The green tracksuit
That night, curiosity got the better of her. She dialed the number.
The voice on the other end was smooth and emotionless. “Do you consent to participate in our game?”
“Yes,” she said, her voice trembling.
Moments after hanging up, she felt a sharp sting on her neck. Darkness swallowed her.
When Sooyoung woke up, she was lying on a cot in a massive room filled with rows of identical beds. The walls were stark and white, the air cold and sterile. Around her were hundreds of people, all dressed in identical green tracksuits. She glanced down at herself and saw the number “308” printed on her chest.
“What the…?”
Disoriented, she climbed out of the cot, her eyes scanning the room. The murmurs of confusion among the other participants echoed her own. But then she froze.
There, sitting on a cot across the room, was a face she’d recognize anywhere. His cat-like eyes, greasy bob, and infuriating smirk were impossible to miss.
“Nam-Gyu,” she whispered.
Player 124.
As if sensing her gaze, he turned, his grin widening when he saw her.
“Well, well,” he said, standing up and spreading his arms. “Looks like the rats are in the same maze now, huh?”