Countries of the World - Squid Game | Season 3, Chapter 4

PROFILE BLOG 1

PROFILE BLOG 2

^{These are filmed separately. The Assassin game will continue from the events of last episode. The fan vote is entirely separate and does not connect chronologically.}

^{ALSO, NOTE THAT FREESTATER'S GUN IS A PAINTBALL GUN THAT LOOKS LIKE AN AR-15. FREESTATER IS NOT A MASS MURDERER AND I AM NOT ATTEMPTING TO PORTRAY HIM AS SUCH THIS TIME.}

Before we continue with the story, we will announce the results of the fan vote.

"Hello, players. Welcome to the results of the viewer vote. As you know, this is televised. The viewers at home got to vote on who should stay and who should go. They can choose up to (3) contestants who should be eliminated, and the (1) with the highest votes will be promptly eliminated.."

"I will read the votes aloud, one by one."

"I feel like we all know who this will be." 067|ItzIngenious chuckled.

"Yeah, I'd be very surprised if it wasn't... her." 249|Idaho laughed.

"Yes, she es definitely be vote." 087|Nicaragua covered his mouth with his hand as he laughed.

"What the hell are they talking about?" 211|California asked.

"Am not know..." 168|Nigeria shrugged,

"The first vote is for... PLAYER 211: California." 

"Haters, as usual." 211|California scoffed.

"Yeah... that's definitely what it is..." 241|Kansas rolled his eyes.

"The next vote... PLAYER 249: Idaho."

"Okay, one episode of votes, I figured it was just a fluke... but this is getting concerning." 249|Idaho shook his head.

"PLAYER 211: California."

"PLAYER 249: Idaho."

"So is this going to be a tie?" 211|California asked.

"PLAYER 211: California."

"PLAYER 249: Idaho."

"This is nerve-wracking." 249|Idaho wiped some sweat from his forehead.

"PLAYER 211: California."

"PLAYER 211: California."

"PLAYER 211: California."

"PLAYER 211: California."

"PLAYER 211: California."

"PLAYER 211: California."

"PLAYER 211: California."

"What the hell?" 211|California asked.

"PLAYER 211: California."

"PLAYER 211: California."

"PLAYER 211: California."

"PLAYER 211: California."

"PLAYER 211: California."

"Okay, this is a bit ridiculous. Read the rest of the votes." 211|California demanded.

(Confessional: 211|California)

"It's actually kind of disgusting how the general public has banded together to stop me from winning the money that I clearly deserve."

(End Confessional: 211|California)

"Attention, players. The votes have been counted."

"WHAT?" 211|California screeched.

"By a vote... of 15 to 3... PLAYER 211, ELIMINATED."

211|California was seized by two guards, burlier than average.

"No! LET ME GO! LET ME GO!" 211|California kicked and screamed, attempting to assault the guards, but that just got her restraints tied tighter. She was chained up and thrown over the shoulder of one of the guards, and was taken through the stage doors, screaming.

"27 players remaining."

The players began to celebrate.

"She's finally gone!" 067|ItzIngenious high-fived 039|LuckyCat.

"Yes, we're so lucky we got to witness that." 039|LuckyCat laughed in response.

"No one's happier 'n I am." 110|Mississippi chuckled, a grin creeping onto his face.

[Twenty-seven. Twenty-six.]

067|ItzIngenious finally found his voice, half-laugh, half-sob. “This-this is a prank, right? Like, cut the cameras! Tell me it’s a prank!”

No one answered. No one could.

042|Seychelles clutched her necklace and whispered rapid prayers as she backed toward the exit.

[Twenty-five. Twenty-four.]

006|France let go of 148|Costa Rica’s hand just long enough to twirl his mustache in frantic circles, a nervous tic he couldn’t stop. “Thees ees crazy."

148|Costa Rica reached blindly for 039|LuckyCat again; this time he took her hand properly and squeezed it tight. “Stay with me,” he whispered, voice shaking behind his glasses. “We find a hiding spot together, okay?”

148|Costa Rica nodded, but at the craziness of the crowd, they got swept apart. 006|France pulled 148|Costa Rica with him, and 039|LuckyCat tentatively followed 110|Mississippi (carrying a still-snoring 185|Montenegro), 054|Capybarra, and 087|Nicaragua (pushing a delirious 274|Paraguay's wheelchair).

[Twenty-three. Twenty-two.]

161|Cyprus edged closer to the cluster of players. “We are stick together, yes?”

050|Latvia nodded fiercely, grabbing 196|Ukraine’s sleeve. “We have protect you from worse. We can surviving this too.”

196|Ukraine’s jaw set hard. “Yes, no run alone.”

[Twenty-one. Twenty.]

135|Georgia snapped. “Y’all listen...scatter smart, not wild. Dormitory got them high bunks. Glass bridge got them dark corners. Don’t clump up...he’ll pick clusters easy.”

241|Kansas looked like he might faint. “But… but we’re supposed to get snacks with the coins, right? This isn’t… this isn’t in the rules...”

[ Nineteen. Eighteen.]

172|Chad cracked his knuckles, eyes darting. “Am not hide.” He flashed a dangerous grin that didn’t reach his eyes.

168|Nigeria, right beside him, shook his head fast. “You are mad? He is have rifle.”

[Seventeen. Sixteen.]

120|Sealand tried to look brave, but his voice cracked high. “I’m small, I can fit places no one else can. Under the ddakji tables, maybe-”

055|ColinShadow cut him off, already calculating escape vectors. “Dalgona room, maybe? Those candy shelves have lots of cover.”

[Fifteen. Fourteen.]

001|Papua New Guinea and 245|Solomon Islands broke their shoulder grip only to slap each other on the back, one last bro gesture, before splitting directions.

“Am see you on other side,” 245|Solomon Islands muttered.

“If we am make it there,” 001|Papua New Guinea replied grimly.

[Thirteen. Twelve.]

110|Mississippi adjusted the dead-weight 185|Montenegro higher on his shoulder.

[Eleven.]

[Ten. Nine. Eight.]

And then the sprint began, right where we left off in Chapter 3. Pure pandemonium exploded.

087|Nicaragua was already sprinting, one hand gripping the handles of a predictably screaming and laughing 274|Paraguay’s wheelchair, wheels rattling wildly over the glossy floor as he bolted for the nearest door. “¡VAMOS, VAMOS, VAMOS!” he screamed as his voice cracked with terror, as he was further pushed to his limit by 274|Paraguay's screeching and thrashing.

039|LuckyCat froze for half a second, and then bolted after him, clutching his cat-shaped keychain. “W-wait for me!”

110|Mississippi, still with the snoring 185|Montenegro slung over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, lumbered after the pack. “Y’all move your [censored]es! I ain’t dyin’ with this sleepy [censored] on my back!” _{(not sure if b(1)(19)(20)(1)(18)d counts as a bad word, but not worth getting my blog deleted to find out)}

[Seven. Six. Five.]

222|England shoved past 241|Kansas, who stood rooted to the spot, Velcro shoes squeaking as he finally jolted into motion.

241|Kansas stammered, “B-but this can’t be real, right? This isn’t… this isn’t real!”

“It’s real, farm boy!” 135|Georgia barked, grabbing 241|Kansas by the collar and hauling him along. “Run now, pray later!”

001|Papua New Guinea thundered past everyone, long strides eating the floor. “Mi run go hide!” he roared, voice deep and terrified.

042|Seychelles kicked off her sandals for better speed as she darted toward the Red Light, Green Light hall.

[Four. Three.]

054|Capybarra and 055|ColinShadow ran side-by-side as 054|Capybarra muttered rapid calculations under his breath. “Dormitory’s closest, higher bunks for cover...” while 055|ColinShadow just wheezed, “This is insane, like this is actually insane!”

067|ItzIngenious, for once not joking, sprinted flat-out. He shoved past 120|Sealand, who yelped, “Hey, watch it!”

120|Sealand scrambled after him anyway, too small to push through the crush, forced to duck and weave between legs.

[TWO.]

006|France, thick mustache quivering, grabbed 148|Costa Rica’s hand without asking and pulled her toward the honeycomb (Dalgona) room for quick cover.

148|Costa Rica didn’t argue, and just ran.

168|Nigeria and 172|Chad exchanged one lightning-fast look and split in opposite directions, 168|Nigeria diving toward the tug-of-war bridge, and 172|Chad barreled for the glass bridge corridor.

[ONE.]

The buzzer screamed.

197|FreeStater rose slowly from the floor, AR-15 already shouldered, that same calm, terrible smile on his face.

Click. The safety flipped off.

The first burst of gunfire echoed through the massive facility like rolling thunder.

Players scattered in every direction, some toward the dormitory’s endless white bunks, some into the marble hall, others desperately seeking the darkened corners of past game rooms from previous seasons.

087|Nicaragua skidded around a corner, still pushing 274|Paraguay’s chair. “¡Am almost there!”

A bullet ricocheted off the wall inches from his head.

He didn’t look back, and his heart pumped out of his chest.

Behind them all, 197|FreeStater began to walk, not running, just strolling, humming softly to himself, finger light on the trigger.

Ten minutes had begun... and twenty-six players were now prey.

Dormitory

The blue door leading to the dormitory hissed open under 087|Nicaragua’s frantic shove, and all could hear the wheelchair’s wheels clattering over the threshold.

274|Paraguay sat limp in the chair, head lolling about, and completely oblivious to the gunfire starting to echo in the distance, and even if he was, he'd probably be laughing right now.

039|LuckyCat stumbled in right behind him, his glasses fogged with panic-sweat, clutching 148|Costa Rica’s "pura vida" keychain he’d grabbed in the rush. “T-the top bunks, right? Higher is safer-”

“Sí, sí, muévense!” 087|Nicaragua snapped, wheeling 274|Paraguay straight down the endless center aisle between the towering metal beds.

110|Mississippi lumbered through the doors a minute later, 185|Montenegro still draped over his shoulder like a sandbag. 185|Montenegro was still snoring softly, even now.

“This boy sleeps through the apocalypse,” he muttered and rolled his eyes, with sweat rolling down his cheeks. “Where y’all hidin’? I ain’t carryin’ him up a ladder.”

054|Capybarra slipped in last, shutting the door as quietly as he could, though the click echoed anyway. His eyes darted, calculating. “Third row from the end, five-tier stack. Highest point, hardest sight line from the door. We climb opposite sides, spread out. Blankets over us for extra hidden-ness.”

087|Nicaragua didn’t argue. He parked 274|Paraguay’s wheelchair at the base of the chosen stack, wedging it between two lower bunks so it wouldn’t roll. “He es stay down here. If that cabrón come, maybe he es think the chair es empty.”

039|LuckyCat was already scrambling up the metal rungs, legs shaking. “I’m lightest, I'll go on the top bunk.” He hauled himself onto the highest tier, pulling a thin blanket over his body, curling small.

110|Mississippi grunted, carefully sliding the still-snoring 185|Montenegro onto a middle bunk like depositing a sandbag. “Sorry, buddy, you’re the human shield tier.” He climbed to the fourth level, sprawling flat, blanket tugged up to his chin. “If bullets fly, they hit sleepyhead first.”

054|Capybarra took the second-highest, extremely careful to move with precision. He arranged the blanket to drape naturally, hiding his outline, then froze, listening for any sudden movements.

087|Nicaragua climbed lowest but on the opposite side, facing the door. He pulled his blanket tight, his hand resting near 274|Paraguay’s wheelchair below, just in case he needed to yank it as a distraction.

The five of them, four conscious, one oblivious, lay stacked like sardines in the towering bunk, and 274|Paraguay sat with one of 110|Mississippi's "clean" socks tied around his mouth so he couldn't laugh or scream randomly to give away their position.

Far away, muffled through walls, the first scream cut short.

Then footsteps. Slow. Measured.

Coming closer.

The dormitory’s endless white silence pressed in, broken only by 185|Montenegro’s soft snores.

They didn’t move. In fact, they barely breathed.

Red Light Green Light Arena

“Thees one." 042|Seychelles quietly opened the door to the Red Light, Green Light room, allowing for 050|Latvia, 196|Ukraine, and 161|Cyprus to slip inside. “We are freeze, like usually are do in zis game. No will shooting statue."

Scattered around the sandy floor in the Red Light, Green Light arena were life-size statue replicas of eliminated players in various body positions.

"Ah, if are pretend that we are statue, he will not killing us!" 161|Cyprus exclaimed. He nodded once, sweat beading on his forehead.

050|Latvia and 196|Ukraine slipped in right behind, moving together to find a place to hide.

050|Latvia pointed to the far wall. "You are

“Okay,” 196|Ukraine breathed, already dropping low to get in position.

They scattered quickly.

042|Seychelles kicked into a frozen hop, one foot raised, arms out for balance, exactly halfway across the field. She forced her breathing shallow, with her eyes locked forward.

161|Cyprus chose a dramatic lean, body twisted as if mid-turn toward the doll, mouth half-open in mock surprise. He held it perfectly still, every muscle locked.

050|Latvia planted herself near the edge, one leg bent, hands clasped in front like she’d just caught her balance. Her face was calm, but her pulse hammered so hard she feared 197|FreeStater could hear it from the hallway.

196|Ukraine crouched low beside the massive pedestal, with his knees bent and his head tucked, half-hidden in the structure’s shadow, but still visible enough to pass as one of the statues.

The four of them became statues themselves among ghosts, frozen in convincing enough positions to avoid detection.

The hall fell deathly silent except for the faint buzz of fluorescent lights... and then, the sound of shoes on the ground.

The doors creaked open.

197|FreeStater’s shadow stretched long across the floor as he stepped in, rifle raised.

He paused, and turned his head slowly, taking in the field of motionless figures.

042|Seychelles’ heart slammed against her ribs. 161|Cyprus stared straight ahead, vision tunneling. 050|Latvia’s legs already burned from holding the pose.

197|FreeStater took one step forward.

Then another.

The rifle "barrel" swept the room in a lazy arc.

He was close enough now they could hear him whistling a soft, tuneless sound.

He stopped.

Right in front of 042|Seychelles.

Looked directly at her frozen face.

And smiled.

Then kept walking.

Past her.

Past all of them.

The footsteps receded toward the far exit.

None of them moved.

Not yet.

Not until the doors closed again and the silence returned.

They were still breathing.

For now.

042|Seychelles’ leg trembled first due to the strain of holding the pose too long. She bit her lip, trying to lock it still, but the burn was too much. Just a tiny shift, barely a whisper.

The doors creaked open again.

197|FreeStater’s head poked back in and his eyes scanned once more like he’d forgotten something.

His gaze locked on her.

The rifle snapped up.

Crack!

A sharp sting exploded in 042|Seychelles’ thigh, and a bright red splatter bloomed across her tracksuit like spilled paint.

She gasped, collapsing to one knee and clutching the spot. “Q-quoi...?” Horror washed over her face as she stared at the “wound”, not blood, but thick red paint dripping down her leg. The AR-15 wasn’t loaded with bullets. It was a paintball gun.

However... the "assault rifle" may have been a farce, but the game surely wasn't.

042|Seychelles’ eyes widened in terror. “N-non, am found, but only ees paint-”

The guards materialized from the shadows in silent pink suits, equipped with real rifles.

A single shot rang out, not from 197|FreeStater, but from them.

042|Seychelles crumpled fully, lifeless, the paint mixing with the real viscous red puddle on the floor.

161|Cyprus, 050|Latvia, and 196|Ukraine didn’t dare breathe as they stayed frozen with their hearts pounding loudly. 197|FreeStater chuckled and left, rifle over his shoulder.

The loudspeakers crackled to life, booming through every room in the facility:

"PLAYER 042. ELIMINATED. 26 players remaining."

Glass Bridge

The glass bridge corridor was pitch black except for the faint emergency strips glowing along the edge.

172|Chad led the way. “Dark ees good,” he muttered. “He non can shoot zat 'e can non see.. We are go halfway, ees far enough zat 'e ees skip eet, but ees close enough zat we are safe.

168|Nigeria nodded, breathing hard. “We are go halfway, and no go more far.”

060|Honduras brought up the rear, glancing back every few steps. “Just no picking wrong, hermanos. One mistake and tú are die.”

067|ItzIngenious lingered at the entrance with a shaky grin. “Hey, I got this. I’ll go a bit further and find us the perfect spot.” Before anyone could stop him, he darted ahead, hopping panel to panel like it was a game.

“No, come back, pendejo!” 060|Honduras hissed.

But 067|ItzIngenious was already ten panels in, whispering to himself. “Left… no, right… this one feels lucky…” He jumped.

Crack.

The glass shattered beneath him in a spiderweb of white fractures.

For one frozen heartbeat he hovered, arms windmilling, eyes wide. “Oh cr-”

Then the panel gave way completely.

He dropped. A short, sharp scream, cut off by the crunch far below. The three others froze on their safe panels, staring at the empty hole where 067|ItzIngenious had stood.

168|Nigeria’s hand flew to his mouth. “Well…”

172|Chad’s bravado cracked and his face drained of color. “'E… 'e ees…”

"PLAYER 067. ELIMINATED. 25 players remaining."

060|Honduras did a quick sign-of-the-cross on himself, and whispered, “Dios mío. Un wrong step.”

No one spoke for several seconds. Their heartbeats thundered in their ears like drums as they pondered their next move.

Then 172|Chad swallowed hard. “We are stay here, on close side, and we are lay flat and face up. Maybe he ees look down and zinks zat we are gone already.”

They moved carefully, three panels in, all confirmed tempered by gentle testing taps.

One by one, they stretched out on their backs, arms at their sides, staring up into the darkness.

060|Honduras whispered a rapid prayer with his eyes squeezed shut tightly. "Padrenuestroqueestásenencielo..."

172|Chad lay rigid, fists clenched at his sides. His heart pounded so hard the glass beneath him vibrated.

Far away, faint footsteps echoed, likely 197|FreeStater somewhere else in the facility.

But here, in the dark, on fragile glass, the three of them lay perfectly still and barely breathing. Thanking whatever god was listening that they hadn’t followed 067|ItzIngenious.

120|Sealand darted in first and slipped easily under a booth table. “In here, there's plenty of nooks and crannies. I’m not that big, I'll manage.”

245|Solomon Islands and 001|Papua New Guinea followed close, breathing hard. “Is good cover,” 245|Solomon Islands whispered.

249|Idaho lumbered in next, and ducked behind a tall rack of empty marble pouches.

241|Kansas stumbled through the door. “This...this isn’t right. We’re supposed to be playing fair games…”

222|England shoved him forward gently but firmly. “Be quiet and get under the damn benches unless you want to die."

They scattered quickly.

120|Sealand crawled deep under the central booth, curling into a ball behind a pile of forgotten game boards.

001|Papua New Guinea and 245|Solomon Islands took opposite sides, 001|Papua New Guinea squeezing his large frame under a curved bench, and 245|Solomon Islands flattening himself behind a row of low stools.

249|Idaho wedged himself into the narrow gap between two brick walls.

241|Kansas lay flat on his back beneath a table, hands folded neatly over his chest.

222|England chose the shadows near the entrance wall, pressed against the cool paneling behind a decorative pillar.

For a moment, nothing moved or made a sound except for the ragged breathing and the distant echo of gunfire from other halls.

Then footsteps.

The door creaked wider.

197|FreeStater stepped in and swept the room with his rifle.

He walked the perimeter first, humming again.

120|Sealand peeked out ever so slightly to track him.

Big mistake.

The movement caught 197|FreeStater’s eye.

CRACK!

Paintballs slammed into the booth above 120|Sealand, but one caught him in the shoulder as he scrambled back.

“Ah!” 120|Sealand yelped, too loud.

Guards appeared instantly.

A real shot.

120|Sealand crumpled, and his body went still instantaneously.

001|Papua New Guinea’s eyes widened in horror from his hiding spot, and he shifted instinctively to see.

197|FreeStater's rifle swung.

CRACK! Red paint across 001|Papua New Guinea’s chest and arm.

Another real shot from the guards.

001|Papua New Guinea slumped over, lifeless.

249|Idaho, panicked by the noise, tried to burrow deeper, but his boot scraped the floor.

197|FreeStater pivoted on his heel.

CRACK! Paint across 249|Idaho’s leg.

249|Idaho froze, staring at the red mark in disbelief.

The guards stepped forward.

Final shot.

249|Idaho fell silent. Permanently.

241|Kansas whimpered under his table, hands over his mouth.

245|Solomon Islands pressed himself flatter on the ground, barely breathing.

222|England didn’t move a muscle as tears silently streamed down her cheeks.

The loudspeaker crackled overhead.

[PLAYER 120, PLAYER 001, and PLAYER 249, eliminated. 22 players remaining.]

197|FreeStater lingered a moment longer, scanned, and then moved on.

In the dim marbles hall, three bodies lay still. Three others' hearts pounded in the dark, praying that the hunter wouldn’t come back.

235|Colombia, 055|ColinShadow, and 214|Kiribati slipped through the side door into the CATCH! room. But no time to think about old games.

“Bleachers,” 235|Colombia whispered urgently and moved low toward the long rows of spectator seats along the far wall. “Behind them es plenty of space, he no es see us if we staying flat.”

055|ColinShadow nodded quickly. “Line of sight blocked from the doors. Good cover.” 214|Kiribati followed silently.

They ducked under the lowest tier and crawled deep into the narrow space behind the metal supports, pressing their backs against the cool wall. The bleachers smelled of old sweat and rubber.

235|Colombia pulled his knees to his chest in an attempt to make himself smaller. “Stay still. No make noise.”

055|ColinShadow lay flat on his stomach and peered out through the tiny gap between seats. “I’ll watch the door.”

214|Kiribati curled beside him, but her foot, just slightly, poked out past the edge of the bleacher frame. She didn’t notice as the adrenaline made her limbs feel numb.

Minutes dragged on.

Then footsteps.

The main door creaked open.

197|FreeStater stepped in slowly and his eyes were tracing the colored dots like he was remembering the rules.

He walked the perimeter once.

Then again.

Closer to the bleachers.

055|ColinShadow’s breath stopped.

235|Colombia’s hand clamped over his own mouth.

214|Kiribati shifted, just a fraction, to ease a cramp.

Her foot slid another inch into the open.

197|FreeStater’s gaze snapped down.

CRACK!

Two quick paintballs slammed into the floor right beside her exposed shoe.

214|Kiribati yanked her leg back with a sharp gasp. “No... no-"

Too late.

The guards materialized from the entrances silently.

One shot.

214|Kiribati went limp, and her body slumped against the bleacher supports.

235|Colombia stared in frozen horror, hand still over his mouth.

055|ColinShadow’s eyes filled with tears behind his glasses, but he didn’t make a sound.

The loudspeaker echoed through the court and every room beyond.

[PLAYER 214, eliminated. 21 players remaining.]

197|FreeStater lingered a moment, listening, then turned and walked out.

Behind the bleachers, 235|Colombia and 055|ColinShadow lay perfectly still in the shadow.

006|France crouched behind a supply cart in the Dalgona room, trying to tame the twitching of his gelled mustache. “We are wait until 'e pass, and zen we are rush him, and je am go for ze rifle.”

135|Georgia nodded. “I got his legs.”

148|Costa Rica swallowed hard, her small hands shaking. “Yo am grab an arm. We can doing this.”

050|Latvia gripped a loose metal pole she’d pried from a wall fixture. “I am hit high, aņd you are distract.”

060|Honduras cracked his knuckles. “Yo am pin him.”

They heard the footsteps coming closer, and got into position.

197|FreeStater rounded the corner, rifle slung easy, humming.

“Maintenant!” 006|France hissed.

They exploded from cover. 135|Georgia lunged first, low and fast, shoulder driving into FreeStater’s thighs.

CRACK! CRACK! CRACK! Paintballs erupted wildly as the rifle jerked.

One slammed into 135|Georgia’s chest, and a red splotch bloomed across his shirt.

Another caught 148|Costa Rica mid-leap, spinning her sideways with a sharp cry.

050|Latvia swung the pole, and connected with the barrel, but a third paintball took her in the shoulder.

060|Honduras roared, grabbing 197|FreeStater’s arm, but the rifle bucked again, and paint splattered across his side.

Guards stepped from the shadows.

Four precise shots.

135|Georgia, 148|Costa Rica, 050|Latvia, 060|Honduras, all gone in seconds. The bodies hit the floor.

197|FreeStater staggered under the sudden weight.

006|France. untouched in the chaos, saw an opening.

He dove forward and clasped his hand around the barrel, twisting with desperate strength.

“Non!”

197|FreeStater snarled, fighting back, but 006|France had leverage now.

They wrestled, grunting, slipping, and sliding on the paint-slick floor.

006|France slammed 197|FreeStater’s wrist against the wall.

Once.

Twice.

On the third slam, the rifle clattered free and slid across the tiles.

006|France kicked it away and put his hands in the air as guards entered the room.

[PLAYER 135, PLAYER 148, PLAYER 050, and PLAYER 060 have been eliminated. PLAYER 197’s hunt is over. 17 players remaining.]

006|France stood alone in the corridor, surrounded by the bodies of the four who’d trusted his plan.

He stared at the fallen rifle.

Then at his trembling, empty hands.

Survived Assassin: 16 + 1 (197|FreeStater) = 17

Eliminated: 10

"Hey, what's good?" 110|Mississippi did a handshake with 054|Capybarra and 087|Nicaragua.

"We're good, we're good." 054|Capybarra smiled.

"Sí amigo, everything es fine-" 087|Nicaragua was cut off by the sound of boots on the ground.

197|FreeStater strode up to them.

"Hey, y'all." 197|FreeStater smiled sheepishly.

"Oh." 110|Mississippi looked at him awkwardly.

"Look, y'all, those were paintball bullets. I just got chosen and had to play the part." 197|FreeStater scratched the back of his head as he attempted to explain himself.

"Yeah... I get it. It was pretty horrifyin' though." 110|Mississippi chuckled.

"Yeah, I c'n imagine." 197|FreeStater grinned.

(Confessional: 222|England)

"The money is so close, I can almost taste it. I'm motivated and I'm not going anywhere."

The suspense only grew, however, as the doors on the stage swung open, and around twelve or so guards stepped out, standing in loose shoulder-to-shoulder lines on the stage.

"We can never get a break in here." 055|ColinShadow groaned.

"It doesn't matter. Top 17!" 054|Capybarra cheered.

[Attention, players.]

"If I never hear those words again, it'll be too soon." 055|ColinShadow stretched his face dramatically in annoyance.

[It is time for the next character test.]

"Have we not be test enough?" 196|Ukraine asked.

[Three monitors will be given higher authority inside of the dormitory.]

Most of the players looked around at each other in confusion.

[You must collectively choose who they will be...right now.]

"I'll do it." As soon as the Frontman stopped speaking, 110|Mississippi raised his hand.

"I'll give it a go." 222|England raised her hand.

"I am also want to try." 196|Ukraine raised his hand as well.

"Everyone who is want, stand over zere." 006|France pointed to a spot a little bit away from the rest of the group.

222|England, 196|Ukraine, 110|Mississippi, 161|Cyprus, 241|Kansas, and 168|Nigeria all stepped over to the separate group.

"I think I should be in automatically, I'm the only girl." 222|England stated.

"Well, I'll be. You're the only girl left in the whole game." 110|Mississippi looked around to verify his own claim.

"Well, why we should care eef zere ees a girl een ze group, eef there ees 16 of us guys, and only ees one girl?" 172|Chad pointed out.

"'E ees not wrong. 222, you're out." 006|France pointed to the ground for 222|England to get out of line. She glared at him and at 172|Chad, and took her spot back in the larger group.

"I like 110's leadership." 054|Capybarra interjected.

"I agree." 039|LuckyCat chimed in.

"Alright, so definitely 110. I'm also thinking 241." 055|ColinShadow added, one arm leaning on the handle of a sleeping 274|Paraguay's wheelchair.

"Am okay with zat." 172|Chad shrugged.

"And one more... maybe 161? I know he missed out on Mingle. He'll get the chance to do something interactive." 054|Capybarra suggested.

"Okay, decent choice. So 161, 110, and 241. Any objections?" 197|FreeStater looked around.

222|England raised her hand.

"Any relevant objections?" 197|FreeStater reiterated.

Nobody else raised their hand.

"Well, that settles it."

(Confessional: 110|Mississippi)

"I don't know what's required to be a monitor, but I c'n be a risk-taker. Besides, it might gimme an advantage or somethin'."

(End Confessional: 110|Mississippi)

The three of them stepped forward to the guard in front of the stage, who handed them each a silver badge with 리더 (leader) stamped onto it.

"Thank ya." 110|Mississippi grinned as he accepted the badge, using it to replace the blue 'O' patch previously on his chest. 161|Cyprus and 241|Kansas did the same.

"Attention, monitors."

"Що?!" 196|Ukraine was startled by the loudspeaker.

"As part of your monitor privileges, you will receive luxury bedding."

Many players expressed their shock at the announcement.

"Ooh, nice!" 055|ColinShadow exclaimed.

"Another player must make your bed for you."

"Damnnnn!" 197|FreeStater chuckled.

"Does anyone wanna volunteer? I'm not gonna degrade one of y'all to make my bed for me." 110|Mississippi offered.

"I am do it." 168|Nigeria raised his hand.

172|Chad raised his hand and smiled at 241|Kansas, and 241|Kansas threw his arm over 172|Chad's shoulder.

"I can volunteer." 055|ColinShadow offered to make 161|Cyprus' bed, who shrugged and accepted the help.

Three guards stepped forward, carrying a thick, rolled-up blanket, crisp satin sheets, and pillows with satin pillowcases for each of the three monitors, and placed them in the arms of 172|Chad, 168|Nigeria, and 055|ColinShadow respectively.

"Attention, monitors. Your breakfast is served." 

The doors on the stage flew open once more, and five guards emerged, three of them holding chairs. In front of them was a long green table, and evenly spaced on that table was three plates.

On each plate was a relatively tall stack of pancakes, topped with maple syrup and assorted berries. The table was brought to the front of the stage, but still at a higher level than the floor. The players looked up to see the table.

Another guard brought three glasses to the table as well, and placed one at the left of each plate. He then placed a jug of orange juice on the table.

"What?" 110|Mississippi laughed to himself at his fortune.

"Wait, so we have to eat it in front of the whole dorm?" 241|Kansas asked.

"Yes, this is look good." 161|Cyprus rubbed his hands together in anticipation.

Everyone stood around in the dorm while the monitors ate their breakfast.

"I'm so hungry. I can't look." 222|England groaned.

(Confessional: 222|England)

"I love orange juice. I'm so mad right now."

(End Confessional: 222|England)

Surprisingly, not many people were watching the monitors eat, mostly because they couldn't stomach the feeling of hunger and envy at the same time.

241|Kansas closed his eyes as he savored the meal.

(Confessional: 241|Kansas)

"It takes a certain caliber of person to be able to step into this monitor role. I think the special treatment is justified. It's not like I'm waving my fork around and bragging about it."

"I'm getting full, I don't think I can eat anymore." 241|Kansas moaned and held his stomach. He stood up and walked back down the stairs from the stage, the other two monitors following suit.

"Yo no could watching that. Seeing 241 chew just making me so mad." 235|Colombia groaned.

"I know, I'm so hungry." 197|FreeStater replied.

"Yo am be first in line for the food." 235|Colombia laughed.

"I think that resentment is starting to grow." 039|LuckyCat observed while eating the cold porridge.

"так, usually when you are volunteer you are not get this many benefit." 196|Ukraine replied.

"I think there's probably something more to the role." 039|LuckyCat continued.

"I was want to be monitor, but I am guess this is sign that is not for me. Giving them good food, and then sending them home." 196|Ukraine laughed, and 039|LuckyCat laughed also.

"This is going to be my last bite." 039|LuckyCat took one last spoonful of porridge, and immediately grabbed his water bottle to drown out the disgusting taste.

Suddenly, two guards bursted through the blue door to the dorms.

"Attention, monitors. Please follow the staff."

161|Cyprus, 110|Mississippi, and 241|Kansas walked in a single file line to follow the staff through the blue door.

"What eef zey are ze ones going up for élimination?" 006|France considered.

"That is good point. They may are think that they having the power, but maybe they are one that get put up." 245|Solomon Islands agreed.

"Es a possibility." 235|Colombia replied as he cracked his knuckles.

The guards led the three monitors into an empty white room, with shiny walls and floors. The only thing in the room was three podiums. Each had a red button on it.

"Agh." 110|Mississippi and 161|Cyprus sighed at the same time. They looked side to side.

"Any ideas what this could be?" 110|Mississippi asked.

"Nothing good could come from this." 241|Kansas shrugged.

"Attention, monitors. You must now select three players to put at risk... of elimination."

"Oh, wow." 241|Kansas winced.

161|Cyprus shook his head and sighed heavily. 110|Mississippi saw his distress and pulled him in for a brotherly embrace.

"I really didn't wanna be in this position." 110|Mississippi sighed.

"I did not want either." 161|Cyprus nodded.

"They're going to know that we did it." 241|Kansas realized. "I was hoping it could be done anonymously, but everyone will know we did it."

"Great, another target on our backs." 110|Mississippi rolled his eyes. "So who we choosin' first?"

"I'm thinkin' 054. He's a little pretentious, I don't care for him much. I also think he's a huge threat and could definitely pull out a win." 241|Kansas frowned.

"Alright, I got no issue with that. So 054. Who else we thinkin'?" 110|Mississippi made a mental note of 241|Kansas' choice. "I think it's fair if each of us get a choice, so there will be three at the end."

"Is sound good to me." 161|Cyprus shrugged. "I am want 006. Is very annoy me."

"France? I'm kinda fond of his mustache, though." 110|Mississippi laughed. "Alright, then. We got 054, 006, and now for my pick..."

110|Mississippi stroked at his wispy chin hair and kicked his right foot back and forth as he pondered the decision.

"I'm a little salty about havin' to carry that guy around durin' the game and all. I'm thinkin' 185." 110|Mississippi scowled.

The hunt for survival into the Top 13 Players is underway, and eleven have secured their position:

But which two players will join them? Find out in the next section!

"Attention, players." 

The 14 players that were currently in the dorm were just sitting around, talking about their lives to pass the time.

"What is now? Ja am try to sleep." A groggy 185|Montenegro rubbed his eyes and sat up in his bed.

"The monitors have picked three players to send to the chore room."

"We have to do chores?" 039|LuckyCat groaned.

"185. 054. 006."

087|Nicaragua, 197|FreeStater, 039|LuckyCat, 235|Colombia, and 196|Ukraine were sitting in a small circle on the floor.

"Wow, es interesting combinación." 087|Nicaragua observed.

185|Montenegro dumped himself out of bed, very much against his will. He walked a little bit less lazily than usual to catch up to 006|France and 054|Capybarra, who were already en route to the chore room.

"Do you think they'll have to do something bad?" 039|LuckyCat asked.

"Yeah, am think is bad." 196|Ukraine's eyes followed the three chosen as they exited the dorm.

A little while later, the screen above the stage clicked on, and the eleven players in the dorm were able to see 054|Capybarra, 185|Montenegro, and 006|France in the chore room.

"Ay dios mío, look!" 235|Colombia pointed to the screen.

Chore Room

"There's buttons." 054|Capybarra observed as he strolled into the cold chore room, 006|France and a sleepy 185|Montenegro right behind him.

The chore room consisted of many items. The walls were lined with cabinets, first-aid kits, a fire extinguisher, and the like. There was a trash can, a big rusty metallic oven hood, a sink full of the breakfast's porridge tins, and, most conspicuously, were two long, metal tables, in the center of the room, standing out on the tiled floor.

On the foremost metal table was three red buttons, evenly spaced.

"This isn't good."

White Room

110|Mississippi, 241|Kansas, and 161|Cyprus were standing evenly spaced from their respective podiums.

Suddenly, a voice rang through the speakers in both the white room and the chore room.

"Attention, nominees and monitors. PLAYERS 006, 054, and 185 have been put at risk of elimination by the monitors' choice."

"ŠTO?" 185|Montenegro's eyes went wide for the first time in the game.

This revelation from the voice also earned many shocked gasps from the eleven still in the dorm.

"However... monitors... you... are also at risk of elimination." 

"Oh [censored]." 110|Mississippi swore as he bent down to his knees in frustration.

"The first two players to press their button once they have turned green will pass and will return to the dormitory. The other four players will be eliminated."

"Genuinely, what the hell." 054|Capybarra threw his hands up in frustration.

"You will not be notified when the buttons turn green. Be vigilant."

"So we have to wait for potentially minutes to hours and stare at these buttons?" 241|Kansas complained from the white room.

"The clock... starts... now."

The chore room fell into tense silence.

054|Capybarra, 006|France, and 185|Montenegro stood around the foremost metal table, eyes locked on the three red buttons. 185|Montenegro rubbed his eyes again, finally awake, but wishing he wasn’t.

054|Capybarra leaned forward slightly, elbows on the table. “We don’t move until they go green. First two who hit it live."

006|France twirled his mustache nervously.

185|Montenegro just grunted, slumping against the table edge. “Please waking me when is over.”

White Room

110|Mississippi paced in tight circles. “This is messed up. We pick ‘em, then we’re on the block too? What kinda twist is this?”

161|Cyprus stared at his red button like it was a snake. “We are have to being faster.”

241|Kansas stood rigid, with his hands clasped behind his back, “I didn’t sign up for this part. But... I’m ready.”

Minutes dragged by as everyone stood together in silence.

Dormitory

The eleven safe players crowded around the screen.

039|LuckyCat whispered, “They’re just...staring. This is torture.”

196|Ukraine nodded grimly. “ Психологічний. Who is break first?”

087|Nicaragua crossed his arms. “Or who is have more fast reflex.”

Chore Room

A soft click, and two buttons, one in front of 054|Capybarra, one synced to 241|Kansas in the white room, flashed green at the exact same moment.

054|Capybarra’s hand shot down to it with a slam.

006|France lunged half a second later, but too slow.

185|Montenegro didn’t even twitch.

White Room

241|Kansas’ palm hit his button almost simultaneously, with no real intention, pure reflex.

110|Mississippi reacted fast, but a heartbeat behind.

161|Cyprus froze, just long enough.

The speakers crackled as a chilling voice washed over them:

[PLAYERS 054 and 241 have pressed their buttons. They will return to the dormitory.]

[PLAYERS 006, 110, 161, and 185 have been eliminated. 13 players remaining.]

Dormitory

Silence...

Then 235|Colombia broke it. “They...they got the monitors too?”

039|LuckyCat looked pale. “054 and 241 are the only ones coming back.”

The doors hissed open minutes later.

054|Capybarra walked in first, and his hands were still trembling slightly from the stress.

241|Kansas followed, head high but eyes haunted.

No one cheered.

No one spoke.

054|Capybarra went straight to his bunk and sat, staring at the floor.

For those reading, you have the opportunity to vote from the list of the 13 remaining players below, and the (1) player with the most votes will be eliminated. 

Remaining Players: 13

Eliminated: 15

You can place up to 3 votes. For your votes to count, you must provide the three-digit number representing that player. 

For example, if you wanted to place 3 votes for Player 500|Nickelz, your vote could look like this:

(500)(500)(500)

VOTING ENDS December 28, 2025, at 3:00 PM CST.

Thank you for reading. If you'd like to join the main high school series, or even participate in potential future seasons of Squid Game, comment under this blog or this blog.