I was waiting on the side of the street quietly, my sweatshirt pulled deep over my head...

I nibbled on my nails nervously as i just waited and waited...

'This better not be a scam... i swear to god...'

Right as i was starting to consider leaving i heard a van pull up.

Confused i looked at the person driving it.

"Password?"

"... Red light Green light"

The door opened, most likely gesturing me to get in...

I wanted to hesitate but my brain just forced me to get in...

'Getting in sketchy looking white vans... not suspicious at all'

I looked around, there were a few other people there... But they all seemed to be asleep.

'Hm? Is everyone so tired?'

I rested my head on the window, but suddendly my vision started to get a slightly with ish tint...

It took me a couple seconds to realize that was gas but it was too late... i had already passed out...

...

A weird classical music woke me up...

'H-huh? What happened..?'

I lifted my torso off the bed-like structure...

I wasnt wearing my old clothes anymore... it was some kind of tracksuit with a number on it...

'Number 304..? What does that mean?'

I looked around the room... there were very many people in there... at least 100...

It seemed closed off and everyone was wearing the same stuff...

I climbed off the bed, jumping onto the floor.

I looked at the big screen at front, is said there were 456 players... i actually spotted the number 001 whic was an old man and the number 456 which was a man, he looked like he was in his late fourtys...

I looked around a bit more... there seemed to be a circle of people around something

I carefully pushed trough and what i saw was quite scary...

It was a girl and some guy, the girl was wearing the number 067 and the guy was wearing the number 101...

He was screaming at her, and they were attacking each other which amde me flinch back a bit

I wanted to say something but i felt like the buff guy would hurt me if i did.

Right then, the number 456 came forward and broke them up.

I was grateful at first but then he started grabbing the girls collar.

"Your the pickpocket! Give me back my money!"

I decided to try and drag him away from her, he thankfully wasnt as scary as the other guy.

I grabbed his shoulder amd tried getting him away form the girl.

"Hey! What are you doing?!" I yelled.

"She stole my money!"

The girl quickly crawled away.

The guy got off the ground to and basically punched my stomach resulting in me stumbling backwards.

Before i knew it they were back to yelling, i couldnt even tell if they yelled at me or at each other. Only the girls stayed quiet, even tough she just got assaulted, twice.

It went on for a while, i tried regaining my foothold as i could only watch helplessly.

I couldnt even really catch what they were saying...

Yet, just as i tough the situation was going to escalate further, there were weird mechanical noises coming from the entrance of the room that had been shut for a while...

There were... about people... most of them had a mask with a circle while the middle one had a square...

They walked forward and alligned in some sort of manner...

"I would like to extend a hearty welcome to all of you." The one at front spoke, i could really only stare...

"Everyone here will participate in six different games over six days."

"Those who win all six games will receive a handsome cash prize."

'Cash? Is that what the slap-guy talked to me about?'

Suddendly one of the people in the crowd started speaking

"And why should we believe that?"

"You put us to sleep, took away our phones and wallets,then dragged us here to this mysterious place."

"Now you show up and say youll pay us handsomely for a few games?"

"You really expect us to believe that?"

I mean... he had a point...

I kept staring at the front guy, he seemed to be the only one speaking... or maybe even the only one allowed to speak...

"We had to enforce those procedures"

"To ensure the utmost security in bringing you here"

"Well return everything once the games are over"

It was then i realized i really didnt have anything on me... not my phone or my wallet...

"How come you are wearing those masks?" A woman in the crowd called out.

The square guy looked over to her... and in the process seemingly noticed my staring.

Even though his face was covered i could still see he was looking at me...

"We do not disclose the faces or personal information of our staff to the participants."

I felt my face heat up a bit in embarrassment as i scratched my cheek nervously, avoiding 'eye' contact.

"Its for the sake of fairness and secrecy"

He finally looked away almost making me sigh in relief...

But seemingly one of the other guys had picked up on the the squares staring and glanced over in my direction.

I awkwardly waved and immeadiantly wanted to slap myself.

I could swear i saw a slight flinch, almost a giggle coming from the guy as the other looked at him weird...

I wanted to die for that as i covered my red face...

"Please understand"

"I dont trust a word you just said" i looked over to see another guy spoke up.

"Enticement, abduction, confinement"

"After all that illegal activity, you give us these excuses without even revealing who you are"

"Give us one good reason why we should trust you."

The guard paused

"Player 218, Cho Sang-woo"

He clicked on something as the room went dark and a screen lit up.

"Age, 46"

"Former supervisor of Team Two at Joy Investments"

'I think i might have heard of that before...'

"Embezzled money from his clients, invested it in derivatives and futures and failed."

"Current loss, 650 million won"

'Holy shit- and i tought i was screwed...'

"Player 107, Kim Mi-ok, 540 million won in debt."

"Player 118, Oh Yeong-uk, 1.02 billion won in debt."

'1 billion?!'

"Player 322, Jung Min-tae, 880 million won in debt."

"Player 119, No Sang-hun, 1.39 billion won in debt"

"Player 369, park Ju-un, 900 million in debt"

"Number 304, y/n l/n, soon 187 million in debt" i froze up a bit at the mention of my name

I noticed the guard seemed to glance over at me a bit when saying my name

I decided to just ignore it

"All of you in this room"

"Have crippling debts, and are now on a cliff-edge"

"When we first went to you, you did not trust us either"

"But as you know, we played a game"

"And gave you money as promised"

"And so you trusted us"

"And volunteered to participate according to your own free will"

"You have one last chance to decide."

"Do you want to go back and live out your pathetic lives running from creditors?"

"Or will you seite the last opportunity we are offering?"

The room fell into mumbling.

Yet suddendly one fo the people spoke up.

"What kind of games are we playing?" He didnt really sound like a natural korean-speaker...

"For the sake of fairness, we cammot disclose any information prior to the game" the guard answered.

I heard another person speak up, it was the guy from the fight earlier but not the 101...

"One question! Just how is the prize money?"

I was actually wondering about that too...

Suddendly a weird gameshow music started playing as a weird piggybank lowered from the ceiling, shining a golden light at the people in the middle.

"Your prize money will be accumulate in that piggy bank after each game"

"The amount will be revealed to everyone after the first game."

'Holy shit... if they fill that whole thing up i could not only pay off my debt... i could buy a mansion!'

"If you do not wish to participate, please speak up now"

The room fell silent, i sat on top of one of the beds to try and think... honestly it seemed worth it...

I could finance my fathers medical bills, i could pay off all of our debt... heck i could even start financing children!

This was a nice chance... if i pass then... then i would eventually get killed by loan sharks... but if i participate... then i could turn my life around...

I looked over at the guards.

One of the circle guys spotted me and elbowed one of the others, gesturing over to where i was sitting.

It was a bit weird..

they exchanged some glances before looking straight forward again.

I saw that they were handing out contracts to sign...

'I... i should probably do it...' i got down from the bed and got in line to sign up.

Player consent form

Clause one: a player is not allowed to voluntarily quit the games

Clause two: a player who refuses to play will be eliminated

Clause three: the games may be terminated upon a majority vote.

I looked up at the circle guy... he didnt seem to show any kind of reaction.

I gulped a bit...

'I... i need to do this..' i quickly scribbled down my name

After a while a voice started speaking trough the room

"Attention all players, the game is about to begin"

"All players, follow the staffs instructions and proceed to the game hall"

They led us in a line trough a weird... fever-dream looking hall...

'This is... trippy...'

"Please look into the camera. Smile!" The voice said.

Apparently they were taking pictures of us...

I waited in line so i could get my turn...

Suddendly i felt a presence next to me.

One of the circle had walked over to my side.

I shot him a quick glance.

"Red light, Green light. Dont panic and dont move" i suddendly heard the guy speak.

"H-huh?"

Before i could question anything he had walked away.

'Was that... some kind of hint'

I walked up to the camera and shot it a nervous smile, the flash blinding me for a quick second...

'Whatever this is... i feel like im not gonna like it..'