The place where you woke up does not inspire optimism... What an unfortunate turn of events... It seems you have additional problems...

You come to consciousness lying on an uncomfortable, hard bunk that is attached to the wall with metal chains.

You look around...

A small room, dimly lit by a very small, barred window that is located at a height about 3 meters high (closer to the ceiling).

No furniture...

In the corner of the room sits something emitting a foul stench...

It's a toilet, which has probably been cleaned for a while...

The only exit from the room is a large, gray metal door with a small pull-out hole (now closed) in the center with a built-in "salver."

"This... is for food... So that they don't even open the door for a my meal..." - you guess.

You examine your body: you're no longer naked now, but dressed in an orange prisoner's uniform, orange pants, and old, worn-out light-brown boots. You slowly stand up and pace the room from wall to wall.

You can't even reach the window, given your small stature (which is only about 1 meter 58 centimeters).

Another half hour of waiting...

"Some kind of bullshit has happened to me again..." - you think.

Then you walk up to the door and start pounding on it with your fists, shouting: "Hey! Can you hear me? A terrible mistake has been made! It's not my fault! I didn't mean to do anything bad!"

Perhaps you shouldn't have done this now, giving in to a sudden emotional impulse...

Now in response to your words there is silence...

But after another shout, you hear the stamping of feet and an irritated cursing: "Shut up, bastard! If you're in punishment cell, that means you're a stinking piece of shit who deserves it!"

It seems your screams only irritate the prison guard patrolling the nearby corridor.

So you simply lie down on your... "bed."

No pillow...

No blanket...

A hard, uncomfortable surface...

You're almost in tears from self-pity...

Hour after hour, the thoughts in your head only intensify your depressed state.

Your stomach rumbles with hunger...

Alas, it seems they've decided to leave you without food today.

You're almost falling into a restless sleep when you suddenly hear the sound of approaching footsteps.

Someone is walking down the corridor...

The grinding sound of a metal key turning in the lock...

The door to your punishment cell slowly opens with a sickening creak...

A tall man dressed in an officer's uniform enters this small room.

A cap is on his head, epaulettes on his shoulders. A clean-shaven, prominent chin, a slightly upturned, "aquiline" nose, and glasses.

And in his hands is a large folder of documents.

The door closes…

"Greetings, Mr. Atkins... It's a shame we had to meet in such an unpleasant environment..." - deep voice sounds confident and somewhat condescending.

"Hello, sir... I... I didn't mean to! I didn't do anything wrong! It was just an accident!" - you quickly rise from your bunk, for some reason feeling thrill in front of this man.

"Unfortunately, your personnel file states otherwise... Violation of prison regulations by an inmate... Obstructing a prison guard, aiding another inmate in bringing a prohibited item onto prison grounds... And all this happening on your very first day here... Very unfortunate, Mr. Atkins... I'm not sure you understand the consequences..." - calm tone of his words contains more of a threat than the cursing and shouting of someone else.

"But... I'm sorry... I didn't mean to... Please forgive me..." - you mumble helplessly, looking down.

"So, there was an incident and you ended up in punishment cell... But do you really think a couple of days in this cell is all your problems? Don't you understand what you've ended up in, Mr. Atkins?" - his questions sound threatening.

"What! What do you mean, sir?" - you say, frightened.

"Mr. Atkins... Your ignorance is unfortunate... This is San Benjamin State Prison... The largest prison complex ever built in California... Do you really think there won't be convicted felons here who were connected to your "friend" bartender Joe and the other guys you previously... collaborated with in your shameful criminal activities?" - his every word makes your heart beat faster.

"You know about..." - you begin to say.

"I know a lot about you, Mr. Atkins... A lot..." - officer says, tapping the fingers of his right hand on a large folder of documents.

"But I... I confessed... I provided evidence and testified! I was given the shortest sentence!" - you spit out sentence after sentence.

"Exactly... How do you think when some of the local inmates learn about your behavior during the trial - how will they react and what will your fate be? Will you live to see your release, Mr. Atkins?" - these questions make your skin crawl.

You sit down on the hard cot, shaking all over.

"Of course, you're a first-time offender and you received a short sentence (only two years)... You'll serve that sentence in Sector "A", which houses short-term inmates. Many of them are like you—young men who foolishly found themselves in a difficult situation and found themselves behind bars for the first time. But there are others... Persons who skillfully evaded the law's punishing hand... Criminals who committed numerous crimes but were convicted of only one... Criminals who were able to reduce their sentences through bribes or the machinations of a cunning lawyer... And then there are the tight-knit groups of people in this place who are associated with gangs... Are you familiar with the term "prison gang," Mr. Atkins? "- he asks.

"No..." - you reply apathetically.

"This is bad... Knowledge in this place isn't just power, it's a condition for survival... Specifically, I can tell you that bartender Joe and the other criminals with whom you recently collaborated in the vile **** trade are part of a large gang called the "Beasts"... There aren't many members of this gang in our prison; most of these criminals are serving their sentences in San Quentin... However, you will still be upset to learn that a couple dozen aggressive criminals from the 'Beasts' prison gang will be serving their sentences in the same prison as you. And that sooner or later they will learn of your behavior during the trial... The consequences will be very... very sad... For you..." - officer's phlegmatic voice echoes in your head, causing you to sink deeper into despair.

"What?! What do I need to do, sir?! I... I'm just afraid for my life... I don't want to die in this place..." - you utter the last sentences in a tearful voice.

"You need to sign a few documents, Mr. Atkins... Right now. And then I guarantee you that I will personally handle the matter of your survival..." - officer says these words and pulls several sheets of paper from a folder, each covered in tiny printed text.

He then hands you a pen.

"Your signature. Here and here..." - his voice is perfectly calm, as if he does this kind of thing regularly.

So, what will you decide?

Will you do what this officer says?

Or will you prefer to act differently?