**Chapter 1: Cornered**

The darkness of the dormitory seemed to swallow Kang Sae-byeok whole as she lay on her thin mattress, her eyes scanning the dimly lit room with a mixture of desperation and calculation. The air reeked of stale sweat and despair. She had lost count of the days since she'd been brought to this place, forced to participate in the twisted games that promised a massive cash prize but delivered only death and terror. Sae-byeok's gaze drifted to the figure across from her, Cho Sang-woo, who sat with his back against the wall, his eyes fixed on some invisible point in front of him. His calm exterior belied the desperation that drove them all, but Sae-byeok had seen glimpses of his intensity, his calculating gaze, and she knew he would do whatever it took to survive. She, too, had a reason to win: her younger brother, Jong-soo, who depended on her. The thought of him kept her going, even as the hunger and fatigue gnawed at her. Sae-byeok's eyes narrowed as she watched Sang-woo, her mind working overtime to assess the competition. The sound of footsteps echoed down the corridor outside their dorm, and the guards' voices carried through the thin walls. Sae-byeok's heart quickened as she recognized the tone – they were coming for someone. A loudspeaker crackled to life, and a disembodied voice announced, "Game briefing for tomorrow. Gather in the central courtyard at 0600 hours. Failure to comply will result in immediate execution." Sae-byeok's gut twisted with anxiety. What game would they be forced to play next? She had heard rumors of a maze challenge, where players had to navigate a deadly labyrinth without getting caught. As the guards entered the dorm, Sae-byeok's instincts kicked in. She quickly scanned her surroundings, searching for a way to avoid attention. Her eyes locked onto Sang-woo, who was watching her with an unreadable expression. The guards began to pat down the prisoners, searching for contraband. Sae-byeok's heart sank as one of them approached her, his hand reaching for her waist. She reacted on instinct, dodging the guard's grasp and using the momentum to slide closer to Sang-woo. Their bodies collided, and for a moment, they were pressed together, the guard's attention distracted by the commotion. Sae-byeok felt a spark of electricity run through her as Sang-woo's hand brushed against hers. She pulled away, trying to appear nonchalant, but Sang-woo's eyes locked onto hers, a flicker of interest dancing in their depths. As the guards continued their search, Sae-byeok found herself stealing glances at Sang-woo, who seemed to be watching her with a calculating intensity. She sensed a power dynamic shifting between them, one that could be leveraged to their advantage – or used against them. The guard's voice cut through the tension, "Alright, move back to your bunks. Get some rest. The game tomorrow will be... challenging." As the prisoners shuffled back to their mattresses, Sae-byeok caught Sang-woo's eye, and for a fleeting moment, they shared a look that spoke volumes: a silent understanding that they would have to work together to survive – and that their mutual attraction was a spark waiting to be fanned into flames. Sae-byeok's back slammed against the cold concrete wall, her breath catching as Sang-woo pressed closer, the rough fabric of his uniform brushing her bare skin. His hand clamped over her mouth to muffle any sounds, their bodies hidden in the dark corner of the dorm where the guards couldn’t see. Heat and fear tangled together inside her, making her tremble as he whispered against her ear, “Stay quiet if you want to live.” She should have pushed him away — but the dangerous thrill, the closeness, made her heart pound harder than any game had.