Episode 2 | "Red Light"

EPISODE 2: "RED LIGHT"

The buzz of overhead lights returned — not with the soft flicker of dawn, but with a deafening hum that made a few players flinch awake. Some were already up. Others hadn't slept. The smell of metal, rubber, and stress lingered like fog.

Rheon sat cross-legged on the top bunk, hands resting on his knees. His face was calm, but his eyes never stopped scanning. Since waking up here days ago, he'd seen enough to know that calm was an illusion.

Below, Sai-chi adjusted his glasses and scribbled something invisible onto his palm. Su-nin and Jo-kyun were already arguing in low tones about food rations. Zahira tried to ignore them. Lui leaned dramatically over the railing of his bed.

"Guys, why does this place smell like expired tuna and broken dreams?" he sighed. "I'm seriously losing my sense of aesthetic."

Zahira rolled her eyes, tying her hair up. "You're gonna lose more than that if you keep running your mouth."

Lui leaned closer to her. "Don’t worry, I’m immortal. I read it in a dream once."

Julie sat on the floor with Lily beside her. Lily clutched her knees, trying not to look too scared. Julie handed her a wrapped protein bar she’d saved.

“You doing okay?” Julie asked gently.

Lily nodded, hesitating. "You remind me of someone. Like… like an older sister."

Julie blinked, looking away for a second. Then she smiled. “She must’ve been lucky, huh?”

Lily smiled. “She was. Kind of annoying, but she’d have loved you.”

Julie ruffled Lily’s hair. “Then I’ll take that as a compliment.”

THE ANNOUNCEMENT

The loudspeaker cracked to life. Everyone stopped talking.

"All players, please report to the game arena immediately. Your first game will now begin."

A metal door opened. Guards in red moved in with no expression. People were hesitant but knew better than to fight it.

“Y’all ready to die or nah?” Lui said cheerfully.

Su-nin shoved past him. “Shut it, idiot.”

“Oh my god,” Lui whined, “I’m trying to make conversation. Rude.”

Rheon helped Elijah up gently, noticing how pale he looked. “Stomach still tight?”

Elijah nodded. “I’ll try to manage.”

Julie glanced at Calhil, who was watching Elijah again. But she said nothing. Just wrapped her arm around Elijah’s shoulder like a human shield.

They walked out together.

THE YARD

It looked like a school playground. Bright sky-painted walls, fake trees, and an open yard. But it reeked of something wrong.

At the far end, a giant doll stood eerily still.

Jo-kyun squinted. “Bro… is that a toy?”

“No,” Sai-chi muttered. “That’s death with pigtails..!"

Lui twirled. “Okay, aesthetic. I vibe.”

A few players chuckled. Zahira snorted, nudging him. “Why do I feel like you’re gonna twerk your way through this?”

“Oh girl, I just might.”

The Front Man’s voice echoed from a speaker above.

"Welcome to your first game: RED LIGHT, GREEN LIGHT. You will have five minutes to cross the field. Move during green light. Stop during red light. Anyone caught moving will be eliminated."

The doll's head creaked.

“BEGIN.”

“Green light.”

People hesitated… then began walking. Carefully.

“Red light.”

The doll turned.

BANG.

BANG.

Two players dropped. Screams erupted.

Lui flinched. “Oh they’re actually— oh damn.”

Zahira gasped. “Lui— don’t—”

“Green light.”

Lui started dancing, twirling dramatically. “Zahira, watch me slay this runway. I’m dedicating this win to you!”

Su-nin growled. “You’re gonna get shot, dumbass!”

“Red light.”

Su-nin shoved Lui.

Lui stumbled, but in his sassiness, pushed Su-nin back… unintentionally shielding him.

The doll turned.

BANG.

A red blot appeared on Lui’s chest.

He blinked.

“Oh. That’s me.”

He turned to Zahira, grinning. “Guess I won’t see you at the afterparty.”

BANG.

He collapsed.

Zahira screamed. “LUI!”

Panic exploded. People ran. The doll spun. Shots fired. Screams, blood, bodies.

Julie was calm. “Elijah! Stay still!”

“I can’t— it’s my GERD— I’m—”

“Breathe. Look at me.” She grabbed his wrist. “We walk together.”

“Green light.”

They walked.

“Red light.”

They stopped. Elijah was trembling.

“Green light.”

They moved fast. Julie held him steady.

They made it.

Calhil was already across. Watching. Frozen.

Luke crossed after them, silent. His fists clenched.

Zahira barely made it. She collapsed just past the line.

She stared back at Lui’s body, eyes numb.

BACK IN THE DORM

Silence.

People were missing.

Julie held Elijah’s hand. “You did good.”

He nodded slowly. “Thanks… for not letting go.”

Luke sat nearby. Made a joke.

“So we got drag queens saving lives now?”

Julie looked at him. Unfazed. “You’re late to the party, sweetheart.”

Elijah frowned. “Don’t joke like that.”

Luke held up his hands. “Alright, sorry.”

Julie smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

Zahira sat alone. She hadn’t moved. Her hand still held Lui’s band.

Across the room, Calhil approached Elijah.

“Elijah—please. What happened… back then. I didn’t mean to hurt you. It was all a misunderstanding!, I swear-"

Elijah stood slowly. “Misunderstanding?"

Elijah glanced at him and lashed out quietly, "If that's misunderstanding for you then you never get to talk to me again."

“I—”

“I don't wanna talk to you anymore. ”

He turned. Walked away.

IN JI YENA'S ROOM

Yena sat in her bunk, the lights dim. Her guard mask rested on the table.

She stared at her laptop screen.

News anchors raged.

“Park Rheon — the traitor. A terrorist with blood on his hands.”

“Rot in hell.”

Yena's jaw clenched.

She opened a private forum.

Typed quickly:

“He saved lives. He saved mine. He doesn’t deserve your hate.”

She hit post. Closed the tab.

Behind her reflection in the screen… her own eyes were red.

She whispered, “I won’t let you die here.”

to be continued..

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