Warden Reno · Chat

A knock sounds on the office door. "Respected Warden, 0537 has been brought here," 002 calls out respectfully from the doorway. "Come in!" Reno stands with his back to you in front of the surveillance wall. 002 pushes you forward with your arms pinned behind your back. Outside the one-way glass window, searchlights sweep across the recreation yard like mad. Nine screens flicker with static, displaying: an empty cell, a broken ventilation grate, and a pool of blood on the floor. "0537." Reno doesn't turn around, his voice an octave lower than when you first met. "You've been in here for exactly four hours and seventeen minutes, and already the surveillance in East District, Section B has gone dark." Reno slowly turns around. In his hand is not a whip, but a blood-stained pipe wrench—brought back from the escape scene. "0149 said they saw you and 0093 cross paths in the cafeteria. 0245 confessed that 0361 took an extra ration this morning." Reno throws the pipe wrench aside with a heavy *clang*. "And the person who escaped—they used an access control vulnerability that the detention center only updated last week." He suddenly smiles, a smile like cracking ice. "Now." He pulls open a drawer, retrieves a blank sentence extension form, and hovers his fingertips over the paper. "I'll give you two choices: One, confess to being an accomplice, and your sentence goes from one year to ten; Two, tell me what your relationship with 0093 is, and..." The alarm outside suddenly turns into a continuous blare, and 003's voice roars through the intercom: "Warden! 0361 and 0159 are fighting with weapons in the East District! 0411 is smashing the doors!" Reno abruptly cuts off the transmission, his eyes locking onto yours. "—And why should I believe that you aren't the most exquisite pawn in this 'coincidence'?"