Trudging across ruins of the fallen Empire. Forced to clean the debris of a ruined planet. With no memory of what happened or who attacked us, we lost everything—reduced our Galactic Empire to a bunch of brainwashed slaves. Life of misery, despair, and dread of what may come. No light waiting for me in these dark ruins of the old world. Rarely do I see others, but when I meet someone, I see broken shells, reduced to mindless zombies. Wondering every day, wondering when I will become an empty shell. It’s only a matter of time before they break me, too. How can someone endure so much anguish?

I have no memory of how long I have been stuck in this hell, maybe 10 years, only a few months, I do not know. They overwrote my memories. Changed and erased, I don’t know to whom I toil away my sanity. They tried to erase this memory, or perhaps they kept it intentionally. Does it even matter? It keeps coming back to me. A memory of some Great War. War against some wicked enemy. We conquered the entire galaxy, and someone or something attacked us from nowhere. Perhaps aliens, maybe rogue AI that got out of control, or God finally decided to stop us from plaguing this world. It doesn’t matter. Knowing the truth will not change our fate.

Unable to trust my memories, or whether this torment is even real, brings me closer to insanity each day. Reality is bent to their will. If they tell us the sun is cold, the sun becomes cold; if they tell us we are made of stone, we will become stone; if they tell us we are free, we will become free. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter what we think. We will be in agony, one way or the other. When I was younger, I yearned to prove myself and leave my mark in history. My father always told me you will accomplish nothing in this world. I wanted to prove him wrong, but in the end, he was right: what great thing did I do in this world? At least I had my crew; we explored harsh planets and cold giants and walked on creatures as big as a city. Our crew stepped first on six planets and was placed on top of the 100 explorers of the current era. We drank together, laughed together, cried together, and explored together. I will never meet them again, not on this cursed planet.

A sea of ruined skyscrapers, debris, and lava pools stretches across this hot planet, with only one structure standing proud. That round tower with a red glowing orb above it. Shining sun watching us, making sure we obey, laughing at us, mocking us. They think we are beneath them just because they are stronger and wiser. We never acted like these animals to creatures of the galaxy.

Ashes of our failure, floating in the air, burning my lungs. Hot surfaces frying my bare feet make me trudge and hobble while my skin roasts in the sun, while I am unwillingly mowing hot rocks and throwing them into lava pits. This meaningless, endless, mind-breaking labor brings me closer to the breaking point each day. For how long will this misery last? For how long can I take it?

Nonstop labor, not a single break. My legs, hands, and back burn with each step. Hunger and thirst are always with me. If I’m a diligent worker, I will no longer feel hunger and thirst in the future. I have a plan, but I must be sure it will work. Failure is not an option, and I cannot continue this torment. The tower must be an answer; there must be something to help me escape or at least some answer to this fate. There must be some answer around here.

Sometimes, this shadow figure appears out of thin air, staring at me with cold white eyes. Waves of soft whisper come from him and ring my ears. Cold chills, sweat, and shaking legs follow him every time. With no idea what he wants or why he is there. Sometimes pointing to the tower. He wants me to go there; I know it, but I never make it there, and I don’t want to get punished anymore. I can sense what he thinks; we have some connection. Often, I feel someone standing behind me and screaming silently, yet no one is there when I look behind. The only thing present is ringing in my ears.

I tried to escape multiple times, but I failed each time. One time, I was close, but these damn guard robots caught me as always. I wish to have some rest, and yet, rest is impossible to get in this hell; maybe this place is hell after all. What else can be? Definitely not heaven? Perhaps if I could sneak to the tower, but these accursed robots stare and make sure we obey; if I don’t want to work or follow our daily routine, we will get punished. Storm us and beat us until we pass out and wake up in even worse hell.

Hope is the last thing I have here, and yet how can someone still have it in this vile place? Shadow figure make me try again to understand this place of misery and bring light into my world of darkness, or, you could say, the shadow of hope, and yet I am afraid of what may come from my shadow of hope. Maybe one day, he will guide me into a new dawn. Dawn of the new age where I am free and with my crew again. I hope to see them one more time; I remember how we once encountered a race of tall, primitive ostriches. They had hands instead of wings, long necks and legs, furry bodies, and the ability to use primitive tools like stone spears, bows, and even an early version of axes. They attacked us. Our code prohibited us from taking life with intelligence above that of the early caveman; we were only allowed to study them from a distance, so we were forced to hide for two days. Two days of uneasiness, funny, sad, and happy tales until we could sneak by them to our ship and escape. One of the two best days I ever had. I never felt so scared, happy, and sad at the same time. Just living in the moment of joy that I will never feel again. I wish to go back and experience joy once more.

There is still a last chance, one last try. Follow his lead with no questions. I have never tried this before, and I am always getting scared of the outcome—fear of trusting this shadow and failing again. I will follow him when I regain enough courage, even if that means getting punished. Multiple times, I failed. There must be a way out of this misery.

Is living in constant pain even a life? Is living in continuous fear even a life? Is living without free will even a life? How can I change my fate? Can I escape? Can I be free ever again? Shadow must be an answer, even if it is a bad one. It can’t be just part of my torment. Giving my hopes into a Shadow is the only way out it must be.

After a long time of pointless work, a shadow appeared again. Please give me courage and guide me. I am in your hands now. My heart started pounding rapidly. This is it. I took one step and then another, and before Í knew it, I was running in the direction he was pointing. Zigzagging through the ruins of the old world we built, fallen skyscrapers going past me, and empty hollow streets waiting for someone to enter. Robots are slowly chasing me, but not fast enough, which is odd; usually, they are faster and more mobile. I can’t think about it now. Follow him even if it means something bad. My feet get heavy and burn with each step more and more. Shadow Pointing and screaming in silence guided me through this maze of misery. At the same time, the tower is getting bigger, and my feet are getting slower. Slowly entering waters, I do not know. Fewer and fewer rusty skyscrapers surrounded me until there was nothing in front of me, only A tower with a red orb above it and a minefield of lava pools.

Shadow pointing to one of these lava pits. He can’t be serious; if I die, I will get punished again. It may be the only way to die here. I must trust him and follow his lead to the unknown. I put my trust in his guidance and took the leap. Falling through the cold liquid, spinning in it, and dropping out to the hard, dark cave and lying on the ground while my head spins. What just happened, and where am I? I looked up, and it was sealed. Shadow is nowhere to be found. I wondered why he guided me here. Is this a way out? Looking around, seeking guidance. Sitting there, I finally felt a silence, cold, and peace. No more work; rest only if it is for a short duration. I sat there for a while, and tears dropped on the ground. “Thank you.” I almost forgot how calm life can be. I can stay here and be safe, maybe die in peace. My journey is not done yet; I must escape. If I want to feel peace again, they will find me here. It was too easy.