INTRIGUE | 001 x 456

Part 2 - A game is a game

Dawn found them in a slightly different state than the night had foretold. The sound of a siren announcing the start of another day shattered the silence that had finally taken over the room. Gi-hun rose from his mattress, still feeling in his body the echoes of the previous night's events - both those in the middle of the room and those at his bedside. 001 lay quietly, as if the night's commotion had not affected him at all. He looked almost like an old man who would never take part in a violent game of life and death. However, Gi-hun knew better - he saw the look on his face when the man there whispered his "Calm".

- Ready for another day? - asked 001, stretching lazily, as if they weren't about to face another game any time soon. Gi-hun glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, still feeling his wrist pulsing where he held it. He nodded.

- How about you? - 001 smiled slightly, rising from the mattress.

- I'm always ready.

Before they had time to say anything more, the door of the hall opened with a loud slam and the guards entered, lining everyone up. Gi-hun drew in a breath, preparing himself for what awaited them. They were soon joined by the rest of the team.

Armed and masked guards entered the room; mostly circles, with one square standing at their head. An officer wearing a mask with a square announced that it was time to hand out rations. The players lined up. The player with the number 222, who was pregnant, stood at the front, followed immediately by 456, 001, 380, 308 and the rest.

When 222 picked up her breakfast portion, which today consisted of eggs and water, she walked away toward her bed. Someone, however, stood in her way. It was a man with purple hair, betraying signs of severe agitation - this so-called rapper, Thanos.

- What do you want? - She asked, unfazed.

The conversation from afar was listened to by the entire team, however, still standing in line.

- What do I want? - He asked, smiling and gesticulating excessively, as was his habit. - I want your food, mama! - he shouted, in an exaggerated American accent.

- Let's be honest, you won't survive to the end of the game; neither you nor this child, so you don't need food, and I, Thanos, am still hungry! - he exclaimed and laughed. He then snatched the provisions from her hands in one swift motion.

Gi-hun was just picking up his portion when he heard 222's raised voice. He immediately left the line, leaving the food on the table, and moved toward the bickering two.- What's going on here? - He asked, looking at the clenched fist of 222.001 watched him from afar. "This could be interesting." - he thought, without moving from his seat, however.

When 222 quickly explained what had happened, 456 moved toward Thanos.

- Give it back to her immediately! Who do you think you are?

Thanos laughed.

- Who do I think I am! - he shouted, focusing the stares of most of the room on himself. - I'm Thanos! And Thanos is hungry, my friend! - he added, switching to English again. At the same time, he turned to walk away, but Gi-hun grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him close.

- Give it back. - He said, but at that moment Thanos kicked him in the calf, knocking him to the ground.

Thanos was joined by his team. Gi-hun rose and moved at him once again, but that one tightened his grip. An armed guard appeared.

- Stop immediately, player 456," he declared.

Thanos let him go, and Gi-hun was now on the ground. The rifle was pointed in his direction.

- I have to stop?! - he shouted.At this time Thanos smashed the shell of a boiled egg against his head and quickly peeled it, put it in his mouth and swallowed it, almost without chewing.

- He was the one who robbed her of food! We are all supposed to be equal, right?! And it's me you're aiming at? What the fuck is that supposed to be? He just ate her breakfast.

001 picked up his portion and walked closer to see all the commotion better.

The guard with the circle on his mask did not respond at first. The situation seemed tense. Thanos' team left with him.