(pov Ji-Yunwoo)
Silence never lasts.
BIP PPPPPP!
A crackling sound.
Then
The sky is tearing apart.
The screens light up and our watches start flashing.
Everywhere.
The drones are taking position.
And the screens below light up, they are really closer.
I slowly raise my head.
– …here we go again.
Around me, the other players are bustling about.
Jae and Jun Seo are already preparing; they've gotten used to it and remain stoic in the face of every debut.
Even though some are still panicking.
The new ones poured out, staring everywhere, as if they could escape.
Their uniforms were still white and clean compared to ours and those of what lives here.
They still wear their smiles and encourage each other.
Idiots.
No one is running away here.
HAHAHAHAHAHAJAJAJAJAJAJAJ
A laugh.
Acute.
Families.
The main screen lights up in the center of the drones.
She always appears the same, this time she was wearing a black lace dress with a blue ribbon
The doll.
One could almost like it.
His smile was fixed and mocking.
– [WELCOME TO THE NEXT CHALLENGE, I HOPE YOU'VE HAD TIME TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER]
A silence falls.
Heavy.
– [THE TOWER OF ENDLESS FALL]
The ground is shaking.
Again.
In the center of the area, the earth is cracking.
She leaves, slowly.
A tower.
Immense.
Brute.
Circular and metallic.
Without opening.
No door.
Just a line of stakes, regularly planted all around.
I squint slightly and stare at the message that appeared on my watch.
– …50 centimeters.
What for?
I look up.
– …15 meters.
All those meters for a tower.
– [FIVE TEAMS]
The doll continued
The screens change and reveal the top of the tower
5 flags of different colors.
Red, green, black, blue, yellow and white.
I look, 6 flags for 5 teams, I scrutinize the reactions
A-09.
Kim Young.
She's here.
Further away.
Still standing.
I look away.
AL-05.
Always calm.
Too quiet.
B-02.
VI-03.
Everyone is by his side.
All alive.
For now.
– [TWO PARTICIPANTS PER TEAM, IT WILL BE YOU AGAINST THE ELDERLY]
A murmur ripples through the groups.
I remain motionless.
– [SELECT]
Chaos begins and groups within groups form.
Arguments are not far away and the lost ones rush towards us.
"Can I join your group?" whispered a newcomer.
– No, go back where you came from, I'm not taking anyone
With them you never know, I'm probably not the only saboteur, I won't throw myself into danger.
Yun and Jae weren't against it either.
Alright
I lower my eyes slightly, manipulating my resources; I have enough money to buy myself a rope.
– …I go first.
But then a hand grabbed my arm.
I turn my head.
One of mine.
– Yunwoo… I'll come with you
I look at him.
A long time.
Then
– You choose.
He's backing away.
Surprise.
- All right
Her voice was calm, flat.
– Yun, I go first.
Silence.
They look at each other and she finally nods.
Fear is rising… and it's only now that I truly realize it.
Why are they on my side?
I turn my eyes on them.
What are their objectives?
Are they really on my side?
I hit my head,
Stop
Represent toi,
– (I'm even paranoid now)
Kim Young seems the most circumcised; she clenches her teeth.
His gaze shifts from one limb to the other.
Who would want to go there?
- [ HURRY UP ]
A laugh.
– [OR I CHOOSE FOR YOU]
She raises her head.
Watching her panic was rather amusing.
Her tired eyes and the dark circles under her eyes made her look old.
She was grabbing the new kids from her group.
- You.
Then another one.
- And you.
Delivering them to certain death, because I was going to take care of it myself.
My bracelet is turning red, and so is Jae's.
My group was ready.
– [ADVANCED YOU] .
Finally.
– [THE RULES ARE SIMPLE]
Silence total.
– [The first to reach the summit and retrieve their team's flag will win for their team, qualifying them for the next round. But beware, only one of the two representing the team can return, winner or loser. Sorry! And the white flag can only save one of the five losers. Give in or fight, the choice is yours. The reward will be a wish. Good luck!]
A shiver runs through the crowd.
which made her laugh
– [THE SECOND… CAN GIVE UP]
A laugh.
– [OR CONTINUE TO FALL]
What can I say, they always surprise us.
– [THE ABSOLUTE FIRST WINS EVERYTHING]
Their eyes are shining.
Money, life, dreams.
This is my chance
The smile widens.
- [ HAVE FUN ]
Then she disappeared, leaving the drones to disperse and return to their positions.
We advance, slowly, the first steps touched the spikes.
Hesitant.
His hands are trembling.
The feet seek balance in this gap.
I was in the lead behind Jae.
Five steps.
Nothing.
Ten.
The ground already seemed far away.
CRACK!
A noise.
click
I squinted, but nothing seemed to happen.
The march continues, delicate.
Then another one.
CRACKKKKKKK!
Then another one.
Regular interval.
– What's going on?
But it was too late before the cries reached me.
– THE STEPS!
They fell one by one.
glides,
The markets are receding beneath our feet.
I saw A-09 crash to the ground
– RUN
I was yelling
Clack!
But my foot misses and falls into the void.
My body is swaying.
– NO-
I fall, and higher up I watch Jae follow.
– are we really going to die like this?
My head hits the ground.
CRACK
Total darkness, I felt my body break but the pain was no longer there.
A second one.
My eyes open
My body… My body is intact, I even find myself on my pike.
Alive.
My eyes widen.
- …What-
He screams.
– WALK, MOVE!
Shit .
The thread falls again into the void.
– I have… I have—
I feel the wind in my body.
Is this a vision before death?
Again.
Again.
Always.
I strike the ground.
I look at the sky and my vision turns red.
This one is longer
– ….
I feel my body draining of blood; the pain is so great that I cannot express it.
I smile slightly.
And watch Jae crash into me.
– …I am dead.
Black, and my eyes open again.
– …RUN .
Sans excitations
I pushed Jae forward
My body was moving on its own
I whisper.
- Sorry.
But I don't think so.
Up.
The summit is still a long way off.
I missed a fall after my death, but it's getting closer.
– …it breaks down faster than expected.
My voice is low.
– faster.
Shit
My foot touched the void