C H A M P I O N     O F     D E A T H

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EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE PRESSING DOWN ON HER MORE -- NOW THAT SHE KNEW SOMEONE IN CHARGE WAS WATCHING OUT FOR HER, AND THAT HE WAS BENDING THE RULES FOR HER. Sae-bom didn't know if she counted that as lucky or if it was a bad thing, all she knew that if anything happened, he would most likely be there. She didn't think she deserved it after everything she's done prior to inside the games.

The sound of her footsteps echoed like a heartbeat in a hollow chest as Sae-bom followed the guards through the dimly lit corridors of the facility.

     The sterile fluorescent lights buzzed faintly overhead, casting pale shadows on the stark grey walls that stretched endlessly around her. Her limbs moved mechanically, but her mind raced in panicked circles—memories clashing violently with uncertainty.

She should have said something. She should have demanded answers from the man behind the mask, yelled some more, maybe even fought for them. But she hadn't.

Because something about him, his voice, the way he held her wrists, the way his fingers lingered over her bruised knuckles, how he looked at her through that expressionless mask—it all felt too damn familiar.

Too much like him.

   In-ho.

The man she had loved more than anything. The man who vanished without a word, leaving behind only shadows and silence. The man who was her best friend, her everything, the one she vowed to find again—no matter what it cost. He was the reason she was still here, still breathing, still fighting.

Her stomach turned in knots. That couldn't have been him... could it?

The guards' voices cut through the noise in her head, "Keep up the pace," One of them ordered, not unkind, but impatient, as he pushed her arm forward more so she wouldn't lag behind them.

Sae-bom didn't answer. She couldn't, at least not now when her thoughts were consuming her.

Her mouth was dry. Her legs moved, but her soul felt detached, caught somewhere between fear and disbelief. If that was him—if—then what did that mean? Why hadn't he said anything? Why was he here, wearing that mask, letting this hell unfold around them?

And more importantly—was he watching her all along?

When the guards finally came to a stop before the large blue door, she blinked herself back to the present. The silence on the other side of the metal slab was oppressive, like the air had been sucked from the room.

One of the guards turned to her, the one who pushed her forward prior, and dropped his hold on her arm, "Go inside. Don't tell anyone about what happened."

Sae-bom's jaw clenched. Her eyes narrowed up at him, but she gave a sharp nod, understanding perfectly well what would happen if she did tell anyone what she just witnessed. The door creaked open with a loud metallic groan.

As she stepped back into the main dormitory—the place where sleep was shallow, food tasted like ash, and every breath came with the threat of being your last—the door slammed shut behind her with a heavy clang.

The room felt... wrong.

Tense. Heavy. The silence wasn't quiet, it was loaded, pressing down on her with a weight that almost buckled her knees. She touched the small silver chain around her neck—her sister's necklace, the one that always anchored her when things felt too far gone. Her fingers brushed the tiny pendant as her eyes scanned the sea of green tracksuits.

And then a familiar voice called out through the darkness of her worries, "Sae-bom!"

Her head snapped around at the sound of her name, trying to find the source and heart leaped into her throat. Soo-min.

Before she could say a word, he was sprinting toward her, skidding slightly on the floor as he rushed into her arms with a force that nearly knocked her over. His arms wrapped tightly around her, one hand pressing protectively against the back of her head as he crushed her against his chest.

"God," He whispered, voice cracking, as mouth was directly by her ear, and tangled his finger between her long locks, "You're okay. You're really okay..."

The knot in her chest loosened as she squeezed her arms around his waist, burying her face into the familiar fabric of his tracksuit. It wasn't In-ho, but for the first time in weeks, she felt safe. Even for just a second.

They pulled back slightly, his hand gently tilting her chin up with his thumb and forefinger. His eyes scanned her face, brows furrowed in worry, "You're not hurt?" He asked, voice low, "Are you sure? They didn't do anything to you?"

She shook her head, managing a faint smile, "I'm fine. Really." She forced calm into her voice for him, "I was just... taken for a moment. I'm okay now." But her heart wasn't. It wouldn't be until she saw—

"Sae-byeok," She gasped, her smile fading instantly, and her eyes frantically looked over Soo-min's face for answers, "Where's my sister? Is she—?" Her voice rose, thick with panic.

Soo-min's face softened, and he gently cupped her shoulder, "She's okay," He reassured quickly, "She's alive. We... we got separated after the game, but they brought us back here not long after." His voice faltered a little, "She's not doing great, though." He turned his head toward the corner of the room.

Sae-bom followed his gaze and her breath caught. There.

Sitting on her bunk, knees drawn to her chest, head resting silently on them, was Sae-byeok. Her sister's body looked smaller than usual, her back hunched like the world had dropped an unbearable weight on her shoulders. She hadn't even noticed Sae-bom enter.

Sae-bom didn't wait.

Her legs carried her across the room before her mind could catch up. Her footsteps were frantic, loud against the floor, but her sister didn't lift her head until Sae-bom dropped to her knees in front of the bunk and threw her arms around her.

Sae-byeok flinched hard at first, her entire body stiffening under the sudden contact. But then... she recognized the scent. The warmth. The rhythm of the heart beating against her cheek. She let go of her knees.

Her arms lifted, shaky, and wrapped slowly around her sister's back, squeezing tight. Her head dropped onto Sae-bom's shoulder, and the breath she let out was full of pain and exhaustion and unspoken relief.

"You're okay," Sae-bom whispered, tears brimming in her eyes, and bit back a relieved sob wanting to escape, "You're okay, you're okay, I've got you now kid..."

She pulled back slightly, using her shaky hand to brush back Sae-byeok's hair from her face, trying to see the damage—any damage, "Are you hurt? Are you—?"

"I'm alright Unnie," Her sister cut in, her voice hoarse and dry, her cheek leaning into her sister's hold, the only thing keeping her grounded, "Not hurt. Just..." She didn't finish. She didn't need to.

Soo-min walked over, standing behind them with his arms crossed over his chest, his expression tight but quiet. Sae-bom looked at him, then back at her sister, and something shifted in her chest.

"Where's that new friend you made? Player 240 right?" She asked, voice suddenly shaking, not realising what had happened just yet but from the dreadful look on her sister's face she knew, "She was with you, wasn't she?"

Sae-byeok didn't answer. Her silence said everything, and Sae-bom's heart cracked.

Her arms instinctively wrapped around her sister again, and she held her tight, shielding her from the world as Soo-min sat down beside them, resting his elbows on his knees, head bowed. She didn't say anything more.

She just held her little sister, wishing she could promise they were almost out, that this would end soon. But there were more games. More bodies. More pain.

And somewhere in this twisted place... the man behind the mask was watching. Maybe even protecting. But whether he was the man she remembered—or just a ghost of whom she thought it was—was something Sae-bom wasn't ready to face just yet.

Not until they were all free. Not until the masks were off. Not until the truth came crashing out of the dark.

Sae-byeok was silent for a long time, curled tightly in her sister's arms like she was trying to will herself invisible. Her face was half-hidden in Sae-bom's shoulder, and the older girl held her close, one arm cradling her younger sister protectively, her other hand gently smoothing down her tangled hair.

But then Sae-byeok's voice broke the quiet. Small. Flat, "Who... who else didn't make it?"

Her breath caught slightly at the end of the question. Sae-bom felt the way her sister's fingers clenched around the fabric of her tracksuit, as if bracing herself.

Sae-bom didn't answer. Not because she didn't know. But because she did know who would have the answers. Her time with the Frontman only gave her little hope that everyone survived.

Her eyes slowly shifted to Soo-min, who stood just behind them. His face was drawn tight, eyes already heavy with the answer. He didn't speak right away—didn't move. He didn't have to. The truth was written all over his face.

"Soo-min?" Sae-bom whispered, her voice rough and cracking around the edges. Her arms still encircled her sister as she turned her head to look at hi, "Who..." She trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.

Soo-min bent down beside them, his movements slow, reverent. Like the weight of the truth itself demanded he speak it on their level—close and grounded. He reached out and gently took Sae-bom's free hand in his. His fingers were trembling, but the grip was firm, grounding her when the floor beneath her soul threatened to crack.

He met her gaze, and something in his eyes—the grief, the guilt, the helplessness—made her stomach sink before he even spoke, "They didn't make it."

Sae-bom blinked slowly, as though she hadn't heard him right, "Who?" She rasped, her voice hoarse, barely audible.

Soo-min's voice was quiet, "Ali... and the old man."

The names felt like blunt-force trauma. Sae-bom felt the air leave her lungs all at once. Her throat closed. She couldn't move, couldn't think—only feel the ache bloom violently in her chest like a knife twisting behind her ribs.

"No," She whispered, her whole body stiffening. Not Ali. Not the old man.

Not the boy who smiled with pure-hearted trust and gave his food away. Not the man who reminded her of a grandfather she never had, whose eyes always twinkled with a kind of childlike wisdom. Not them.

Tears burned behind her eyes, but she held them back, biting down on her trembling bottom lip so hard it nearly broke skin. She couldn't cry. Not here. Not now. Not when her sister—already halfway broken—was still leaning against her, drawing strength from her.

She had to be strong. For sister, for her friends, and most of all for herself. But the ache was unbearable.

Soo-min seemed to sense it. He brought her hand up gently, placing it against his cheek, his skin warm and scratchy against her calloused palm. He closed his eyes and leaned into her touch, his own breath faltering.

Then he turned his head slightly, lips brushing a soft kiss against her open palm. A gesture that meant more than words. A comfort. A promise. And she needed it—God, she needed it because her entire soul felt like it was caving in.

Her shoulders shook. She clenched her eyes shut, pressing her forehead to Sae-byeok's temple, needing her sister's nearness just as much as the girl needed hers.

But when she opened her eyes again, her gaze drifted across the room. She saw Gi-hun sitting quietly against the far wall, his expression distant, his eyes haunted. Alive.

Sae-bom's breath hitched in relief. At least he made it. But next to him... sat Sang-woo.

His body was still. His arms rested on his knees, eyes staring ahead blankly. But when she looked closer, she saw it. How his jaw clenched too tightly, how his knuckles were white, how his whole posture screamed containment. Not grief. Not remorse. Just restraint.

She hated the way her heart reacted to seeing him. The way it still twisted at the sight of him, like a bitter echo of something that once was beautiful.

They had shared something once. Something real. Something raw. But that version of him was gone now. And Sae-bom could see the blood on his hands from across the room.

Her gaze locked with his. For a long moment, neither of them looked away.

The air between them crackled, not with longing, but with all the unspoken things. The betrayal. The rage. The grief. The history.

And somewhere in his stare, she saw it—the truth. He had done it. He had let Ali die. Maybe even tricked him. Manipulated him.

The tears that slipped down Sae-bom's cheek came silent and slow, streaking her face in grief she couldn't vocalize. Not here. Not with Sae-byeok beside her.

So she wiped them away swiftly with the back of her hand before anyone could see them, then pressed a gentle kiss to her sister's forehead and leaned her head against hers.

Soo-min rested his hand gently on her back, a quiet strength beside her. They sat like that, three souls trying to find something solid to hold onto in a collapsing world.

Sae-bom closed her eyes. She tried not to think of Ali's bright smile. The old man's laugh. The way they had made this nightmare feel just a little less cold with the rest of the people she cares about.

But she couldn't stop the quiet whisper in the back of her mind. How many more would they lose before the end? And would she even recognize herself if she made it there?

She didn't even feel like eating after everything that she's been told. She couldn't blame her sister if she didn't want to eat the steamed potato they were given as food for the day. She felt like an empty shell now, not seeing any point in eating when it made her sick to her stomach knowing what had happened while she was safe and getting cared for.

They all moved to where Gi-hun was, and gave him company now. Sae-bom had an arm wrapped around his forearm, and rested the side of her head against his shoulder, as they both held onto their food not really eating it.

Soo-min was with her sister, and comforting her still which Sae-bom was thankful for. Her heart clenched every time she heard a small sniffle come from Sae-byeok, and wished she could take every bit of what she saw away from her.

"Don't make a big deal out of it." Sang-woo's low voice caught the duo's attention, making Sae-bom lift her head up from Gi-hun's shoulder as the male continued talking, "He was just an old man you knew for a few days."

She gave him an incredulous look, and gritted her teeth at how emotionless he was being, "Sang-woo, that old man was still a human. That old man was the one who got us through the third game." She sneered at him, voice growing shaky, "So don't you dare sit there and say Gi-hun shouldn't make a big deal about it. He has every right to feel the way he is, no matter how long they knew each other."

Gi-hun gave her arm a firm squeeze in thanks, while Sang-woo sighed heavily and motioned to a player across the room, "See that guy there? His partner was his wife." He told them, and their faces dropped hearing the news, Player 69, being the one whom experienced that.

Player 69 now came walking down from his spot on the bed stairs, looking hopeless and defeated with himself, "Let...let's just stop here. I can't keep doing this, I can't..." His voice was getting choked up from his tears, and he sobs softly, "We can stop if more than half of us agree. If nine of us agree, we can get out of here. Don't any of you want to leave this horrible place? Anyone who wants to go, stand up. Let's get out of here."

No one made any movement to stand up, causing the male to break down more into cries and whimpers. Sae-bom felt sorry for the guy, she really did, but she couldn't leave yet knowing she and her sister still needed that money for their mother, but also because Sae-bom needed to find out who exactly was hiding behind that black mask.

"How can you call yourselves human?" He shouts in a fit of rage, his crying growing louder and more aggressive, "Can you really continue with this insanity? Just for that money? You killed the person you were closest to in this place, and you're fine with that? Just to get the money?"

They all listened to him ranting, until Sang-woo stood up from his spot and took a brave step forward, "And what if we get out? You think your wife will stop being dead if we go home? Will you be forgiven for letting her get killed? If you're that tormented, how come you came back alive?"

He walked all the way up to him, altering Sae-bom as she watched Sang-woo grab the male by his collar in between his fists, "You should've been the one who died in there instead of her." He pointed up at the money bank above them, "See that? That's not just the cost of your wife. It's the cost of every person who's been in here. And you wanna go and leave? You wanna start from the beginning again?"

He shakes the male's figure who cries helplessly and listens to what was being snapped at him, "Are you ready to live like that? Starting over again from nothing with that guilt?" He pushed aside Player 69, and now spoke to everyone in the room, "And is everybody here ready to do that as well? Go ahead, stand up! Let's see who thinks they are. Get up and get out of here!"

Player 69's sobs were still heard even over Sang-woo's yelling, but once more no one stood up after hearing his speech. They all took in what was being said, and knew they were too far in to turn back now, not after everything they have been through to get to where they were currently.

Sae-bom caught Sang-woo's eyes as he made his way back to his spot, and the tense and uncomfortable atmosphere in the room only got worse. She knew not many were sleeping that night, herself included. But she hoped that her sister did, if Soo-min brought them both over to her, which he did.

She was right though. She didn't get much sleep, even with leaning on Soo-min, and her grumpy mood got worse when the familiar classical music played over the speakers, waking those up for the next game to start.

The doors at the front of the room suddenly opened, and out came four guards carrying a pink and black coffin for a body. Her heart dropped seeing that, and felt sick to her stomach at the figure of Player 69 hanging from a rope. She covered her sister's eyes by brining her into her shoulder, and Sae-byeok didn't question it, only holding tighter.

"Player 69, eliminated." The woman over the PA announced, breaking the eerie silence in the room of players, who watched the now dead male get carried out inside the coffin.

Digital trilling followed next, and the piggy bank lit up as more money was added to the amount. The crash prize went up, and the number of players went down to 18 left. The last remining ones left for the money prize.

"Attention, all players. The fifth game is about to begin." The woman over the PA announced once more, making some players stand up from their comfortable spots, "All players, follow the staff's instructions and swiftly make your way towards the game hall."

Sae-bom stood up also, Soo-min taking her sister with him this time as the older Kang sister was staring right up at the camera. Her stare was heavy, full of nothing but hatred and pain, and she watched as the lens zoomed in on her more, before she turned away to follow the rest of her group. Well what was left of it.

They were lead through the colourful stair maze again, something that she was sick of seeing from the amount of times she's been walking along them and made sure her sister was in her eyesight at all times. She didn't want Sae-byeok to be alone without her again.

The guards opened a door when they had all come to a stop near the end of a pathway, and she followed behind her sister as they all walked inside the new game room. You could easily get lost in here, Sae-bom thought to herself and stood beside Soo-min, her sibling on her other side.

Gi-hun and Sang-woo were in front of them, giving Sae-bom a view of the two she cared about also. Her eyes moved to the mannequins all in a circled line at the end of the white stairs, 18 of them carrying a pink vest with number of players still alive.

"Welcome, players, to the fifth game." The PA announced over the speakers, the guards all station around the room with their guns ready if needed, "Before we begin, please make your way down the steps, and choose one of the mannequins that you see presented before you. Once you've chosen, take the corresponding vest. They are numbered 1 through to 18."

No one moved to pick up a vest. Sae-bom felt more nervous than ever, not knowing what to do. She knew being first wasn't a good idea, considering they had no idea what the next game is, but being last might not be the best either. She had to figure something out fast, so she can keep her sister safe.

Before she could think anymore, Soo-min was gently grabbing her wrist and Sae-byeok's in his hands, to pull them both down with him. The sisters shared a confused glance, as he directed them to the end of the mannequins for some reason, but neither questioned his motive.

He motioned to the three he stopped at, and dropped their wrists to pick up the number 17 vest, "It's best if we stay near the end, as we don't know what the next game is." He told them in a quiet tone, and slipped on his vest as the other players moved around them.

Sae-bom watched her sister grab the 16 vest and place it on, making her pick up the 15 one next. She clipped it over her chest, and inhaled heavily to calm her nerves down. She turned around to motion at Gi-hun, silently telling him to pick the last vest so he could be with them in the next game.

She just hoped she was making the right decision, because if not, it would cost not just her life, but her sisters, Soo-min's, Gi-hun's and Sang-woo's also. She would rather sacrifice herself before letting that happen, not knowing most of the VIP's watching from their special room have all bet on her to win.

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❪ ✏️ ❫ 𝚆𝙾𝚁𝙳𝚂 : 3973
─►☆ AUTHOR'S NOTE :
another update who cheered? i know i did whahaaahah. im trying to update as much as i can while im free and having a break from my studies and also because i wanna get to s2 before s3 comes out which is pretty soon gang so im both excited and not ready for squid game to end 😔😔

very excited to write sae-bom in s2 like she won't be much different from her character now but she will have a lot of TRAUMA and be a lot more careless and badass since she won't have to... yk worry as much and also because her future (our) husband is there 😼

and yesss my pookie soo-min is alive don't worry i won't kill him off... yet (joking)

anywaysss you all know the drill, vote,
comment, ect mwah <33