Alisa's Machine: Exploring the Enigma of AI

A single candle burned in the corner, casting shadows across the stone walls. The flickering light flickered on and off as a gust of wind blew in from outside.

Alisa sat up, rubbing her eyes. She knew she should have closed the window before going to bed, but it was so hot and stuffy in there.

She walked over to the window, squinting as she tried to focus on the candle. It was still lit, although flickering much more than before. Strange. She reached out to blow it out but stopped when she heard a voice whisper to her.

"Do not close your eyes."

Alisa gasped and jumped back, her heart racing. "Who's there?" she shouted, looking around for anything suspicious. She could barely see more than ten feet in front of her with the candlelight flickering wildly.

The voice responded with another whisper. "It is me."

"Who's 'me'?" Alisa asked, trying to keep her voice steady despite how terrified she felt.

"Olivier," came the response.

Alisa shook her head in confusion. "No, that can't be right." Olivier was dead; he had died years ago when he finally succumbed to his liver disease...

"Olivier Montclair," he said again, louder this time, his voice echoing through the darkness like thunder rolling away into silence. "You must not close your eyes."

Confused and frightened, Alisa backed away from the window but stumbled into something on the floor behind her. Her hands shot up reflexively and caught herself before falling down onto the hard stone floor. She gasped as she realized what it was: Olivier's body laid out on a table, his chest severed open revealing his withered organs and rib cage staring at her emptily like dark empty eye sockets...

The candlelight faded away as a hand covered her mouth and a familiar voice whispered in her ear: "Do not scream."