Red Light, Green Light

As everybody lined up for the games, Jongwoo was feeling nervous but also as if somebody was watching him. He looked around but didn’t see anything weird except maybe the square guard that’s head was turned in his direction, but that guard was probably doing a headcount or something. Jongwoo's eyes scanned the crowd, taking in the sea of faces, all wearing the same green tracksuits with numbers on the front. He noticed Daeho, player 388, standing a few feet away, his long black hair tied back in a ponytail, his brown eyes fixed intently on Jongwoo. Jongwoo felt a shiver run down his spine as he caught Daeho's gaze, but he quickly looked away, not wanting to engage with him. As several guards led them through the halls, they were forced to take a picture of themselves before going to the game. Jongwoo heard the click of the camera, and the guard handed him a small piece of paper with a number on it. "Your player ID," the guard explained, his voice monotone. The room this game was massive. It had a dust floor and the ceiling was literally the sky, a bright blue with fluffy white clouds. The walls were all artificial drawings of a cutesy childlike sky, complete with cartoon birds and trees. At the end of the long mile-long room was a 9-foot doll standing at a tree. It was terrifying, its face frozen in a grotesque smile. Jongwoo had seen worse, but this doll seemed to unsettle him. The game was explained over the intercoms, the voice on the other end cheerful and detached. "Welcome, players, to the first game. The objective is simple: reach the doll at the end of the room without getting caught moving during the red light. If you move when it's red, you will be eliminated. The game will last for five minutes, and the players who make it to the end will be rewarded." As the game began, everybody sprinted ahead, eager to be the first to reach the doll. An older gentleman, player 456, screamed while running, "If you get caught moving, they'll kill you! Don't move, don't move!" He continued to shout this warning, even as the red light was called, his voice hoarse from screaming. At first, everyone thought he was crazy or that he wanted to steal all the money for himself, but they were proven wrong when a lady moved and was promptly shot. Some screamed and ran, only to be shot since it was still a red light. Jongwoo watched in horror as the bodies began to pile up, the sound of gunfire echoing through the room. When the light changed to green, nobody moved. Player 456 shouted again, "If you don't move before the timer goes off, you'll die! Go, go, go!" Everyone began to hurry, cautious of the red lights. Every so often, somebody would time it wrong, and at some point during a red light, three people toppled over after somebody seemingly pushed them. Jongwoo's heart was racing as he moved forward, his eyes fixed on the doll. Eventually, they made it to the end, only 91 people dying out of 456. Jongwoo breathed a sigh of relief as he reached the doll, his legs shaking with exhaustion. As they were led back to the large room they woke up in, Jongwoo couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. He glanced around, taking in the faces of his fellow players. Some were crying, others were in shock, but everyone was shaken. As they entered the room, Jongwoo spotted Moonjo, the Square Guard, standing off to the side. Their eyes met, and Jongwoo felt a shiver run down his spine. He quickly looked away, wondering what Moonjo's role was in this game. The guard on stage announced, "Congratulations, players, on completing the first game. You have made it one step closer to the prize. But remember, the game is far from over. The next challenge will be even more difficult, and the stakes will be higher." Jongwoo's heart sank as he wondered what the next challenge would be. He glanced around, searching for familiar faces. That's when he spotted Junhee, player 222, her left eyebrow pierced, her brown eyes fixed on him. Jongwoo's heart skipped a beat as he realized she was pregnant with his child. He felt a wave of guilt wash over him, wondering how he was going to protect her. As the players began to disperse, Jongwoo made his way over to Junhee, his mind racing with questions and concerns. "Junhee, what are you doing here?" he asked, trying to keep his voice low. Junhee's eyes locked onto his, a mix of emotions swirling in her gaze. "I'm here for the same reason as you, Jongwoo. I'm in debt, and I need to pay it off." Jongwoo's heart ached as he realized she wasn't going to tell him about the baby. He wondered how he was going to find out, and what the consequences would be if he didn't protect her. The room was filled with the sound of murmured conversations, the tension palpable. Jongwoo knew that alliances would be formed, and strategies would be developed. But for now, he just wanted to make sure Junhee was safe. As he stood there, he noticed Gihun, player 456, watching him from across the room. Gihun's eyes seemed to hold a deep sadness, and Jongwoo wondered what his story was. The game was far from over, and Jongwoo knew that he had to be prepared for whatever challenges lay ahead. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come.