“I used to shine bright like gold, now I’m all indigo.”
A woman who tries to escape her past with no hope for the future, ends up on an unknown place playing childhood games to win. A man from her past happens to be there for the exact same reason. Will they escape their haunted pasts? Or they will end up dying in vain?
Just a pilot first chapter to see if you all like this series! It will be an oc x Cho Sang Woo, but I will try to not use her name much either (im avoiding y/n so I’m keeping it simple). Also English is my second language so forgive me for any mistakes and please correct me! Some things are left unknown for later chapters. <3
Warnings: blood, depression, heavy language etc.
She woke to the soft sound of rain tapping against the window. The night had been rough, and the day promised to be no easier. She was already late for a job interview, probably another one she'd never hear back from, just like all the others.
The phone rang, pulling her from her thoughts. She scrambled across the tiny room, pulling on her clothes as she went.
Who could it be at this hour?
"Can we talk?" came the voice on the other end, low and urgent.
"I'm late for something," she replied, trying to rush through the words.
"Meet me at seven tonight," the man said, cutting her off. "I finish work early."
Before she could respond, he hung up. Not that she wanted to, but she knew she’d go. But why would he want to meet on a random Thursday evening?
The interview had been a brief glimmer of hope "We’ll call you in the next few days.”they said to her. The school was only twenty minutes away from her apartment, a dream job. Maybe this was the universe’s way of throwing her a bone.
The rain had stopped by the time she arrived at the metro station, and she smiled, because maybe it was her lucky day finally after so many years. But as she waited for the next train, a tall man in a business suit, carrying a small case, approached her. She ignored him at first, assuming he'd ask for money or try to sell something, but then he spoke.
"Ma’am."
She glanced up, annoyed, then quickly turned away. She didn’t have time for this.
“Sorry, I’m busy…” she muttered, standing up and moving toward an empty seat.
But the man followed her. “I’d like to offer you a great opportunity.”
She paused, narrowing her eyes. "A great opportunity?" she repeated, confused. What was this some sort of scam? Was he a cult recruiter? Either way, she wasn’t interested.
“Want to play a game?” he asked, his voice smooth.
“A game?” She raised an eyebrow. What was he talking about?
Without waiting for her response, the man pulled out two small pieces of paper, one red, the other blue.
“I'm sure you've played ddakji before, right?”
She shook her head. "Not really..."
"It's simple," he explained, handing her the papers. "Try to flip the one on the ground, and you win."
“What do I win?” she asked skeptically.
He ignored her question entirely. "Pick a color."
Reluctantly, she chose the red paper, placing it on the ground and attempting to flip the blue one. It didn’t move.
"Yeah, not gonna happen..." she muttered, a bit embarrassed. The man, without a word, picked up the blue paper and flicked it with ease. It spun perfectly, landing on its edge.
“You have to pay now," he said.
“Pay? What do you mean, I have to pay?” Her heart skipped a beat.
She had a sinking feeling she was being played.
“How about you pay... with your body?”
“Wh—?” Before she could react, he slapped her hard. The force of the blow almost made her stumble, but she managed to steady herself. Rage bubbled up inside her.
“What the hell? That’s it. I’ve had enough.”
Without thinking, she grabbed the red paper, anger fueling her strength. To her surprise, it hit the blue one and it flicked.
“Ha! Take that!” she shouted, feeling a rush of triumph. “So, what do I win? I get to slap you back?” She was now laughing.
The man laughed, unfazed. Then, to her shock, he pulled out a stack of cash 100,000 won and handed it to her with a smile.
“Congratulations. You were great for a beginner!”
She froze, staring at the money. There was no way this was real. A stranger had just handed her cash for a childish game.
“Take this. There are other games you can make much more.” he said, before giving her a small card. It was marked with a triangle, a square, and a circle. When she flipped it over, a number was scribbled on the back.
What the hell? Should I call this? What does it mean?
By the time the evening arrived, she was standing outside his apartment, exactly at 7:00 PM. Three minutes passed. Then five. She hesitated, unsure if she should have come. Maybe she should’ve just gone home.
"Lyanna!" a voice called from the door.
She turned to see him rushing toward her, a sheepish grin on his face. "Sorry for the wait. Let’s get inside. My mom’s not home."
It had been so long since they'd seen each other.
“It’s been a while, Jun Ho. How are you?”
He smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Hard time at work, but... I’m doing okay. What about you? Did you find any job?”
“I can’t say things are great,” she admitted, feeling a lump rise in her throat. “But... I got a job. They accepted me today.”
He laughed, a sound full of relief. “Ah, finally. After all this time... That’s great news. What about the debt? Will you stay in Seoul now that you got the job?”
She hesitated. “The debt... it’s still there,” she said quietly, looking down at the floor. "But, yeah, I’ll stay in Seoul for now. Until I can make enough to get out of here.”
He studied her with concern. The silence that followed was heavy.
“I don’t know why you called, Jun Ho,” she said, breaking the stillness. “Maybe it’s better to forget the past.”
He reached for her arm, his grip tight. "I can’t. I need to find him, Lyanna. You’re my last hope. You’re the only one who can help me."
Her heart tightened. She wanted to help him, but the past... it was too much to carry. "I can’t help you, Jun Ho," she whispered. "I’m just trying to rebuild my own life. I want to find him too for my friend’s sake... but—"
“She would help if it was to find your husband.”
At the mention of her old best friend, a cold shiver ran down her spine. She thought about her every day, ever since she’d passed. The woman had been everything to her.
“This hurts still, you know? Even after all the years…” She said, her voice trembling. “Maybe one day we’ll find him. But I can’t right now, Jun Ho. I’m not in a place to help you. Not when I can’t even help myself.”
She stood up, her hands shaking slightly. “Give my best to your mother,” she said, turning toward the door. But then she stopped, looked him in the eye one last time. “Thank you for calling. I missed you. And I’m glad you’re doing well.”
“Wait!” Jun Ho called, rushing to her. He bent down, picking something off the floor. “You dropped this.”
Shit. The card. She’d dropped it without realizing.
“Oh no. Thank you! I’m such an idiot…” She smiled, forcing herself to laugh. “Stay safe, okay?”
With that, she stepped out the door, her heart heavy with uncertainty as she walked home.
If you wish to participate, please state your name and birthdate.
Lyanna Collet, 1986.
A/n: let me know if you are interested!! It would help me to express your opinion ❤️
A woman who tries to escape her past with no hope for the future, ends up on an unknown place playing childhood games to win. A man from her past happens to be there for the exact same reason. Will they escape their haunted pasts? Or they will end up dying in vain?
Warnings: depression, language, mention of death, mourning.
Of course, I had to do everything last minute.
By this time, I was supposed to be on campus. Instead, I found myself sprinting through the streets, cursing my tendency to procrastinate. But I couldn't resist, I needed to stop by my favorite bookstore to pick up a copy of Wuthering Heights in Korean. It was my comfort book, and I thought having it with me might help with this new chapter of my life.
By the time I got to campus, I was breathless, my heart pounding from the mad dash. I met Yoon-Suh, and as always, she was unfazed by my chaos. We took our usual path through campus, grabbed coffee, and shared snippets of our day.
Then, it was off to class.
Psychology, my favorite so far. The lecture was fascinating, and for a moment, I forgot the stress of the morning. But as I glanced out the window toward the end of class, my stomach sank.
Rain.
Seriously?
Normally, I didn't mind the rain. I even liked it. But today? With no umbrella, no bag, and just my newly purchased book and class notes in hand, the timing couldn't have been worse.
When the class ended, I didn't waste any time. I clutched my things tightly and dashed out, determined to catch the first bus I could. The rain was relentless, pouring down in sheets and turning the campus pathways into rivers.
And then—
Bam.
I collided with someone, hard. The impact sent everything I was holding flying. My notes scattered into the puddles, and my precious book landed with a sickening splash.
Before I could even process what had happened, I felt the cold seeping through my clothes as I fell to the ground, soaking wet and mortified.
"Oh my god, I'm so, so sorry!" a voice stammered above me.
I looked up to see a man kneeling beside me, scrambling to pick up my things. His movements were frantic, but his tone was filled with genuine remorse.
"This is completely my fault. I wasn't looking where I was going," he said, his voice low but steady. He reached for my book, now sodden and ruined. His gaze lingered on the title, his expression softening. "Wuthering Heights?"
I stared at the ruined cover, my heart sinking. The rain blurred my vision, but not enough to hide the damage. "It was my favorite..." I murmured, my voice barely audible over the sound of the downpour.
He froze for a moment, then looked up at me with an expression that made me pause. He seemed... sincere. Almost regretful, as if my book's destruction was a personal failure.
"I'll replace it," he said firmly, holding it out to me. "This is on me. I'm so sorry."
For the first time, I really looked at him.
Even through the rain, he stood out. Dressed in a suit, with glasses framing a sharp, serious face, he looked like someone who belonged in a boardroom, not running through the rain on a college campus. There was a polish to him, a quiet confidence that made him seem older, out of place among the chaos of university life. And yet, there was something in his eyes... Something softer, almost vulnerable that caught me off guard.
"You don't have to—" I began, but before I could finish, he interrupted.
"You need it. Please." He handed me his umbrella, the gesture so quick and decisive I didn't have time to argue.
"But—"
"No, take it. I insist. I'll repay you for the book, I promise." He gave a small bow, his drenched hair falling into his face, before turning and sprinting off into the rain.
And just like that, he was gone.
I stood there, dumbfounded, clutching the umbrella and staring at the empty space where he'd just been. The rain continued to pour, soaking my ruined notes and dripping from my hair, but I didn't move.
My book was destroyed. My notes were a soggy mess.
Yet, beneath the frustration and devastation, there was something else, something unfamiliar, a feeling I couldn't quite name.
For the first time in a long while, it felt as though fate had nudged me, whispered in my ear that this moment mattered.
And I couldn't shake the sense that my life had just taken an unexpected turn.
That night, Lyanna fell asleep as soon as she got home. She didn't think about anything, she just collapsed into her bed. Yet, the next morning, her mind was a whirlwind of tangled thoughts. She needed to step outside, if only to buy something to eat. Her apartment was empty, devoid of life or food.
As she walked down the familiar road, her gaze fell on a stand she instantly recognized. Her stomach churned, and before she could turn and take another route, a voice stopped her in her tracks.
"Lyanna?"
"Miss Cho!" Lyanna forced a smile, disappointment weighing heavy in her voice. This was a conversation she wasn't prepared to have.
"My darling, how have you been? I haven't seen you in so long. Your eyes look tired..." Miss Cho said in her usual, caring tone.
"I had a tough sleep." Lyanna replied, avoiding her gaze.
"Poor you, honey... Want something to eat? It's on me."
"Oh, no, you don't have to—"
"No, no," Miss Cho interrupted firmly. "Sit. I'll bring you some fish I just got."
Lyanna reluctantly sat down, waiting for Sang-Woo's mother to return. She cursed herself for forgetting to avoid this route. She wasn't ready to talk about Sang-Woo, not with his mother.
"Did you find any job? How is it going, dear?" Miss Cho asked as she returned with a plate of food.
"I have one in mind at the moment. It's a good deal... Apart from that, it's exactly how you left it."
"It will be okay, sweetie, you'll see. I told Sang-Woo the same thing, and now he's on a business trip in America. You'll see—it's just a storm. It will pass..."
"America?" Lyanna repeated, her voice heavy with disbelief. Was he still lying? Seriously?
"Yeah! You haven't heard from him, right?" Miss Cho's voice wavered slightly, as if she already knew the answer.
"No... Not at all. It's been years." Lyanna's tone was flat, hiding the hurt she felt. Even after all this time, Lyanna is still covering for him. Why? Was he in that much trouble?
"I understand... You can stay if you want. I missed you deeply, you know."
"I'm so grateful, Miss Cho. It's just that I have to return." Lyanna bowed politely, preparing to leave. "If you talk with Sang-Woo... tell him that I said hello." She forced a small smile and left, food in hand.
Despite everything, Miss Cho still loved her like the mother Lyanna never had.
Sang-Woo had come to check on his mother. He wanted to make sure she was okay, that no one had threatened her or caused her any harm. He approached from the back road, careful to avoid being seen. But as he neared the stand, his heart sank.
She was there.
Lyanna.
Fuck.
His chest tightened as a flood of thoughts swirled in his mind. What if she told his mother the truth? But then again, his mother loved her like a daughter. She would still lie for him, wouldn't she?
His spiraling thoughts were interrupted by a voice.
"Sang-Woo."
He turned abruptly to see Gi-Hun standing behind him.
"What are you doing here?" Gi-Hun asked, his tone both curious and accusatory.
Sang-Woo didn't answer, his eyes darting back to the stand. Lyanna was still there, talking to his mother. With a final glance, he gestured for Gi-Hun to follow him. They walked away in silence.
Sang-Woo slumped onto a set of stairs and lit a cigarette.
"Is it because of your debt?" Gi-Hun broke the silence. "Hey, you're the pride of Ssangmun-dong, the genius born and raised here, accepted to SNU Business School as valedictorian. What's to worry about? You can just earn the money back. Go and tell your mom everything and start fresh!"
Sang-Woo let out a sigh, smoke curling from his lips. How easy it sounded when someone else said it. But Gi-Hun had no idea how impossible it really was.
"Earn it back? Six billion won?" Sang-Woo replied, taking another drag.
"Six billion?" Gi-Hun repeated, his voice a mix of shock and disbelief. "Wait, I thought it was 600 million."
"There are things they don't know," Sang-Woo muttered.
"You worked at a securities firm. But you played with stocks?"
"Stocks weren't much. I dealt in futures."
"You bet that much on your future? What kind of future was it for you to risk that much money? You moved on from L—"
"No. Not that kind of future," Sang-Woo snapped, cutting him off. "I lost that way back anyway... never mind."
"Can't you just file for personal bankruptcy or something? I heard you don't have to pay off your debts if you do that."
"It's not just the money. Everything my mom has is collateral. Her house, her shop, everything."
Gi-Hun stared at him, the weight of the situation sinking in. "And what about her?"
"My mom? I can't tell her the—"
"No. You know who," Gi-Hun said quietly, almost a whisper.
"What about her? She went back to her life."
"What life? The life you also have?"
Before Sang-Woo could respond, Gi-Hun's phone rang, cutting the conversation short.
Lyanna finally made it home, closing the door behind her and setting the things she had bought on the table. She sank onto the floor, her energy drained. She felt like absolute shit. Her eyes scanned the small apartment, its emptiness reflecting the hollow ache in her chest. Memories she wanted to escape seemed to cling to every corner.
She thought about what the guard with the square mask had told her. A second chance. A second chance to finally have the life she'd always dreamed of. But could she take it? Her current life was a mess, filled with pain and nostalgia she couldn't shake. Her chest felt heavy as her thoughts spiraled, and her eyes burned with unshed tears. She wanted to scream, to find a place where her mind could be silent. Why did it have to be this way?
Ding.
The doorbell startled her. She ran to check the peephole but saw no one. Opening the door cautiously, she looked down and found a small box with a note attached.
Don't forget them.
I know how I can help you and how to find him. Call me.
She froze, her heart pounding. This had to be Jun-Ho. She brought the box inside, closing the door behind her. Opening it, she found a photograph. It was from her graduation: she and Yoon-Suh in the center, with Sang-Woo and In-Ho standing beside them. Her hands trembled as she stared at it. How had Jun-Ho found this? The four of them kept copies of that photo, but it had been years since she'd seen hers.
The sight of it felt like a punch to the gut. Was this some kind of sign? Did Jun-Ho know something she didn't?
She rushed to her closet, digging out an old box she had thrown away years ago. Inside were countless photographs of her, Sang-Woo, Yoon-Suh, In-Ho. They had all been so young, filled with dreams and bound together like a family. But none of those people were in her life anymore. She clutched the pictures, tears streaming down her face.
What had gone so wrong? She sat there, surrounded by fragments of a life she'd lost, her heart aching for the one she'd loved and the family she'd made. Her tears finally gave way to sobs as she crumpled beside papers documenting a debt she couldn't hope to repay.
And then, the doorbell rang again.
"Have you been eating all right?" Sang-Woo's mother asked over the phone.
"Yes, I've been eating well. Don't worry," Sang-Woo replied, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him.
"I doubt American food is to your taste. What have you been eating?"
"It's okay, Mom. There are lots of Korean restaurants here."
"Really? That's a relief. When are you coming back?"
"It's taking longer than expected, so I'm not sure. It might take a while."
"I see... It must be tough for you."
"Mom..." Sang-Woo began, his voice faltering.
"Sang-Woo, I have a customer," she said quickly. "Oh, and Lyanna passed by and told me to give you a hello. Please, when you come back, visit her. It's been years since you've seen her... Dress warmly, I love you."
The call ended, but Sang-Woo couldn't move. Guilt weighed on him like a stone. He drank late into the night, trying to numb the pain—the pain of what he'd done to his mother, the lies he'd told, the debt he couldn't repay, and the woman he'd left behind.
Ding, ding, ding.
The relentless sound of his doorbell pulled him from his haze. A small card slipped under the door.
TIME: MIDNIGHT, JUNE 23
PLACE: SAME AS PREVIOUS.
She woke up in the same room as before, surrounded by people in numbered jumpsuits. The vibrant mix of colors contrasted starkly with the tension hanging in the air. Her eyes instinctively scanned her chest. The number 052 was still stitched onto her suit.
As her gaze wandered, it stopped on a familiar figure lying in the bed beside hers. Sang-Woo.
"You came back?" she asked, her voice low and careful.
"I did." He glanced at her with a faint frown. "Why did you?"
Her mouth opened, but no words came. Instead, she stared at him, her thoughts colliding. Before either could say more, another familiar face appeared in the crowd.
"Gi-Hun!" she called, rushing toward him. Relief washed over her as she saw him.
"You're here," he said, a mix of surprise and concern in his tone. "I didn't think you'd come."
"Me neither... What about you both?"
Before anyone could answer, a man she recognized from the convenience store approached them.
"My savior!" Gi-Hun exclaimed with exaggerated joy.
The man smiled politely and nodded to her and Sang-Woo. "I'm glad to see you again, sir," he said to Gi-Hun, then turned toward her and Sang-Woo. "Thank you so much for the bus fare that day and for the help."
"You gave him money for the bus?" Gi-Hun asked Sang-Woo, eyebrows raised.
"He said he'd walk from Yeouido to Ansan."
"That's heartwarming," Gi-Hun said with a grin. "Comrades from boot camp, is that it?"
"What's a boot camp?" the man asked, tilting his head.
"You know, the military? Where you shoot guns and go through training," Gi-Hun explained.
"Oh, where soldiers live together?"
"That's right." Gi-Hun's face lit up with an idea. "Wait, now that we're on the subject, why don't we team up like we're in the military?"
"Perfect!" she added quickly. "Maybe we'll have a group game to play?"
"You're right," Sang-Woo said, nodding. "It's better to form a group and be prepared for everything."
"Listen," Gi-Hun said, turning to the man. "Why don't you join us? He's amazingly strong! You saw it, right? He lifted me up with one hand!"
"Can I really join you three?" the man asked, his voice tinged with hope.
"Of course!" she replied warmly.
"Yes, sure," Sang-Woo agreed. Gi-Hun jumped in with enthusiasm. "You're the private, the new lackey. She's the lieutenant, he's the competent corporal, and I'm the sergeant on my way out!"
Gi-Hun laughed at his own joke while the man nodded earnestly. "Thank you, sir!"
"You can drop the 'sir'." Gi-Hun said, waving him off.
"Hey," a raspy voice interrupted from behind them.
They turned to see the old man from before, smiling gently.
"If it's alright with you," he asked, "can you let me join too?"
"Of course!" Gi-Hun replied without hesitation. "You can be the sergeant major who gave his life to the military."
"Thank you!" The old man beamed as they all shared a moment of camaraderie.
"My goodness," Gi-Hun said, looking around at their small group. "Our team checks off all the boxes."
Later, they gathered to eat, finding a small spot next to some beds. Their newly-formed alliance offered a fragile sense of security amidst the chaos. As they sat down, Gi-Hun reminisced, talking about the food they used to eat in the past. Sang-Woo asked him to guess the next game.
"Hey, that's not something you can just guess," Gi-Hun replied, shrugging. "We'll find out when it begins."
The old man joined in, his tone reflective. "Well, if I think about what we did so far, it's probably a children's game from back in the day."
"Yes, I think so too," Gi-Hun agreed, nodding. "But there are too many games. Ddakji, Dabanggu, hopscotch, Biseokchigi, tag, Don Katsu, freeze tag, and for the girls, Gonggi, elastics, and cat's cradle. What else is there?"
"I don't know how to play any of these." 199 admitted, shaking his head.
"Neither do I..." Lyanna added quietly.
"Don't kids in your country play these games?" Gi-Hun asked them, his curiosity evident.
She hesitated, the question stirring faint memories she couldn't fully grasp. "I don't recall playing any of these..." she said.
"Don't worry," Gi-Hun reassured, smiling warmly. "Children's games have simple rules. We'll help if you don't know."
Lyanna gave him a straight look, unwilling to show any cracks in her composure. Despite her skepticism, she thought back to the first game, he had helped her then. 199 smiled at Gi-Hun, his gratitude evident. "Thank you," he said earnestly.
That night, as the lights went out, silence descended over the room. Lyanna lay awake in her bed, staring at the dark ceiling. Next to her, Sang-Woo was just as restless. She turned her head slightly, and their eyes met in the dim light.
"Can't sleep?" he whispered.
"Not really... not after thinking about the next game." she replied softly.
"You chose to come back. You can't be afraid."
"I'm not afraid. I'm just thinking... never mind." She turned, trying to end the conversation, but paused when a noise broke the stillness.
"Shush." Sang-Woo whispered sharply.
"'What did you see up there? You were there long enough!'" A woman's voice hissed in the darkness.
Lyanna leaned closer to Sang-Woo, lowering her voice. "What was that?"
"I guess we won't find out," Sang-Woo muttered, his tone low. He turned his head slightly toward her, his voice softer now. "Lyanna..."
"Tomorrow," she interrupted, her tone clipped. "Good night, Sang-Woo."
"Good night."
She turned away, closing her eyes tightly, but sleep eluded her. Despite his quiet presence, the weight of their shared history gnawed at her. She had trusted him once, relied on him—yet here they were, strangers under the same roof, tethered by the faintest thread of memory.
Morning came too quickly. Over breakfast, Lyanna sat next to Sang-Woo. Her attention was drawn to a girl across the room—the one Gi-Hun had argued with earlier. Was she the same person they had overheard last night?
"Why aren't you eating that?" 199 asked suddenly, breaking her thoughts.
"I don't..." she and Sang-Woo began simultaneously, exchanging a glance. Lyanna continued, "We don't usually eat breakfast."
"You can have it," she offered with a faint smile.
"Really?" he asked, his face lighting up.
She nodded. "Thank you, both of you."
"The smart ones never eat much, you know," Gi-Hun remarked, grinning. He handed his milk to 199. "You can have this too."
"Thank you, sir."
Before anyone could respond, the familiar classical music started playing. A chill ran down Lyanna's spine. It was time for the next game. She lied to Sang-Woo last night. She was indeed afraid. Never show them your pain In-Ho used to tell her. So that’s exactly what she tried to do. If she was entitled as the smart one or the lieutenant of the group that was what she would play as.
As they walked up the pink stairs, her fear returned. She glanced at Sang-Woo, who was just ahead of her, trailing closely behind 067.
"You saw something, didn't you?" he asked 067 in a low voice. "I heard you talking last night. Tell me what you saw."
"Why would I?" she replied sharply.
"You're a North Korean defector. All the games they made us play—I played them as a kid. It's likely the next will be something similar. Tell me what you saw, and I can guess what it is."
Before she could hear 067's reply, the man behind Lyanna stumbled, bumping into her. She fell forward but managed to steady herself. The moment was lost, and she cursed internally. Did Sang-Woo realize what the next game was? Would he tell them if he did?
They entered a large playground, painted in bright, cheerful colors that mocked their grim purpose.
"Welcome to your second game." the female voice on the speaker announced.
"Hey!" Gi-Hun said, turning to Sang-Woo. "What do you think this is?"
Lyanna watched Sang-Woo carefully, noting his expression—something wasn't right. She nudged his arm, but the speaker continued.
"Before the second game begins, choose from one of the four shapes and stand in front of it."
"Circle, triangle, star, umbrella..." Gi-Hun murmured, his brow furrowed.
"They seem very familiar..." 001 said thoughtfully.
"Sang-Woo, what should we do?" Gi-Hun asked, his tone almost pleading.
"I'm not sure," Sang-Woo replied.
"Should we move as a team?"
"That might be dangerous," Sang-Woo warned. "We don't even know what the game is. If we all pick the same shape, we might get in trouble. 'Don't put all your eggs in one basket.'"
"I wouldn't ever admit it in other circumstances , but I will say that I agree." Lyanna said, her tone cautious. "This way, we're prepared for anything, yet we're still together. Two will pick the same."
"Perfect!" Gi-Hun beamed and turned to the old man. "Sir, they got into Seoul University as the top of their class."
"Really? Goodness. Must be great people."
Sang-Woo ignored the chatter and said firmly, "I'll take the triangle."
Lyanna turned to him, narrowing her eyes. He definitely knew something.
"Dayira," 199 said suddenly.
"You mean circle?"
"Yes. It looks like the moon from my hometown."
As Gi-Hun and the old man deliberated, Lyanna decided to stick with her instincts. Sang-Woo knew something he wasn't saying, but her trust lay elsewhere.
"Then I'll take the umbrella!" Gi-Hun declared.
"Umbrella?" Sang-Woo asked sharply. "Why?"
"Why not?" she countered, staring at him. "I'll follow Gi-Hun."
Sang-Woo's eyes widened, a flicker of frustration crossing his face. "You should follow me. I'll help you since you don't know the games."
"Where's the difference, exactly?"
"Can you, for once, do what I say?" he snapped, grabbing her arm.
"Lyanna, he's right," Gi-Hun interjected. "Go with him for the best."
She sighed, watching the old man take the star. As they moved towards the doors, she tugged Sang-Woo aside. "You know what this is, don't you?"
"What?"
"Sang-Woo, I can read you like an open book. You know what it is. Why don't you tell us?"
"I just want you to be safe, that's all."
"Cut the bullshit."
"I told you—you'll be safe. That's all you have to care about in this place." He held her arm firmly, his voice softening. "No matter what, stick with me, okay?"
"You said that once," she whispered, her gaze unwavering. "Yet you were the one who left."
"I'm here now."
The tension hung between them, heavier than ever. Lyanna searched his face for something an answer, an apology but found only the same impenetrable mask he always wore.
“I used to shine bright like gold, now I’m all indigo.”
A woman who tries to escape her past with no hope for the future, ends up on an unknown place playing childhood games to win. A man from her past happens to be there for the exact same reason. Will they escape their haunted pasts? Or they will end up dying in vain?
Warnings: blood, depression, heavy language
2.
She woke to the echo of classical music reverberating through the room. Her head throbbed as she blinked, disoriented. A green jumpsuit clung to her body, the number 052 stitched prominently on the chest.
How did I get here?
She sat up, her eyes scanning her unfamiliar surroundings. The room was vast and sterile, its white walls reflecting the cold fluorescent lights overhead. Rows upon rows of bunk beds filled the space, each occupied by people wearing the same uniform. Confusion and fear hung thick in the air.
Were we kidnapped?
Her hands instinctively patted her sides, searching for her belongings. Nothing. Her wallet, her phone everything was gone. The oppressive weight of uncertainty pressed on her chest, rooting her feet to the ground.
"You little shit!"
She turned toward the commotion, heart hammering. A man, towering and furious, had grabbed a young girl by the hair, yanking her into the center of the room. Gasps rippled through the crowd as people froze, their whispers too soft for her to catch. Lyanna edged closer, her pulse quickening.
"You're the damn pickpocket! You took my money, didn't you? Where is it?" A man bellowed. His fists clenched, his face contorted with rage.
Her stomach turned. She recognized the man being shoved by the brute:
Gi-Hun.
The man with 101 stitched on his suit kicked Gi-Hun hard, sending him sprawling. Lyanna's breath hitched as she watched the scuffle unfold.
"What the hell?"
"Who are you" 101 asked Gi-Hun "What do you think you're doing?
"The name's Seong Gi-Hun. I live in Ssangmun-dong."
"Hey Ssangmun-dong shit, this little bitch and I werent done talking."
Lyanna watched, her stomach twisting, as Gi-Hun argued back like a stubborn child. The air was electric with tension, and she couldn't tear her eyes away. Before the situation could escalate further, a sharp ding rang out, followed by the hiss of elevator doors opening. Figures in pink jumpsuits and bizarre, symbol-laden masks stepped out, their presence silencing the room.
The figure with a square mask stepped forward, his voice calm but commanding.
"I would like to extend a heartfelt welcome to you all," he began, his voice measured and mechanical. "Everyone here will participate in six different games over six days. Those who win all six games will receive a handsome cash prize."
The announcement was met with a cacophony of protests.
"You expect us to believe that?" a man shouted. "You kidnapped us, dragged us to this warehouse, and now you're talking about games? Do you think we're idiots?"
The square-masked man didn't flinch. "We took these measures to ensure confidentiality. Your belongings will be returned once the games are over."
Lyanna's fists clenched at her sides.
Confidentiality? Masks? This is insane. No way she believed-
Her thoughts were interrupted by a voice that froze her in place.
"Well, I don't believe you one bit. You got that? You tricked us. We were kidnapped. You can make as many excuses as you want to make sure nobody knows you broke the law in here. If you're going to make up for that, then we're gonna need something more."
She whipped her head toward the speaker, her stomach dropping.
Sang-Woo.
Her breath caught as the masked man addressed him.
"Player 218, Cho Sang-Woo. Age, 38. Former team leader of Team Two at Joy Investments. Siphoned money off from his clients' balances, then invested it in derivatives and futures options. Current loss: 650 million won."
Cho Sang-Woo stood amidst the crowd, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. His face remained calm, unreadable. Shame clawed at his chest, but he shoved it down, schooling his face into indifference. This wasn't news to him it was the weight he carried every single day.
Lyanna's blood ran cold. Her name followed soon after.
"Player 052, Lyanna Collett. Currently in debt for unpaid medical expenses. Total: 200 million won."
Sang-Woo's eyes darted through the crowd, his chest tightening. He hadn't heard her name in so long, hadn't even dared to think of her. And yet, here it was, spoken aloud like a cruel joke. When he saw her standing there, frozen in disbelief his heart stopped.
Her heart sank. How did they know this? How did they know everything? Her humiliation was laid bare, her shame echoed across the room. She glanced toward Sang-Woo, who had gone pale, his eyes scanning the crowd. She caught his gaze for the briefest of moments before they both looked away.
So much for burying the past.
The masked man continued listing debts as a massive piggy bank descended from the ceiling.
"Your prize money will be accumulated in this vault after each game. You'll see the total after the first round. If you do not wish to participate, please let us know now."
Her stomach churned as she scanned the consent form thrust into her hands:
CLAUSE 1: A PLAYER IS NOT ALLOWED TO STOP PLAYING.
CLAUSE 2: A PLAYER WHO REFUSES TO PLAY WILL BE ELIMINATED.
CLAUSE 3: GAMES MAY BE TERMINATED IF THE MAJORITY AGREES.
Eliminated? Her mind reeled. She knew something was off, why would clause 3 exist?
"Attention, all players. The first game is about to begin. Please make your way to the game hall."
The Blue Danube played mockingly over the speakers as the crowd shuffled into the next room. They were taking pictures. Once she was done with hers, Lyanna's hands trembled as Gi-Hun found her in the crowd, pulling her into a warm embrace.
"Lyanna! What are you doing here? How are you even in debt? You're the best person I know!"
She forced a weak smile. "Gi-Hun hi, it's... complicated."
He paused, looking her over with a mixture of concern and disbelief. "I've missed you so much. You saw Sang-Woo, right? He's here too."
Unfortunately she saw him. After almost 8 years she saw him again. She was pretty sure she buried him in the past alongside with the Hwangs.
"Hey, Sang-woo! Oh, Sang-woo, my man!"
She was cursing Gi-Hun for this.
"What happened? What the hell are you doing here? Uh, your mother and I were talking the other day. She told you were out of the country on a business trip. What was that guy talking about, huh? You can't be in debt? The same Sang-woo who attends SNU, right?"
He looked at the floor, unable to look her or Gi-Hun. "We will talk about this later.."
"Attention, all players. After you enter the game hall please stand behind the white line drawn on the field and await further instructions. Once again, will all players please stand behind the white line and await further instructions."
She couldn't turn her head not even a little bit. Because she knew that if she did, she would look at him.
That's the very same thing he did. He went behind Gi-Hun so he couldn't meet her glaze. In his mind she was far away from Korea, living a simple life like she always-
"Here is the first game." The voice from the speaker stopped them both from their thoughts.
"You will be playing Red Light, Green Light."
You are allowed to move forward when "it" shouts out, "Green Light," stop when "it" shouts, "Red Light." If your movement is detected afterward, you will be eliminated."
"Like the children's game?" She asked Gi-Hun.
"Seems...so?"
"Are you kidding me?" She looked at him with a weird look.
"Those players who cross the finish line without being eliminated within the five-minute playtime will pass this round. With that, let the game begin."
The large creepy doll turned her head and started signing.
Mugunghwa-kkochi Pieossseubnida
She stopped walking. She was that stressed she was almost not even breathing.
Bang.
Was that... a gunshot?
Mugunghwa-kkochi Pieossseubnida
The sound of gunfire shattered her nerves. She froze, every muscle locked in place. The haunting tune barely finished before the gunshot. Lyanna's blood ran cold as she realized the truth. They weren't just playing for money.
They were playing for their lives.
The room descended into chaos as players screamed and fled, only to be gunned down mercilessly. Lyanna stood frozen, tears burning her eyes. She couldn't even turn to look for her friends, afraid that the slightest movement would seal her fate. The woman in the speaker repeated the rules.
All of them were standing still and no one moved except an old man. She then heard Sang-Woo whispering to Gi-Hun, right behind her.
"You can't stay there much longer. I think that doll senses when you move around.
You won't get caught if you're behind somebody else."
And that's exactly what the three of them did.
Mugunghwa-kkochi Pieossseubnida
Another step, another gunshot.
For the first time in eight years they looked at each other. He was in her right side behind a large man, looking at her like he was trying to tell her to stay exactly how she was. She understood it right away.
The gunshots were non stop. She was sure she would hear them in her sleep. Until she felt blood on her face. The man in front of her was shooted. She was now exposed. She tried to keep her balance. And she did perfectly. But once the next round started, the man who was once in front of her, pulled her leg and she fell down.
"Help me... I don't wanna die." he whispered with blood in his mouth.
Her chest heaved, panic clawing at her throat. She couldn't help him—she couldn't even help herself.
"Get up."
The voice was calm but firm, and she felt two strong arms pulling her to her feet.
"You forgot how to walk?" Sang-Woo's voice was soft, but his expression was unreadable.
Mugunghwa-kkochi Pieossseubnida
She ran, her legs burning, as adrenaline surged through her. Every step felt like a battle, but she pushed forward, Sang-Woo's presence driving her on.
When she finally crossed the finish line, she collapsed, her body shaking. She looked up to find Sang-Woo beside her, his breathing steady, his gaze unreadable.
"Why did you...?" she began, her voice breaking.
The counter hit 0:10 seconds. Lyanna's eyes widened. But- Gi-Hun. Where was Gi-Hun? She got up and saw him almost ready to fall with a man who was trying to carry him so he wouldn't fall. The doll started saying Green Light and she screamed.
"GI-HUN JUMP!"
A/N: andddd here is part 2! Dynamic start with the first game. Not much are explained but everything will be clear soon! Lyanna and Sang-Woo share a mysterious past they both buried. Maybe meeting in the games is a chance to bring it back to life? Thank you for reading❤️
A woman who tries to escape her past with no hope for the future, ends up on an unknown place playing childhood games to win. A man from her past happens to be there for the exact same reason. Will they escape their haunted pasts? Or they will end up dying in vain?
Warnings: depression, language, mention of death, mourning.
I returned home soaked to the bone, my clothes clinging uncomfortably to my skin from the heavy rain. My shoes left wet footprints across the apartment floor. I closed my umbrella or to be more precise, his umbrella.
What was that? My mind was still spinning. I’d lost every note I’d taken and my book, the one I’d just bought. My hands were trembling, half from the cold and half from that encounter. That man… he was so strange to describe. Everything had happened in the span of two seconds, and I was left feeling as if something significant had brushed past me without warning.
I needed to talk to someone. I had to call Yoon-Suh and tell her everything before my thoughts swallowed me whole.
Less than half an hour later, she burst through my door, out of breath.
“I came as fast as I could,” she panted. “What happened? Are you alright?”
“Yes, I’m totally fine-”
“If you were fine you wouldn’t have lost your notes. That’s crazy.” She shot me a worried look, then handed me her own stack of notes without hesitating.
“Look,” I started, voice uneven, “when I left class, I was so worried about getting wet because of the rain, and stupid me didn’t even bring a bag today. So, I rushed to the bus station, only to bump into someone.”
“Oh,” she sighed, disappointment settling in her face. “And I guess your notes went for a bath…”
“Yeah,” I mumbled, feeling a twinge of embarrassment. “And my book… the one I had just bought.”
“Did that asshole at least apologize?”
“Technically it was my fault. But yes, he did, a million times.”
“What was he like? To see if at least he was good looking.”
“Hey! That’s not what we care about! But... He was,” I admitted, trying not to think too much about it. “I can’t say the opposite. He was wearing a suit, tall and super serious, with glasses and everything. He seemed like… an economics student? ”
“Did you get his name or something?” she pressed, curious.
“No, unfortunately,” I said, feeling a small, inexplicable pang of regret.
“Such a shame…” She looked down for a moment. Then, in her usual way, she switched gears to lift the heaviness between us. “So—want to eat something? I can cook!”
The rest of the evening slipped into warmth and laughter. We danced around the living room, sang along to songs we barely knew, and tried to forget how fragile everything felt. Me and Yoon-Suh had one rule, one that had carried us through every heartbreak and every storm: Live like you won’t have a tomorrow.
And that’s what we did.
The next morning, I arrived at the university early, hoping to reprint the notes Yoon-Suh had given me. I took my time, wanting to settle my thoughts. I sat on a bench outside the classroom, a warm coffee cupped between my hands, feeling almost normal again. The hour stretched before me, quiet and unhurried.
But the calm didn’t last. I felt someone beside me, close enough to make my skin prickle. A hand gripped my arm, firm, almost possessive.
“What is it, Sang-Woo…”
His voice was low and edged with something she couldn’t quite name. “Don’t you dare do something stupid. Do what I’ll do, and you will be safe. Understood?”
She turned to meet his eyes. They were just as unreadable as she remembered an unsettling mix of cold calculation and something softer, he never let her see for long. “Don’t give me damn orders like I’m a baby,” she whispered back, matching his intensity. “This ended a long time ago. I won’t let this happen again, even if I must survive. Understood?”
He didn’t answer. He didn’t need to. The silence between them was thick with everything we hadn’t said, everything we’d never resolved. The announcement crackled over the loudspeakers, sharp enough to jolt her back to reality.
“Decision time is over. We will now reveal the game.”
Four doors swung open.
“All players, please each take one of the cases in front of you.”
She picked hers up with hands that refused to stop shaking. Sang-Woo stayed close but didn’t look at her. They moved away from the crowd, sitting down in a corner together like old habits hadn’t died after all.
“Please open the case and check the contents.”
She lifted the lid and stared.
A biscuit. A triangle carved into its surface.
Fuck. Her heart sank. Don’t tell me we have to cut this shit.
“The second game is Dalgona. The shape you have chosen is the shape you must extract. The time limit is ten minutes. Cleanly extract the shape in ten minutes and you pass. Let the game begin.”
She glanced over at Gi-Hun. The umbrella. Her stomach twisted.
“You knew it. You fucking knew it and still let Gi-Hun take the damn umbrella.” Her voice came out in a raw whisper, all her anger bleeding through.
“Can you shut up once, finish your job and don’t care about the others?” His reply was clipped, practiced—like he’d rehearsed it in his head a thousand times.
“No. You’re my friends. The only I have left. And if I have to watch you die, I prefer to die first. Idiot. You saved me and not him? Why?”
“Lyanna, not the time for this. Concentrate on your shape for your own good.”
She tried to pick up the needle, but her hand was trembling so badly she nearly dropped it. My mouth was dry. My heart was beating itself bloody in my ribs. Once again, this man. This impossible, infuriating man had lied. Was it to protect himself? Probably. But he’d saved her too.
“Is it made out of sugar?” she asked quietly, her voice was brittle.
“Yes.”
The realization struck like lightning. Sugar melts.
She started licking the needle, desperate for any advantage. The first side came away clean. Two more. Seven minutes left. Then the gunshots started, echoing through the room. her body locked up. Panic climbed my throat. She couldn’t die like this—not over a piece of sugar.
Licking the needle wasn’t enough. She bent forward and began licking the biscuit itself. Her heartbeat roared in my ears.
“Player 218, pass.”
And after a minute.
“Player 052, pass.”
She let out a shaky breath and stood, weak with relief. Her gaze swept the room until she found Gi-Hun. He hadn’t seen her, but she caught him licking the biscuit the same way. Her chest tightened.
Good. Stay alive.
Outside the game room, she called out before she could stop herself.
“Hey! wait!”
Sang-Woo turned, meeting her eyes. His expression softened for just a fraction of a second. “You made it…” he said. There was something close to relief in his face, though she suspected he’d deny it if she ever asked.
“Why?” she demanded.
“Why what?”
“I asked you the same question before. Why me and not him too? Why not everyone?” Her voice cracked with all the weight she’d carried since the night before.
“There’s no why. I just did it. Get over it. It’s nothing personal.”
“Cut the bullshit. Tell me for once why or how you feel. You’re impossible to deal with.”
He didn’t reply. Just turned away, putting a measured distance between them with every step.
“If you don’t tell me, I won’t trust you again. I won’t come to your team or side.”
“Lyanna, grow up and learn to not ask why every couple of minutes. I explained, nothing personal. You didn’t know the damn game and I thought it was best for you. Nothing more.”
He didn’t look back. When they reached the main room, they sat side by side on the beds, the space between them crowded with everything unsaid. And they didn’t speak again. Ali joined them, and they waited for the others to appear. When they finally saw them coming, they ran to meet them.
“You’re alive!” Ali called out, with relief brightening his face.
“You think I would die that easy? I’m Seong Gi-Hun from Ssangmun-dong,” Gi-Hun said, trying to sound triumphant, though he looked exhausted.
“Thank God you’re safe, Gi-Hun,” Lyanna said, voice wavering with the stress she’d been holding in. “What the hell was this game…” She stepped forward and gave him a small hug, needing to feel that someone she cared about was still here, still human.
The old man started thanking Gi-Hun over and over, his voice thin and emotional.
Sang-Woo finally spoke up, voice low. “I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have said we should split up.”
“Ah, don’t say that,” Gi-Hun told him, gently brushing it off. “It’s not like you knew… Besides, I chose the umbrella myself. It’s okay.” He gave Sang-Woo’s arm a reassuring shake, like he was trying to pull them all back to something that felt normal.
“I’m glad everyone is alive,” Sang-Woo added quietly, though his eyes flicked toward Lyanna for the briefest instant, searching for her reaction. She met his gaze but looked away before he could read too much in her expression.
The woman’s voice echoed over the speakers, sterile and detached. The prize money was updated: 7.9 billion won accumulated in this round. Lyanna felt her stomach drop as the total flash on the screen, 34.8 billion won. Enough money to change everything. Enough to save them or destroy them. She swallowed hard. The thought of winning no longer felt as clean as it once had. What was all that money worth if she ended up alone? If the people she loved were carried out in those black coffins one by one? Even she went home with that amount, what would she do? Repay what she had to and then for once again she would be alone. Maybe not trapped, maybe not broke, but alone and corrupted.
They were called to the center to receive their “food.” Lyanna stared down at the single egg in her hands. She wondered if this was part of the cruelty, give them just enough to survive, just enough to fight over. Their ragged group, if you could still call it a team after everything Sang-Woo had hidden, moved to a corner to eat in uneasy silence.
Suddenly, shouts erupted near the line. Some players were screaming that they hadn’t gotten any food. One of them lunged at the men in Player 101’s ‘gang’. It all escalated so quickly, yelling, threats spat between clenched teeth. Lyanna felt her pulse surge in her neck when 101 struck 271 so hard he crumpled to the ground.
Sang-Woo was already moving. She followed without thinking twice. He dropped to his knees to check the man’s pulse, pressing fingers gently to his throat. When he looked up at her, there was something stricken in his face. No way she just witnessed this cruelty.
“He’s dead.” Sang-Woo said, voice rough. Lyanna felt cold seep into her bones. She lowered herself next to the body and stared, unable to look away. So, it was allowed, murder wasn’t just the games. It was the air itself in this place. They were allowed to kill each other. So that meant one thing. They will start killing one by one by night. Lyanna started having seconds thoughts of her decision of coming back into this hell, this would probably be her end. Gi-Hun in the meantime was shouting at the guards. Begging them to do something, anything. His words dissolved into echoes in the vast, uncaring room.
The speaker crackled. “Player 271, eliminated.”
A coffin arrived. The money increased again. Lyanna watched the guards carry the body away as if it weighed nothing. She pressed a hand to her stomach, trying not to be sick. They were never safe. Not in the games. Not outside them. Not ever. Sang-Woo gathered them in a tight circle. He spoke with a new edge in his voice—a brittle determination.
“We can’t fall asleep tonight,” he said. “Anything can happen after the lights go out. Those guys are up to no good.” He nodded toward 101’s group. “If anyone gets attacked, we have to stick together and fight.”
He turned to Ali, his expression softening. “Come over to our side if anything happens.”
Gi-Hun explained the plan to the old man and then walked across the room to 067. Lyanna watched the girl’s face as Gi-Hun spoke to her. She was distant, but she seemed fearless. She guessed what Gi-Hun had probably said to her but she didn’t shown any interest. Lyanna felt a pang of regret, someone like that could have made them all stronger.
Time passed and they were waiting for the lights to go out. She stayed next to Sang-Woo. They didn’t talk; they didn’t have to. Even with all the anger she carried for his lies, being near him calmed her in a way she didn’t want to admit.
He broke the silence first, voice low, so quiet only she could hear. “No matter what happens tonight… please stick behind me.”
She turned to look at him, searching his face for that familiar wall he always put up. “You will protect me? Or is this another one of your lies?”
Dead silence fell after that. His eyes didn’t leave hers. “Lyanna… if it means keeping you safe, I will lie again,” he said, voice rough, as if it cost him something to say it out loud. “But no, I’m telling the truth. Just stay next to me, please. And don’t tell me you can protect yourself—I know you can. Just… for once… trust me.”
For that moment she trusted him because she only remembered one thing. That look of love he used to have every time he looked at her. Even the first time they met.
“I’m sorry if I disturb you. I’m the guy from yesterday’s incident, I came to give you this.”
I turned around to see the man I’d collided with the day before, standing there holding out a bag. My heart did a little jump I didn’t want to admit to.
“I told you I would give it back to you. Oh and keep the umbrella that I gave you by the way. It’s the last thing I can do.”
I looked inside the bag, expecting to see the same copy of my now ruined book, but my breath caught in my throat. It was a brand-new version. A hardback. I pulled it out carefully, like it might disappear if I blinked too hard. The cover was almost the most beautiful I’d ever seen. The kind you’d never dare to even open it.
“I… I can’t accept this. That’s so much better than my original book.”
“It’s a gift,” he said, his voice soft but certain. “Please accept it.”
I looked up at him, and for a moment, something warm bloomed in my chest, dissolving all the awkwardness. I smiled and tried to find words big enough for how grateful I felt.
“I’m so grateful… but—how did you even find me?”
He smirked, just a little, like he knew exactly how that question sounded.
“I have my sources.”
“No, seriously, though, I’m curious.”
He shifted his weight and looked almost shy, which made my heart thump faster.
“I saw a guy coming from your path the other day, and after we collided, I asked him what you were studying. But you made this too easy today. I thought I’d be waiting all day, just hoping you’d pass by again.” He smiled, really smiled this time, and it was such a beautiful smile it made me wish he’d wear it more often. Like the sun coming out from behind clouds.
“Really? That determined!” I laughed, feeling a little giddy. “So since you came all the way here and bought me my book… what’s your name?”
“Cho Sang-Woo. Yours?”
“I’m Lyanna. Lyanna Collet.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Lyanna.” He glanced at his watch, and something in me sank a little.
“I should get going… I don’t want to bother you anymore.”
Fuck, I’m losing him. I’m never going to see him again if I just stand here. Come on, Lyanna. Do something. What would Yoon-Suh tell me? “You weren’t bothering me,” I said quickly, trying not to sound as desperate as I felt. “But… if you have something important, yeah, you should go…”
“Nice seeing you again.”
“Wait.” My voice came out too fast, and I felt my face get hot. Fuck, I was going to look like an idiot. What if he didn’t want to?
“If you want… you could give me your number? In case you wanted to… meet again. Maybe.” He stared at me, and my brain went wild trying to read that expression. Confusion? Awkwardness? Or no, it couldn’t be-
“Sure. Only because you have a great taste in literature”
He said it with that same small smile, and I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.
