Alex woke to the sharp sting of cold air biting into his skin. His breath formed soft clouds of mist, barely visible in the dim light filtering through a cracked window high on the wall. He was lying on a hard, uneven surface that sent a dull ache through his back. The ground beneath him felt rough—cobbled together from worn stone and splintered wood. His body shivered involuntarily as he struggled to sit up, his limbs heavy and his muscles stiff from the chill.
The room around him was bleak and colorless. The first thing he noticed was the dampness in the air, a biting cold that clung to everything. The walls, patched together from rusted metal sheets and cracked wooden planks, seemed to do little to keep the icy wind from seeping in through the cracks. The room was small, just a few paces across, with no clear source of warmth. There were patches of frost creeping along the edges of the metal, glistening faintly in the weak light.
Above him, a single light bulb dangled from a twisted wire, flickering weakly. It cast a faint, yellowish glow over the space, barely enough to push back the deep shadows gathering in the corners. The bulb swung slightly in the cold breeze leaking through the broken window. A small layer of snow had piled up against the glass, further muting the light and creating a dull, oppressive atmosphere.
Alex's breath came out in soft huffs, each exhale a visible puff of white. He wrapped his arms around himself, rubbing his hands over his forearms, trying to generate some warmth. His fingers felt stiff, his joints creaky, and he could barely move them without pain. His clothes were threadbare, little more than rags that did nothing to protect him from the relentless cold. He had the vague impression that he shouldn't be here—that this place was alien, unfamiliar.
He blinked slowly, struggling to clear his head. His thoughts were fuzzy, disjointed, and his body felt small, frail, as if it wasn't his own. His limbs felt too light, his movements awkward and uncoordinated. He stared down at his hands—small, pale, and covered in dirt. Why did they look so different?
Before he could make sense of it, a sudden voice echoed inside his head, mechanical and devoid of any warmth.
"Initialization complete. Scanning environment... Host synchronization successful. Welcome, user: Alex."
Alex froze. His heart pounded in his chest, panic rising. The voice wasn't coming from the room—it was inside his mind. He looked around, wild-eyed, trying to figure out where the voice had come from. There was no one else here, except for the girl bundled under a pile of threadbare blankets in the corner, still fast asleep.
Who… who are you? Alex thought, his voice trembling in his mind.
"I am an embedded artificial intelligence module. Primary function: assist host in survival and adaptation to environmental conditions. Current task: assess immediate surroundings and synchronize with host sensory input."
An AI? Inside my head? Alex's thoughts raced as he tried to comprehend. Why are you in my head? What do you mean by 'host'?
The AI replied promptly, its tone emotionless. "Host refers to you, user: Alex. This AI is designed to enhance survival by analyzing environmental data, optimizing decisions, and providing necessary information for resource management, threat detection, and adaptation to new environments. The AI operates in sync with host neural activity to maximize efficiency."
Alex felt a shiver that wasn't just from the cold. So... you're supposed to help me survive?
"Correct. I will provide critical information based on real-time data collection, analyze threats and opportunities, and offer suggestions based on available resources. Additionally, I am capable of learning and adapting based on new environmental stimuli."
Alex blinked, still struggling to fully understand. Why can't I remember anything? he thought, hoping for an answer.
"Memory loss or fragmentation may be caused by physical trauma, hypothermia, or other external environmental factors. Insufficient data available to provide a definitive cause. Recommendation: gather more information through exploration and observation."
What can you do exactly? Alex asked, unsure of the AI's full capabilities.
"Capabilities include: environmental analysis, resource identification, threat detection, energy reading, combat assistance, and strategic planning. In addition, I am capable of tracking host vitals and providing real-time feedback on physical condition. However, my abilities depend on data input. I require information from the environment to function optimally. Current data levels are insufficient for a full analysis."
You need more data to help me? Alex asked, realizing that the AI wasn't omniscient.
"Correct. I rely on sensory input and environmental information. As more data is collected, my responses will become more accurate and detailed. Current environmental scan incomplete. Additional exploration is required."
Alex gritted his teeth, realizing the AI wouldn't be able to provide him all the answers he needed—not yet, anyway. He'd have to figure out much of it on his own.
The girl stirred, groaning softly as she pushed herself up onto her elbows, her eyes half-lidded with sleep. When she saw him awake, her expression sharpened, and she sat up straighter, watching him carefully.
"You're awake," she said, her voice hoarse. "I wasn't sure if you were gonna make it."
Alex blinked, still trying to process her words. "Where... where am I?" His voice came out rough and weak.
"The Rust Quarter," the girl replied, pulling a tattered blanket closer around her shoulders. "You've been out for two days. I found you outside the wall, freezing to death in the snow. Figured you might die, but... guess you didn't."
Alex glanced down at himself, his clothes barely enough to cover his thin frame, let alone protect him from the cold. His body felt alien, like he didn't belong in it. He couldn't remember anything clearly, his memories a blur.
Why can't I remember? Alex thought to himself, hoping for an answer from the AI.
The AI responded. "Memory loss may be caused by trauma or environmental factors. Further observation required."
The girl stood up, stretching her arms as she moved to a small table piled with scraps of metal and tools. She was about ten years old, but her face was lined with exhaustion, her green eyes sharp and wary. She ran a hand through her tangled hair, which fell in waves over her shoulders.
"Name's Elara," she said, tossing him a piece of stale bread. "You?"
"Alex," he replied quietly, his voice weak.
Elara nodded. "Alright, Alex. If you're gonna stay, you'll need to pull your weight. This place isn't safe. If you don't work, you don't eat."
He nodded slowly, knowing he didn't have much of a choice. The cold was merciless, and this place, as shabby as it was, at least had walls to block out the worst of the wind.
Tell me more about this place, Alex asked the AI, hoping for more clarity.
"Rust Quarter: subdistrict of an isolated settlement. Population: approximately 500. Environmental characteristics: cold region, frequent snowstorms. Primary economy: scavenging and bartering. Resource availability: low."
Alex processed the information, glancing again at the frosted window. Outside, he could see the edges of a world covered in snow, the streets beyond the walls barely visible under a blanket of white. The cold wasn't just a passing storm—it was a constant, oppressive presence.
Elara pulled on a ragged coat and motioned for him to get up. "Come on. We need to head out. There's salvage near the ruins, and we can't be late."
Alex struggled to his feet, pulling his tattered coat tightly around him. His body still ached from the cold, and the thin soles of his shoes barely kept the icy floor from numbing his feet. But he didn't complain. He had a feeling complaining wouldn't get him far here.
As they stepped outside, the cold air hit him like a punch to the chest. He gasped as the wind sliced through his clothes, freezing him to the bone. The world outside was a harsh, frozen wasteland. Buildings hunched together like broken skeletons, their roofs covered in snow, their walls coated in frost.
He pulled his coat tighter and followed Elara into the desolate streets. Whatever this world had become, one thing was certain: survival wouldn't be easy.