Chapter Text
Thanos was jolted awake by a bright, intense light. Immediately afterward, a blaring piece of classical music assaulted his ears, giving him a headache. On top of that, the stench of blood, sweat, and fear filled his nostrils.
Which means...
Fuck, I'm still here... in this hell.
For a moment, he'd thought he'd only dreamed it all and was back home in his own bed, which wouldn't have given him a backache.
But whatever, he'd come here voluntarily and wanted to keep playing. He wanted to win. He desperately needed the money, just like everyone else here.
Thanos grumbled in annoyance and blinked open his eyes. "Shit..." The other players weren't happy either. One by one, they began to wake up and stretch.
Today was the third game. Only 255 players remained. Hopefully, more people would die this time than in yesterday's game. The more dead, the more money.
Thanos sat up heavily and stretched his limbs. He still felt a painful throbbing in several places from when the old man, player 1, had beaten him up and then almost strangled him to death.
That fucking bastard... Thinks he has to play the hero here.
Thanos got out of bed and looked around for a specific person he couldn't spot among the crowd. He glanced at the bed above him.
Is he still asleep?
Thanos grasped the cold metal rungs and climbed up the ladder. At the top, he found him indeed asleep;
Kim Nam-gyu was fast asleep, undisturbed by the noises around him.
He had met him here in the Games and found out that they had both been scammed by the crypto influencer MG Coin and were now deeply in debt.
He had immediately taken a liking to the younger man, which is why he had decided to team up with him.
Thanos shook him by the shoulder.
"Hey, wake up. It's morning."
Nam-gyu grumbled and buried his face deeper in the pillow. "Not yet..."
The older man grinned. "Are you always such a sleepyhead, Nam-su?"
"Gyuuuu..." he corrected, slightly annoyed.
Thanos sighed. "Yeah, whatever. Get up now, or do you wanna wait 'till those masked fuckers get ya out?"
Finally, Nam-gyu began to sit up slowly. Sleepily, he rubbed his eyes and frowned at the older man.
Thanos was reluctant to admit it, but in a way, this boy was cute. Like that little habit of tucking his hands under his sleeves. Or the way he looked at him with those black, cat-like eyes. And his smile—it was absolutely adorable.
Thanos quickly banished those thoughts as he hurried back down the ladder. Now wasn't the time or place for little crushes. He had a clear goal in mind, and he couldn't afford to be distracted.
Gradually, all the players gathered in the center of the dorm, including his teammates Se-mi, Min-su, and his fanboy Gyeong-su, whose eyes lit up with delight as Thanos joined them.
"Yo, gang!" He wrapped his arms around Se-mi and Min-su, pulling them closer. "Are you ready for the next game?!"
Se-mi sighed and silently shook off his arm.
"Absolutely!" Gyeong-su replied with enthusiasm. "Team Thanos, onward for victory!" He pumped his fist in the air, and Thanos did the same.
"You two are really annoying..." Se-mi muttered, folding her arms. "Talking bout annoying, where's that idiot? He's usually always following you around like a puppy."
Just as Thanos was about to reply, that he should be here any minute, Nam-gyu pushed past him and scolws at Player 380 with a menacing glint in his eye.
"When are you finally going to shut your fucking mouth?"
Apparently, he hadn't missed Se-mi's comment. Thanos quickly pulled Nam-gyu toward him to prevent a potential argument. "Hey, hey, bro! Chill out!"
He still didn't quite understand why the two of them couldn't stand each other. But he would worry about that later, because at that moment the automatic door opened and the pink guards entered.
The murmur of voices immediately died down, and all heads turned expectantly.
Thanos had a wide, devilish grin on his face and could hardly wait for the next game.
Shortly afterward, everyone was led through the staircase labyrinth, as usual. As they trudged slowly along in a line, Thanos took out his cross necklace and opened it.
Grinning with delight, he examined the colored pills inside. He quickly popped one into his mouth and chewed it.
Then he felt a hand on his shoulder, and Nam-gyu appeared beside him.
"Hyung, what did you take there?" He looked curiously at the necklace. Thanos quickly hid it under his jacket. "Nothin'."
Nam-gyu raised an eyebrow skeptically. "I saw you put something in your mouth—"
"I'll tell ya later, 'kay?" Thanos interrupted sharply. He hadn't thought the boy was so perceptive.
A little later, the players entered a large, circular room with a platform in the center. There were also many colored doors along the wall.
Thanos still couldn't figure out what the next game could be.
A giant platform? Doors?
As he mentally replayed all the children's games he'd played as a kid, the voice came over the speakers again:
"Welcome to the third game. The game you will be playing today is Mingle."
Thanos jumped up and down excitedly. "Everybody mingle! This is gonna be fun, right guys?!"
Nam-gyu grinned uncertainly, confused by the rapper's sudden euphoria. "Uh... yeah." The rest of the team, however, remained unimpressed.
The pill was taking effect. Thanos felt so lighthearted and carefree. It was as if he were walking on clouds.
"I will now explain the rules," the female voice continued. "All players will step onto the platform in the center of the arena. Once the game begins, the platform will spin. Shortly after, a number will be called out. You must then form a group that matches this number, enter one of the surrounding rooms, and close the door within 30 seconds, or be eliminated."
After the rules were explained, all the players gathered on the platform. The game started a few seconds later, and the platform began to spin while cheerful children's music played. Thanos grinned with delight and couldn't help but dance along.
The fun came to an abrupt end when the spinning platform stopped and a number was called out:
"Ten!"
Now, exactly ten people had to disappear into one of the rooms before the time ran out.
Rather quickly, Thanos's group found five more players and managed to escape to safety just in time.
Thanos laughed with delight as the door closed behind them. "Whoa, that was close, dude!"
The other players were breathing heavily, as if they had just run a marathon, and gave the rapper a few bewildered looks.
Thanos rolled his eyes in amusement. "Hey, come on! The game's super easy!"
Se-mi stared at him wearily. "Just shut up..."
"Hyung, look!" Nam-gyu's noticeably friendlier voice caught Thanos's attention. The younger man stood by the door, peering through the small crack. Outside, the deafening shooting of machine guns could be heard.
Thanos pushed Nam-gyu aside and glanced outside at the gruesome scene.
Masked guards were killing the players who hadn't managed to escape into a room. Blood sprayed everywhere, and people fell lifeless to the ground.
"Wow..."
"What...is happening...?" he heard Gyeong-su ask fearfully behind him.
"They're all being gunned down!" Thanos replied with a grin.
"Stop grinning like an idiot," Se-mi snapped suddenly. "Next time, we might get it!"
Nam-gyu turned abruptly to her and stared at her hostilely. "Who the fuck asked you?"
Se-mi was about to reply when the doors unlocked again.
"Let's go, team!" Thanos exclaimed excitedly, striding quickly back onto the platform. The floor was smeared with numerous bloodstains, but the bodies were nowhere to be seen.
Nam-gyu stood close beside him. "What do you think the next number will be?"
Thanos pondered as the platform began to move again. "Hmm... I don't know. I hope it's five, then we won't have to look for any more people."
Nam-gyu shoved his hands into the sleeves of his jacket.
"And what if it's less than five?" His voice sounded worried.
Before Thanos could answer, the platform stopped abruptly, catching Nam-gyu off guard. He stumbled and managed to grab hold of Thanos just in time before he would have crashed face-first to the ground.
"Sorry..." he heard him mutter sheepishly, as the next number was already being called out.
"Four!"
Shit. Now what? Their group consisted of five people. He'd have to leave someone behind.
Thanos's gaze shifted back and forth between Min-su and Gyeong-su. He definitely wouldn't abandon Nam-gyu. He didn't want to kick Se-mi off the team either. She'd surely still be useful.
Min-su stared at him fearfully, he was even able to see his lips trembling in the flickering light.
Gyeong-su forced a nervous yet pleading smile.
Thanos had to make a decision now. Time was running out.
"Gyeong-su! You're out!"
With tremendous force, he kicked Gyeong-su right in the chest, sending him crashing backward to the ground before he could react.
"Let's goooo!!" he cheered to the rest of his team.
"G-Gyeong-su...!" Min-su gasped in shock and tried to help his former teammate to his feet, but Se-mi grabbed his arm and pulled him along.
The group of four rushed into a room, and Se-mi slammed the door shut behind them. She glared at Thanos.
Thanos raised his hands defensively.
"What?"
"Was that really necessary?"
"Did you had a better plan?"
Nam-gyu peered curiously through the crack in the door again. Min-su, standing next to him, gently touching his shoulder.
"H-Hey, Nam-gyu, can you see what happened to Gyeong-su...?"
Nam-gyu turned to the shorter man and delivered a hard punch to his chest.
"Min-su, you fucker!" Nam-gyu hissed, staring menacingly at him. "Talk to me like I'm you're friend again, you're the next one getting kicked off the team, got it?"
Thanos paused, suddenly realizing what he had done.
Oh fucking hell...
"Wait a sec!" he exclaimed, stretching out both arms, his gaze darting nervously around the cramped space.
Nam-gyu turned away from the terrified Min-su and looked at Thanos.
"Where did you leave my boy Gyeong-su?" Thanos looked into the stunned faces of his team.
"Tell me, where is he?" he urged when there was no answer.
Then the deafening gunfire and the panicked screams of the players erupted. Thanos clutched his head in horror. He shoved Nam-gyu aside, who was blocking the door, and peered through the crack with wide, terrified eyes.
"Shit... Gyeong-suuuuu!!" he roared.
People were running around frantically, desperately trying to escape the armed, masked men.
But there was no sign of Gyeong-su in the chaos. Had he perhaps made it out after all?
A few minutes later, when the doors unlocked again, Thanos's drugged-up brain had already forgotten the loss of his teammate, and he skipped gleefully out of the room.
"Come on, guys! We're going to win this game! Woohoo!!"
Nam-gyu giggled, amused, and imitated Thanos's howl of triumph.
"What is wrong with this guy...?" Se-mi muttered to Min-su, her eyes fixed on the rapper.
Once all the players were back on the platform, and the silly music started playing, Thanos grabbed Nam-gyu's arm and danced with him in a circle.
The younger player laughed and mimicked his silly moves.
The rest of the team (and some other players) watched the two with puzzled looks, which Thanos and Nam-gyu barely noticed.
Seconds later, the platform jerked to a halt and the next number was called out.
"Three!"
Since the group was now four, they had to leave someone behind again.
This time, the decision was harder for Thanos than before, as he didn't want to get rid of either Se-mi or Min-su.
"Who do we take with us?" Nam-gyu's excited voice rose above the noise of the other players. Thanos glanced briefly at the younger players before turning to Se-mi and Min-su and loudly announced:
"Rock, paper, scissors!"
Min-su stared at him, shocked. The boy stood frozen before him.
Se-mi ignored the two and offered Min-su her open hand.
"Come on with me, Min-su!"
"The winner comes with us! Play rock, paper, scissors!" Thanos yelled.
The clock was ticking; they didn't have much time.
At first, he thought Min-su was frozen solid, since he hadn't moved an inch, but then he formed his fingers into a pair of scissors.
Se-mi slowly raised her head and stared at her friend in disappointment.
"Min-su threw scissors!" Nam-gyu announced, sounding as surprised as Thanos felt.
He hadn't thought the boy would actually have the guts.
"Min-su, you win!" he exclaimed, grabbing the younger boy's arm. "Come on, my boy!"
Nam-gyu hooked his arm around Min-su's left arm, and together they dragged him away from Se-mi, who watched him go, dismayed, still not moving from the spot.
"No..." Player 125 gasped, glancing behind his shoulder as he stumbled forward. "Se-mi...!"
Seconds later, the three of them stood panting in a room. Min-su was huddled in a corner, looking as if he were about to burst into tears. Although, he always looked like that.
Nam-gyu approached the shorter man with a wicked grin on his lips. "What's wrong?" he sneered. "Scared something's happened to that little bitch?"
Min-su remained silent, dazed, his body trembling slightly.
"We're better off without her anyway," Nam-gyu continued. "Right, hyung?"
Thanos paid no further attention to the two of them, finding it more interesting to peer through the door and watch the masked men shooting players.
The screams, the blood, the chaos—it was gruesome, yet utterly captivating.
The door opened as the guards finished disposing of the bodies. Thanos saw that Se-mi had also survived this round. Min-su glanced at her, a mixture of relief and guilt, but said nothing.
Nam-gyu clicked his tongue in annoyance and squinted.
"That bitch survived? Fucking hell..."
Despite this, Se-mi silently rejoined her team. Min-su didn't dare to look her in the eye.
It started just like the previous rounds. The players stood on the platform, it began to spin, the music played for a few seconds before stopping, and then a new number was called out.
"Six!"
Once again, his team was successful. They quickly found two more players and fled into one of the colorful rooms.
"How much longer is this damn game going to last?" Nam-gyu muttered, annoyed, as they stood on the platform again.
Thanos smirked when the voice in the speaker announced that this was the final round.
"Now you know."
One last time, the turntable jerked to a stop and called out the final number.
"Two!"
Thanos didn't have to think twice. He patted Nam-gyu on the back.
"Let's go!" he shouted excitedly and sprinted off, leaving Min-su standing there.
It was pure chaos. The players ran around the over the place in panic, everyone trying to get to safety as quickly as possible.
Thanos headed for a door, grabbed it, and opened it.
But before he went inside, he quickly looked back at Nam-gyu.
He had just been behind him, when another player violently pushed him to the ground.
Thanos's heart stopped in shock. "Shit!" he cursed and rushed towards Nam-gyu, who was just about to get up.
Swiftly, he grabbed the younger player by the wrist, pulled him up, and kicked the other two players, who were trying to enter the same room, aside with all his might.
First, he pushed Nam-gyu inside before he himself was safe and locked the door.
"You okay, dude?" he asked his friend, who looked at him with wide, terrified eyes.
"Y-yeah..." Nam-gyu murmured, trembling. "Fuck... I thought I was gonna die."
Both were breathing heavily. Nam-gyu leaned against the wall and pushed his hair back from his face.
Beads of sweat glistened on his forehead, and his cheeks were slightly flushed from the thrill of the game.
Thanos swallowed, trying to look away from this attractive guy, but he couldn't quite manage it.
Nam-gyu met his gaze, looking at him with those dark, mysterious eyes. A faint smile played on his lips.
"Hey, we beat the third game. We're a really good team, huh?"
Thanos forced a confident grin, ignoring the strange warmth in his chest, and gently nudged him with his shoulder.
"We're the best team, boy!"