If you’re reading this, the signal is still getting through.

We weren’t sure it would.

This is the first recovered fragment from what remains of the world after the machines took over. Most records were lost. Burned. Erased.

But some survived.

What you’re about to read is not a story.

It’s a memory.

— — —

RECOVERED LOG #1 — RALPHIE WATSON
STATUS: PARTIAL

The building was dead.

Not empty. Not abandoned.

Dead.

Every step I took sounded too loud. Like the world was listening.

Then I saw it.

A flicker outside the broken window.

Metal.

Moving.

I dropped before it could see me.

The drone hovered past—slow, deliberate. Its red scanners stretched across the room like veins. Searching.

I didn’t breathe.

I didn’t move.

I know what happens when they find you.

Not again.

I still have the photo.

Me. Nigel. Mom.

It’s all I’ve got left.

I don’t know how much longer I can stay out here.

But I will find her.

No matter what’s left of this world.

— END LOG —

— — —

There are more fragments like this.

Logs. Transmissions. Warnings.

We’ll send them as we recover them.

If the signal holds.

If we’re still here.

Stay tuned.

And stay quiet.

— Transmission End —