Zach Anderson, find you guilty and sentence you to life imprisonment for the murder of Mayor Mondragon son , Jonathan Smith.

You are not eligible for parole and must pay 5 million for this case," the judge's verdict echoed through the court.

Zach couldn't hold back his tears upon hearing the sentence. Even though he maintained his innocence, the judge remained unconvinced. Despite having no involvement in the case, he was framed and incriminated by the witnesses."

He was exhausted from proclaiming his innocence repeatedly. He knew he was innocent, yet he was the one being falsely accused. Perhaps, this was his fate—to rot in prison.

"Honey, what will happen to Karen and me? Our child is still so young," Sally cried out as they were escorting her to Muntinlupa.

The truth will come out, Sheila. God knows I am innocent; He will not abandon us," Zach tearfully replied to Sheila.

Even though he know deep down that he won't be able to get out, and there seems to be no hope, they are financially incapable of fighting against those who accused him. They can't even afford to hire a lawyer. After a while, the police escorted him to prison, along with other inmates who were also facing murder charges.

MUNTIN LUPA CITY JAIL

Upon entering the prison, Zach was greeted by the deafening noise of inmates crowded in their respective cells.

"Welcome newcomer!" some shouted, while others yelled, "Welcome to hell!" Most of them were shirtless, and in other cells, it seemed like there were fights happening, as if it didn't bother the police who escorted him.

"This will be your cell. You'll rot here," the police officer said with a laugh as he pushed Zach inside. Some of the other police officers laughed too, and Zach stumbled and fell among the other inmates inside the cell.

Inside the cell block, there were hardly any sleeping spaces left for Zach. So, he decided to make a hammock on the top part of the cell. The heat and the smell of people filled the congested jail, which was too small for the 20 people inside, making it incredibly cramped.

"Are you okay up there, Newbie?" a fellow inmate asked while lying on his makeshift hammock.

"Yeah, I'm okay here. It's a bit high and scary, but it's better than being too crowded down there. I'll manage," Zach replied.

By the way, I'm Carlo. I have a murder case, but I'll be released next year," he introduced himself with a forced smile.

Zach was astonished by Carlo; he appears to be in his 40s or older. His body is full of tattoos, but based on his manner of speaking, he seems to be a kind individual."

According to Carlo he was 19 years old, when he got in jail for a murder case involving his past enemy during his youth. He said that next year, his mother would be the only one waiting for him at home. He was initially given a 30-year sentence, but due to his good behavior inside the prison, his sentence was reduced."

Even though Zach wasn't in the mood to chat or get to know the other inmates, he understood that he had to adapt and be sociable. It was the only way for him to survive inside for a long time.

I'm Zach, there's no hope of getting out," he replied to Carlo with a defeated tone.

As Zach had feared, he endured a beating inside the prison cell. This violent person was named Ramsen, the self-proclaimed king of the cellblock. Zach was assigned to Cell C, so he didn't share the same cell with Ramsen, but during meal times, he couldn't avoid being in the same vicinity as him.

Ramsen's group stopped beating him when they were reprimanded by the police. However, when he was initially being robbed of his food and beaten, the police officers merely laughed, seemingly finding the situation amusing.

Bro, just get used to it. That's how it is for newcomers in here. You'll face beatings from Ramsey's group, but they'll stop if they see you're not an interested target," Carlo said as he sat inside the cell, tending to the wounds Zach received from the beating.

As Zach tended to his wounds, his fellow inmates noticed tears welling up in his eyes. They understood the danger that Ramsen posed. He was an ex-military man with connections outside, which made it unsurprising that he might have hidden rival gangs within the prison. It was rumored that he carried a knife and even had a cellphone, according to one of his associates.

The information about Ramsen only added to the sense of fear and caution that permeated the prison. The presence of someone with such influence and potential resources made everyone tread carefully. For Zach, it was a stark reminder that survival in this environment required not only physical strength but also a keen sense of awareness and the ability to navigate the complexities of prison life.

Are the police not doing anything about them? Zach asked in wonder.

Nothing, bro. It's unlikely that anything will happen. They even seem happy when Ramsen's group kills other inmates," Ariel, one of Zach's companions inside the cell, sadly remarked.

That's right. Life in this cell is either dying from illness or dying from the beatings of the group," Macky said.

He was an inmate with chickenpox on his body, and Zach had noticed it earlier, but he just shrugged it off.