The Time Machine Experiment
he alarm clock woke me up at 1.30 in the afternoon. I still felt dizzy from the party last night. My temples were pulsating. While I was wondering whether to get up or stay in bed and get some more sleep, a metal tab rattle on the door mail slot. I got up and left the room with a dizzy walk, thinking about what to prepare for breakfast. My dilemma was whether to have eggs and bacon or to spread some jam on a slice of bread. Then I saw a big yellow envelope next to the door. I dropped it and was very surprised to see that apart from my address, there was no stamp nor a postmark. I put the envelope on the table and looked behind still sleepy, and in the background, could hear some glass smashing. I turned around only to realize that the glass vase fell off the table. Thought I removed it with my envelope, waved my hand and went to get a shower. Coldwater was a relief for my hangover, and my stomach rumbled as if I hadn’t eaten anything for ages. There, under the shower head, I decided to have scrambled eggs and bacon. While I was drying my hair, though I heard the front door slamming. I covered myself with a towel and went to the living-room, convinced that somebody had entered my house. Since there was nobody seen, the same envelope attracted my attention: it was not on the table where I left it; instead it lay half-opened on the floor. I lifted it up and found a piece of paper that read:
You are randomly chosen for the experiment that can change your life radically once and for all. To convince you that this message is severe, I will tell you that you decided to have eggs and bacon. I would like you to experience time travel, come to a city hall today at 4 in the afternoon. In front of its backdoor, in Folk Heroes Street, there will be a man with a white tie waiting for you.
P. S. If time reveals everything, I hope you’ll find some time to get yourself familiar with this necessity.
It was a lovely vase, be careful not to cut yourself and get hurt.
G. F. N.
I was bewildered by this message and looked at this piece of paper in my hands trying to find some logical explanation. After a few minutes, I left the message on the table, entered the kitchen and prepared some scrambled eggs with bacon. I had breakfast, got dressed and all that time I couldn’t forget about the message I had read. When I got ready, I read the all letter once again, and then I put it in my pocket and went out to the teahouse across my apartment, the owner of which was widely known as "Englishman.“
While I was having tea and playing poker with Englishman and his friends, I couldn’t get the message out of my head. Caught myself touching the pocket where I had the letter, unconsciously. I didn’t have any luck in gambling, so I gave up and moved to the bar. I was chatting with a bartender and watching the TV that was in the corner until the clock on the wall that never ticked more slowly showed 3.30. I buttoned up my coat and went out into the street. My cell phone rang, and there was no identification number on display. I answered the phone, but except for the cracky noise, I could hear nothing. I put my cell phone in my pocket again and headed for the City Hall wishing to resolve some doubts that I had about the mysterious message. I needed some thirty minutes to reach Folk Heroes Street where somebody was supposed to wait for me in front of the side entrance. I looked at the cathedral and saw on its big clock with Roman numbers that it showed two minutes to four. There was nobody in front of the entrance. I climbed two stairs and decided to wait for several minutes. When the big clock showed 4.05, I smiled at my naivety. I went down the stairs, intending to go back home when the City Hall door opened.
A man was wearing a black suit and a white tie. He was watching me coldly showing no signs of recognizing me, so I dared to take the letter out of my pocket and wave it to him. The man smiled at me and not saying a word invited me to follow him. I entered after him. In the City Hall, I could feel the smell of paper and fresh paint. The dusty chandelier was lit with its yellow bulbs although it was daytime and the hall was luminous from the daylight outside. The man with the white tie waited for me patiently holding the elevator door. I gave him a nervous smile and then got in the elevator. I could see very clearly when he moved the plate under the proper table with buttons. Beneath the tile, he discovered the hidden button, he pressed it and then put the cover back in its place. Almost a minute after he pressed the button, the elevator went down. When it stopped and the door silently opened, I saw a luxurious showroom with a long oak wood table. At the top of the table, there was one chair. There sat one elderly man while two other perplexed men were standing next to the table. The guide pointed his finger at me as a sign of invitation to join them. I approached them carrying the letter in front of me as a shield.
– Is this some kind of joke? – I asked confused. The voice surprised me with its shrillness. The two men who stood near the table also lifted their similar pieces of paper trying to convince me that I’m not the only one.
– It’s ok, ladies and gentlemen, the old man, uttered. – Welcome, Sir, we have been waiting for you for quite some time. Now I can begin my story, listen carefully – said the old man pouring some whiskey in his glass and lighting his cigar. – I hate to repeat myself – he grumbled, profoundly inhaling the smoke and then raising his voice, you’re chosen for the Time machine experiment. I guess you bought the plates. There was a pause, and then those two guys brought out the envelopes like somebody ordered them to.
– What kind of metal plate? I got no metal plates – I replied in bewilderment.
– How come? – The old man frowned at me. The two guys looked at me as if I was suffering from some incurable disease, and stepped back.
– No, there was only this piece of paper, I showed the letter again. And I believe somebody got into my house while I had a shower, and maybe even stole my...
The old man banged his fist on the table and interrupted my speech.
– Interfering again– he mumbled through his teeth. – Ok, the two of you – will pass through that door in the corner – and you – he pointed his finger at me – should stay here.
When we left alone he puffed cigarette smoke toward the ceiling and then continued talking:
– Tell me what you were doing when somebody broke into your house.
– I had a shower.
– What time was it, can you remember?
– Let me see – I tried to recall all the events in my head – I got up at 1.30, so it must have been around 1.40 – I scratched behind my ear feeling uneasy.
– Come – the old man said and got up from his chair. He approached the wall on which there was a passage covered with a huge red curtain. I moved the curtain and saw a chair with no legs. It was attached with belts to some rings on the ceiling. I went closer and saw the big numbered disc similar to a telephone dial on the wall.
– Sit in that chair, said the old man. I will send you back in time. How much time do you need to get home?
– About half an hour – I answered and sat insecurely in the chair wondering whether the man beside me was psychologically healthy. He ripped up a piece of paper he took out of his pocket and then wrote something down on it.
– Excellent – he puffed again – so, I’ll type one hour. When you switch to that time, read what is written here, he said and gave me the folded piece of paper. I nodded and then I saw him typing the time. Suddenly, the chair I was sitting on started rotating the full circle. When the chair turned the full circle, the old man was gone. I stood up and peeped behind the curtain. The salon was empty, and the bottle of whiskey was next to the empty glass on the table. I was excited and called the elevator, and then with a lot of fumbling, I managed to open the hidden panel and press the button. The lift was late, and then it stopped at the ground floor. I went out and found myself among the busy people who went in and out of the hall immersed in their businesses. Nobody paid attention to me. I looked through the window of the cathedral and realized it was one o’clock. I opened the piece of paper the old man gave me and read:
"Go back home and take the plate from your envelope, and then kill your double. When you do that, come back to the City Hall at 3.00. If you don’t kill your double, you will be murdered by him, or you’ll disintegrate.“
My heart started beating so hard, I folded the piece of paper and rushed home as fast as I could. I stopped at the teahouse and looked at the clock above the bar; it was one twenty. The bartender wiped the dust from the bottles, and Englishman was sitting alone in the corner, watching TV and shuffling cards, apparently preparing for the next game. I crossed the street and went into my yard. I tried to look through the window in my bedroom, and through the small holes of the shutters, I couldn’t see anything. I put my hand in my pocket and took the key. I returned to the front door, unlocked the door and opened it quietly. I entered slowly and carefully and closed the door behind me. I saw my clothes on the floor and my coat on the hatstand in the corner. I went to my bedroom. Since the door was half-open, I peeped inside and almost fell on the floor in shock. There was my double in my bed, under the sheet and he was asleep. His breathing was very shallow. I looked at the clock on my night table, it showed 1.26. I stood and watched at myself in fascination. It was completely different from my mirror reflection. My stream of thoughts was interrupted by the rattle of the mailbox on the door and my double’s head moved from the bed. I stepped back and then bypassed the armchair and crouched behind the three-seater. I could hear my double getting up. I thought the old man’s advice was silly. I protruded just a little to see my double’s toes when he entered the living-room. He approached and took the envelope from the table, and then left it the same way I did. I could feel the place shrinking and suffocating me. When my double turned around, I could come out, ambush him and hit him with a heavy ashtray. Yet, I made up my mind at the last minute, and when I hid behind the three-seater, I grazed the night table with my toes, and the vase fell down from it, breaking into pieces. My heart started beating with excitement because if he had decided to pick up the shattered pieces, he could have seen me. It was quiet for some time, and then I heard the shower. I wanted to take a knife, surprise him in the bathroom and murder him, but then the douche stopped. I gave up that idea, went to grab the mail, opened it in the corner and took the metal plate out of it. I heard the bathroom door open. I dropped the envelope and opened the door frightened, running into the streets. I didn’t stay nor did I turn around; I was running to the city center, to the city hall. When I got to Folk Heroes Street, I was so exhausted that I almost started vomiting. I sat in front of the restaurant and decided to wait until it was three o’clock at the cathedral. As time went by, I felt weaker and weaker. I drank my coffee and ate some croissants, and when it struck three o’clock, my whole body hurt. I left my table and went with massive threads towards the city hall. The man in the white tie was standing at the entrance, and he was pacing in circles. When he looked at me, he took me aside.
– You didn’t kill him?
– Yes, I did. – I lied.
– You fool, you’re becoming more transparent, you’ll disappear in a few hours. You have to kill him, or you’ll die. This dimension cannot accept both of you.
– I couldn’t, but now I think I can – I uttered, witnessing the disappearance of my two fingers on my right hand. Then my shoulder started to hurt, and I got some tingling in my right leg. The guide retook me to the underground salon which was empty. He removed the curtain, and I sat in a hanging chair.
– I have the plate this time, I managed to find it, you were right – I stuttered.
– My friend, it is worth the while only if you do the job. I will send you back at 12.30. This time you will have to murder your first double and the second one, the one that already traveled back in time. You should make sure not to repeat the same mistake. You should hope not to vanish before you do it. If everything goes right, come back tonight at eight o’clock at the same entrance.
I looked at him choosing numbers, and then the chair started rotating. I got up when it stopped, and I was back in the salon once again. My right arm hurt me and another finger had vanished. I spread my fingers looking at my thumb and forefinger which were the only remaining fingers. I left the city hall in a hurry and in despair and went over the square almost running. When I got to Englishman’s teahouse, I looked through the shop window. The clock above the bar showed ten to one. Apart from the bartender, there was nobody else inside. I crossed the street and unlocked the door without hesitation and then entered. When I closed the door, I felt weak again. I had a throbbing headache, the place shrank and then spread again, so I felt better. I felt my ear tingling. I wanted to scratch it but moved my hand back when I realized my ear had disappeared. I went to the kitchen and without hesitation took the long knife to kill my double. I went into the sleeping room and approached the bed. My double was sleeping, breathing fast, not suspecting of any danger. I put the blade over his chest and then took it back. It wasn’t easy to kill an animal, not to mention one’s double. The place shrank again, I felt a sharp pain in my head like whipping. The room turned around, and I fell down with my blade that stabbed him directly in the chest. As soon as the knife penetrated his body, I felt pain. I jumped out of bed looking at his distraught stare and the red stain spreading over the bed. My ear tingled, and I realized it was back again. The pain in my shoulder soothed, and suddenly the body of my double just wore off as if it had never been there in my bed. Even the blood, which had soaked the bedsheets, vanished entirely. I was encouraged by that significant change, and I was relieved. I am the only real one, this is not murder since I am alive. I am the first me, and I have more rights in this dimension than they, my doubles and copies, have. I was standing there, motionless like a statue, trying to justify this disgusting act I had just committed. The clock on the table showed fifteen past one when I startled myself. I hid behind the curtains since I knew that my double would first enter the bedroom to check who was in his bed. I was motionless for a moment, measuring the knife in my hands whose handle gave me confidence when I heard the door. My twin No. 2 closed the door carefully. I saw him through the thick curtain lace. When he headed to the bedroom door, I gripped the knife firmly. The moment he learned to take a look at the bedroom, I came out from behind the curtain and stabbed the knife in his throat. He turned around, opened his mouth and started wheezing. The blood gushed from his artery and splashed all over my face. I was standing there looking at him fading and disappearing. When he disintegrated entirely, I entered the room ready to take the sheets and throw them in the trash. I couldn’t bear to cover with it again since there was a hole from knife stabbing. I felt some tingling in my hand, but only one finger was back, my little thumb and my ring finger was still missing. I thought they would undoubtedly be back until the end of the day. I took my sheet and turned to the door. I felt a cold dagger in my stomach. To my great surprise, I could see the open closet door, and my double jumped out of it with a knife in his hand. – I am the original, this is my dimension, forgive me – he whispered while he took me in his arms trying to lay me down on the carpet. My hands disappeared, and then my body started fading. The last thing I saw was a metal plate that hangs on a thin necklace around his neck.
he alarm clock woke me up at 1.30 in the afternoon. I still felt dizzy from the party last night. My temples were pulsating. While I was wondering whether to get up or stay in bed and get some more sleep, a metal tab rattle on the door mail slot. I got up and left the room with a dizzy walk, thinking about what to prepare for breakfast. My dilemma was whether to have eggs and bacon or to spread some jam on a slice of bread. Then I saw a big yellow envelope next to the door. I dropped it and was very surprised to see that apart from my address, there was no stamp nor a postmark. I put the envelope on the table and looked behind still sleepy, and in the background, could hear some glass smashing. I turned around only to realize that the glass vase fell off the table. Thought I removed it with my envelope, waved my hand and went to get a shower. Coldwater was a relief for my hangover, and my stomach rumbled as if I hadn’t eaten anything for ages. There, under the shower head, I decided to have scrambled eggs and bacon. While I was drying my hair, though I heard the front door slamming. I covered myself with a towel and went to the living-room, convinced that somebody had entered my house. Since there was nobody seen, the same envelope attracted my attention: it was not on the table where I left it; instead it lay half-opened on the floor. I lifted it up and found a piece of paper that read:
You are randomly chosen for the experiment that can change your life radically once and for all. To convince you that this message is severe, I will tell you that you decided to have eggs and bacon. I would like you to experience time travel, come to a city hall today at 4 in the afternoon. In front of its backdoor, in Folk Heroes Street, there will be a man with a white tie waiting for you.
P. S. If time reveals everything, I hope you’ll find some time to get yourself familiar with this necessity.
It was a lovely vase, be careful not to cut yourself and get hurt.
G. F. N.
I was bewildered by this message and looked at this piece of paper in my hands trying to find some logical explanation. After a few minutes, I left the message on the table, entered the kitchen and prepared some scrambled eggs with bacon. I had breakfast, got dressed and all that time I couldn’t forget about the message I had read. When I got ready, I read the all letter once again, and then I put it in my pocket and went out to the teahouse across my apartment, the owner of which was widely known as "Englishman.“
While I was having tea and playing poker with Englishman and his friends, I couldn’t get the message out of my head. Caught myself touching the pocket where I had the letter, unconsciously. I didn’t have any luck in gambling, so I gave up and moved to the bar. I was chatting with a bartender and watching the TV that was in the corner until the clock on the wall that never ticked more slowly showed 3.30. I buttoned up my coat and went out into the street. My cell phone rang, and there was no identification number on display. I answered the phone, but except for the cracky noise, I could hear nothing. I put my cell phone in my pocket again and headed for the City Hall wishing to resolve some doubts that I had about the mysterious message. I needed some thirty minutes to reach Folk Heroes Street where somebody was supposed to wait for me in front of the side entrance. I looked at the cathedral and saw on its big clock with Roman numbers that it showed two minutes to four. There was nobody in front of the entrance. I climbed two stairs and decided to wait for several minutes. When the big clock showed 4.05, I smiled at my naivety. I went down the stairs, intending to go back home when the City Hall door opened.
A man was wearing a black suit and a white tie. He was watching me coldly showing no signs of recognizing me, so I dared to take the letter out of my pocket and wave it to him. The man smiled at me and not saying a word invited me to follow him. I entered after him. In the City Hall, I could feel the smell of paper and fresh paint. The dusty chandelier was lit with its yellow bulbs although it was daytime and the hall was luminous from the daylight outside. The man with the white tie waited for me patiently holding the elevator door. I gave him a nervous smile and then got in the elevator. I could see very clearly when he moved the plate under the proper table with buttons. Beneath the tile, he discovered the hidden button, he pressed it and then put the cover back in its place. Almost a minute after he pressed the button, the elevator went down. When it stopped and the door silently opened, I saw a luxurious showroom with a long oak wood table. At the top of the table, there was one chair. There sat one elderly man while two other perplexed men were standing next to the table. The guide pointed his finger at me as a sign of invitation to join them. I approached them carrying the letter in front of me as a shield.
– Is this some kind of joke? – I asked confused. The voice surprised me with its shrillness. The two men who stood near the table also lifted their similar pieces of paper trying to convince me that I’m not the only one.
– It’s ok, ladies and gentlemen, the old man, uttered. – Welcome, Sir, we have been waiting for you for quite some time. Now I can begin my story, listen carefully – said the old man pouring some whiskey in his glass and lighting his cigar. – I hate to repeat myself – he grumbled, profoundly inhaling the smoke and then raising his voice, you’re chosen for the Time machine experiment. I guess you bought the plates. There was a pause, and then those two guys brought out the envelopes like somebody ordered them to.
– What kind of metal plate? I got no metal plates – I replied in bewilderment.
– How come? – The old man frowned at me. The two guys looked at me as if I was suffering from some incurable disease, and stepped back.
– No, there was only this piece of paper, I showed the letter again. And I believe somebody got into my house while I had a shower, and maybe even stole my...
The old man banged his fist on the table and interrupted my speech.
– Interfering again– he mumbled through his teeth. – Ok, the two of you – will pass through that door in the corner – and you – he pointed his finger at me – should stay here.
When we left alone he puffed cigarette smoke toward the ceiling and then continued talking:
– Tell me what you were doing when somebody broke into your house.
– I had a shower.
– What time was it, can you remember?
– Let me see – I tried to recall all the events in my head – I got up at 1.30, so it must have been around 1.40 – I scratched behind my ear feeling uneasy.
– Come – the old man said and got up from his chair. He approached the wall on which there was a passage covered with a huge red curtain. I moved the curtain and saw a chair with no legs. It was attached with belts to some rings on the ceiling. I went closer and saw the big numbered disc similar to a telephone dial on the wall.
– Sit in that chair, said the old man. I will send you back in time. How much time do you need to get home?
– About half an hour – I answered and sat insecurely in the chair wondering whether the man beside me was psychologically healthy. He ripped up a piece of paper he took out of his pocket and then wrote something down on it.
– Excellent – he puffed again – so, I’ll type one hour. When you switch to that time, read what is written here, he said and gave me the folded piece of paper. I nodded and then I saw him typing the time. Suddenly, the chair I was sitting on started rotating the full circle. When the chair turned the full circle, the old man was gone. I stood up and peeped behind the curtain. The salon was empty, and the bottle of whiskey was next to the empty glass on the table. I was excited and called the elevator, and then with a lot of fumbling, I managed to open the hidden panel and press the button. The lift was late, and then it stopped at the ground floor. I went out and found myself among the busy people who went in and out of the hall immersed in their businesses. Nobody paid attention to me. I looked through the window of the cathedral and realized it was one o’clock. I opened the piece of paper the old man gave me and read:
"Go back home and take the plate from your envelope, and then kill your double. When you do that, come back to the City Hall at 3.00. If you don’t kill your double, you will be murdered by him, or you’ll disintegrate.“
My heart started beating so hard, I folded the piece of paper and rushed home as fast as I could. I stopped at the teahouse and looked at the clock above the bar; it was one twenty. The bartender wiped the dust from the bottles, and Englishman was sitting alone in the corner, watching TV and shuffling cards, apparently preparing for the next game. I crossed the street and went into my yard. I tried to look through the window in my bedroom, and through the small holes of the shutters, I couldn’t see anything. I put my hand in my pocket and took the key. I returned to the front door, unlocked the door and opened it quietly. I entered slowly and carefully and closed the door behind me. I saw my clothes on the floor and my coat on the hatstand in the corner. I went to my bedroom. Since the door was half-open, I peeped inside and almost fell on the floor in shock. There was my double in my bed, under the sheet and he was asleep. His breathing was very shallow. I looked at the clock on my night table, it showed 1.26. I stood and watched at myself in fascination. It was completely different from my mirror reflection. My stream of thoughts was interrupted by the rattle of the mailbox on the door and my double’s head moved from the bed. I stepped back and then bypassed the armchair and crouched behind the three-seater. I could hear my double getting up. I thought the old man’s advice was silly. I protruded just a little to see my double’s toes when he entered the living-room. He approached and took the envelope from the table, and then left it the same way I did. I could feel the place shrinking and suffocating me. When my double turned around, I could come out, ambush him and hit him with a heavy ashtray. Yet, I made up my mind at the last minute, and when I hid behind the three-seater, I grazed the night table with my toes, and the vase fell down from it, breaking into pieces. My heart started beating with excitement because if he had decided to pick up the shattered pieces, he could have seen me. It was quiet for some time, and then I heard the shower. I wanted to take a knife, surprise him in the bathroom and murder him, but then the douche stopped. I gave up that idea, went to grab the mail, opened it in the corner and took the metal plate out of it. I heard the bathroom door open. I dropped the envelope and opened the door frightened, running into the streets. I didn’t stay nor did I turn around; I was running to the city center, to the city hall. When I got to Folk Heroes Street, I was so exhausted that I almost started vomiting. I sat in front of the restaurant and decided to wait until it was three o’clock at the cathedral. As time went by, I felt weaker and weaker. I drank my coffee and ate some croissants, and when it struck three o’clock, my whole body hurt. I left my table and went with massive threads towards the city hall. The man in the white tie was standing at the entrance, and he was pacing in circles. When he looked at me, he took me aside.
– You didn’t kill him?
– Yes, I did. – I lied.
– You fool, you’re becoming more transparent, you’ll disappear in a few hours. You have to kill him, or you’ll die. This dimension cannot accept both of you.
– I couldn’t, but now I think I can – I uttered, witnessing the disappearance of my two fingers on my right hand. Then my shoulder started to hurt, and I got some tingling in my right leg. The guide retook me to the underground salon which was empty. He removed the curtain, and I sat in a hanging chair.
– I have the plate this time, I managed to find it, you were right – I stuttered.
– My friend, it is worth the while only if you do the job. I will send you back at 12.30. This time you will have to murder your first double and the second one, the one that already traveled back in time. You should make sure not to repeat the same mistake. You should hope not to vanish before you do it. If everything goes right, come back tonight at eight o’clock at the same entrance.
I looked at him choosing numbers, and then the chair started rotating. I got up when it stopped, and I was back in the salon once again. My right arm hurt me and another finger had vanished. I spread my fingers looking at my thumb and forefinger which were the only remaining fingers. I left the city hall in a hurry and in despair and went over the square almost running. When I got to Englishman’s teahouse, I looked through the shop window. The clock above the bar showed ten to one. Apart from the bartender, there was nobody else inside. I crossed the street and unlocked the door without hesitation and then entered. When I closed the door, I felt weak again. I had a throbbing headache, the place shrank and then spread again, so I felt better. I felt my ear tingling. I wanted to scratch it but moved my hand back when I realized my ear had disappeared. I went to the kitchen and without hesitation took the long knife to kill my double. I went into the sleeping room and approached the bed. My double was sleeping, breathing fast, not suspecting of any danger. I put the blade over his chest and then took it back. It wasn’t easy to kill an animal, not to mention one’s double. The place shrank again, I felt a sharp pain in my head like whipping. The room turned around, and I fell down with my blade that stabbed him directly in the chest. As soon as the knife penetrated his body, I felt pain. I jumped out of bed looking at his distraught stare and the red stain spreading over the bed. My ear tingled, and I realized it was back again. The pain in my shoulder soothed, and suddenly the body of my double just wore off as if it had never been there in my bed. Even the blood, which had soaked the bedsheets, vanished entirely. I was encouraged by that significant change, and I was relieved. I am the only real one, this is not murder since I am alive. I am the first me, and I have more rights in this dimension than they, my doubles and copies, have. I was standing there, motionless like a statue, trying to justify this disgusting act I had just committed. The clock on the table showed fifteen past one when I startled myself. I hid behind the curtains since I knew that my double would first enter the bedroom to check who was in his bed. I was motionless for a moment, measuring the knife in my hands whose handle gave me confidence when I heard the door. My twin No. 2 closed the door carefully. I saw him through the thick curtain lace. When he headed to the bedroom door, I gripped the knife firmly. The moment he learned to take a look at the bedroom, I came out from behind the curtain and stabbed the knife in his throat. He turned around, opened his mouth and started wheezing. The blood gushed from his artery and splashed all over my face. I was standing there looking at him fading and disappearing. When he disintegrated entirely, I entered the room ready to take the sheets and throw them in the trash. I couldn’t bear to cover with it again since there was a hole from knife stabbing. I felt some tingling in my hand, but only one finger was back, my little thumb and my ring finger was still missing. I thought they would undoubtedly be back until the end of the day. I took my sheet and turned to the door. I felt a cold dagger in my stomach. To my great surprise, I could see the open closet door, and my double jumped out of it with a knife in his hand. – I am the original, this is my dimension, forgive me – he whispered while he took me in his arms trying to lay me down on the carpet. My hands disappeared, and then my body started fading. The last thing I saw was a metal plate that hangs on a thin necklace around his neck.
A short narrative The Time Machine Experiment first time was published in the Collection of weird stories Anatomica de somniis, 2014.
