hyuna knew differently though, certain that the minute their alliance was tried, she’d be the first to be sacrificed. She was the outsider here, and the hope that Joon was her partner quickly ended when she patched him up and saw his number.

“You’ve been sleeping all day. It’s almost 1 in the morning.” stated Hyuna.

Joon’s eyes widened after hearing the time, interjecting,

“The midnight report! What did Mai say?”

“Only two more are dead; Minhyuk from C.N. Blue and Yenny from Wondergirls. I’ve marked the danger zones on your map. We’re safe, of course.”

Not being exactly in a social mood, Joon laid back down on the bed and closed his eyes. Was it an option to just sleepaway Battle Royale? He heard Hyuna's shoes click on the hardwood floor as she added,

“Woori is making everyone some food. I’ll come get you when it’s ready, but for now I have to lock you in. They don’t trust you.”

Immediately, Joon went right back to sleep when he heard the door close and a key lock it shut.

“Make an extra bowl because Joon’s awake.” called Hyuna over the railing, coming down from the room.

They were all still wide awake, anxious to hear what Joon had said. From below in the bar area, Naeun gave Hyuna a suggestive grin.

“There’s nothing more to us; we’re just friends,” explained Hyuna.

Minah shrugged, remarking,

“Even if you are you, may as well get some.”

The girls giggled and nodded at the idea. They could do whatever they wanted after all. No managers, directors, or fans were there to yell at them for ruining their image. Image; what is that worth anyways, if it’s entirely fake?

“We’re all going to die after all,” humoured Hyuna following a forced laugh.

No one seemed to hear her comment, continuing to prep for eating. While the soup was being stirred and dishes being set out, Woori stood by Hyuna, replying,

“Don’t say that. With all of us working together, we can win somehow.”

In her imagination Hyuna did the biggest eyeroll possible. The “we” in that sentence she knew didn’t include her, like how it didn’t include Hyorin. Their little clique of sugar and spice and everything nice was very selective, even though they’d accepted her when she’d accidentally found their refuge. It still was very suspicious how Hyorin accidentally died in the bathroom.

Ga In shared similar suspicions with Hyuna. The two of them considered leaving the safety of the bar together, but they had no plan. The bar was secure, having only two entrances and zero windows, was stocked with more than enough food and drink, and had a lookout thanks to the balcony. At the moment Ga In faced different troubles. Absentmindedly she poured a glass of water for each person including Joon. She was the one who really didn’t trust him, and insisted he be locked inside the room. She was out on a supply run when he killed Ren and Nicole; she saw the whole thing. Lee Joon could play dumb and defenseless very well, but she wouldn’t be tricked by that act. It was inhuman how he killed them. One by one she placed the drinks along the counter, counting the bar stools as she went. Everyday they would sit in the same order, making Joon’s spot the sixth and last. As she set down a glass at Joon’s spot at the counter, stealthily she added a vial of powder into the soup already sitting there. According to the label, this could kill up to three adults, but Ga In was not taking any chances. She wanted Joon dead before he even took the spoon out of his mouth. Satisfied, she watched as the white powder instantly dissolved in the steaming liquid. Gradually all the girls began to meander over to the counter, all of them not suppressing their excitement to be eating another hearty meal. Naeun skipped by Ga In who was already on the third stool, announcing,

“No one touch my bowl; I’m starving!”

Before anyone else was seated, Naeun had snatched a spoon and begun to stare down her soup. She looked at the other five full bowls lined up, four to her left and one to her right, inspecting each to see if one of them had slightly more. Noticing that the bowl on her right had at least ten mouthfuls extra, Nauen swapped it for her own. Hyuna continued to walk towards the stairs it get Joon, while Minah and Woori were just getting seated. Suddenly, Woori’s scream split the atmosphere in two. She knocked off her own bowl of soup and tripped over the stool, causing all the others to back away. With a frightened voice Woori shouted more than asked,

“Naeun! What’s wrong!”

Naeun didn’t answer, clamping shut with both hands. Woori grabbed a glass of water, holding it out for Naeun to take. She did not reach her hand out to take it though, blood began to seep through her fingers. Naeun had never felt this sick before. She was choking to death, but had nothing stuck in . She wanted to vomit, but nothing but blood was coming out. There was no use trying to restrain herself, so she slowly took away her hands from , the blood spilling out like an overfilled bathtub. Through the blood she began to whine, the flow starting to subside enough for her to speak. Eventually it stopped altogether, Naeun beginning to cry from our of confusion. However, abruptly she lurched forward, projecting bright red blood on to the counter. In shock, the four girls watched as her head landed in the bowl of soup with a distinct thud. They just stared, the once calm mood now completely destroyed. Minah was the first to say something, muttering,

“Who did this.”

Shakily, Hyuna answered with another question,

“Well, w-who cooked it?”

The three girls glared at Woori before scuttling away from her. Desperately, she defended her innocence,

“You watched me the entire time! Minah was the one who served it!”

Gradually they backed away from one another, themselves against the walls. Pointing accusingly at Hyuna, Minah began to shout,

“Hyuna; you’ve been with Joon all night. Maybe the two of you have been plotting to get rid of us, and he is actually your partner.”

“That doesn’t make sense; you saw his number and know mine; 9 and 4!  I just came downstairs, so it’s impossible,” cried Hyuna, rushing into Minah’s personal space.

Sharply, Minah snapped her head sideways and pierced Ga In with her eyes,

“You’ve been down here the entire ti-”

“She just poured water! You’re so eager to blame people, maybe it was you after all Minah. Sure as hell wasn’t me, or Naeun!” screeched Woori.

Fed up with their weak excuses, Minah ran for the small kitchen. She grabbed the boiling soup and carried the pot out to the the other girls and slammed it down on the counter, causing some liquid to slop out. With an accusatory finger, she pointed at all three of the girls one by one, beginning to make demands,

“One of you did this. Whoever did, reveal yourself now!”

“I’m getting Joon,” breathed Hyuna.

Like she had said to him earlier, the others didn’t trust him. Hyuna had trust in Joon though, and believed he could help somehow. That might mean locking herself in the room with him, but he would know what to do. Joon was a good person. Hyuna began to run for the stairs, Minah growling in the background,

“Like hell you are !”

With a heavy swing, Minah upended the rest of the boiling liquid in Hyuna’s direction. It splashed all over the ground while the rest coated Hyuna’s legs. There was no way this issue was going to be solved with a civilized discussion. It was a blur as Hyuna, Woori, Ga In, and Minah ran for cover and weapons. Ga In had no want to fight and just hid, while Hyuna struggled to walk because of her now blistering legs. Eventually, three of them wielded a type of gun that even the most inexperienced could kill with. They didn’t even bother checking to see who they were shooting at. Dozens of shots rang through the bar, some hitting people in the leg or arm. It was obviously a fight to the death though.

“You ,” shouted Minah, who was curled up by the kitchen doorway.

“Have you seen you own music videos?” scoffed Hyuna, having dove for the counter.

Woori slowly crawled along the floor from where she had ran, past Ga In who was crouched underneath the stairs, putting a finger to her lips. Two bullets had hit their mark, her left leg rendered useless as it left a streaky red trail behind her. Minah and Hyuna continued to curse at each other as Woori advanced slowly but surely,

“!”

“Haven’t heard that one before.”

“You think everyone is in love with you, when in fact, everyone hates you.”

“Again; so original Minah.”

In reply Minah, Minah shot six rounds into the counter where she knew Hyuna was, before slipping out of the doorway. It was unknown to her though that Woori had joined Hyuna behind the counter, and they were seconds away from ambushing her. Hyuna gestured over the counter with her hand, Woori understanding they would attack from two different directions because of her leg. Swiftly, Hyuna launched herself over the counter and towards the kitchen while Woori rolled out from behind. They began to shoot through the doorway, trapping Minah in strings of bullets. All it took was one well aimed shot to end this, and that is what she did. Minah, an natural sharp shooter, landed a round in Woori’s chest.

Of all moments to have her gun jam, now was not the time. Wasn’t that how it always worked though? Hyuna was close enough to Minah to hit her, whipping the fierce metal clump across her head. This caused both of them to fall to the ground, momentarily losing any advantage they had over the other.

“You’re dead,” barked Hyuna.

Minah struggled to get her gun back into position, screaming,

“Shut up!”

Her jammed gun was no good, as was her not good enough hit to Minah’s head. Hyuna grabbed for what was still on the counter and crushed it into Minah’s face; the bowl soup. It did give cause a moment of confusion and choking, but it wasn’t enough as Minah pulled the trigger, sending the rest of the ammunition into Hyuna’s stomach.

At first it was more like a mangled cry, but Minah soon was laughing just like she would for some scripted reality show. The heavy breathing, clutching at the wounds, and defeated expression of Hyuna had, just made Minah all the happier. She was celebrating too early though, as blood began to drip down her face.

“Welcome to the club,” wheezed Hyuna, watching Minah begin to uncontrollably bleed from just like Naeun.

Ga In crawled out from underneath the staircase. No one moved; Woori, Hyuna, and Minah were all dead. She looked at the scene, disgusted with everyone, but especially herself. It was the hardest to look at Naeun though, the collateral damage that started this whole accident. That was suppose to be Joon’s dead body, not hers. It wasn’t sadness that made her cry, rather guilt. Clumsily she scrambled up one floor to the room where Joon was, after grabbing the key to it. She could hear him banging on the door, demanding to be let out.

Ever since the first gun shot, Joon had been at listening at the door. The shrieks sometimes were too shrill to understand, and sometimes there were too many. He knew enough to assume at least one of them was dead though. His hands tingled from beating them against the wood for so long, to the point he didn’t realize when he had stopped. There was an uncomfortably long silence, and then the sound of footsteps scampering up the stairs. Instinctively Joon moved away from the door and looked for anything to use as a shield or weapon, the key rattling in the lock.

“I-I... It was me.”

A shaken Ga In stood in the open doorway, key in hand. That was all she said before continuing up the endless stairs, becoming nothing but a shadow.

As quickly as possible, Joon bolted down the stairs to see what had happened. His suspicions were proved more than correct. Four bodies were sprawled around the room, red spots blossomed all over their clothing. Three of them lay on their backs, paralyzed in an unnatural pose, while one was face down on the counter. Joon easily could recognize all of four which made this mess even worse. Hesitantly he approached Hyuna, the locks of her hair spread on the ground like dangerous tentacles. Her face was like the others, a wide eyed expression of surprise and fear, but there was something about hers that was different. Her soft mouth in a faint crooked grin spoke of inevitability. Even though those girls held on to the hope surviving together by outwitting Mai and her cronies, Hyuna had her doubts. She knew that they’d turn on each other. She knew they would all die at each other’s hands. With a jittering hand, Joon brushed it down Hyuna’s cold face gently, to close her eyes. Rudely, a large crash interrupted the dead silence.

“Ga In!” screamed Joon, racing back up the stairs.

He was certain this was where she’d ran off to, following her bloody shoeprints up another round of stairs. Perhaps there was a fire escape this direction and she’d made a jump for the building across the way, or maybe she’d caused some sort of explosion to trap Joon. Either way, she didn’t want to face her dead friends or a living Lee Joon.

After two flights of stairs he reached a door. He began to consider his lock picking skills, or if he’d be able to break down the door to get to Ga In. When he did catch her, what would he do though; kill her? She hadn’t done anything to him or even tried. The door beckoned him to enter, slowly swinging back having been open the entire time. Cautiously Joon slipped through the door, unsure whether Ga In was waiting to pounce or had led him to a dangerous area. The door opened to the balcony of the bar, encircling the entire building with a transparent glass track. He wasn’t afraid of heights, but he didn’t exactly enjoy the feeling of seeing the drop beneath his feet, however, there was something on the ground that did frighten him. Ga In had jumped off the balcony, her body face down on the road below. What was left of her body that is, a lot of it having been reduced to bits of flesh on impact.

For a moment, Joon was overwhelmed with the desire to do the same. Wouldn’t this be less painful than most ways to die, especially here? The truth was that he was getting by on luck; not smarts, fighting skills, or even alliances. Ana had left him a weapon, Kevin had carried him to safety, and he had been locked in the room while the massacre went on down stairs; all luck, and it is bound to run out at some point.

“Can you hear me Mai? Are you watching this?” he wailed, leaning over the railing.

Mai was the reason for this. He was sure she had hand picked all the contestants for her death game. Why him though, or Mir, or any one of them? It made him furious how level headed she was about this, how she treated these murders like a regularly scheduled show at a theme park. Joon was too caught up in his fury to consider this; who had hand picked Mai for this death game?  

“Could you be any louder?”

The noticeable heavy sigh caused Joon to instantly jerk back from the edge. Leaning against the doorway with an unimpressed raised brow, was Mai. How had she gotten here?  The only entrance was the stairs, and he had just ran up them.

“She was your partner. Check the body if you don’t believe me.” Mai casually stated, gesturing towards Ga In’s remains below.

Dumbfoundead, Joon watched as she continued to stand nonchalantly with a bland and perhaps even bored expression. She wore her usual garb of a button down, crisp pants, and intimidating belt that concealed countless weapons, however, she had another gadget strapped around her as well. At least six thin leather straps were buckled around her legs and torso, which seemed to go with two long boxes at her hips. What was in those boxes Joon didn’t want to consider, since there were two slim silver tanks attached on top that looked highly flammable. Maybe Mai was so disappointed in Joon she was going to put him down herself. He was beginning to think he was for once right, Mai reaching into her torture belt.

“Take it, and don’t waste my time again.” she commanded, reaching her hand out to Joon.

He hadn’t noticed himself, but Joon had automatically closed his eyes. There weren’t any dangerous smells or sounds, or extreme pain, so Mai must not have attempted to kill him. Joon slowly opened his eyes to see what she had offered him.

“Is this real?” he muttered.

Impatiently Mai grabbed Joon’s hand, forcing him to hold the shaft of her knife. It was a medium sized weapon that didn’t look very impressive, but it easily could take out the most formidable of opponents if used correctly. Joon would have to figure that out himself though. His right hand shook uncontrollably around the weapon, the blade bobbing about as if on vibrate. With a slightly more certain voice, Joon asked,

“Are you real?”

What followed was the most confusing and surreal thing of the whole incident. As Mai strolled towards Joon to join him against the glass railing, she whispered,

“Good luck kid.”

For the first time Joon saw Mai smile. It wasn’t a full on grin with teeth, but when she said the last word, her lips curled up into the distinct expression. Why did she come to him? How was she here again in the first place? Was this another hallucination like after the explosion? That smile though; it left Joon with the most questions. He admired the way one side of curved higher than the other, and how it made it look like she was winking. Her unnaturally blue eyes looked different too, no longer as icey and sharp. She was actually a very pretty woman, Mai. Joon was still lost in this surreal moment of her smile.

Just as suddenly as she appeared, Mai vanished over the railing. Gracefully she jumped over the railing, plummeting towards the cement ground. Horrified, Joon watched as she continued to fall faster, when unexpectedly two thin cables burst from the boxes at Mai’s hips. He was speechless. That weapon -if it was even a weapon- seemed not of this world. The tanks must be what allowed the device to work, so that the cables whip out at a high speed. As if on a playground swing or a hi-tech Spiderman, Mai kept recovering up from almost-crash-landings over and over until she swooped out of sight.

Still clutched in his now clammy and cold hand was the knife. What was so special about it that Mai would give it to him? Then again, what was so special about Joon that Mai would give it to him? Despite the infinite questions Joon had about the girls, Ga In, and the mysterious getaway gear, he still was the most confused over Mai’s smile. It was the optimist in him that considered the smile meant Mai had some weird hope of him possessing the ability of winning. It was the realist in him, however, that knew otherwise.

She was probably just saving him for a more creative death.