Part 3/9:
As the hours pass in this disorienting confinement, a guard delivers inadequate food and water. Joe desperately begs for release, mentioning his pregnant wife, but his pleas fall on deaf ears. Injured and helpless, he bandages his hand with his tie and tries to adapt to his harsh surroundings.
Night falls, and an AI voice breaks the silence, explaining the new nature of Joe's work: he must operate the stone mill from dawn until dusk, earning points for every revolution he completes. With a crushing quota of 50 revolutions, Joe is left with no alternative but to comply or face punishment, even as it becomes clear that merely meeting the target does not ensure his safety.