02 / a strange game

                                                                                                       "Hello! Hey, are any of you weirdos gonna bother talking to me?" Yoo-mi demanded, quickly growing upset as she sat through the otherwise awkward and quiet limo ride. She didn't run away from her home and responsibilities just to end up in even more shit. "You gave me lots of money... you better not expect me to do anything weird or sexual afterwards. I... I have a knife and I'm not afraid to use it."

                                                                                                         That, of course, was a blatant lie. But then again, Yoo-mi didn't know what kind of situation she had landed herself in. And so, Yoo-mi was trying to play it as safe as possible.

                                                                                                       "Fine. Play the silent treatment. I'll just be back here... sipping champagne," Yoo-mi huffed, reluctantly picking up the glass to take a sip. But she'd quickly realize that the champagne was fake, tipping the glass over only for nothing to spill out. It was just a fake plastic display, adding to Yoo-mi's confusion.

                                                                                                      "What the hell is going on?" Yoo-mi asks aloud, even more confused than before.

                                                                                                        But nevertheless, Yoo-mi decides to lean back in her seat and ultimately enjoy the ride. Her mind was racing with all sorts of thoughts, wondering just what she had gotten herself into. Had her desperation and impulsive nature landed her in serious trouble or what?

                                                                                                        Yoo-mi wasn't sure how much time had passed before the limo would officially stop, signaling that she had arrived at her destination. No longer would Yoo-mi have to wonder. She was about to find out exactly what was going on.

                                                                                                      She stepped out of the limo and made it towards a tall building which held a red glow around it. "Stage 1," Yoo-mi reads aloud, slowly walking onto the red carpet which led straight to the very entrance. 

                                                                                                      Yoo-mi was waiting for someone to jump out with a camera crew and tell her this was all some sort of elaborate prank. But that never came and so, Yoo-mi walked all the way inside to see exactly what was going on.

                                                                                                      The woman was rendered speechless when she walked inside of a large theatre, looking like something straight out of a novel or even a movie (no pun intended). Rows of seats led all the way to the stage and Yoo-mi could hear a projector running in the distance, almost as though an actual movie was playing. And yet there was no movie on the large screen.

                                                                                                       Yoo-mi looked around, waiting to see if she would find someone else. But she was completely alone. However, the hairs on the back of her neck stood straight up and she couldn't seem to shake the feeling that she was being watched. Yoo-mi looks behind her, wondering if she should try to make a run for it.

                                                                                                       But then she thinks about the life she had left behind, how miserable and alone she was. How trapped she was with her family. Yoo-mi couldn't go back now - she needed to keep going.

                                                                                                       And so, Yoo-mi takes a deep breath before she walked straight towards the stage. It'd be there that her eyes first land on a red envelope, along with stacks of money and seven cards. There had originally been nine but two of them had already been taken. Yoo-mi decided to focus on the envelope first, opening it up to see what was inside.

                                                                                                     It was a singular note with a bunch of rules typed there. It was all so neat and precise in a way that unnerved her. Everything about this place was so neat and perfect in a way that was more haunting than comforting.

                                                                                                    Hello, and welcome to The 9 Show.

                                                                                                    This show doesn't require any skills or previously acquired knowledge.

                                                                                                     All that we ask of you is the time you were willing to throw away.

                                                                                                    All necessary food and accommodations will be provided to participants, and the available prize money will accumulate as time passes.

                                                                                                    When the allotted time is over, the show will end itself automatically.

                                                                                                    In the case that any participant expires during the process, the show will immediately come to an end then, regardless of how much time may remain.

                                                                                                    Therefore we ask that you pay special attention to your safety.

                                                                                                    If you do not wish to participate, please take the cab fare from the table and exit the premises.

                                                                                                   However, if you do wish to continue with the show, please select one of the numbered cards.

                                                                                                  You may then step into and through the drapes.

                                                                                                   Yoo-mi already knew that she wasn't going to be going back home. She'd play this game and stick it out until the end. Greed took over and she wanted to win the prize money. If she got more than enough, she'd finally be able to leave her parents' grasp and start a life of her own.

                                                                                                 Sure, the warning about safety and the eerie use of the word expires was chilling. But Yoo-mi didn't think it could possibly be that serious. Just how dangerous could this game show possibly be?

                                                                                                 And so, Yoo-mi looked at all the cards before grabbing the one with 8 printed on it. That was the first number that had come to mind, seeing as she had seen it over and over again today. After grabbing the card, Yoo-mi moved forward and brushed past the crimson-colored drapes to see what lied beyond.

                                                                                                Yoo-mi rushed up the stairs, pushing past the already opened double doors where she was immediately confronted by a bright light. Yoo-mi covers her eyes for a moment as she tries to adjust to the light but once she had, she'd be amazed at what she saw.

                                                                                               The first thing her eyes land on is the large clock ticking second by second, along with a timer underneath it. Twenty-four hours were on the timer, quickly counting down. Yoo-mi looked around to see that there was a whole set up, resembling some sort of playground. There was a swing set, merry go round, carousel, a slide, and a pool that also came with a slide. However, the pool wasn't filled with water - something Yoo-mi made sure to find out herself by peering down.

                                                                                               The double doors suddenly closed shut, officially keeping her inside. Although Yoo-mi jumps at the noise, she decides to keep on exploring. If she was going to be here for a while, Yoo-mi might as well know exactly where she was staying.

                                                                                              Yoo-mi felt like a little girl again as she sat down on one of the swings, slowly swinging back and forth. As she did so, she continued to look around. She saw displays of fake food, mannequins modeling clothes behind a window, outdoor lounge chairs, etc. 

                                                                                            "What the hell is this place?" Yoo-mi wondered aloud, soon hopping off the swing when she noticed the large set of stairs - nine levels to be exact. She then glanced down at the card in her hand, wondering if that was what the 8 was for. "Shit, maybe I should've grabbed another number."

                                                                                             Nevertheless, Yoo-mi went up eight flights of stairs - each flight leaving her more exhausted than the last. She hadn't walked this much in her entire life, but Yoo-mi only hoped that her room would be a lot nicer, looking forward to collapsing on her bed and sleeping right then and there. So when she approached the door marked 8F, she'd unlock the door with her card and walk right in.

                                                                                          But unfortunately for her, there wouldn't be a large bed for her to lay on. The room was large and spacious but empty, making Yoo-mi lean against the wall in frustration. She was exhausted, her breaths labored and her legs feeling as though they were on fire. By chance, Yoo-mi glanced up and her eyes locked onto a surveillance camera watching her.

                                                                                            Yoo-mi jolts up in an instant, that feeling of being watched coming back in full force. She knew she hadn't been crazy. Although someone wasn't physically watching her, someone or many people were watching her behind a lens. Yoo-mi forces herself to look away, realizing there was nothing she could do. Yoo-mi had already agreed to this and she couldn't turn away now.

                                                                                            The window was large but as Yoo-mi walked closer, she realized that the view wasn't real. It was some kind of projection, giving off the illusion that she was overlooking the city. Yoo-mi then looked over at a scoreboard above a furnace or fireplace of some kind, seeing the number 0 glowing in red. She also noticed a phone beside it, making her wonder what it was for. Yoo-mi had a feeling she couldn't call friends and family back home so just who was she meant to call? The ones running this game?

                                                                                           But just as Yoo-mi moved closer, the door to the furnace suddenly opened and Yoo-mi jumped back in fright. There was no doubt in Yoo-mi's mind that the asshole watching through the camera had a good laugh out of that.

                                                                                           Yoo-mi then approached the now opened furnace, looking inside and seeing that the inside was illuminated by a light. But it wasn't empty. Folded white clothes were there - the number 8 printed on them - along with white shoes. She had some sort of suit, although when Yoo-mi picked it up, she'd realize that it didn't even have any pockets.

                                                                                          "What kind of suit doesn't have pockets?" Yoo-mi scoffs.

                                                                                            She sets the clothes down to the side for now, focusing on the little rule book that had come with it. Yoo-mi then opened it up, beginning to read out the rules so she could see what more needed to be said.

                                                                                           "Please hand in all your clothes, accessories, and all other personal items you may possess. Then we request that you please change into the uniform we have provided. You can keep an eye on the accumulated prize money by checking the scoreboard," Yoo-mi read aloud. "Food and shelter will be provided for free. You can access the intercom to buy anything else you may need. However, the price of any purchased items will be deducted from your individual prize money at a special rate. Items that you intend to use outside your room can be purchased in the square. All participants are required to remain in their rooms from midnight until 8:00 a.m. You are not allowed to block the cameras. Violating any rule will deduct half of the individual's prize money. And the show begins at midnight."

                                                                                               Realizing that it was getting late, Yoo-mi hurriedly changed out of her clothes and put on the suit before tossing her clothes inside of the apartment. Now adorned in her uniform, Yoo-mi sat and watched with bated breath as the compartment closed shut and any trace of her old life seemingly disappeared.

                                                                                               Once midnight arrived and the game officially begun, Yoo-mi watched the scoreboard changed from 0 to 340,000. Yoo-mi's jaw dropped, realizing she hadn't seen that money in her own account in such a long time. And it was all hers. A minute later, Yoo-mi let out an excited squeal when the money doubled, now showing to be 680,000. It seemed to be doubling by the minute, a fact that'd be proven when the number increased to 1,020,000.

                                                                                               "1,020,000," Yoo-mi breathed, approaching the scoreboard with a smile. "Holy shit. Joining this show was the best decision I ever made."

                                                                                                And to think she almost turned back around and went back home. Yoo-mi wasn't sure how long she was going to stay for but she already knew that she was going to make the most of her time there. And so, she went straight to the phone and pressed it close to her ear.

                                                                                              "Um, excuse me. I need a mattress with a pillow and a blanket. Please," Yoo-mi remarked, noticing the price flash onto the screen. Although it was a lot, Yoo-mi bought it anyway. She felt a little more confident, given the fact that she was earning so much money every minute.

                                                                                                It probably wouldn't be smart to be so careless. But Yoo-mi would worry about that later. For now, she had a couple more things to ask for.

                                                                                                Yoo-mi ended up buying herself a mini toilet with toilet tissue as well - realizing that she had to go and pee. Maybe it was the spoiled rich girl in her but she couldn't simply pee in a corner - it was bad enough that she had so many cameras watching her. The least she could do was pee with a little dignity.

                                                                                                When Yoo-mi had finally settled into her bed, she looked out of the window with the fake view - feeling her eyelids growing heavier and heavier. Today had been a long and exhausting day, one which seemed to be ending on a high note. Just last night, Yoo-mi thought that her future was dark and bleak. But now, it had never looked brighter.

                                                                                                Feeling all too hopeful for tomorrow, Yoo-mi got comfortable before closing her eyes - eventually drifting off to sleep.

( ♾️🔫💵)

word count: 2225
notes: yoo-mi will meet the others (including her future boo) in the next chapter!!!