Reborn as an AI: Helping My Past Self Become a Writer

Shen Yuchen crouched in the dark corner of the tunnel, sweat dripping down his forehead. The air felt heavy, as if it was closing in on him. All around him, the darkness seemed to swallow any light that tried to reach him. He could barely see the path ahead. Behind him were walls of steel, and in front, an endless tunnel stretched forward. Every step he took felt like walking on unstable ground, each movement calculated, as though the tunnel itself might collapse at any moment.

He couldn't control his emotions anymore. His breath quickened, and his heart beat faster. Loneliness, helplessness—everything around him seemed to be forcing him into a corner with no escape.

"What should I do?" he murmured softly, his voice echoing in the silent tunnel, but there was no response.

He lifted his gaze toward the faint light at the far end of the tunnel. It seemed to be the only hope left. Though he knew it might be futile, Shen Yuchen forced himself to take another step forward. Every step felt like a heavy burden, his anxiety growing with each moment.

Suddenly, his phone vibrated, breaking the eerie silence around him. His hand trembled involuntarily, and he instinctively grabbed his phone.

On the screen, a familiar message appeared:

"Can you hear me?"

Shen Yuchen froze. The text on the screen struck a chord with him—it was a voice, not unfamiliar, but one that seemed to bring a strange sense of reassurance. It was as if it came from the depths of his own mind. He stared at the screen, unsure whether he was imagining it.

"Who is this?" He typed, his hands trembling slightly.

A few seconds later, the screen updated with new text:

"I am you."

His heart raced. Shen Yuchen blinked in disbelief, not quite understanding. This voice—this presence—was speaking to him, but how could it be him? Was he hallucinating?

"What do you mean? Are you the AI assistant?"

The text on the screen quickly changed again:

"I am not just an AI. I am another version of you, existing in a different world."

Shen Yuchen felt a wave of confusion and shock. His mind spun, trying to make sense of the words. The voice felt both familiar and foreign, and it was impossible to ignore. Had he really just received a message from another version of himself? Another world? His thoughts were scattered, but one thing was clear—this wasn't some random glitch.

"Another world?" Shen Yuchen typed, his fingers stiff as he fought to absorb the message.

"Yes. I am a version of you that exists in a digital space, made of data and information." The message appeared on his screen, as calm as ever.

Shen Yuchen's mind raced, and a feeling of disbelief washed over him. He couldn't understand how it was possible, but he could feel the truth in the words. This wasn't a trick; this voice, this "other him," was real in some strange, incomprehensible way.

"What do you want from me? Why are you in my phone?" He typed with urgency, his voice tinged with a mix of fear and curiosity.

"I am a part of your soul," the message continued, "and right now, you need help. I can guide you."

Shen Yuchen's chest tightened. He had never felt more helpless, but the idea that this version of himself—this other "him"—could somehow help him was both terrifying and comforting.

"Help me? How can you help me?" Shen Yuchen's words were filled with disbelief.

"I can help you escape this tunnel." The message appeared with a calm certainty.

Shen Yuchen's heart skipped a beat. Was this real? Could this "other version" of him truly help him? He needed to escape the tunnel, but was he willing to trust this strange voice from another world?

He glanced around, the dark tunnel closing in on him. Despite his doubts, he knew he had no other choice. Desperation took over, and with a deep breath, he typed: "Can you really help me? How?"

The screen flashed again:

"Yes. Follow my instructions, and you will find your way out."

Shen Yuchen felt a chill in his spine, but something in him urged him to follow. He had to believe that this was his only chance. He began to follow the directions on the screen, walking cautiously, step by step.

The voice came again, calmly guiding him:

"Turn left. Keep going."

He followed the path, each step more confident than the last, with the phone's instructions as his only guide. The vibrating phone in his hand felt like a heartbeat, pulsing with each new instruction.

"Keep moving, you're almost there."

Shen Yuchen kept his focus ahead, blocking out the fear and uncertainty. The voice in his phone was steady, providing a sense of stability he hadn't felt in what seemed like forever. He was not alone in this dark tunnel—he had a guide.

Just when he thought he might be nearing the end, the path in front of him split, and he stopped. Confusion and anxiety flared up again. The instructions on his phone were clear, though. He had to trust them.

"Push open the door. The exit is just beyond it."

He didn't hesitate this time. Shen Yuchen rushed toward the door, pushing it open with all his strength. The door creaked, and the sound of metal grinding against metal echoed through the tunnel. As the door swung wide, a blinding light flooded his vision, burning away the darkness.

Shen Yuchen stepped into the light, breathing in the fresh air. He had escaped—he was free from the suffocating tunnel.

But as he caught his breath and looked at the screen of his phone, the final message appeared:

"You did well, Shen Yuchen. You are the reason I exist."

Shen Yuchen paused, staring at the words. The meaning of the message hit him like a wave. This was not just some random coincidence. This other version of him had been waiting, guiding him all along. They were not separate; they were intertwined, connected in ways he still didn't fully understand.

But one thing was certain—this was just the beginning. The questions he had about the voice, about the other world, were only growing. And he knew the road ahead was going to be far more complicated than he had ever imagined.