The Light That Binds Us-Hwang Inho

About 15 minutes in, the water had risen considerably. It had reached waist-height, and everyone was swimming now, their movements quick and urgent, trying to stay afloat. The air was thick with tension, as everyone kept their eyes fixed on the dam, waiting for it to crack, waiting for something to change.
Gi-hun's voice rang out, shouting at the weaker swimmers to climb the columns and keep a lookout for any intruders. "Stay alert!" he called, his voice hoarse from the water. "If anyone's coming, you need to warn us!"
The dam still held strong, but Rae-a could feel it in her gut—something was off. Her heart thudded faster, her breath quickening as the valve opened a little more. The pressure surged. The water level spiked, and debris tumbled through, swirling with a terrifying force. It was the rush she had feared.
The sudden influx of water hit her like a slap. She looked up, panic twisting in her chest as the river began to flood Zone B even faster, the current more violent. Hyun-ju would never let that happen, she thought. The floodwaters were threatening to overrun everything. She needed to move. I need to get to the tunnel. I need to stop this.
Her limbs were stiff, trembling with the force of her fear, but she pushed herself forward.
Before she could swim any further, Young-il was in front of her, his hand on her arm, his grip firm. "Rae-a, stop." His voice was low, but urgent. "It's not your job. We can survive down here. Stay with the team."
She's too stubborn for her own good, he thought, frustration bubbling beneath his calm exterior. She's not going to listen to me.
Rae-a's eyes narrowed, and a sharp heat shot through her chest. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides, her voice snapping before she could stop it. "Hyun-ju is my friend," she bit out, the words coming faster than she could control. "I can't just leave her."
Her feet moved before she had fully processed what she was doing, her legs shaky as she swam the entrance to the tunnel. It was cold, far colder than it should have been. The air was suffocating, the kind of darkness that presses against you, fills your lungs with dread.
"I won't be long," she muttered, her voice tight as she turned to the tunnel.
She didn't wait for his response.
Cold. Dark. Suffocating. The words echoed in her mind as she forced her trembling body into the tunnel. She could feel the water already at her ankles, the chill seeping through her shoes, up her legs. The familiar panic threatened to choke her as memories of being waterboarded rushed in like a tidal wave. The pressure in her chest was almost unbearable, but she refused to stop. She couldn't. Not when Hyun-ju was still out there, not when everything depended on her.
Focus. She had to focus. One step at a time. She climbed, her limbs shaking with the effort, but she pushed herself higher. Just get to the valve. Get to her. The tunnel was slippery, the walls wet, but it wasn't enough to stop her. Not yet.
Her heart hammered in her ears as she moved deeper, every inch of progress feeling like it was pulling her further away from herself. The sounds of rushing water seemed to echo through the tunnel, mixing with the sickening memories. But she pushed those thoughts back, shoved them back. There was no time for them. There was no time for weakness.
Her fingers scraped against the rough walls as she climbed, her breath ragged, each movement sending a jolt of panic through her body. She needed to slow the valve, she needed to stop this flood before it was too late. She had to save Hyun-ju.
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As Rae-a slipped out of the tunnel, her eyes immediately scanned the area. The strange silence in the air made her pause. There were no guards, no sign of the usual surveillance at the tunnel's exit. It didn't make sense. Had they not noticed the tunnel? Or were they letting it go, assuming it was just part of the chaos? The uncertainty gnawed at her, but she pushed it to the back of her mind as she moved swiftly down the darkened corridor.
Rounding a corner, Rae-a spotted Hyun-ju slumped against a wall, blood trickling from a cut on her forehead. Her breath caught in her throat, and without thinking, Rae-a rushed to her side, pulling her into a quieter, less exposed spot behind a cluster of rocks. Hyun-ju winced slightly as she moved, but she didn't protest.
"They got 316," Hyun-ju said, her voice weak, but steady. "We were caught in a fight. Zone A... they're getting desperate now. They'll either send more players down or try to rush the valve."
Rae-a's jaw clenched. She looked around, trying to piece together what was going on. "It's not likely they'll send anyone down here. They'll be outnumbered. If anything, they'll try to push the water harder, overwhelm us."
Hyun-ju nodded slowly, her expression hardening. "It's a suicide mission either way."
Rae-a's eyes narrowed. No. They can't afford to make mistakes like that.
"I'm going to stop them," Rae-a muttered, her voice low, steely. "I'm going after the valve."
Hyun-ju's eyes widened, and she immediately grabbed Rae-a's arm, her grip surprisingly strong. "No. Don't. It's too dangerous. You're not ready for that. If you go, you'll get caught."
Rae-a smirked, despite the weight of the situation. Her tone lightened, but her voice held an unspoken challenge. "You know, there's still so much you don't know about me, Hyun-ju."
Hyun-ju looked at her, confusion flickering in her eyes, but Rae-a just shook her head, not willing to elaborate.
"Look, I'm not stupid," Rae-a continued, her voice quieter now, full of resolve. "I won't risk your life like that. But I will get you back down. The columns are high, higher than the water will rise. You'll be safe there."
Rae-a helped Hyun-ju to her feet, guiding her carefully towards the tunnel. Hyun-ju hesitated, clearly reluctant to leave Rae-a to face the danger alone. But with a small nod, she complied, letting Rae-a lead her to safety.
As they moved, Rae-a's mind was already racing through the next steps. The valve had to be stopped, or they would all be drowned. The thought of what could happen if it wasn't—if they weren't ready—was enough to keep her moving forward, despite the tightness in her chest.
As Rae-a and Hyun-ju hurried toward the tunnel, their footsteps barely audible in the rising water, the sudden sound of a rustling movement caught Rae-a's attention. Her instincts kicked in, and she whirled just in time to parry a sharp makeshift knife aimed directly at her chest. The force of the attack pushed her back slightly, but she maintained her balance, narrowly dodging the blade.
Hyun-ju, always ready for a fight, moved to intervene, but Rae-a quickly held up a hand, her voice firm despite the tension. "Sorry, Hyun-ju. Get to the podium. Now."
Hyun-ju hesitated for a split second, but Rae-a didn't give her a chance to argue. With one strong push, she sent Hyun-ju down the tunnel, watching her disappear into the dark before turning back to face the attacker.
The player, wearing the number 112, let out a low laugh, a cruel smile spreading across his face. "That was a stupid move," he said, stepping forward, brandishing the knife.
Rae-a grinned, an unsettling calmness settling over her. She ripped a piece of cloth from her shirt and wrapped it tightly around her fists, securing it into place with swift, practiced motions. Her eyes narrowed as she faced him.
"Well," she said, voice cool but tinged with a challenge, "are we going to dance, or what?"
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Meanwhile, deep within the tunnel, Hyun-ju stumbled her way forward until she emerged from the darkened passageway, only to be grabbed by Young-il. His grip was firm but gentle, his face a mix of concern and urgency as they treaded the water.
"Where's Rae-a?" he demanded, scanning the tunnel as if expecting her to come rushing through behind them.
Hyun-ju paused, catching her breath. She quickly filled him in, her voice strained from the encounter. "She stayed behind. There was a player, 112. She's handling it. Told me to get to safety." She nodded toward the podium. "I'm going up there. She'll be fine. She knows what she's doing."
Young-il's concern deepened, knew what she was doing? He couldn't afford to focus on Rae-a now. The dam. He had to watch the dam. His eyes flickered toward the water, then back to Hyun-ju, a conflicting feeling building within him.
His heart skipped a beat as a body was suddenly thrown from the direction of Zone A, landing with a heavy splash at the edge of the room. His breath caught in his throat. Please don't be her.
But it wasn't Rae-a. It was 316, the body limp and lifeless, blood staining the water around it.
Young-il exhaled shakily, his hands gripping the edge of the podium. I shouldn't be this invested in her. It's just curiousity. That's all.
Still, he couldn't push away the thoughts that kept swirling in his mind. The way Rae-a had stepped into danger without hesitation, her focus sharp, her determination unwavering. She had pushed through her own fears to protect the team, to make sure they would survive.
She's something special.
He couldn't deny it. Despite everything, Rae-a had managed to carve a space in his thoughts, a presence that was hard to ignore. He had come to admire her quiet strength. But for now, he had to shove those thoughts aside. The water was rising. The dam had to hold. He couldn't afford any distractions.
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Rae-a's fist connected with the makeshift knife wielder's, knocking it out of his hand and sending it skidding across the floor. But the player didn't hesitate, swinging a hard punch to her face. The blow landed squarely, sending a sharp pain through her jaw and splitting her lip wide open. Blood immediately began to pool in her mouth, and she spat it out, her eyes narrowing.
"Nice hit," Rae-a said through clenched teeth, wiping the blood away. "But now it's my turn."
She stepped forward with quick, calculated movements, the adrenaline dulling the pain in her lip and body. The player lunged again, but Rae-a was faster, ducking low and slamming her shoulder into his midsection. He staggered back, but Rae-a didn't give him time to recover. She delivered a swift kick to his knee, dropping him to the ground.
He attempted to scramble up, but Rae-a grabbed his arm, twisting it behind his back and driving him to the floor with a brutal elbow to the spine. The player grunted in pain, gasping for breath. Rae-a stood over him, panting, blood dripping from her lip, and her arms covered in bruises and cuts.
"You're lucky," she muttered, eyes cold and fierce. "I'm not interested in killing anyone today."
She released her hold on him, stepping back as he remained on the ground, nursing his wounds. He didn't try to move; he knew when he'd lost. Rae-a took one last glance at him, her chest rising and falling with heavy breaths, before heading toward the tunnel.
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As Rae-a slid down the darkened tunnel, the sound of the water sloshing around her feet grew louder. Her skin stung from the cuts and bruises, the cold water heightening the sensation, but she pushed through it, determination pushing her forward. She could feel the rising tide on her skin, the cold dampness creeping in as the water level surged.
Rae-a emerged from the tunnel, soaked and bloodied. Young-il's eyes locked onto her immediately. His relief was palpable, but it was mixed with something else—surprise, maybe even concern. She was covered in cuts and bruises, but she was alive. She had made it back.
For a brief moment, he froze, watching her as she made her way over to him. The way she moved—slow, deliberate—made it clear that every move was a challenge, but she was pushing through it. Her dark hair wet and tangled from the fight, her eyes bright, her bruised lip. 
Young-il couldn't deny the fact she was beautiful.
It took everything in him not to rush to her side. But he knew better than to baby her.
She met his gaze as she reached him, and despite the blood smeared on her lips and the bruises forming on her face, she offered him a faint, almost dismissive smile. "Just a fight," she said, brushing off her injuries as if they were nothing.
Young-il didn't respond immediately, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer than he meant to. The blood, the cuts, the bruises—all of it was a stark reminder of how brutal this was. But even in the middle of all of that, she still managed to stay strong, to stay focused. He couldn't help but respect her for it.
The moment passed quickly, and Rae-a started climbing the tree, moving carefully but with purpose. Young-il followed her, still processing the sight of her battered body. He tried to push the concern to the back of his mind, telling himself that she was tough, that she would be fine. But deep down, he couldn't ignore the fact that she was pushing herself to her limits—and that made him uneasy.
As they climbed the tree together, their bodies close in the cramped space, his thoughts kept drifting back to her. How the hell did she do it? She was scared of the water, but she didn't let it stop her. She fought with everything she had, for herself, for the team. There was something incredibly special about that. Something that made him appreciate her even more than he already did.
A sense of protectiveness welled up in him, but he pushed it down. He couldn't afford to get too invested, not when the game was still on. But no matter how hard he tried to convince himself otherwise, there was no denying it: Rae-a had become more than just a mere curiousity.
"Three minutes left."
As the water continued to rise and the dam groaned under the pressure, Young-il's gaze snapped to the base of their dam. A small tear had formed, barely noticeable at first, but it was enough to cause a flood if it wasn't stopped. 
"Look!" someone shouted with urgency.
Panic tightened in his chest as he watched Rae-a, poised to dive in, her focus solely on the task ahead. But before young-il could move closer, she was already in the water. The words left his mouth too late, her body plunging into the depths before he could stop her.
His heart leaped in his throat as he took a step forward, reaching out in a futile attempt to grab her. "No— Rae-a!"
But she was already gone, diving straight for the tear. He cursed under his breath, running his hand through his wet hair, frustration and fear mixing. He knew her well enough to understand there was no changing her mind when she was determined. Still, seeing her injured, and heading straight into danger—he couldn't shake the feeling that this was reckless.
His attention snapped back to the tear. His stomach churned as the seconds ticked by. Each moment felt like an eternity, the dam barely holding on, and Rae-a out there alone. She was putting herself at risk, and the thought of it twisted his insides.
Underwater, Rae-a gritted her teeth, forcing her trembling limbs to stay steady despite the blood pooling around her from the cut on her arm. She couldn't let fear take over. She had to fix this—just hold it together for two minutes. Two minutes was all she needed.
With one deep breath, Rae-a dove toward the tear, her lungs screaming for air. She grabbed any loose debris she could find, working quickly to block the flow of water. The pressure was relentless, but she couldn't afford to hesitate. Each movement felt like an eternity. The clock was ticking—if she didn't seal the breach soon, the water would flood through and destroy everything.
Just as she thought she was getting it under control, a sudden force hit her from behind, sending her spiraling through the murky water. She barely had time to react before she saw him. Player 112. His eyes were wild with desperation, and his makeshift knife gleamed in the dim, waterlogged light. He lunged at her, aiming to finish what the rising flood had started.
Rae-a's breath caught in her throat, and in that split second, panic threatened to take over. But she shoved it aside. She had no choice. Not now. She had to finish this.
He swiped at her with the blade, and Rae-a twisted just in time, but the knife stabbed through her right forearm. A guttural scream escaped her throat, but she didn't back down. Blood swirled around her, mixing with the murky water, but she pushed forward, forcing herself to stay focused. Her lungs burned, but she couldn't stop now. Not when she was so close to saving them all.
Come on! she thought, holding back the scream that wanted to escape as she fought against the blood rushing in her veins.
She reached down, yanked the knife from her arm, painfully, and swung it at him. It hit its mark, the blade slicing deep into his neck. The water around them turned dark, the violent current carrying his body away.
Her chest heaved as she struggled to stay upright, the dark spots clouding her vision as the water swirled around her.
She had only 20 seconds left. Twenty seconds before the water pressure would stop.
But she couldn't breathe. The air was running out, and her body felt like it was made of lead. Each moment felt like it was stretching on forever.
And then, suddenly, the pressure lessened. The water around her stopped surging so violently. Her vision started to fade.
As she fought to stay conscious, she felt herself being pulled upwards, strong hands grasping her. It was Young-il. His grip was tight, his movements panicked as he pulled her to the surface.
"Rae-a!" His voice sounded distant, but his presence felt like a lifeline.
She blinked, trying to focus on him, but her strength was gone. Her body gave in, the world around her dimming. The last thing she remembered was the feeling of Young-il's arms around her, his panic radiating through his touch.
The water finally receded, and the oppressive weight that had settled over them during the flood began to lift. Everyone stood, drenched but able to move, except for Rae-a, who remained in Young-il's arms. Her bloodied and battered body was limp, and her shallow breathing was the only thing that reassured him she was still with them. The others, caught up in the aftermath, didn't notice the way Young-il's grip tightened around her.
Gi-hun, Dae-ho, and Jungbae exchanged glances, their concern for Rae-a evident, but Young-il's focus was entirely on her. Despite the chaos of the flood, his mind was still clouded with unease.
Young-il gave the guard a subtle but commanding look, a signal that only the guard would understand. It was a silent order. Rae-a was to be taken away, and nothing was going to stop it.
Then, the voice of a guard cut through the air: "Player 089 will be taken for a check-up."
The words hit like a cold wave, sending a ripple of shock through the group. Everyone froze, their faces full of concern, but none of them dared to voice it aloud. The guards hadn't taken players before; no one had ever been taken for a "check-up" like this.
The others didn't seem to notice the way Young-il sent the brief, cold glance toward the guard before pretending to protest.
"Wait—what are you doing with her? She's still injured! You can't just—" Young-il's voice carried the right amount of concern, a clear façade that matched the worry written on his face. He stepped forward, trying to block their path, his heart pounding in his chest, but not out of fear for her safety—rather, it was the lie he was trying to sell.
The guard didn't hesitate. They continued pulling Rae-a away, as if her injuries didn't matter. "She's been cleared for a check-up," the guard said flatly, not even sparing him a glance.
Without another word, he grabbed Rae-a out of Young-il's arms, lifting her effortlessly as if she weighed nothing, and pulled her away. Young-il, taken aback by the swift motion, was shoved aside, forced to follow in their wake.
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His mind raced as he walked, the only thing keeping him grounded was the steady, rhythmic beat of his pulse and the cold dread that settled in his stomach. Rae-a had risked everything, fought through her fears, and he couldn't let her suffer any more.
She was reckless, and he hated that she had such a deep sense of responsibility, so self-sacrificing. But at the same time, he admired her. The way she always kept pushing forward, no matter the odds. She was brave in a way that made him both furious and captivated.
As the camp settled into an uneasy quiet, as it reached the night, the players huddled together, most of them weary and uncertain about what the next day would bring. Young-il remained still in the shadows, his mind racing. His concern for Rae-a hadn't faded, and now that she was out of his sight, it gnawed at him. He couldn't leave things as they were.
After a few moments of watching the rest fall asleep, Young-il slipped from his bed, moving silently between the narrow spaces between the cots. His movements were swift, deliberate. No one noticed, too tired and distracted by the chaos of the day. He knew exactly where to go. He'd planned for this.
Quietly, he made his way to the back of the compound, where a hidden passage led to a room where the guards kept their uniforms. Inside, hidden from prying eyes, he retrieved the Frontman suit. The dark, imposing outfit was a symbol of control, power, and anonymity. The moment he donned it, the world would change. He would be the one pulling the strings in the shadows.
Young-il paused for a moment, his thoughts drifting back to Rae-a. He needed to see her. Needed to make sure the doctor took adequate care of her.
The Frontman he stepped out into the hall. His footsteps were soundless as he moved through the compound, the guards dispersing immediately at his presence. His movements were calculated, confident. No one questioned him.
He moved toward the medical area, his pace quickening as he drew closer. The urgency palpable. He had to see her—he had to make sure she was alright. But it wasn't just about that. He needed control of the situation, to keep things in his hands. He couldn't shake the questions that had started to form. How the hell did she survive that fight with 112? And then there was the knife. The one sticking out of his neck at the end of the game. Rae-a had killed him, no doubt about it.
Just who exactly is this girl?
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And that concludes one of my incorporated games into the story! :) 
What did everyone think?
I have a few more ideas for future games, but it seems as if Rae-a is going to be having a little conversation with the Frontman next chapter! I wonder how it will go...