Summary: After the brutal game, Player 222 (Jun-hee) collapsed. But when she woke up, she realized she was in a private room. She was shocked to see the Front Man taking care of her. One-shot only!
The brutal game had ended, but the air still crackled with suffocating fear.
Jun-hee (Player 222), her limbs screaming in protest. She pulled herself to one of the hard, empty beds. Her muscles throbbed with pain and her heart remained filled with icy dread. She slumped onto the thin mattress, and her breath came in ragged gasps. All she wanted was a moment to rest. But the pain wouldn't go away.
A strong wave of dizziness suddenly hit her. She tried to steady herself, but her hands found no purchase. And with a soft thud, she fell from the bed, hitting the cold concrete floor.
Concern began to spread through the exhausted players.
"Hey! Is she alright?" someone called out.
"Jun-hee!"
It was Jang Geum-ja, Player 149. Without hesitation, she was among the first to rush towards Player 222. The old lady quickly shuffled over, her brow furrowed with concern. She gently held Jun-hee's head, tilting it slightly to get a better look.
"What happened?" she pressed, her voice soft but insistent. "Is something wrong? Are you in pain? Please, just tell me." She looked closely at Jun-hee's face. She wanted to know if the young woman was okay.
The other players in the room, exhausted and filled with worry, slowly approached and gathered around. They were all curious and desperate to know what had happened to Player 222.
But just as they converged, a new presence entered the room. He wore a dark, imposing coat and a severe black geometric mask that hid his face. Behind him were five guards in pink jumpsuits. Their faces were covered by masks with the usual square and triangle designs. Their rigid posture was unsettling as they followed closely.
Player 149 remained still for a moment, then she carefully released Jun-hee and moved toward the gathered crowd. Her gaze was fixed on a man in a black coat who was standing suspiciously close to Player 222. She was confused about who he was and wondered if he could be trusted.
A sudden silence filled the room. No one knew who this man was, and his mysterious presence made everyone uncomfortable.
The man in black knelt beside Player 222. His movements were strangely gentle, almost reverent.
Through her fading vision, Player 222 saw his gloved hands reach for her. She saw how the man gently touched her right cheek, as if he were checking her condition. Suddenly, she felt him carefully lifting her. It wasn't the rough, unfeeling grip of the guards.
It was almost... tender.
As he gathered her into his arms, a raw, alarmed voice sliced through the silence.
"Hey, you!" The shout ripped from Seong Gi-hun, Player 456. His brow was furrowed with rage. His eyes were full of anger and bold disobedience, showing just how mad he was. "Don't you dare hurt her! She's already been through enough!"
The Front Man remained silent, his masked face betraying no emotion. He simply held Player 222. His gaze seemingly fixed on her, though she couldn't really tell through the dark, unreadable mask.
The guards raised their rifles with terrifying synchronization. The barrels pointed, not just at Gi-hun, but at the cluster of players who had dared to approach. A gasp rippled through the crowd. They quickly stepped back to put distance between themselves and the threat.
Player 222 was covered in darkness. The voices, the faces. The menacing glint of the gun barrels. It all went into a deep, dark emptiness. Her last conscious thought was the strange, unexpected warmth of the Front Man's arms.
Then, everything went black.
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The bright, quiet lights hummed as Jun-hee opened her eyes. The sharp pain she felt earlier was gone. Instead, she felt softness holding her. She found herself lying on a plush sofa, her body arranged in a comfortable position.
As she slowly pushed herself up and blinked, she realized the jacket and pants she was wearing were new. But her number 222 was still attached. Suddenly, she panicked. She felt a rush of worry as she quickly examined her body. Who dared to touch and change her clothes without her permission?
"Our female guards were the only ones who attended to you. Rest assured, your body hasn't been seen by any man."
The Front Man's familiar black mask came into view. He stood silently. She noticed his commanding figure, whose watchful gaze felt both intimidating and strangely observant.
"Are you feeling well, Player 222?" His voice was modulated and devoid of human warmth.
She swallowed, her throat dry. A wave of relief washed over her at his words.
"Y-Yes," she rasped, surprised by the honesty of her own response. "W-Where am I? What happened?"
"You're in one of our special guest rooms. This is a place where you can rest. You are safe here." he said, leaving her second question hanging unanswered in the air.
Jun-hee nodded slowly, but the assurance felt hollow. This nightmarish labyrinth offered no real safety. It was all an illusion! As long as she was trapped within these walls, she would never truly be safe.
The metallic click of the door brought her attention back. A circle-masked guard entered the room with a tray in his hand. He approached her and placed the tray gently on a low table beside the sofa. On the tray was a warm cup of milk and a large plate of good-smelling rice and tender meat. The guard didn't say anything; he simply bowed and left after his task was done.
Once the circle-masked guard was gone, Jun-hee turned to the man in black and asked him. She was hoping he would give her an honest answer.
"Are you... are you the creator of this game? Are you in charge of it?"
She knew she was taking a risk with her question. However, she was bothered by her memory of Gi-hun sometimes telling stories about a man in a black coat, who was said to be the Front Man and the right hand who handled this hellish game.
She wanted to confirm if the person in front of her was the one Gi-hun was talking about...
A beat of silence stretched, heavy with unspoken truths. Then, he responded. His voice was flat, but he was unexpectedly honest.
"I am the Front Man. I manage this game's operations, rules, and participants on behalf of its owner."
"I see," she murmured, absorbing his words. A cold feeling settled in her stomach when he confirmed it. This man held complete power over their lives. He was the one in charge of their terrible situation.
But then a memory flashed back.
Wasn't he the same man who had lifted her when she collapsed? That thought made her very confused. Why would the person behind this entire game also be the one to show a moment of unexpected kindness?
"You know what happened to me earlier, right? Why did you help me—"
"You should eat your food before it gets cold," the Front Man interrupted smoothly, his voice betraying no emotion.
Her brow furrowed. "Why do you care?" Her question hung there, showing how much she couldn't believe what was happening. It was hard for her to make sense of his sudden kindness when he was also responsible for their suffering.
He offered no reply, his masked face an impenetrable void. He just walked away from her and sat on a nearby sofa, remaining silent and watching her.
Jun-hee decided not to force an answer from him. She noticed how this man kept ignoring some of her questions, remaining silent every time she probed. He purposely held back details, and his refusal to share information only deepened the mystery surrounding him and his intentions.
The aroma of the food was too tempting, and her stomach growled in complaint. She wasn't going to pretend she wasn't hungry. She picked up the fork and started to eat, savoring the warmth of the rice and the meat. It had been so long since she'd had a proper meal.
Her eyes went to the steaming milk. Her heart felt a little pain.
Milk. Player 001. Mr. Hwang In-ho.
She remembered he offered her milk one time, when they were together and trying to survive. This memory made her feel very sad. Player 001 still offered his food, even though he wouldn't eat any himself. He didn't want her and her baby to be hungry.
Though a hesitant air clung to her, Jun-hee found her voice and spoke to the Front Man. She carefully set down her fork and looked at him with courage.
"I... I don't think I can make it through the next game," she began, her voice soft but firm. "I don't know what will happen to me." Her eyes pleaded with the unseeing mask. "Please, Sir! I'm begging you. Please save Mr. In-ho, Player 001. Let him win this game."
She noticed a slight shift in his posture, his shoulders grew a little stiff. The mask with no expression seemed to have a strong, unseen tension. She thought she caught a quick hint of something. Maybe he was uncomfortable despite his impassive face. But then it was gone, and his usual formal manner returned.
The Front Man's voice went back to its usual flat tone as he asked, "Could you explain why?"
"I...I do not mean to be nosy, but I overheard him talking to Mr. Gi-hun," she explained, her voice heavy with emotion. "He spoke about his sick wife and their child. I still have faith they're alive. He has to win so he can go back to them."
She didn't look away from the Front Man, even as the room grew steadily more tense. Jun-hee noticed how he stayed quiet for a long time, just thinking. The silence stretched, and she could feel it growing heavier and more suffocating. It increased the tension between them.
"You speak with such conviction for Player 001," the Front Man's modulated voice cut through the silence. "But what about yourself, Player 222? Do you not wish to win for your own sake?"
A single tear escaped Jun-hee's eye, tracing a path down her cheek.
"Of course, I want to win," she whispered, her voice cracking. "More than anything. But how can I? With my condition, there's no way I can pass these games, right?" Her hand instinctively went to her slightly swollen belly. "I'm pregnant. It's impossible. I've… I've accepted my fate. I know I'll die in this place together with my child." Her voice broke on the last words, showing how much pain she felt.
The Front Man remained still. But for the second time, Jun-hee sensed a shift in his presence again. His shoulders grew more tense, and she was sure of it! She kept her eyes on him and was surprised when he briefly looked away. His slight head movement made her wonder if he was trying to avoid her gaze. He typically seemed calm... but for a moment, he appeared a little uneasy.
She had a strange feeling that everything she said seemed to affect him in a negative way. She couldn't help but suspect she was triggering something in him.
Before Jun-hee could utter a word, the Front Man spoke.
"Perhaps... this is not the end for you, Jun-hee. Your child can still have a future outside these walls." His voice dropped to a low hum, filling the sterile space between them. "However, that future now rests entirely on the choice you make at this moment. Don't forget how important your decision is, especially with such serious consequences for your child's path. Think about all the possible outcomes."
Jun-hee froze, her tears drying on her cheeks. He had used her name! Not her number, but her name! The sudden warmth in his voice, and hearing him say her name really surprised her. He had acknowledged her condition, not with disdain, but with… a hint of encouragement?
She looked at him, puzzled, searching his face for an explanation. But his mask gave nothing away. What could he possibly mean?
The Front Man couldn't figure out Player 222.
Despite the horrors she had endured, the betrayals, the constant threat of death... her capacity for empathy remained intact. She was still thoughtful, still kind. He shouldn't feel guilty. He, of all people, should be beyond such human weaknesses. Yet, a crushing weight pressed against his chest.
He knew the truth. He knew what she didn't. His wife and unborn child were gone. Long gone! He had confirmed it himself years ago, before this entire twisted spectacle had even begun. Before despair had driven him to be officially part of this very game.
"I appreciate your thoughtfulness for Player 001." He spoke, the words feeling a little hollow as a wave of guilt washed over him. He felt terrible for betraying Player 222, and hearing his name from her only twisted the knife.
Little does she know that In-ho, whom she wants to save from this brutal game, is actually the Front Man right in front of her.
A secret he had to keep...
He pushed himself up from the sofa, the soft cushions sighing under his weight, and slowly walked toward her.
"Still, we have to wait and see what the next game brings," he stated, his voice now carefully neutral. "There are rules that must be followed. And breaking them has severe consequences for everyone involved."
Jun-hee opened her mouth to argue, but he cut her off. His voice firm, leaving no room for debate.
"Get some rest, Player 222. I'm giving you permission to skip the upcoming games. When the last game is about to start, you'll go back with the other players to continue your participation."
He knows his actions go against the rules of the game, and what he did was cheating! His total disregard for the rules could ruin his reputation and position in the organization. The VIPs would be furious if they found out he let Player 222 skip the next games and return only for the last one, just so she could rest. That gives her a huge unfair advantage over the other players.
A thought formed in his mind. An idea he knew would put him in a risky situation.
What if he just took Player 222 out of the game completely? He could find a way to help her! He knew removing her from the game competition wouldn't erase his betrayal. But... it could lessen the heavy guilt he felt for deceiving her kind heart.
The VIPs were arriving in two days and he still had time to think about his plan. He was confident in his ability to manipulate situations. He could make up believable excuses, or just do whatever it took to get himself out of trouble. He always had before, and he figured he could do it again.
"S-Sir, where are you going? Please don't leave me here." Jun-hee cried out, a sudden fear gripping her as the Front Man moved to exit. She grew paranoid at the thought that someone might kill her if she were left alone in that room.
The Front Man paused, his hand still on the door. He turned to Jun-hee, his masked gaze settling on her. He saw how scared she was from her shaking hands and the tears running down her face. He felt a bit worried inside and wished he could make her fear go away.
"You have my word Player 222," he stated, his voice calm and firm. "I guarantee your safety here. You are under my protection."
He turned and opened the door. Stepping through, he left Jun-hee alone in luxurious, yet still confining room. He closed the door behind him.
As he walked away, In-ho felt a sudden strong pain in his chest. A pain that Jun-hee's simple kindness had unexpectedly resurrected. It was a kind of pain he had tried hard to keep hidden and not feel for a long time. He wanted to forget it! But it always seemed to come back.
He had to do something to make sure Jun-hee was safe before the VIPs arrived. He couldn't let anything bad happen to her, not after she had shown him such unexpected warmth. He knew the VIPs meant trouble, and he had to think fast to protect her from the danger that was coming. Watching another innocent person become a Ghost in The Red Light was something he couldn't bear, as it mirrored the haunting memories he carried from his past.
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NOTE: I couldn't find any fanfiction of these two. So, I decided to write this fanfic instead. Meow. By the way, thank you for reading! I hope you enjoy this one-shot featuring Front Man (In-ho) and Jun-hee. My next story will be "Ghost in the Red Light." See you there!