Simulation Swarm ? Kang Dae-ho ╱ 388

TWELVE Run

     Minseo took a tentative step toward the door, her breath quick and shallow. She reached for the narrow crack between the door's edges, her trembling fingers curling around the cold metal as the screams outside grew louder. The massacre had begun.

     The same man who had begged for her to join his team ━ his voice full of desperation ━ was now facing the barrel of a guard's gun. He raised his hands in futile surrender, his words drowned out by the guard's orders. Before the shot could ring out, he turned slowly, his eyes locking with Minseo's through the crack. Their gazes met for one eternal moment, and she watched in horror as the light left his eyes, blood oozing from the wound in his forehead.

     Minseo was pulled back gently, her uncle's familiar hands guiding her away from the door. Gi-hun wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a tight embrace. The warmth of his hold was the same as it had always been, yet it felt different this time-heavy with unspoken fear and unshed tears.

     It was as though he had just witnessed her very own death, and this hug, this final act, was his way of expressing everything he couldn't say. Gratitude, anger, love, and a deep, bitter sorrow all poured into the quiet, desperate embrace.

     Minseo couldn't rip her eyes away from the collection of bodies which began piling up. The pick up vehicle rolled in under the bright lights, and as the black caskets decorated with red ribbon fitted the bodies, Minseo couldn't help but notice one, minor thing ━ they were still breathing.

     The bodies being lifted were not limp nor lifeless.  They were twitching, fingers flailing to show they were alive, they were breathing. However they were shut quiet with agony as the bullet wounds wielding deeper into their skin, extracting any energy from them.

     "They're alive," whispered the young woman furiously. "But ━ they're alive."

     "What did you say, dear?" Question Geum-ja softly. She stood between Hyun-ju and Yong-sik, shaken and apprehensive whilst questioning the girl curiously.

     Minseo blinked. She wondered if she could've picked up on smaller things if she had received the glasses earlier, but nonetheless, took advantage of the new opportunity to seek out any signs. Swallowing roughly, Minseo regained her voice. "The players. . . They're still ━"

     "The doors opening," interrupted Young-Il through a mere mumble.

     The door creaked open slowly, revealing the aftermath of the carnage. A crimson trail of blood snaked across the floor, staining the podium and marking footprints that led from the threshold. The room, now soaked in death, told the story of the horror that had unfolded just moments before.

     Minseo's gaze flickered back, meeting the eyes of Young-Il. He stared at her ominously, face free of any tension but Minseo could still detect the darkness glowing in his eyes. His lips curled unconsciously, which made the young woman stumble back in surprise.

     "The next is round starting," Geum-ja cut in, hand on Minseo's arm. The elder woman looked between Young-Il and Minseo, wary and unsure of the sudden tension settled between them, but opted to ignore it and instead guided Minseo back to the podium.

     The same childhood began to play, taunting and teasing as players twitched anxiously in place. Minseo was staring at the ceiling, her eyes anywhere but the blood coated floor. Suddenly, still stuck in a daze, her trembling hands were taken ahold of and she was spun about rapidly.

     "Sing along!" It was Su-bong, his purple hair wild and face beaming with pure ecstasy as he spun the young woman in a circle. "Ring━a ━ring━a,"

     "What are you doing," spluttered Minseo, visions of her pink hair flying before her eyes. "Su-bong ━ c'mon!"

     "La━la ━la━la," continued Su-bong, still smiling widely. He spun her again, pulling her close and dancing crazily.