Energia Tower

Chapter 1: Brand New Home

Gillian Zain craned his neck upward, beholding the glowing towering structure that would soon be his new home - Energia Tower. The sight was a breathtaking blend of magnificence and grandeur; it appeared as if it were diamonds gleaming in the luminous night sky. Unfortunately, appearances were often deceiving.

Each forceful step Gil took towards the colossal tower made him feel more and more awestruck. Strangely there was no trace of anxiety or terror within him, an absence of emotions that had become all too familiar. While anyone else would be a nervous wreck upon learning that Energia Tower would be their new permanent residence, Gil remained strangely detached. It was as though he lacked the essential components required to experience those crucial emotions.

He looked down at his tight handcuffs, would it kill them to loosen them a bit? After all, there was nowhere for him to run - escape was futile under the watchful gaze of the massive police presence surrounding him. Attempting to escape under those conditions would be suicide.

"Keep walking!" One of the police officers shouted as he gripped Gil's arm with a vice-like hold.

"Eh... I never stopped walking slower, but will do," remarked Gil with a hint of playful sarcasm.

"Ugh, I can't stand this kid!" grumbled the guard. "A monster like you will fit in nicely in Energia Tower!"

"Man, you don't have to be rude," said Gil almost playfully.

"Don't mind him, he's just cranky because he's constipated," the other police officer snickered.

"Shut the hell up Barney! Stop playing around! Don't forget how much of a monster this kid is!" the angry officer shouted.

"Sorry Charles," smirked Officer Barney Pierce.

"Also, you sure I'll never get out? I've got video games to play," said Gil.

"You'll never play video games again! How does that make you feel," the same guard laughed.

"It sucks... I guess I'll have to start reading again," said Gil nonchalantly.

"What's with this kid," Officer Charles Moore said as he finally opened the back door of the enormous tower.

Gil surveyed his surroundings and watched the dozens of police officers trailing behind him. Only two of them were carrying him into the building; was it really necessary to have so many police officers behind? Then again, he was an innocent person being accused of an extremely heinous crime so perhaps the excessive caution was warranted.

Inside, Gil's gaze fell upon a room filled with chairs, illuminated by a large holoscreen displaying a myriad of numbers. It vaguely reminded him of the dreaded DMV - God he hated those places. Many future prisoners were already seated, their eyes locked into him with a tense, almost ghostly stare.

"Is that him," the receptionist stammered, her voice quivering.

"Yeah, this is him," said Officer Charles with a smug countenance. "Barney, take a seat with the monster, Gonna' help him get processed. I'll be back."

Barney guided the handcuffed Gil to one of the uncomfortable seats in the back of the room. As nearby individuals swiftly rose from their own seats and relocated farther away, a thought crossed Gil's mind.

"It must be my new deodorant," Gil joked.

Barney smirked while trying to keep a straight face as he turned his head back to eye the dozen police officers who were now behind them.

"You know... I've escorted a lot of prisoners to Energia Tower... Every single one of them cried or were at least somewhat emotional. Energia Tower is a prison after all, so you know that's to be expected; you on the other hand don't seem to care at all! The crimes you're being accused of are some of the worst crimes I've ever heard in my entire career. You're very fortunate you didn't get the death penalty. Many people have wept like babies coming here only receiving a fraction of your time, yet here you are, calm as a bird," explained Barney.