Lines We Cross ||Front Man x Reader||

Chapter 12

"Yeah, well, desperation doesn't excuse betrayal," I snapped, my voice sharper than I intended.

As we reached our corner, Dae-ho glanced over his shoulder and noticed Jung-bae dragging his feet a few paces behind. "Oh, come on, man. Stop being a fucking coward," he called out, waving him over.

Jung-bae hesitated, his eyes darting between us, but Dae-ho wasn't having it. He marched over, grabbed him by the arm, and practically dragged him back. "You're part of this group. Stop acting like a loner."

Jung-bae reluctantly sat down with us, clearly uncomfortable under my glare. I didn't even try to hide it. "What the fuck were you thinking?" I asked, crossing my arms.

He rubbed the back of his neck, avoiding my eyes. "One vote didn't matter. We were gonna lose anyway. The Os were in favor from the start. Even if I chose X."

I let out a sigh. "You flipped on us like it was nothing."

Before I could lay into him any further, Dae-ho spoke up, trying to diffuse the tension. "Hey, relax. I wanted to vote for O too, but I stuck with you guys. Doesn't mean I'm gonna hold it against him. We're all fucked either way."

Jun-hee shot Dae-ho a side-eye. "Not exactly the motivational speech we needed, but thanks."

Dae-ho grinned. "What? It's true."

Jung-bae let out a shaky sigh, finally glancing up at me. "You did? See I'm not alone on this. I'm sorry, okay? I just... I desperately need the money. You don't understand. One more game, and then we're out. That's all I was thinking."

His voice cracked at the end, and for a second, I could see the desperation in his eyes. It didn't make me any less pissed, but it was hard to stay mad at him when he looked so beaten down.

Gi-hun patted him on the shoulder. 

Then Young-il spoke. "Alright everybody, let's just do our best in the next game. And all get out alive." 

As he said the word "Alive." he very clearly locked eyes with me, and held eye contact.

He then continued speaking. "With the way the things are going... We should all try to stay positive. Yeah?"

Still maintaining the eye contact I replied. "Yeah."

He then broke the eye contact and offered Jun-hee his milk. She politley turned it down, but he insisted because he was apparentley lactose intolerant. Noted that little fact about Young-il too.

And then Jung-bae offered his bread to Jun-hee as well. That's so sweet honestly. For a second  my faith in humanity might not be completley lost after all.

Soon after, the guards escorted us through the stairs into the next game.

When we entered the huge room, it was really dim, but very colorful at the same time, with a huge platform in the middle.

"All players will step onto the platform in the center of the arena," the robotic female voice announced. 

One by one, we shuffled onto the spinning platform. The thing was huge, big enough for everyone. We were all trying to figure out what fresh hell they'd cooked up this time, but no one dared speak until the rules were laid out.

"Once the game begins, the platform will spin. Shortly after, a number will be called out. You must then form a group that matches this number, enter one of the surrounding rooms, and close the door within 30 seconds, or be eliminated," the voice explained.

A game of numbers. Shit. This was going to get ugly.

Dae-ho let out a low whistle. "Thirty fucking seconds? That's not a lot of time to think."

"No," Gi-hun replied, his face grim. "Which is why we need a plan."

Our little group huddled closer. Gi-hun's voice was firm, but quiet enough not to draw attention. "If it's six, we stick together. No question."

"And if it's higher than six?" Jun-hee asked, chewing on her bottom lip.

"Find as many people as you can," Gi-hun said. 

Dae-ho raised an eyebrow. "And if it's lower?"

"We figure it out on the way," I said, cutting in before Gi-hun could answer. "No time for second-guessing. Just move."

Young-il, standing beside me, folded his arms and spoke with that calm, steady tone he always had. "The most crucial thing is not to panic. Stay calm. That's how we stay alive."

I smirked a little and added, "And trust each other."

As I said it, my eyes instinctively met Young-il's. The irony wasn't lost on either of us, considering trust between us was thin as fuck. Still, for some reason, he held my gaze, and I didn't look away either.

"Trust each other," he repeated softly, almost like he was testing the words.

We all put our hands out, one on top of the other, like a team huddle before some fucked-up little league game. My hand ended up on top of Young-il's, and for a split second, I could feel the heat of his palm under mine.

"We got this." we said in unison, though the words felt more like a plea than a declaration.

The platform under us hummed to life, the faint vibrations crawling up through the soles of my shoes.

"Let the game begin," the robotic voice announced.

And just like that, the platform started spinning. My stomach dropped, but I clenched my fists and tried to stay steady. No room for fear now. It was time to move.

As bad as it already was there was a song that started playing too, over the fucking speakers. And of course if was that one annoying song "Round and Round".

Like bitch? Get out.