First day

-Oh no! I have lost again-

-Uh-

-*yawn* *yawn* it's five in the morning. I have played seven consecutive hours *yawn*, It's time to sleep *yawn*- Rouser said in front of his game-desk while stretched his arms and legs. He has just bought the last expansion of his favorite game 'Frostpunk', and tried to survive one new map called 'The Rifts', but he couldn't reach the fifty day; his record was forty-one.

-The citizens are unreasonable on extreme endurance. ¡The people are cold! ¡Warm our homes!- Rouser complained and made fun of them while went to sleep.

He lay down over his bed, and fell into a deep sleep…

-¡Sir. Rouser! ¡Sir. Rouser!- He heard a bothersome voice.

-¡Sir. Rouser! ¡Sir. Rouser! I carry good news for you- The voice didn't stop.

-¡Sir. Rouser! ¡Sir. Rouser!-

-What's going on?- Rouser opened his eyes irritated and he was received by a strange place, and by a deep cold. It seemed that he was in an archaic workroom. There were blueprints, maps and drafts scattered all over, and some ramshackle worktables full of coal-lamps.

-Where...?- Rouser rubbed recklessly his arms; the cold was terrible.

-¡Sir. Rouser! Are you inside?- the annoying voice came back, but now, it doesn't matter.

In a moment, he realized that he was sat before a wood desk, and saw a notebook whose paragraphs were in italics, italics strokes slightly covered by a fine snow cover. He took it and read:

"April 15th, 1886

¡This is the best day ever! We have finally found a generator after a twenty-day-march and I hope that we will be able to survive this volcanic winter. Now, although I am so afraid, I believe that we will not die… we will actually not die..."

-A generator?- Rouser wonder with a curious expression.

-¡Sir Rouser! Are you fine?- Suddenly, a worried man opened the door. He wore heavy fur clothes from his head to his feet, which are covered by snow. Rouser could only discern his eyes because the rest of his face was as white as wool.

-I'm fine, What happens?- he said with the voice of command.

-Sir, we have just built the stockpile's place-

-It sounds great- he pretended to know what the man was saying.

-Yes! It is great, but there is better news- the man said excited.

-Really?-

-The engineers have finished the bridge! Everyone is happy about that, and they asked me if you can pronounce some words, especially words of encouragement-

The bridge, Rouser scratched his forehead; only one thing came to his mind, and it was the game that he played a few time ago.

-Is it a dream?- he thought out loud.

-I feel so every morning when I wake up, Sir.- The man answered.

Rouser simply looked at him and rubbed his arms again. Sometimes the cold got deeper.

-If this is a dream, I'm going to enjoy it, Haha- he thought. He played for many hours, so is no rarely this kind of sleeping.

-¡Let's go outside! I want to travel around the city- Rouser left the room, passing by the side of the man, who followed him.

-It is…?-He didn't need to go much forward from the door to look at the marvelous generator. The cylinder structure would look incredible inside the screen's computer; however, to look at it in the reality was an unforgettable experience. At its bottom, some kids were playing around; they were swinging about the metal rods, which support it, and singing: "The cold can't with us, the cold can't with us". In the middle, a great circular meter, similar to a speed meter, indicates that the generator was off.

The steam-powered engine was constructed in haste, judging by its appearance; but its importance can't be questioned. It uses coal to convert water into vapour which heats the size of a tent around, and obviously, this is indispensable for the survival in this global winter, which gets worse and worse according to the days pass.

Little by little, the citizens meet around both, waiting for Rouser's words. The spirit was through the roof, and the people's expectations were good.

-People, this is an important moment for us. Today we have everything, we have reached the impossible: Wake up another morning, when the last day was very dark; but we can't relax our vigilance, because the cold has no mercy, because nature has no mercy. Then let's work to brave the cold, to brave the nature, and triumph over them as before, as we did the before times-

-¡Hurrah! ¡Hurrah!-

-Let's brave the cold and nature- the people shouted.

-Sir. People are waiting for your distribution of labour force. ¡All are ready to work!- the man said excited

-Umm. Have you take a census?-

-We did it the last night, Sir. I think that you have the list in your pocket-

-Oh! How could I forget that?- Rouser smiled and take it out of his coat-pocket.

-We are eighty-two people: fifty workers, fifteen engineers, and fifteen kids; and we have... thirty pieces of wood, ten pieces of metal, and three steam cores. The unique problem, I see, is the food...- Rouser said loudly. It was like a normal beginning on the extreme mode, with the exception of two people, they.

-It's seven in the morning. It's the right time to give work to everyone- Rouser said to the man -Call the engineers, and tell them that he must construct two workshops. Besides, call the workers and so spread the work: I want that thirty-one people to gather wood in together piles, and near them, three people must gather iron; finally, sixteen people must collect coal - He said in a commanding voice.

-¡It will be built in at most three hours! Sir. However, from the cliff-event, we haven't find coal- The man said.

-Don't worry. Cross the bridge and you will find it-

-How…? Yes Sir. The two workshops will be built at most in three hours- he decided don't doubt on him now.

-Hey!- Rouser shouted.

-Ummm- the man turned his body to see him.

-Watch the food and the stockpiles. You know...-

-Yes Sir. Nothing will be lost- The man understood his meaning.

Rouser left him and walked around.

¡It was the best dream ever!

The cold was terrible, but it became the experience more real. He didn't believe that his mind would be able to create this world, so similar to the original game world. All could look so real; the people, the weather, the polar wind that made his body shake, and he are going to enjoy it, or that is what he thought at that moment.