7 am. 

Taehyung jumps on his seat. 

« WHAT HAPPENED! » 

He tries to remember where he is. Oh right. In the car with another player. 

« Sorry I tried to put a blanket on your window to block the sun from coming straight in your face but that must have woken you up. 

- I slept ? 

- You did.

- For how long ? 

- About two hours. 

- THAT LONG?!

- That’s not long. I think you should sleep more Tae. You need it. »

Jungkook is still driving. There’s a little bit more people on the road but not too much, as they’re in the countryside. 

The CD has stopped playing and silence has fallen back in the car. The sun is shining now. Night is over. 

« We’re a lot more visible with the sun out. 

- Don’t worry, it’ll be fine. »

Taehyung glances at Jungkook. 

« I’m scared you’re too confident for your own good. You might be killed if you’re not careful. 

- Then I’ll be killed. »

Taehyung turns to Jungkook, surprised of his sudden outburst. 

Jungkook smiles at him. 

« I prefer to live truly and maybe die than hide and fear for the rest of my days. Should we go do rollercoasters ? It could be fun!»

Taehyung looks at the road. 

« You’re very brave. 

- I don’t think so actually. I’m just happy that I found you so I’m saying whatever. 

- … »

Taehyung looks at the glove box hiding his notebook. 

« Jungkook. 

- You can call me Kook. 

- Kook… where you looking for me ? 

- … I was. 

- How did you know where I was ? And how did you recognize me ? »

Jungkook is focused on the road, his forehead creased. 

« You wrote on your notebook about going south. So I took the road and stopped in a few cities. 

- How did you know it was me ? 

- You talked about the game. 

- But even before you seemed to know who I was. 

- Well… as I read what you wrote, I kind of had a certain image of you. And when I saw you in the convenience store, I just felt like it was you. Something kept telling me ‘don’t let him go, it’s him, you found him.’ »

Taehyung stares at Jungkook’s body. 

« Why did you do all that for me ? 

- I know it will sound silly but you became my best friend. And I would do anything for my best friend. »

Taehyung opens his mouth in awe from the words he just heard. 

Taehyung grabs Jungkook’s ear out of instinct. 

« I will let you know if I’m leaving. That’s all I can promise. »

Jungkook closes his eyes for an instant, trying not to cry, feeling Taehyung’s sweet touch. 

« Thank you. I guess that’s good enough for now. »

They have been driving in silence for a while now. Taehyung knows it, it’s not really smart, but he’s slowly letting his guard down, feeling more and more at ease with Jungkook, starting to trust him, even forgetting a little about the game. 

They’ve been driving for a moment in silence and it feels like the game producers have forgotten about them. Leaving the two of them in their sweet bubble of rest. 

« Dang. Dang. »

But the dream has to end. 

« Two down. »

Jungkook doesn’t answer. 

Taehyung stares at the road. 

« I really don’t like having a chip in my head reminding us every time someone dies. It’s torture. Dang. One death. Dang. Another one. I can’t take it. 

- … They’re playing with us. 

- It’s like we’re things and not people anymore. Dang. Like we just dropped on the floor and broke. But no, it’s a life. A human life. 

- … »

Taehyung drops his head, looking at his hands. 

« Have you killed someone ? 

- Me ? 

- …

- I haven’t. Have you ? 

- I haven’t either.

- I guess we’re both s then ? »

Jungkook laughs. Taehyung smiles. 

« I guess so… I don’t know how I’ll do it. 

- Do what ? 

- Kill someone. 

- … You don’t have to. 

- But I do. 

- … Will you kill me ? »

Taehyung looks seriously at Jungkook. 

« As much as I should, I don’t think I can. And anyways you’re too strong for me. I guess I’ll just lose. 

- Lose ? 

- I’ll let you kill me. I think I’d rather die by your hand than by someone else’s. Yes, I think that’s what I’ll do. 

- I won’t kill you. 

- You say that now but you’ll have to. 

- We’ll find a way. 

- There’s no way out Jungkook. 

- Call me Kook. 

- There’s no way out Jungkookie. »

Jungkook freezes. 

« What did you say ? »

Taehyung looks confused. 

« I said you’ll have to kill…

- No. You called me Jungkookie. 

- I did. You don’t like it ? I can stop…

- No. It’s just… someone used to call me like that before. 

- Before the game ? 

- Yeah… 

- Were you two close ? 

- He was like my brother. 

- … Did he die ? »

Jungkook swallows his saliva, trying to hold back on his grief. 

« In a way. »

Jungkook looks intensely in Taehyung’s eyes. 

« I don’t think I will see him again. Not like he was at least. »

Taehyung caresses Jungkook’s hair. 

« I’m sorry. It’s part of the game. We don’t get a future. »

A tear drops on both of their cheeks.