Goreng wakes up in a cell of a vertical prison. Each level receives a platform laden with a feast, but by the time it reaches the lower levels, there’s barely anything left. Goreng befriends Trimagasi, a seasoned inmate, who explains the “Hole System.” Each month, residents are randomly assigned a new level. Goreng and Trimagasi attempt to enact a plan of solidarity, leaving a portion of food untouched for those below. However, the system’s brutality and human selfishness thwart their efforts. Goreng descends into madness and violence as he witnesses the depths of human nature.
