When the doll said "Green light," chaos erupted. Players bolted forward, desperate to cross the finish line. The warnings of 456 were forgotten in an instant. Fear and adrenaline drove them now.
Kikidori moved cautiously at first, his legs trembling with every step. His heart pounded in his chest, and the echo of the gunshot from earlier lingered in his ears.
"Red light," the doll sang.
Everyone froze in place, but panic consumed the crowd. Someone stumbled forward, and the sharp crack of a gunshot filled the air. A scream followed, then silence.
Kikidori's legs felt like jelly, but he held his ground. His eyes darted around, trying to make sense of what was happening. When the doll announced "Green light" again, he began moving, carefully placing one foot in front of the other.
Suddenly, someone bumped into him. A hard shove sent him stumbling forward.
"No!" he whispered, barely catching himself just as the doll finished saying, "Red light." He froze, one foot awkwardly hanging in the air. He didn't dare breathe.
The doll scanned the field, its glowing eyes flicking from player to player. Kikidori clenched his jaw, willing himself to stay still.
After what felt like an eternity, the doll's voice rang out again: "Green light."
Kikidori straightened and moved quickly, desperate to put distance between himself and the chaos behind him. He glanced over his shoulder and noticed a player a few feet away. The man had purple hair, neatly painted nails, and wore the number **230** on his tracksuit. Their eyes briefly met, but neither said a word before continuing forward.
Kikidori pushed onward, his focus entirely on the finish line. One by one, players reached the other side, collapsing in relief as they crossed to safety.
By the time Kikidori made it, his heart was racing. He stumbled to the ground, gasping for air. The giant doll turned to face the field, its mechanical eyes scanning the remaining players.
"Red light."
Another round of gunshots rang out as the players still on the field were eliminated. Kikidori turned his face away, unable to watch. The screams and cries echoed in his ears as the reality of the game settled in.
When the chaos finally stopped, Kikidori looked around. The group of 456 players had dwindled significantly. He counted himself as the 214th person to cross the finish line. The survivors were led away by the pink guards, their heads hanging low in shock.
---
They were marched back into the dormitory, where the silence was deafening. The players sat on their bunks, too afraid to speak. Kikidori couldn't shake the image of the players who hadn't made it.
Suddenly, the loudspeaker crackled to life. "Congratulations to the survivors. Prepare for the next game."
Kikidori's stomach churned. What could possibly be next?
The end of Chapter 2