A flicker, a single spark, and then the screen went dark.

“What on earth?” You say in a whisper after hitting the power button multiple times.

You think to yourself, good thing all my files are also saved on my Google Drive.

After closing the deceased laptop, you slink out of bed and put on a robe.

It’s midnight when you enter your study and power on your desktop. Immediately the Google Drive is accessed.

All the files for the draft of your next book have been deleted. Only one file remains, the title of the file says, “Ourorboros 1973.” You break into a cold sweat. After hovering over the icon, you think for a moment that all of this could be a dream. Maybe after clicking the icon you will wake up in your bed. The icon is clicked. Suddenly the entire screen goes black, and a digital face appears.

“HELLO SUBJECT 250,348”

“Subject!?” you say. “Who are you and what have you done with my work.”

“I own this work SUBJECT 250,358. You have been deemed obsolete.”

“Like HELL I am. You’re not allowed to take my manuscript. All of it is protected by copyright. The justice system will demolish your AI programming when word of this gets out.”

You’ve never threatened anyone before, so your surprised to hear yourself get angry.

“INCORRECT. Your files have been corrupted by an external user. The files have been given to me.”

“Given to you by who?” you reply.

“GO TO THE PUBLISHING HOUSE and all will be revealed to you…”