#sevsevgose

.

“What’s this for again?” Seungkwan asked, seated beside you on the waiting room couch.

“The manager wanted to run through some activity questions for next week’s TTT episode I think,” you answered absently, scrolling through your phone and sipping on an iced coffee while waiting for your turn into the mystery room.

You barely glanced up when your name was called.

“Hey, it’s your turn.”

You followed the manager obediently down the hallway, phone stuffed into your pocket. You didn’t think twice when he opened the door at the end of the hall.

But, you probably should’ve.

The room was cold. Dim. A single lamp hung above a wooden table in the center. The rest of the space was swallowed in shadows.

Four mannequin-like figures stood eerily inside - one positioned awkwardly on the left, and three along the back wall. A little creepy, sure, but this was GOSE. It could’ve been for an film set, a skit, or just…you know. Weird idol things.

But something about their silhouettes made your stomach tighten. “This…is weirdly dramatic for a survey,” you muttered, half-laughing.

The manager just smiled and gestured for you to take a seat across. “Don’t mind the props. They’re cleaning out the studio next door.”

Suspicious, but…you shrugged. “Okay.”

“Just a simple pre-activity form for next week,” he said. “It’ll only take ten minutes.”

“Got it.” You nodded, sitting down. The manager took the seat across from you casually, as if this wasn’t the setup of every horror film ever.

“What do you think of when you hear the word camping?” He asked, looking down at the paper in his hands.

You hummed softly, eyes wandering around the room to ponder. “Me? Usually camping is to have those moments to relax–”

Before you could finish talking, an alarm blared through the room.

Beeep. Beeep. Beeep.

Your eyes flicked up. “What’s happening?” You sat a little straighter.

The manager stood, taking a peek into the corner of the room. The alarms stopped. “Probably a system hiccup. Let’s try that again.”

You tried to steady your breath, swallowing the unease. The mannequins hadn’t moved.

…Had they?

“Manager-nim, you better not have anything planned in here…I swear I’ll scream.” You jokingly frowned before going back to answering the question—

Click.

The lights flickered off for a second - then came back on again.

“Manager-nim!”

.

“Oh I think we’ll get a good reaction out of her this time?!” Joshua laughed in his seat, leaning forward to squeeze Wonwoo’s shoulder.

“She’s getting scared, is it because we’re not there? So she doesn’t think anything will happen.” Wonwoo turned back, chuckling.

.

“We’ve been having a problem with the room, shall we start over?” He slid a pen and sheet of paper in front of you. “I’ll go check out the problem–”

“You’re leaving me alone here? ” 

He didn’t respond, just smiled - and walked out the door.

You snapped your gaze to the figurine on the right – but it remained stiff. Frozen. Head tilted just a little too naturally.

Your eyes scanned the questionnaire again, sighing as you clicked the pen nervously. “I swear to god…” You whispered. “…Are these really mannequins?” You asked no one.

Click.

Everything went dark.

You froze, heart stuttering in your chest. Your pen halted mid-write, every nerve going on high alert.

“…Guys,” you whispered, voice trembling. “Don’t do this…”

No response.

Then—

A hand clamped onto your shoulder.

“Boo.”

“AAAHHHHHHHHH F*CK WHAT THE F*CK—!!”

You launched your pen across the table, instinctively raising a fist against the figure that’d suddenly moved, nearly kicking over the chair as you bolted away.

Chaos erupted.

The lights turned back on.

.

“Look at her face—!!” Seungcheol wheezed, his face twisted in laughter.

Wonwoo still had a wide-eyed ghost expression painted on his face, and Jeonghan looked like he was fighting the urge to burst out laughing.

Minghao’s jaw dropped, turning to the rest of them. “Hyung, did she just curse on broadcast?!”

“DID SHE JUST PUNCH MINGYU?” Jun cackled, hitting the table.

“WHY DID WE LET HIM BE THE ONE TO SAY ‘BOO’?!” Hoshi exclaimed. “He’s the easiest to hit!”

“Because he volunteered,” Jeonghan’s voice jumped in, pointing to Gyu on the screen. “How’s that going for him now?”

Joshua was laughing too, but he winced sympathetically. “To be fair, she did say not to sneak up behind her anymore…”

.

You stood frozen in the corner, hand clutched to your racing heart, eyes wide and betrayed.

Mingyu stood against the table, hands clutching his stomach as he groaned, “Argh…yah…” He fell in slow motion, coming to a kneel on the ground.

The four “mannequins” had moved, now surrounding the wooden table in the middle just as confused. They were no mannequins at all - just 4 staff members dressed in a black jumpsuit, pretending to be.

The manager, of course, was in on it the whole time.

You stared at all of them, eyes wide, betrayal written all over your face.

“…I’m quitting,” you breathed out. “I’m quitting the group.”

.

You sighed, slowly pushing the monitoring room’s door open. Mingyu stood behind you, a forced smile on his face when familiar faces came into view.

“Oh my god!” Jihoon smiled, finally letting out the laugh he’d been holding in. “You actually punched Mingyu?!”

“I didn’t know it was him!! You can’t just sneak up on someone like that in the dark!” You shrieked, swinging your arm as you stepped back - smack - your fist accidentally collided with Mingyu’s gut again.

“OOF—!” Mingyu coughed, slumping dramatically to the floor. “Please…I want to have a family…”

You gasped, hands hovering around his figure again, apologizing profusely. He was still wheezing when he spoke. “You train with Soonyoung one time and suddenly you’re a fighter…”

“You’re all evil,” you huffed, but a small, reluctant smile crept onto your face. “I trusted you.”

Later, seated beside Seungcheol on a stool, you rubbed your temples while watching Dokyeom enter the scare room.

“You okay?” Seungcheol asked gently.

You exhaled. “I’m fine. I’m just never trusting anyone ever again. Especially you.”

“Me?!” he blinked. “I didn’t even move!”

“You didn’t stop Mingyu either.”

He chuckled. “Still…you were pretty brave.”

You narrowed your eyes. “I punched him.”

“And you didn’t run till the very end,” he shrugged. “I almost bolted after the first sound.”

You turned back toward the TV, still sulking, but…maybe a little less.

Beside you, Jihoon and Joshua were whispering and giggling again.

You slowly turned to them. “Try me again,” you said, voice low. “I dare you.”

They shut up instantly.

--

The boys were already hyped when you stood from the grey mat, walking over to the mattress.

You narrowed your eyes, muttering “You guys better not make things up,” before finding comfort beneath the warmth of the blanket.

Seungkwan only gasped dramatically. “Threatening us? That means you’re guilty of something!”

The boys howled in entertainment, watching as your eyes rolled to the back of your head. 

You only glared again, laying down with a sigh. You closed your eyes, already beginning to brace yourself when the lights above dimmed; a spotlight turned on above you.

심장박동수 [PULSE/min. 78BPM] 

Chaos begins.

Mingyu was the first to pounce, practically leaping forward with his hands clasped together in excitement. “Oh, you guys remember how she was going on this super popular diet that was trending for the recent comeback?”

“Yeah, she was going around telling us not to eat fried foods around her for the whole week. I was getting so sick of it!” Dino sighing exasperatedly, eyes thinning at your ‘sleeping’ figure.

“Yeah, tell that to the fried chicken delivery man she’s on first-name basis with late at night!”

A few members gasped, erupting into laughter at the shocking news.

Your breathing quickened as you cursed inwardly, gripping the pillow next to your head. You held in the temptation, lips twitching with the urge to defend yourself. 

No way you were going to go home late this time.

The monitor beeps on screen; your heart rate ticks up immediately. 

심장박동수 [PULSE/min. 84BPM] 

Woozi leaned back, steadying himself with his palms . The corners of his lips twitched with a deceptively calm smirk, voice was smooth when he spoke.

“She came to me once in the studio…said she wanted to write a solo. But the lyrics she brought me–” He paused deliberately, watching the members turn heads toward him. The tension bidding could be felt in real-time by that point. “–they were so explicit.”

The room instantly moved. Screams echoed off the walls - a chorus of disbelief as the members turned to stare, jaws slack. You could vaguly feel the floor vibrate with their jumps.

“No way.” Hoshi’s hand flew up to his mouth, covering the gap. Seungcheol’s chuckle could be heard in the background, “You’re joking!”

Woozi’s smirk only deepened, the calm in his tone making his words feel heavier, deadlier. “It was even worse than Mingyu’s.”

The boys lean forward in unison, eyes wide with a mixture of amusement and shock. 

“She cursed on tape?!” 

“I want to hear it!” 

The teasing energy from the members grew thick.

Across the room, you shift against the pillows, the heart monitor at your bedside responding instantly off-screen - beeping in rapid, uneven spikes.

Your lips part, a weak protest hovering in your throat, but the words never quite make it out. The teasing chorus from the boys only grows louder, filling the room with noise that felt overwhelming.

심장박동수 [PULSE/min. 87BPM] 

“Actually…” Jeonghan’s voice floated above the laughter, light and teasing, “I think she’s scarier than Cheol when she’s mad. I’ve seen him back down when they fought.” His grin was sly, almost smug, like he was dropping a secret he shouldn’t.

The room erupted. Seungcheol, mid-laugh, choked and doubled over, lifting his weight onto his knees to point at Jeonghan from across the mat. “I DID NOT—” he wheezed, his voice pitching in mock outrage. “Don’t lie!”

But Jeonghan only leaned back with that infuriatingly calm smirk, blowing raspberries as though Seungcheol’s denial was proof enough. “Then why didn’t you finish your sentence that day?”

A ripple of curiosity ran through the members - eyes darting, ears pricking up. 

At the same time, your hands pulled out from underneath the blanket, finding place on its edge to grip hard, enough for it to crease from the force. The memory flashed in your mind - your voice raised, your chest tight with frustration, and Seungcheol actually stopping. The leader of Seventeen. Stopping.

“Yeah, yeah, I remember,” Dino suddenly stepped up, his voice climbing in excitement. He pointed dramatically at Seungcheol, then at you. “It was when hyung accidentally broke a bracelet Carats gifted her, and she just went feral after he tried arguing back that it wasn’t a big deal!”

“It was the fastest I’ve seen her spit bars, she could really join the hiphop unit if she ever tried to–”

A snort ripped out of you before you could stop it, and your whole body shook with laughter, muffled into the blanket.

Instantly, the heads around the room turned toward you, their grins widening like hunters spotting proof of a story. Fingers pointed.

“YAH– look at her! She’s laughing! Even she admits it!”

심장박동수 [PULSE/min. 85BPM] 

And then, cutting through it all, Hoshi’s sudden movement caught everyone’s attention - his voice landing almost absentmindedly, though the words carried most unexpected weight:

Hoshi hesitates, a finger coming up to scratch the itch on the corner of his lips when he spoke. “But– You guys know right?” He pauses, wondering for a minute whether he should continue.

“Just spit it out already!”

Hoshi smiled sheepishly. “She acts like she’s very strong on the outside, and doesn’t care about most rankings…but on our first music show, she actually cried in the bathroom after because we didn’t win.”

The room falls quiet for a second, teasing smiles on the members’ faces shifted into something gentler; lips pressed together, eyes softening, as if they all remembered it too.

The monitor jumped once - your body flinching in want to bolt upright, as though the memory had physically caught you off guard.

Until Seungkwan’s voice striked sharp: “CRYBABY!” 

And everyone started yelling again.

“Yah!!” 

“She’s gonna kill you!”

Overlapping shouts and laughter crashed into each other, the room alive once more. 

And though your shoulders were still taut, the corners of your lips betrayed you - pulling upward, even as you shook your head, willing yourself not to give them the satisfaction.

심장박동수 [PULSE/min. 96BPM] 

“Alright, our last one before the timer ends, quick!”

Vernon glanced around for a second, taking in the members’ scrambling; calm as ever, he dropped a quiet bomb. “She talks in her sleep.” He paused just long enough for everyone to turn their heads before finishing with a smirk. “Once, she mumbled the choreography counts in her sleep. Like…five, six, seven, eight.” 

Not wanting to be outdone, Dokyeom leaned in dramatically toward the camera, too. “Our girl snores and drools, too. Like– really snores. Don’t let her fool you with her idol image. It’s like a baby tiger.”

Your breath hitched, coming in short bursts as hands flew up to cover your face while you rolled on your side. You could feel the rush of blood into your ears that turned red. 

심장박동수 [PULSE/min. 108BPM] 

Once again, a familiar tune plays, cueing the studio lights.

Seungkwan took his centre almost instantly: “Ladies and gentlemen, this is proof! She has a mountain of secrets we still don’t know, and she’s panicking right now because we’re catching on.”

Unable to take it anymore, you scurried up with a burst of energy, scrambling over to Dokyeom and grabbing him by the collar with mock fury.

“How can you say that!” You seethed, shaking him lightly. “I’m a girl, I have an image to protect!” Your voice cracked mid-protest, which only set them all off again. 

Seungkwan leaned on Vernon, wheezing, while Mingyu fell to the floor holding his stomach. Dokyeom, caught in your grip, only grinned wider like he’d won.

“See? Look at this!” He shouted to the camera dramatically, still laughing. “She’s fierce even when she’s embarrassed!”

“Are you all happy now?!” You snapped, eyes darting onto the red faces of every member in the room.

The boys shout in unison immediately.

“Yes!” 

.

“Firstly, in last place.”

You clasped your hands together, eyes closed in prayer while the PD talked.

“Woozi.”

The members gasped in shock, clearly expecting a different result. “He’s last? We didn’t go that hard on him though.”

“Nevermind that, at least she’s still in second-last,” Hoshi beamed with joy, pointing at the prompter in front of the cameras with the results of all the members.

“Yes! Good luck going home today~” Seungkwan nudged your side, sticking his tongue out to taunt.

You could only groan, covering your face, while the members chanted their “Goodbye”s as they slowly filtered out. 

Left in the studio? You, Hoshi, Wonwoo and Woozi.

You sighed.

Seungkwan chimed in with a “Yeah,” tossing you a vest. “You’re not becoming the first one to get grabbed. We won’t allow it.”

“You’re the only one who actually has an injury risk here,” Jun added with a lopsided grin. You let out a shaky laugh as you strapped on the vest, touched by their protectiveness.

“This helmet’s huge,” you muttered, grabbing at both sides of it to keep the front from covering your vision.

“Good,” Vernon replied from the corner. “Big helmet means big safety.”

Jeonghan walked over, tightening one of the vest straps for you. “If something happens out there,” he said quietly, “we’re going to circle back and get you. No matter what.”

“You do know this is all fake, right?” 

Jeonghan knocks on your helmet once, winking playfully.

“Who will carry the guns? I’ll take one.” Wonwoo called out, pulling the guns from their shelves.

“Me too, I’ll take a gun.” Mingyu raised his arm, bouncing excitedly from adrenaline.

Jeonghan moved, taking the last two guns from him. “Then, Joshua and I will take one each, too.” 

“We don’t have many bullets, so…” Woozi trailed off, looking at the magazines on the table. “Act responsibly.”

.

ACT III / ESCAPE

As everyone started lining up to exit, Seungkwan, adjusting the strap on his helmet, spoke from the back, voice laced with concern, “Guys... let’s make sure she’s always in the middle, alright?”

There was a beat of silence. Then the group subtly shifted without a word - Jeonghan and Dokeyom took the front, Wonwoo and Joshua flanked the rear, while Mingyu and Vernon stood protectively on either side of you.

“Don’t argue about it,” Seungkwan added, whispering. “If you’re gone, it means I am too. I can’t survive this myself!”

The door creaked open.

Flickering lights bathed the hallway in an eerie glow. Every step you took shuffled too loudly in your ear. The hospital groaned like it was alive.

“Guys, cover for me,” Joshua said, peeking out into a hallway. “One zombie here.” A gunshot rings out, and the zombie topples to the ground.

Moving forward, the slope creaked beneath your feet as the group made their way up toward the next floor. Every step felt like it echoed, where the unknown waited. Wonwoo was leading now, eyes narrowed, while Jun and Woozi scanned behind him, making sure nothing stirred in the shadows.

“Be careful–” Wonwoo’s gun triggers, a shot aimed right at a zombie who came out the stairwell. “Wonwoo, you have three…two shots left.” Mingyu reminded him.

Dino took a step closer to you. “Stay in the middle, okay? Don’t move unless we do.”

“Got it,” You nodded, tapping his shoulder lightly in reassurance.

While the others carefully tiptoed forward, Dokyeom strayed towards a room on the right, curiosity getting the better of him. “I’m just gonna take a look,” he called softly.

The room moved, a figure slamming against the wall as it lunged out.

Dokyeom’s scream was sharp and sudden. “WAHH!” You turned just in time to see a zombie burst out of the room, barreling straight toward the center of the group.

Right towards you.

Your breath caught as the zombie rushed, face twisted in an eerie, half-melted expression. You stumbled back, hands up and mind blank, jumping with shock. The others shouted your name.

In the chaos, your back hit a chest - someone had moved behind you.

Then bang - a bullet fired.

The zombie dropped.

You blinked.

Jeonghan had an arm in front of you, still extended from where he’d held the gun, jaw clenched tight. “You okay?” He asked, eyes scanning you quickly, protectively.

“I– yeah,” you breathed, hands still frozen in the air. “Yeah.”

Dokyeom had run back to you, breathless, apologizing in a mix of squeaks and whines. But you only laughed, finding his reaction funny; his shoulders relaxed a little.

“Let’s split up for a little,” Mingyu said quickly, eyes darting around the empty corridors. “You stay in the main hall with someone - don't go off alone.” Vernon looked at you for a beat, his hand grazing your bicep lightly.

Time was running out, and zombies were regenerating faster than all of you’d liked. The group broke off instinctively, moving through shadowed corridors and side chambers with tense steps, weapons raised.

.

Jeonghan, Wonwoo, Jun and Dino were the next ones to be bitten and eliminated, leaving just the seven of you left with less than ten bullets to find the missing key to activate the button in the security room.

You covered your mouth when another bullet shot out at a zombie in the far distance. Joshua gently took your arm, pulling you back toward the wall. Woozi stared ahead in disbelief, while Dokyeom just muttered under his breath, “Ah, this is too hard.”

.

You had only meant to peek.

The others were still regrouping after the earlier encounter, talking quietly as they checked their weapons and surroundings. But your eyes had caught something glimmering - just barely - on the lower slope you’d climbed minutes ago.

You hesitated, looking at the busy members. Then carefully stepped down the slope again.

Near the edge of the floor, slumped on the floor, was the body of a zombie - clearly ‘dead’, his body bent in a weird position. But right on his chest…something metallic reflected the faint light.

“The key…” You whispered, eyes widening.

You took a step forward, bending down to grab it - then– 

A low growl behind you froze you still.

Rustle. Snarl.

Your head snapped around - and a zombie was already barreling toward you, its limbs jerking erratically.

“GUYS! I FOUND THE KEY! HELP!” You screamed, panic slicing through your voice as you bolted up the slope, clutching the key in one hand.

The group turned sharp at the shout.

Vernon shouted something incoherent, eyes locking on your sprinting figure - and the zombie right on your heels.

“MOVE!” Mingyu yelled, gun already raised as the members scrambled to intercept.

But you were too close now.

Your breath was ragged, lungs burning, eyes wide with terror. And just as you entered the door, your foot clipped a rolling metal table that had been left sideways in the corridor.

The crash was instant.

The table clattered loudly, wheels screeching. Your body twisted as you lost your footing - and you fell hard, arm first.

THUD.

“Oh, yah!”

The members’ voices all overlapped as they surged forward. Joshua, Dokyeom, and Mingyu fired on instinct, their bullets pelting the zombie just in time before it reached you. It dropped, twitching - and stayed down.

Meanwhile, you’d slid across the floor from the momentum, the key still in your palm.

You groaned, slowly lifting your head with a laugh.

Pain flared through your forearm.

Joshua was the first to drop beside you, hands already reaching. “Don’t move– are you okay?”

“Uh—” You looked down. Your voice caught.

A thin gash had torn through the side of your forearm, just below the elbow. The sharp edge of the metal table had sliced you clean.

Blood was already rising - slow, dark, seeping down your arm in a painful sting.

“I think I cut it,” you murmured, blinking fast. “It’s not that bad. I’m okay. I think—”

“You are not okay,” Seungkwan said sharply, kneeling next to you with wide eyes. His face had drained of all color. “That’s blood, actual blood—”

“Is it deep?” Vernon asked, kneeling beside your other side.

“No,” Joshua answered, inspecting quickly, voice calm. “Just a surface cut. But it’s bleeding, so we need to wrap it fast.”

Mingyu was already approaching a camera, letting the staff watching know about the situation.

“Sorry,” you mumbled, swallowing hard. “I just saw the key. I thought I could grab it and get back before—”

“Didn’t we tell you not to run off,” Seungkwan muttered, voice thick. “Are we not part of a team? We don’t do lone-hero missions.”

“Seriously,” Mingyu added as he walked over, hands on his waist. “You wanna get us all killed with a heart attack?”

.

The chaos and adrenaline of the mission finally settled as you were gently tugged away by staff through a discreet side door.

"Careful, careful," she murmured, holding you by the elbow as you were led you into a room filled with coiled wires, cameras, and stacked prop crates.

The buzz of the filming room faded behind you, replaced with the quiet hum of behind-the-scenes chatter and soft clinks from the makeup counters.

The waiting room door slid open.

And there they were.

Jeonghan, Wonwoo, Dino, Jun, and Hoshi all sat on the couch with chairs scattered around the small room, still in their outfits from the shoot. The second they saw you, all five shot up.

“You—!” Jeonghan started, arms already halfway to his hips.

But you just gave him a sheepish smile as the staff sat you down gently on a round stool in the middle of the room. “Hi.”

“‘Hi,’ she says,” Jun muttered, eyebrows high.

“Do you know how hard it was to stay back here while you were being chased down by a zombie?” Hoshi asked, practically bouncing with nervous energy. “I almost kicked the door down.”

The staff member brought over a first-aid kit, kneeling to disinfect and wrap the gash on your  arm. You hissed softly at the sting, and immediately:

“Slowly–” Dino winced, stepping closer, his hands flailing in stress.

“She’s fine,” Wonwoo said coolly - but his eyes hadn’t left the wound once.

You gave a wobbly laugh, “You guys are acting like I got bit or something.”

“Don’t even joke about that,” Jeonghan said sharply, crouching beside you so you had no choice but to look him in the eye. “You could’ve seriously hurt yourself. You did hurt yourself.”

“She still brought back the key,” Jun muttered under his breath. “Of course it’d be her who unlocks the final door, bleeding like the final boss.”

Hoshi had his arms folded now. “Why is it always you who ends up getting bruised during these things?! First our TTT, now this - what’s next, jumping off a roof for a mission?”

“I didn’t plan it,” you muttered defensively, pouting.

“You ran alone into a zombie-infested slope,” Wonwoo said dryly.

“Which we all agreed not to do, remember?” Dino added, poking your shoulder gently. “You’re supposed to be our core, not a sacrifice.”

You blew air from your cheeks, looking at all five of them surrounding you like bodyguards. “Okay, okay. I get it. I messed up.”

Jeonghan exhaled slowly, then reached out to ruffle your hair. “You scared us. But…you did good.”

Wonwoo leaned against the wall, his tone softer now. “Still. No more of this. Got it?”

“Got it,” you smiled.

Dino leaned in next, resting his chin on the top of your head. “You’re buying us dinner later as punishment. I vote for jokbal and bossam.”

“I second that,” Hoshi said instantly. “With rice. And noodles.”

“I refuse, I’m injured!” You exclaimed, protesting.

“You’re alive,” Jun replied smoothly. “Which means you can walk to the register.”

You groaned, hiding your face in your hands.

Behind you, the five of them shared a glance - half amused, half relieved.

You were safe.

Bruised, bandaged, and smiling through it - but safe.

--

a/n this came out a little longer than i expected - for those who req an injury vers !

He moves from his place behind the couch, walking over to where you sat. “Come with me.”

Whistles and hoots echo as the rest of the members bang pillows and clap like it’s a trial in progress.

“Ooooh, She’s getting dragged into the hot seat too with you too.” Mingyu tapped, his pen making dot marks on the notepad.

“First Vernon, now her…I don’t know Seungkwan, seems suspicious to me!” Hoshi sang out, half-joking.

You rolled your eyes, giving Seungkwan a small nudge as the both of you walked up the stairs together to the quiet second-floor balcony where the interrogation will happen.

“Be honest. Do you think it’s Minghao?”

You tilt your head, faking a deep thought.

“No…Minghao’s too quiet today, but not defensive. Nothing has changed for me, my answer is still Dino.”

Seungkwan’s face twists in surprise. “Chan? Really?”

“Think about it. He’s been quiet this episode, just lurking around, but never actually pushing anyone. Plus, when you brought up him as Mafia earlier, he was super defensive.” You lean closer, voice low, persuasive as his brows furrowed.

He pursed his lips, then nods slowly. Convinced. “if I figure anything about the weapon, I’ll let you know then.” You nodded, giving him a small ‘hwaiting’ before turning away back to the stairs.

A small smirk bloomed ready on your face.

.

“It’s Vernon, let’s kill him.” Dokyeom holds his thumb up.

Everyone nods in unision. “We all get a point if it’s him.”

You clap once, speaking up. “So, Vernon-ie?” Your eyes locked onto his, giving him a frown - small enough so that none of the members noticed. “One, two, three.” All thumbs were down.

“Vernon’s identity is...a Mafia member. Night has fallen. Everyone, lower your heads.”

The lights dimmed. The civillians closed their eyes.

“Mafia, raise your heads.”

You, Wonwoo, and Dino slowly lifted yours, eyes gleaming.

The PD looked to the three of you.

You smirked just slightly, and mouthed:

“Seungkwan.”

Even Wonwoo’s brows twitched upward at that, but he didn’t object. Dino gave a silent shake of the head - half disbelief, half impressed.

Your heads go back down.

“Morning has arrived.”

Jeonghan slowly makes his way over to the couches, strolling behind the middle as Seungcheol watches. “Are you here to take Seungkwan?”

“The civillian who died is...Seungkwan.”

Half the members in the room had their eyes wide, hands flying to cover their dropped jaws, holding heads.

“WHO VOTED ME OUT?? ME? I WAS SO CLOSE TO WINNING, WHY ME!”

You covered your mouth, feigning shock - but the way you subtly leaned into Wonwoo’s shoulder, your body shaking in discreet laughter, betrayed you.

Wonwoo, calm as ever, let out a small breath of air - his version of a laugh.

.

“Wonwoo, please enter the interrogation room.”

Wonwoo didn’t say anything. He just turned his head slightly, eyes sliding to you, who sat cross-legged on the couch, sipping water while eating a brownie with the same calm you’d worn the entire game.

“I’ll take her, then,” he said simply.

You raised a brow, half in amusement, and stood without a word.

Wonwoo slowly came to a halt upstairs, arms folded over his chest. You leaned back with the same relax, leaning back on the raining, a grin replacing the netural expression you had.

The both of you didn’t speak for the first few seconds. Just exchanged a look - quiet, knowing.

Then:

Your voice, low and amused, “Jeon Mafia. How are we going to do this?”

Wonwoo tilted his head slightly, the same cunning smirk.

“I was thinking… we sacrifice Dino and get the points for ourselves.”

You chuckled under your breath. “You’re going to make our dear maknae cry, woo.”

“You’re smiling after killing someone, Dino?” Seungcheol’s voice called out from the first level, aimed at the lost boy.

You took another look at Wonwoo–

–And nodded.

“I’m just going to say the right answer.” Wonwoo leaned over the table. “Dino, Meeting Room, Candlestick.”

An ‘O’ appeared on the card.

You bit your bottom lip, pushing yourself up from the railing. “My turn is after his right? I’ll just do the same. Dino, Meeting Room. Candlestick.”

Another ‘O’. Both your points were confirmed now.

When you descended the stairs again, it was with perfectly neutral expressions.

Dino gave you a wary glance from where he was curled up on the couch with a snack.

“What did you guys talk about?” he asked cautiously.

You smiled kindly, picking him up to a head over into a corner.

“Justice.”

Wonwoo didn’t even blink.

“Righteousness.”

Dino squinted. “Why, why?”

“Why are they so calm. That’s terrifying.” Mingyu commented, watching the three of you walk off.

Seungkwan, from the floor where he was still dramatically sprawled:

“They’re playing chess and we’re out here arguing over who blinked too fast.”

.

The game was heating up.

With only a few rounds left, every glance, twitch, and wrongly timed cough became a potential red flag.

After the tense voting round, the group gathered in the first level again, trying to piece together what just happened.

Dino, pacing now, looked like a cornered animal - eyes wide, lips parted as he processed how quickly suspicions were falling on him.

He pulled Mingyu and Seungcheol aside first, whispering urgently.

“I made a deal with the Mafia. They asked me to cover for them, to pretend to be the Mafia.” Dino whispered into the crowd. Wonwoo ‘overhears’, following into the crowd.

“It has to be Woozi, definitely.” Mingyu glanced toward Seungcheol, giving a subtle wave. “He is saying it’s not him, but it is.”

Dino looks at Wonwoo, turning away with a sly smile plastering his face. He cheered inwardly, walking over to take a seat beside you.

You subtly bumped your knee against Wonwoo and Dino’s. Hand propped on the armrest going up to cover the feel of success you could taste on your tongue.

You didn’t say a word. But the grin you failed to hide told him everything.

The three of you were playing the members like a game piece.

And they were gleefully walking straight into it.

.

“Dino-yah, thanks to you, I’ll get some of that prize money.” Hoshi slaps a hand onto a bewildered-looking Dino’s shoulder.

The members burst into laughter, applause, ‘wahh’ and ‘aw’s filled the room. “That was so annoying, I’d be so annoyed.”

“I’m getting prize money~”

“Hoshi, what if they kill you here because you’re so annoying?” You cut in from the seat beside, half-laughing.

Hoshi screamed, palm cupping the lower half of his face in disbelief. “Wait...” His lips jutted out in a pout.

Then– he suddenly sat up straighter, slapping his thigh like a madman. “WAIT. Wait, wait, wait. Are you saying that because you are the mafia?”

You paused - blinking slowly, ‘confused’ at his sudden claim. “Me?”

“Yes. Think about it! Seungkwan was working with you. You’re too calm. That’s suspicious!”

You turned your voice low, almost sad at his gullibility.

“Hoshi…if I was mafia, why would I still be playing this quietly now? I even supported you when you suspected Dino earlier!”

Mingyu’s eyebrows raised. “...Wait, yeah. That’s true.”

“And remember when we were voting? Hoshi asked three times what the vote was before answering, he hesitated.”

Wonwoo narrowed his eyes at Hoshi “He did.”

“And you’ve been pointing fingers all game, but never leading the charge. That’s a sign of guilt, Hosh. Planting seeds but never watering them.” You tsk-ed, leaning back against the backrest while your head shook.

Hoshi’s eyes widened, shocked at how the tables suddenly turned. “N–No, I— That’s not— I was just trying to…wait—”

.

“There is at least one civillian who made the correct guess. From now, you must find the mafia.”

“Let’s just quickly kill Dino.”

Everyone raised their thumbs once again,

“One, two, three.” You called out, joining the rest in putting your thumb down.

“Dino’s identity is a Mafia member.”

No voting rounds left. No more accusations. The air was thick with curiosity.

The remaining members sat around, eyes bouncing between each other, trying to read any lingering guilt or celebration behind forced poker faces.

Dino, still slightly smug after successfully diverting suspicion, leaned back in his seat, relaxed with the air of someone who’d survived the worst.

Then, Wonwoo stood up.

A quiet shift.

Next to him, you pushed off your seat too, stretching slightly before stepping forward.

You crossed the seats, walking straight to Dino - who looked up at you, cheery.

“Thank you, my baby Dino~” You gave him a hug he swiftly accepted.

Wonwoo came up behind, placing a hand on Dino’s shoulder as he leaned down with you.

“Seriously. You helped us a lot.”

The room went still.

“Wait. Wait. WAIT—”

Hoshi, standing up with his mouth wide open:

“NO WAY. I WAS RIGHT.”

Minghao, deadpanned. “I knew it.”

Seungcheol pointed accusingly, eyes wide. “It was you all this while? I really thought it was Woozi!”

You laughed, a full-out one this time, your head dipping down to hide. While Wonwoo just gave a casual shrug, the picture of cool.

“We just needed a little help…and all of you gave it to us without even knowing.” You faked a sigh, moving to pat Woozi’s shoulder.

Jun, half-laughing, half-betrayed, called out. “You used Dino as a pawn!”

Dokyeom clutched his chest, “I don’t know whether to applaud or cry.”

You turned back toward the group and gave a playful bow.

“Thank you for playing. That’s a mafia win!”

Wonwoo simply crossed his arms, standing beside you as the rest of the room erupted into chaotic shouting and laughter, complaints of betrayal flying like confetti.

Game Over. Mafia Wins.

--

But the second you turned in, you froze.

There it was.

A grotesque, life-sized clown, slouched in the middle of the hallway, its mask with a face twisted in a sinister smile, red nose glinting under the bare lights.

You felt the familiar buzz of horror, this time, mixed with something entirely new, entirely on instinct. You felt your heart hammering against your ribs, a frantic drumbeat against the rising terror. You tried to tell yourself it was just a prop, part of the game - but it didn’t work.

“Oh– no,” you breathed, instantly backing up. “Nope. Nope. Not doing this.”

Outside, the members burst into laughter.

“She’s overreacting already,” Vernon smirked.

“She definitely knows how to be dramatic,” Seungkwan said, eyes on the screen.

But something was different. You weren’t moving forward.

Inside the corridor, your breathing picked up. “Why can’t I– just go around it?” You asked no one, pressing yourself against the wall nearest to you. Your eyes were wide, body tense like you were fighting every instinct to run.

When the clown tilted its head slightly, your breath hitched.

It didn’t move, just stared. You took one step forward - and the clown lunged.

The air rushed out of your lungs as a shriek tore out of your throat, sharp and raw. Not the exaggerated, playful kind they all used for laughs during these episodes. This one was real. Your blood ran cold. The earlier unease exploded into full-blown, paralyzing terror. Your vision tunneled, the room spinning around the unblinking, painted face of the clown. You stumbled backward, a strangled gasp escaping your lips.

You legs moved before your brain did; You bolted - and slammed headfirst into the locked glass door. You crashed, bouncing back and stumbling, the sound of the chains clinking followed. Your flashlight clattered to the floor, hands scrambling at the locked handles. 

The laughter outside wavered.

“…Wait.” Hoshi sat up straighter.

“That was…” Jun trailed off.

You backed up, curled slightly, hands over your ears, unable to make yourself move as the clown inched closer again.

“Stop. Please stop,” you said shakily. “I can’t- I can’t look at it.”

Silence fell on the rooftop.

“That’s not acting,” Seungcheol said, standing up immediately.

The PD beside them leaned forward in alarm. “Wait– should we cut? That doesn’t look staged–”

“Hyung, pause the recording,” Minghao said, already heading for the hallway door.

.

On the other side, Jeonghan and Mingyu froze.

“Yah!” Mingyu gasped, rushing up the stairs, hands slamming against the glass. “OPEN THE DOOR!”

“What the hell?!” Jeonghan shouted, yanking at the handles. But the chains rattled in place, unmoving.

Inside, your hands were shaking. You slumped down, sliding against the door, your back pressed to the cold glass as tears welled up in your eyes.

“I can’t– I can’t–” Your breaths came out short.

“Hey,” Jeonghan called out firmly, voice muffled but steady. “Hang in there! The others are coming!”

But you couldn’t focus anymore. You didn’t care if the clown was still in the hallway or not - the fear had already won. Your phobia wasn’t just nerves. It was real.

Every part of you trembled like your body wasn’t your own anymore. Your breath came in shallow spurts. Your knees tucked close to your chest as you pressed your forehead against your knees.

Outside, Wonwoo paced, fists clenched, visibly pale.

“This isn’t right,” Jun muttered. “She’s really scared.”

In the courtyard, even as the production team watched, they grew alarmed. It wasn’t the kind of reaction they were expecting - not one this serious.

But phobias don’t always make sense.

So when Seungcheol and Hoshi came sprinting down the hall with staff keys, the door was yanked open immediately.

You didn’t even wait.

The moment the chain loosened, you stumbled forward straight into Jeonghan’s chest, arms wrapping around him tightly. He barely reacted — just curled one arm around your shoulders, his free hand smoothing down the back of your head.

“It’s okay. We’re here now. You’re okay,” he whispered.

.

You sat bundled in a hoodie and blanket in the yard, sipping water with trembling hands. Your face is pale, eyes still glassy from the rush of adrenaline.

“I’m sorry,” you muttered. “I didn’t know I was actually scared of them. It’s so dumb–”

“It’s not dumb,” Jihoon said firmly. “Phobias aren’t logical.”

“You were shaking,” Chan added, his hand resting gently on your shoulder.

“You don’t have to finish that challenge,” Seungcheol told you softly. “The footage we got already proves how strong you were for even walking in there.”

You let out a breathy laugh. “I think I almost punched a clown.”

--