Twisted Bullet – part 1
It’s 0100 hours.
The planet is in cycle, orbiting its stellar node.
Local Coordinates:
Latitude: 38° 53′ North
Longitude: 77° 02′ West
A man walks beneath the mercury vapor street lamp, past a street bench just north of the Mass Avenue intersection from his house.
The weather is cool on this early July night – gentle breeze, low humidity…
He takes off his hat, returns to the bench, and sits down.
“It’s a good night to die.”
“Your job is not yet done. Get up!”
“I can’t,” says the man.
He takes the revolver from his pocket. There are exactly 3 rounds in the cylinder.
“You cannot quit!”
“You did not answer my question. You failed me.” He is crying, tears pouring down his chin, “you did not…”
The enormity of the moment has him pinned down between his past and his present without a future to set him free. The pain bears down his chest like a nail on a wound.
He had done the unspeakable, he had done what was not asked of him, only he had not finished the job. There were consequences to be had.
“I can’t let you go!”
“I no longer need you to frighten me. Goodbye, or should I thank you and say…see you soon.”
He places the muzzle to his chest and blows his heart out. His body collapses.
A moment later:
“…Let me see you, for once… for once, just this once!”
He is startled – all around him darkness prevails, the stars are crisp, no Earth in sight… Yet no sign of him.
“Hello? HELLO?!”
He hears repeated echoes of his own voice. …and again, and… again…
-IAT
