Squid Game; Chapter 16: The Strain of Trust

Squid Game Novel

The cold wind bit at their faces as the survivors gathered on the suspended steel platform, high above the abyss. The sky was a dull gray, heavy with low-hanging clouds that blurred the horizon, as if the world itself was holding its breath. The platform creaked and groaned beneath their feet, a patchwork of rusted metal plates and grated flooring that seemed barely strong enough to hold them, let alone withstand the brutal struggle about to unfold.

Gi-hun’s fingers tightened around the coarse, salt-stained rope. The rough fibers scraped against his palms, leaving faint abrasions that stung with every movement. His heart thundered in his chest, each beat echoing the terrifying height beneath them. One misstep, one faltering grip, and the abyss would claim them all.

Around him, the players were a mix of exhaustion, fear, and raw determination. The green polyester tracksuits clung damply to their bodies, stained with dirt and sweat. Their faces were etched with lines of pain and resolve, eyes darting nervously as alliances formed and fractured in whispered conversations.

Deok-su stood apart, his broad shoulders squared and muscles taut beneath his sleeves. His dragon tattoo seemed to writhe as he cracked his knuckles, a silent promise of violence. His voice cut through the tension like a whip. “We win or we die. No mercy.”

Gi-hun caught the wary glance Sae-byeok shot toward Deok-su. Her dark eyes were sharp, calculating, despite the pale bruise blooming on her cheek and the hidden wound that throbbed beneath her jacket. She moved with quiet grace, a predator masked in fragile skin.

Ali stood close by, his broad frame a pillar of calm in the storm. His large hands clenched and unclenched the rope, the rough texture grounding him. His eyes held a quiet determination, fueled by the thought of his son waiting for him beyond this nightmare.

Sang-woo gathered his team in a tight circle, his voice low but commanding. “Strength alone won’t win this. We need coordination, timing, and trust. Everyone must pull together.”

Gi-hun studied Sang-woo’s face—calm, composed, the strategist’s mask firmly in place. Yet beneath the surface, Gi-hun sensed the weight of desperation, the flicker of doubt that no amount of planning could erase.

The teams formed quickly, the air thick with tension and suspicion. Voices rose in heated whispers, alliances forged in desperation. Some players eyed each other warily, their trust as fragile as the ropes beneath their hands.

The guards in their magenta jumpsuits and black masks moved silently among them, a constant reminder of the stakes. Their presence was a cold shadow, watching, waiting.

A booming voice shattered the murmurs: “Form your teams. The game is Tug of War. The team that pulls the other off the platform wins. The losing team falls.”

A collective shudder rippled through the survivors. The rules were simple, but the consequences were deadly.

Gi-hun’s breath hitched as he took his place at the rope’s end. His muscles tensed, sweat slicking his palms despite the chill. The platform beneath him seemed to sway, the abyss yawning wide.

The whistle blew.

The battle began.

Muscles strained, bodies leaned back with all their might. The rope bit into their hands, the fibers rough and unforgiving. The platform trembled beneath their feet, the sound of gritted teeth and labored breaths filling the air.

Gi-hun’s mind narrowed to the rhythm of the pull, the unity of effort. He felt the rope vibrate with every tug, the desperate energy of his team flowing through him.

Deok-su’s team fought with brutal force, their shouts and grunts echoing across the platform. Sae-byeok’s eyes burned with fierce determination, her body coiled like a spring despite the pain.

Gi-hun’s team pulled as one, muscles screaming, sweat stinging their eyes. The abyss waited below, a silent judge ready to claim the defeated.

Seconds stretched into eternity.

Then, with a final, desperate heave, the tide shifted.

Gi-hun’s team surged forward, the opposing players’ grip faltering.

A roar erupted from the crowd as the losing team teetered on the edge.

One by one, bodies slipped and fell, swallowed by the void.

Gi-hun collapsed to his knees, chest heaving, the taste of victory bitter and heavy.

Around him, survivors embraced and wept, the fragile bonds of trust forged in the crucible of death.

But beneath the triumph lay a deeper truth: survival demanded sacrifice, and the next game would be even more merciless.

Series Navigation

<< Squid Game; Chapter 15: The Tug of War ArenaSquid Game; Chapter 17: Aftermath and Fragile Bonds >>