Rough Start

"Dad! Daddy! Wake up!" A child's voice roused Dan from his slumber. However, upon opening his eyes, he was hit by a repugnant odor that nearly made him gag. Surveying his surroundings, he noticed the presence of rusted metal barrel walls and numerous gray nets hanging from the ceiling. The oil storage tank, covered in rust and decay, was riddled with holes. The cramped space was cluttered with various unknown bottles and cans, most of which were nothing more than garbage.

He tried to recall how he ended up here, in this squalid place that seemed to be a refuge for the homeless. Memories of a car accident flashed through his mind, leaving him bewildered. As he regained his senses, he realized a filthy, emaciated little girl was shaking him awake.

The child had a small, round face, her malnourished frame accentuated by her unkempt appearance. Her hair was a dirty brown covered with grease. Despite her dirt-streaked face and tattered clothes, her large, expressive dark eyes seemed to convey a world of emotions.

"Uh..." A sharp pain pierced Dan's head as if something had invaded his body. Clenching his teeth, he endured the agony while the child anxiously clung to his hand, pleading, "Dad? Daddy! What's happening to you?"

With great effort, Dan managed to bear the pain. The child's voice faded into the background, and a flood of unfamiliar memories overwhelmed him. It was as if he was peering into the life of a stranger, experiencing their past.

Only then did he realize that he had somehow traversed time.

This was Earth's grim conclusion—a nuclear war two centuries prior had decimated human civilization. The aftermath was a desolate wasteland, plagued by radiation, marauders, starvation, and chaos. Former cities lay in ruins, overrun by mutated beasts and savage predators bred by the radiation. In this wild expanse, basic necessities such as food, water, and safe havens were rare luxuries, controlled by the powerful few. Ordinary people, like ants in comparison, struggled to survive amidst these dire circumstances.

Dan found himself holed up in an abandoned oil storage tank, a place where fuel had little value. In this post-apocalyptic world, fuel was scarcely used, primarily serving as a source of light and heat for the fortunate few. With active vehicles long gone, fuel had become an almost useless commodity.

In this harsh reality, Dan embarked on a harrowing journey for survival, accompanied by a child he had rescued from the clutches of a predator. Together, they faced the constant threats of starvation and death, navigating a world that had spiraled into chaos.

Such was the wretched beginning of their tale, a story born from the ashes of a ruined world.

But it was not really any grand tale, was it?

More like a freaky nightmare. Or so Dan hoped.

When Dan regained his senses, he found little Anna sobbing, her grimy face streaked with muddy tears. Her parents had fallen victim to predators, their fate sealed as prey for the savage creatures. Had it not been for her parents' sacrifice, shielding him amidst the grass, he too would have succumbed.

Lying there, they had endured days without sustenance. Relentless rainfall had kept them holed up, for fear of lethal radiation exposure. However, the incessant downpour persisted, compelling the previous occupant of the shelter to brave the storm for supplies, only to be attacked and killed by marauders.

Starvation, radiation sickness, and profound injuries had claimed the previous occupant's life. Despite their valiant struggle, they had succumbed, leaving Anna to face the gnawing pangs of hunger alone.

Inside the stifling confines of the tank, the air hung heavy with the stench of decay and fuel. Sunlight filtered through the rusted holes, casting a mosaic of colorful spots on the walls.

"Water..." Dan's throat was parched, his desperation evident. Anna, quick as a mole, crawled into a narrow pipe, emerging with bottles containing distilled rainwater. Despite the radiation, it was their safest option, ensuring immediate sickness wouldn't befall them.

She eagerly placed the bottle on Dan's lips. The liquid carried a bitter, fishy taste, nearly causing him to retch. Yet, in this desolate world, it was the most precious elixir.

"Pfft, wanted to drink it, but ended up spitting it out," Dan choked, trying to reassure Anna.

Seeing Dan struggle even with water, little Anna cried and gently patted his back. "Dad, please don't leave me. Without you, I'll have no one…"

Her plea tugged at Dan's heartstrings. In his previous life, he had been engrossed in business, then wrangled with debts. Eventually, he found solace in writing, amassing immense wealth. Amidst the hustle, he never contemplated starting a family.

Now, circumstances had thrust upon him an unshakable responsibility. The overwhelming urge to protect Anna washed over him, a newfound paternal instinct that took him by surprise.

"Anna, don't cry. Dad will be fine," he whispered, his voice hoarse.

"Are you hungry? I have something to eat." With tears glistening in her eyes, Anna retrieved a withered plant rhizome from her waist pocket, offering it as their meager sustenance.

The plant-like thing before them measured less than ten centimeters in length, resembling a dried plant root. Its dehydrated gray-brown skin bore a striking resemblance to tree bark or tree roots. At first glance, it was inconceivable that such an item could be considered food.

"Dad, please eat it. I'm not hungry. You'll feel better after eating," Anna urged, her small hand gently pushing the grass root toward Dan. He hesitated, cautiously taking a small bite with his teeth, only managing to nibble off a tiny piece.

That single bite unleashed a powerful, bitter taste that almost made Dan gag. It was unimaginable that this could be called sustenance.

Yet, Anna gazed at him with eager eyes, as if she longed for another bite, her mouth mimicking his movements.

"You go ahead, Dad isn't hungry," Dan assured her, gently pushing her little hand away. Nevertheless, the grumbling in Anna's stomach was evident.

"It's okay, Dad took a bite. You can eat," Dan encouraged, a pang of distress tugging at his heart. Anna took a small bite at first, but her ravenous hunger quickly overcame her restraint, leading to an accidental bite on her own finger. The taste of blood didn't deter her; instead, a glint of greed flickered in her eyes as she continued to devour the root, almost as if she intended to consume her own hand.

Panicked, Dan seized her little hand, gazing at her with deep concern. "Are you starving?"

"I'm not hungry," Anna mumbled, lowering her head guiltily. Hunger had become their relentless adversary, and unless they solved this issue, they risked perishing within their metallic refuge.

Just as Dan prepared to rise, a sudden wave of dizziness washed over him, accompanied by intensified head pain. It was as if something had forcefully invaded his body, leaving him pale with sweat trickling down his forehead.

Anna observed her father with mounting apprehension. "Dad! What's happening? Are you okay?"

"It's alright...let me rest for a while, Anna. Don't worry," Dan assured her, suppressing the agony as he comforted Anna. However, their moment of distress was disrupted by an intrusive, piercing noise emanating from a device within his mind.

"Squeak-!"

The sound was jarring, causing Dan to reflexively cover his ears in discomfort.

[Doomsday system reboot, Initiator: Dan. Emergency protocol initiated. Task loaded.]