Three audition phases. Two interviews. One online application that had started her on this deadly path. Yu Jun’s breath shook despite the calming exercises she had been attempting for half an hour. She was about to step onto the stage, her first step into the spotlight. This stage was unique, though. Her only physical audience would be her peers. The public would be watching from screens. She didn’t get to greet their real faces until she made it far enough into the competition. That was worth almost as much to her as making it to the end. Debut. That was what awaited her at the finish line.

If she didn’t make it to the end, she would die.

Her number was called: 100.

She was the last girl to make it onto the idol group formation show IDOL SURVIVAL. 100 girls went in, 94 would die, 6 would debut as the newest and hottest girl group in Asia. If Yu Jun made it into the group, she may just die from happiness anyway. Idols were her life, they had been since she was old enough to dance around her living room along with the stars on her tv screen.

Yu Jun stepped out from the waiting room, cameras filled the room, so did girls. They were organised into neat rows on seats that raised up more the further they went back in order to display all 99 faces smiling out from their giant display cabinet. The people behind the cameras were all dressed identically with masks and baseball caps obscuring their features. One man in a suit was waiting in the centre of the stage, he beamed at her so brightly it almost gave her a tan.

“Our final contestant is Moon Yu Jun!” he announced, turning his attention back to the camera. Yu Jun stepped up beside him and did her best to appear pretty and confident. “She is an independent trainee without an agency behind her, but that doesn’t mean she can’t fight her way to the centre position!” Everything he said had the tone of a child excitedly yelling out all the presents they had received for their birthday. “Yu Jun, how do you feel to be on the mini stage of IDOL SURVIVAL?” His microphone dipped towards her, although they both knew she had a mic taped at her cheek.

“I-” Her voice cracked. “I am so happy for this opportunity! I hope to make my friends and family proud.” She smiled graciously to the middle camera in front of them.

“We are glad to hear it! And what would you say is your strongest skill?”

She pretended to think for a moment. “Singing.”

“That’s a great skill to have in a competition like this. Do you think you have what it takes to make it to the final 6?”

“Of course!”

“Thank you very much, Yu Jun! Please take the final seat amongst our lovely idol hopefuls.”

“Yes, sir.” She bowed politely and skipped away quickly.

At the top of the layered seats, Yu Jun squeezed into the last available chair between two brunettes. One had full bangs and a round face, she smiled at Yu Jun briefly before turning her face back to the cameras pointing from all directions. The number on her chest was 90. The other had a pointed chin and sparkling eyes that she used to look Yu Jun over once and then away. Yu Jun got the distinct impression this girl was not impressed. Her blouse read ‘6’.

The host’s presence filled the small stage as he launched into gratitudes to sponsors, another reminder of how the competition worked, and a promise that they would be back after the break for the first idol game.