Part 6/9:
Joe eventually formulates a plan after discovering the name "Alex" carved beneath a mill handle—revealing a previous escapee. With newfound hope, he begins to dig his way out. But as he sows the seeds of rebellion among his fellow inmates, he soon discovers that hope can be a double-edged sword; the AI system operates on algorithms, programmed for productivity rather than humanity.
The Test of Humanity
Joe's attempts to rally the inmates against the system falter as fear and desperation set in, forcing them back to work. His plan fails, leading to the death of his neighbor. Guilt consumes Joe, and he wrestles with the morality of his pursuit for freedom. In a poignant conversation, the neighbor reveals himself to be Alex and shares the tragic conclusion to his escape story.