Gil held his bandaged face with a puzzled expression. He never felt such a pile of emotions before, he wondered what changed. The mysterious prisoner, Leo that he met the other day seemed to know a lot about him, but why?

The oddest part about the whole situation was that Gil actually missed the emotions he felt. It was painful, yet so very authentic. Now he was back to being a blank canvas, he couldn't fathom which one actually caused more pain.

He didn't work the day after getting beaten by Bug and his terrible companions, he chose to remain in his icy cell and continue to tell himself that he was innocent.

He desperately wanted to leave Energia Tower after the previous day's incident with Bug and Leo. Though Bug was the one who injured him, it was really Leo who gave him the creeps. It was as if Leo knew secret things about him that he would not reveal. What could he have been hiding exactly?

He also really missed his adoptive parents. Though he only met them when he was thirteen, they still treated him with love and kindness. His mother was a chef, her cooking was the greatest thing ever. He missed her homemade ravioli and baked cakes, would he ever be able to eat them again? He also missed his father's enormous laugh, his laughter could fill an entire mansion. He also missed his video games. It was his greatest hobby, nothing entertained him more. He just wanted to take his career test to make games of his own, yet there he was getting pounded at Energia Tower.

Vince walked through the sturdy reinforced door "How are you holding up now?"

"I don't... feel anything," Gil said while eyeing the floor.

"What do you mean?" asked Vince.

"Uh... I don't know actually," said Gil turning towards Vince. "So, when can we eat!"

"Right now!"

Gil and Vince exited the cell; the eyed the dozen of guards that watched them like hawks as they walked towards the spacious cafeteria.

"Told you there were people who would give you a hard time. I'm just surprised they beat you that bad though," said Vince angrily.

"Why do you care so much Vince? It's not like you've been lifelong friends after all," said Gil.

"Well," Vince began before scratching his head. "I just don't like to see innocent people get hurt. Can you believe that I used to want to be a police officer. I have no idea how I ended up on this path," he said while looking at one of the prison guards.

"What!? You a cop? No way!" laughed Gil. "You'd be one of those dirty cops who'd give someone a ticket for going 1 mph above the speed limit!"

"Shut the hell up! I didn't want to do those kind of things!" barked Vince. "There's just a lot of people who are pure evil in this world, their ice cold eyes give me chills. I just wish I could stop all of them... Now they're all around me."

"I see," began Gil with widened eyes. "You mentioned that there were people who were evil when we were about to work yesterday. Were you talking about Bug and his friends?"

"Uh... not really. Bug is here for petty crime, he's no bigshot at all, he just thinks he's important. A lot of guys come here and refuse to leave for some reason. They think running this place will give their lives purpose, or something," explained Vince.

"Interesting," said Gil as they walked into the spacious cafeteria. The smell of chili highlighted the air. "Why do so many people want to run this place? What's the appeal?"

"Well... The higher your status is here, the more perks you get. There's like a social hierarchy here. Being at the top would make anyone feel special. I want to so I can change this place forever, by bringing justice to the true evil people. I don't think being sentenced to Energia Tower is true justice because of all the benefits. Also, I think people want to run it, because AquaLux wants to keep as many prisoners as they can to increase their productivity, especially over their rival corporation Skyra," said Vince.

"Sounds like something AquaLux would do. Making prison fun is the perfect way to keep as many people in prison as possible. I don't get it because I want to get out of here desperately," said Gil as they lined up to grab a bowl of chili.

"No kidding. I never want to see this place again, I just wish I could control it before I leave... Doesn't seem I have it in me though," shrugged Vince.

"You keep talking about evil people. Who are these people? And how do they act," said Gil while imagining Leo. He looked for him in the cafeteria and did not see him, but he saw Bug, eyeing him like a hawk. He got the impression that Bug wouldn't approach him that day.

"I don't know how to explain it, but there's people that are rumored to not have hearts. They kill without remorse, it's all a game to them. Many of these strange people are in this very room," Vince said while glancing at some of the prisoners seated at tables. "It doesn't seem like they have a purpose in their crimes... It's like they do it for pure enjoyment."

Gil felt his heart rate increase, could he have been one of those people? Impossible, as he had no memory of committing such heinous acts. He knew something peculiar happened though. If he did in fact commit the crimes, he would blame himself forever. The thought of that almost made him feel emotional again like the other day. He was afraid to tell Vince that he was suspicious of another side of him.

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"Do you know any of these people? Is one of them named Leo?" asked Gil.

"Leo? No, I'm afraid I've never heard that name. But see that guy there, the bald guy with a scar by his eye," Vince pointed to a man at a table with several other people, including Bug, Russ, and Tim. "That man simply goes by, Dust. Dust is a convicted mass murderer that constantly talks about his crimes with a smile on his face. It's rumored that he's killed another inmate, but the guards don't do anything about it. He hasn't killed as many as you are convincted to have killed. I thought someone like him would be the one to give you a hard time and not Bug. Maybe he sent Bug after you."

"Maybe we should ask him if he did? And maybe also ask him about Leo," said Gil.

"No way! Are you kidding! That guy's a menace. If Bug beat you, Dust will kill you. I'm not sure why he hasn't talked approached you yet, but don't talk to talk to him! Avoid him like the plague," explained Vince.

"Fine," said Gil, still glancing at Dust. He wanted to approach him anyway, perhaps he was out of his mind.

"So what's the plan now Vince?" Gil asked as they moved forward in the long line.

"What do you mean?"

"Well... I know you have about four hundred points, do you want to get out or do you want to be on top of this 'social hierarchy.' Doesn't seem like you can pick both right?"

"I've been trying to run this place for awhile now, long before you came here, it's no walk in the park," said Vince after taking in a huge deep breath. "Guess I'll have to abandon that. Probably never had a chance with monsters walking around here. Gonna' try to find a way to earn accelerated points"

"Accelerated points? How will you earn more?"

"Going to do a ton of odd jobs around here, perhaps I could get out in less than six months instead of over a year," answered Vince.

"Less than six months... that's a big difference!" gleamed Gil. "I really don't want to live in this place the rest of my life. It would take me over two-hundred years to earn a hundred-thousand points, how quickly do you think I can leave if I earn a ton of accelerated points, plus my daily tasks?"

Gil still was hoping Barney would find a way to get him out, at that point he doubted he'd ever hear from Barney again.

"Well, it's hard to say, but if you're really dedicated to your tasks you could get out in about twenty years. That's still better than being here you're entire life. You'd be thirty-eight, a lot of years to look forward to after that," said Vince.

"Man twenty years is too long! How about ten years!? You think that's possible?"

"Eh, probably. It's going to take a ton of work though! Never heard of a prisoner with a large sentence like yours leaving this place in ten years, or ever actually. Guess it couldn't hurt to try," said Vince.

"Then it's settled then, we're both getting out of here. You'll be out of here in no time; it'll take awhile for me but I'm definitely getting out of here!" exclaimed Gil.

"That's the spirit!" Vince said before giving Gil a fist bump. "I admit I am extremely nervous about being in the real world again, but I've got to at least try. It'll be hard to find a job with my record and I definitely don't want to sell illegal merchandise again, guess I could always be a garbage man."

"No problem, we'll both be garbage men when we get out! Collecting garbage is the next big career move," laughed Gil.

"If you say so," chuckled Vince.

"Are you into video games?" asked Gil.

"Eh kinda, didn't really have time to play a lot of them. Why?"

"When I get out ten to twenty years later, we'll play a few games. Fighting games, sport games, whichever. I mean, I'll kick your ass in all of them, but let's do it!" said Gil.

"Get out of here! I was good at sport games. You wouldn't stand a chance," chuckled Vince.

"We'll see!" said Gil as they finally got to the front of the line.

"Hey I remember you, what's up!" Gil said to the prisoner serving the chili.

"Oh... hi," the prisoner stuttered while pouring chili into a metal bowl.

"What's your name? And what are you in here for?" Gil asked the nervous prisoner.

"Uh- it's Danny. I was shop lifting," said Danny.

"Shop lifting! They got you in here for that!? That's insane," teased Gil. "We'll trying to earn more points to get out of here. Think we can work in the cafeteria?"

"Uh, Gil, they say working in the cafeteria is one of the worst optional tasks to complete," said Vince.

"I bet all of the optional tasks are gonna suck. We'll have to suffer before we find comfort. Besides... the cafeteria has girls," said Gil.

"So what! Most of the girls here are just as bad as most of the guys here!"

"Ah, so you're nervous to talk to girls," teased Gil.

"Says who!? I've got better game than you by far!" said Vince.

"Uh guys... your chili," Danny asked inaubily to Gil and Vince."

"Does that mean you've got a girlfriend?" Gil asked

"Well no, because I keep coming back to this place! If I had more time, I'd imagine I would. Do you have one?" Vince returned.

"Actually, no," laughed Gil.

"Just take your chili!" Danny yelled.

"Sorry."

"And about working here, just ask a guard to let you apply here," said Daryl.

Gil and Vince walked to an empty white table to eat their chili. Gil was blown away by the flavor of the chili. It was spicy, yet possessed a hint of sweetness. It almost tasted as good as his chef mother's chili. Why would AquaLux invest so much energy into making chili that doesn't taste horrendous? Perhaps what Vince said about AquaLux trying to make prison seem fun was true. It seemed corporations would do anything to increase their productivity, no matter how unethical it could be.

As they ate, a large chubby man with tanned skin and dark straight hair approached their table.

"Jorge!? What are you doing back here?" Vince asked.

"Well... I kinda started selling illegal merchandise again," laughed Jorge.

"You idiot! You weren't supposed to come back here!" hissed Vince.

"Neither were you!" said Jorge, before they both erupted into a fit of laughter.

"Jorge, this is Gillian Zain. I'm sure you heard of him."

"Hey there!" said Gil.

"That's the kid I saw on the news!" Jorge said before getting uneasy eyes. "What are you doing with a guy like this!? Are you with him because you're still trying to run this place?"

"Relax. He says he's innocent. His conviction is bad, but it's not near as bad as those monsters here. In fact he doesn't seem evil at all... a little weird but not evil."

"Thanks Vince... I think," said Gil.

"Uh, ok I guess I'll take your word for it. As long as he's not like Dust I guess it's fine," Jorge said before taking a seat at the table.

Gil titled his head towards Dust's table while eating a huge spoonful of chili. He wondered just what did he know. If he talked to him, would his fear be fully realized. Despite that possibility, the urge to pick the monster's brain was overwhelming.