Dana:
After the game, we all went back inside the giant room, it was dimmed lightened, the piggybank light shining the whole room. I sat on the stairs, beside the girl who was behind me in red light green light, she kept thanking me.
"You don't have to thank me, you know?" I say with a chuckle but she bows to me.
"Sorry, you saved me. I could've died!" She exclaimed softly before sitting next to me. "Are you black? Korean? Or both?"
I didn't say anything, just looked at her for a second before looking away.
Her smile faded slightly. "Sorry, i didn't mean to offend you. I don't know when to stop opening my mouth sometimes! It's a habit! I get it from my mother, she always had a lot on her mind, it's very rare to see someone like her being quiet for more than a minute, but at the same time-"
"Okay, okay. I get it." I cut her off, feeling my ears ring from how much she was talking, she nods and looks forward.
The buzzer goes off and guards come in again, but this time they have guns to them, the square guard walking up.
Most of the players hide behind and under the beds, the girl gripped my arm and I look down at her and sighed.
"You have successfully made it through the first game." The guard says. "Congratulations to you all. Now, I'll announce the results so far."
On the screen above him, the number 456 starts to go down, not some but a lot.
The guard speaks again. "Out of 456 players, 91 have been eliminated. Meaning, 365 of you made it through the first game." I felt my eyelids shoot up from how many people died out there.
"Congratulations to you all, again."
Suddenly, an old woman with a man to her side step up. "Sir, please! Let me and my son go! I'll pay his debts! Just let us go!" She gets on her knees and starts begging, bringing the man down with her. "Please don't kill us! Let us go!"
Other people began begging on their knees with the two, I stayed on the stairs, watching them as they all continued begging to be released.
"Consent form clause three!" I heard someone shout, I look over to see 456 stepping down the stairs. "'If the majority of the players agree to stop playing, the games will be terminated'. That's correct, right?"
The guard paused for a moment. "Yes, that's correct."
"Then do it. Let's take a vote." 456 says, I look at the guard for his response, the girl beside me never loosened her grip on my arm.
"If that is what you want. We will respect freedom of choice to our players." The guard says, everyone sighed with relief and I did as well, a small smile forming on my face. "But, let's reveal how much money there is after the game has ended."
He pressed a button and the piggybank lowers from the ceiling, then a bunch of cash starts to fill it up, everyone moves closer to get a better look, even the girl had let go of my arm to move closer.
I stayed put, the money was great but I don't think I can go on knowing I might be the next person to get killed. I don't want to think Deon's reaction would be when he finds out his sister disappeared and was never found.
The money continues to fill up the piggybank before stopping. "Since 91 players have been eliminated, 9.1 billion won are the total prize so far. If you all decide to stop playing now, the remaining of you all will split the money amongst yourselves. You all will leave with an equal amount of share."
I breathe in heavily, clutching my pants, hoping no one would complain about the money amount.
But player 100 had to ruin it. "How much per share?"
"Each player will get $24,931,500 won."
I cupped my chin. "Not bad, I guess." I whisper mostly to myself, tapping my foot against the ground.
"You serious? We almost died. 24 million? What the fuck." I heard someone close to me whisper.
"With that. The voting will began." The guard says and two circle shaped guards pushed a stand with two buttons, 'X' and 'O'. "If you wanna continue playing, press the blue button 'O'. If you wanna stop playing, press the red button 'X'. You all will vote in order from highest to lowest based on your player number. Let's start, player 456."
I turn to see 456, he slowly walks through the crowd and up to the stand with the buttons.
"There's no reason!" A woman from on the very top bunk shouts. "You didn't choose when to enter this world, you won't choose when to leave either. There's no changing fate."
I roll my eyes at her and turn my focus back on 456 as he continues to walk up towards the stand, he presses 'X' without hesitation, and he grabs a red 'X' patch before attaching it on the left side of his chest. He goes to stand on the side where it has a big glowy X on.
Then another woman votes 'O' and I sigh, knowing exactly where this was going to go. I could see player 456 disappointed expression, I tap my foot as other players began to vote.
"Player 432." The guard calls my number, I feel people staring at me as I walked up, I stared at the buttons and swallowed the lump down my throat, I think about leaving but thought about Deon, I needed the money but I can't risk my life.
I press 'X' and the guard hands me a red patch, I attached it to my chest and walk to the 'X' side, 456 nodded at me and I give a small smile.
As the vote continues, 'X' was winning by five votes, and I stood next to 456, watching players walk up and vote.
"Player 267." The guard says and the girl I helped in red light green light walked up, I could tell she hesitated for a moment before I saw red illuminating her hand, and I knew she pressed 'X'. For some reason, I sigh with relief and saw her walk towards me and went beside me, giving me a playful smile.
Then, the vote continued and 'O' started to win.
"Wait! Don't do this to yourselves! Just take the money and go!" 456 yells. "I've played these games before! Everyone had died! Everyone!"
"And who are you?" Player 100 says, making me roll my eyes. "If you played these before, then he'll give us tips! Let's make money!"
"How about you shut up grandpa and go back to babysitting your grandkids?" I suddenly say, stepping forward.
"Who let this woman in here?!" Player 100 exclaims, looking around.
"Are you done? Or should I get your canes just in case you lose your balance?"
"The hell you say?" He stepped forward and I did too. Player 149 stepped up and pulled me back.
"No, no. This isn't smart..." she whispered to me and I sigh.
As the votes continued, it escalates very quickly and it was a tie. Player 001 had to vote and everyone chanted what they wanted him to vote, it took a moment before he pressed 'O'.
I widened my eyes and look as the group of 'O's shout and cheer, I looked at player 456 as he hangs his head low, my eyes landed on player 001 who had a smirk on his face, I scowl and walk away, 267 following me.
I guess I'm staying.
