A Glimpse into The Future

There is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, science and superstition, and between the pit of man's fears and the summit of his knowledge. This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area which we call the Twilight Zone. David saw the beads of perspiration on her forehead. He smiled cruelly. Marcia had another vision. Good! He saw her open her eyes; she was still dizzy. "Good," he said, rubbing his hands. "So, you have something to tell me." He saw the hatred in her eyes, and quickly enough, he caressed the small scar, thus reminding her of what she could expect if she tried to escape. She stammered. "I saw a car. I do not know its model. Its colour was green. It sped down a side street. Its driver must be mad. It is as if he is trying to get away from something. No, no, it is not very pleasant. The fool! He drives like a demon. He hits a child. There is no hope for the small girl. She will die on the spot." "That is not enough. Have you any clue as to who the girl is?" "David, can’t you understand? She will die. There is no hope for her......or for the driver." "What do I care about the driver? I want to know about the girl." "Somehow, the driver is important. He will not be arrested. People will gather around, angry. They will lynch him. David, I am afraid. Let’s not get mixed up in this." Promptly, he slapped her face, leaving the red marks of his knuckles on her pale face, a burning sign that stung far more than he intended. He saw her straighten up even though she was in pain. "So be it!" she pronounced. "Tell me about the girl." "I saw her hair. Bright red it was. And her blazer. Light blue with a badge, coming from school. " David decided to accept her bit of news. He somehow felt she was keeping something back from him, but it was not the time to press her. Later, he will get out of her every detail she knew. For the moment, what she told him somehow sufficed. It took him three days to locate the school. Finally, he saw her. Quickly, he climbed into his car and followed her mother when she had left her child at school. It was easy to locate her house. He returned home, dragged Marcia from her bed and took her to the house of the little girl with the red hair. He knocked, and a man opened the door. "Sorry, no peddlers." "Do I look like one? This is my wife. We have something to tell you. It is rather urgent and private." The man was reluctant. Suddenly, his wife came to the door. She was young, considering she had such a small daughter. Must have married a wealthy older man, thought David. That was to his advantage. The richer they were, the bigger their reward. "My wife can see the future. She happens to have seen your daughter in one of her visions." David stopped there. Suddenly, there was a heavy silence. Finally, the man said: "I expect you want to get paid for whatever your wife saw." He received no reply. Instead, David dragged Marcia out towards their car. "Stop!" David smiled. He knew the woman would succumb quickly. "How much is your information worth?" "Five thousand! Cash, please." Marcia involuntarily gasped, but David’s grip on her arm increased to barely unbearably pain. "That’s daylight robbery, " the man said indignantly. David shrugged and again turned towards the car. "Very well. Come inside." David did not count the money. Briefly, he told them what was going to happen. "What’s the use of this bit of news? And when will it happen?" David looked at Marcia, giving her ample warning not to interfere. "You can have an ambulance waiting, and maybe you will save her." Back at their flat, he turned on her angrily. "What else do you know about this affair?" She cringed in fear, then tried as if the feeling of helplessness could somehow be overcome. "There are things hidden from me. I get further feelings. And I noticed things like that man was a retired police officer. You thought only of money. I looked around and noticed things." "Why didn’t you tell me this before?" he raged. Again, he slapped her. She fell to the ground under the hard impact and lay still. Blood oozed from her forehead. Suddenly, the doorbell rang. David hesitated. From the peephole at the door, he saw two police officers waiting outside. He looked back at Marcia. She lay still on the ground. He felt the money in his inner pocket, grabbed his bank documents and other valuables, and left quickly by the fire escape. Fortunately for him, no police officers were waiting in the street for him. It must have been a routine call. That fool of a father must have complained. Well, let him complain as much as he liked. No crime could be pinned on him. He felt confident. He got into his car and drove away. Suddenly, he heard the police siren as cars raced in the streets. He had to take a deviation. Yet he was in for another surprise. He realised this was not his car, but one like it. He felt panicky. His driving was erratic but faster than he should permit it. Somehow, the street he was in was familiar. He noticed the greenish colour of the car and the solitary red-haired girl crossing the road. He knew what was to come, and he felt the stomach-turning impact of his car as it ran into the girl. He had very little time to be afraid. Angry people were gathering around, and the father of the red-haired girl was leading them. The outcome had been predicted.