ELECTRIC ICARUS PUBLISHING PRESENTS · NEON THEATER · NEON STAGE · ORIGINAL SERIAL FICTION
THE QUANTUM CONUNDRUM
The doctor is in. Unfortunately, so are several other versions of him.
Episode 001: The Man Who Knocked Twice
Mystery · Sci-Fi · Dark Satire
At precisely 8:13 in the morning, Dr. Elias Locke received a letter informing him that he had died.
This was inconvenient for several reasons.
First, he was having breakfast.
Second, he had appointments.
And third, the letter contained an invoice.
He examined the document over his coffee.
SERVICES RENDERED Patient: Dr. Elias Locke Procedure: Temporal Reconciliation Outcome: Partially Successful Outstanding Balance: One Life Please refrain from dying again until the matter is resolved.
Locke adjusted his spectacles.
“Well, that’s rather presumptuous.”
He turned the envelope over. No return address. No postage. Just his own handwriting.
That was more troubling.
He had absolutely no recollection of writing it.
A knock sounded at the door.
“Come in.”
Nothing.
Another knock.
“Come in, I said.”
The handle turned.
The man who entered was approximately his height, shared his face, wore an identical coat, and possessed the unmistakable expression of someone who had experienced a profoundly unpleasant morning.
His left sleeve was covered in blood.
“Don’t drink the coffee,” the stranger said.
Locke stared.
“Excuse me?”
“The coffee. Don’t drink it.”
Locke looked at his cup.
Then at the stranger.
Then back at his cup.
“Would you care to explain why?”
“Because in approximately seventeen seconds, you’re going to drop it.”
Locke frowned.
“Why would I do that?”
“Because I’m about to tell you something rather upsetting.”
There was a silence.
Then Locke leaned forward.
“Do go on.”
The stranger sighed.
“My name is Dr. Elias Locke.”
The cup fell.
It shattered against the floor.
The stranger looked down.
“Sixteen seconds. That’s an improvement.”
From somewhere inside the office, a telephone began ringing.
Neither man moved.
“Don’t answer that,” the stranger said.
Locke folded his arms.
“Are you quite finished telling me what not to do?”
“No.”
“Marvelous.”
The telephone continued ringing.
“Then perhaps you could begin by explaining why you’re bleeding on my carpet.”
The stranger glanced at his sleeve.
“Oh, that’s not my blood.”
“Whose is it?”
The stranger hesitated.
“Yours.”
Locke looked toward the telephone.
It stopped ringing.
For a moment, the office was perfectly still.
Then came another knock.
Three sharp taps.
The stranger’s face went pale.
“Oh, hell.”
Locke looked toward the door.
“Another one?”
The stranger slowly nodded.
“Unfortunately.”
Outside, a familiar voice spoke.
“Dr. Locke? I believe we have a problem.”
Locke shut his eyes.
“Of course we do.”
TO BE CONTINUED.
Reality is relative. Competence is optional.
Original fiction by Jon LaBelle · An Electric Icarus Publishing production.
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