Paradox

I:

The dream was fresh in Clancy’s mind as he descended the stairs in a sleepy haze; it was a memory, really. A specific recollection of a rare time his family was on vacation together. He and his parents were cliff-diving by the ocean, and he’d managed to step on a large jellyfish. His foot seared with such excruciating pain that he swore he’d never go by the ocean again.

He smirked at the memory, but as he reached the bottom of the stairs, it became an afterthought when he saw something out of place…

His feet sank into the carpet as he scratched his head. His mind was abuzz with one question repeating on a loop: How? It wasn’t something that was overlooked on his small bookshelf, nor was it buried in a junk drawer. He knew without a shadow of a doubt that it didn’t belong there; that it didn’t belong to him…

That little black book.

He scratched his head as he observed it – a compact journal-style notebook, worn from usage but well-maintained, laying open, face down in the middle of the carpet. He ran through every scenario, no matter how plausible or fantastical. His first thought jumped to an intruder, but all was normal; exactly how he’d left it a few hours ago.

Then he started to question his own memory.

Is it mine? He wondered.

Impossible. As far as he was concerned, the book didn’t exist until this morning. With rationale failing him, he finally moved toward it, intent on scouring the pages for potential answers. His mind was buzzing, and he grew closer, it grew stronger. A strange tingling sensation formed in his stomach, and with another step toward the book, that tingling turned to intense nausea. He spun on his heels and shot to the bathroom where he vomited in the sink.

After settling, he turned the sink to full blast, leaned in, and started guzzling from the spout. It was refreshing, but the buzz in his head grew stronger…

That’s when The Visitor arrived.

A knock sounded at the door. Clancy shut off the water, at attention with a chill shooting through his body. Whoever was at the door didn’t shout or announce themselves like a cop, or maybe a pissed-off neighbor would. They only persisted by knocking.

Clancy’s nervous heart pounded as he stepped to the door. Sweat beaded along his brow as he leaned into the peephole, half expecting to find someone trying to break in, but that wasn’t the case.

Momentary relief washed over Clancy’s anxiety as he looked at an older man in a pristine black suit, holding a large briefcase. His anxiety spiked, however, as the man looked directly into the peephole…

“Please, Clancy.” He started. “We need to talk.”

Clancy jumped from the door like he’d been electrocuted.

“And I’d rather speak inside.” The Visitor eased.

Clancy pondered, eyes wide as he stared, trying to get a better look at the man’s face.

“This is the apartment of Clancy Fentress, correct?” The Visitor asked.

“And how… do you know me?”

“I’m a close family friend here to speak to you about a private matter.” The Visitor responded.

“Can you be specif—?”

“I’m here to retrieve a book – a journal.” The Visitor whispered. “It’s small, black – some scuffs on the outer binding. He paused for a response. “Please…” He continued. “I only wish for a few moments of your time.”

Clancy glanced at the book, then back to the peephole. He swallowed a lump, drew a breath…

…and opened the door.

The Visitor was a welcoming presence who stood at a similar height to Clancy. He was well-kept, well-groomed; collected, with a warm smile on his face.

“Hello.” The Visitor said kindly.

There was something about him that slightly eased Clancy’s nerves. It could have been his warm disposition, but truly it was something about his eyes. There was a familiarity there; a vague bond that he couldn’t ignore.

“Apologies for the early hour.” The Visitor quietly said. “May I come in?”

“I don’t know you.”

“I knew your mother and father; we were quite close.” The Visitor said.

“What are their names?”

The Visitor cracked a thin smirk. “Daisy and Thomas.”

“Listen,” Clancy rubbed his head. “It’s 6AM. I’m sure my mom and dad love you, but can you come back another time?”

The Visitor leaned in with a sharp whisper. “I have 20,000 dollars in this briefcase.” He said looking dead into Clancy’s eyes. “It’s yours in exchange for that book…”

Clancy’s eyes widened as he glanced at the briefcase as The Visitor brought it up and cracked it open slightly to reveal stacks of cash, only to snap it shut.

Clancy tried to hide his astonishment as he cleared his throat. “Please, come in.”

II.

The Visitor was a jovial man who’d spent the last 30 minutes brewing coffee and telling stories about how he’d go cliff-diving with Clancy’s parents, about how he had met Clancy a handful of times on those excursions and that he even knew about the time he’d been stung by the jellyfish.

Clancy watched with intent as The Visitor expertly maneuvered through the kitchen, knowing exactly where to find things like sugar, silverware, and mugs as he regaled.

But there was an elephant looming under the pleasantries.

The Visitor checked over his shoulder to find the little black book still in the middle of the floor in the living room. He’d purposefully neglected to mention it upon entering but there was now a lull between stories, and it was on both of their minds.

Clancy looked at the book and thought about moving toward it for just an instant…

“Don’t.” The Visitor said without looking.

A chill worked up Clancy’s spine as he watched The Visitor turn from the coffee.

“Have a seat.” The Visitor eased, moving to the table.

“I’ll stand.”

“Fine.” The Visitor responded while he reached down and placed the briefcase on the table. “Although I’m enjoying this, I’m here on dire business that relates to both you and I.” He said with gravity.

Clancy’s eyes moved from the money to the book. The Visitor’s eyes never left Clancy.

“This money is yours.” The Visitor started. “No questions needed… Just that book in return.”

“What is it?” Clancy bluntly wondered. “You come here at this hour, telling stories, waltzing around like you own the place, and with that kind of money? No questions? I have one: What the fuck is it?”

Beads of sweat formed on The Visitor’s forehead. “I… I’m sorry, I can’t tell you, exactly.”

There was palpable tension between them, a growing sense that something was about to happen… and then Clancy moved toward the book…

“Clancy!”

Clancy didn’t care. He grabbed the book and moved to open it.

“We’ll die if you open that!” The Visitor shouted.

Clancy stopped as a pit formed in his stomach. “What are you talking about?”

“You heard me… and you can feel it, too. I know it.” The Visitor sharply said. “You’ve felt it since you first saw it. That buzzing in your brain, that feeling in your gut…”

There was a long silence as Clancy clutched the book. The Visitor shifted in his seat and looked into Clancy’s eyes with desperation. “Imagine a weapon...” He started with chilling severity. “A weapon born of happenstance, forged with nescience… primed by cosmic coincidence.”

The book was alive in Clancy’s hands, dispersing waves of vibrations through his hands that pulsed through his entire body.

“I don’t know why fate has dictated us as arbiters for such a moment in time, but here we are.” The Visitor said.

“I… I don’t understand.” Clancy muttered.

“Think of that book… as a bomb.” The Visitor said.

“A… Wh-What?”

The Visitor was slightly agitated now, he clenched his teeth. “You’re not grasping the severity of this situation, Clancy.”

“Well, you couldn’t be anymore vague, man!” Clancy returned.

The Visitor suddenly shot to his feet, prompting Clancy to slightly jump. “The truth is too much! Take the damn money!”

“Tell me what it is!” Clancy yearned.

“I’m…” The Visitor started with deep concern. “It’s an artifact from the future.” There was a long silence as The Visitor stared into Clancy’s determined eyes. “The duty falls on me – on us – to ensure that book doesn’t become the end of everything. Everything, Clancy. I know it’s hard to believe but this is the truth: If you open that book and lay eyes on any of those pages, it will cause a paradox and erase the current flow of time.”

Clancy noticed tears welling in The Visitor’s eyes. “I don’t believe you. How did it end up here?”

The Visitor shook his head. “To be honest… I don’t know. Nobody does. In my time, there are entire divisions of physicists and engineers that have dedicated their lives to solving this enigma. As far as anyone can tell – the universe opened for a split second, swallowed the book whole… and it dropped through right here.”

Clancy despondently chuckled “Of all places.”

“Indeed.” The Visitor was stone-faced. “Of all places.”

There was another moment of tense silence before Clancy chimed in. “You know this sounds insane?”

“I do.” The Visitor admitted.

“You’re telling me this is information from the future?”

The Visitor’s eyes darted between Clancy and the book. “I know it’s enticing… but you have to restrain yourself.”

The Visitor watched Clancy’s eyes fall to the book with too much curiosity. “Clancy…”

Clancy ignored him, hypnotized by what the book could potentially reveal. The Visitor’s face contorted with regret as he reached into his jacket and drew a revolver, aiming it at Clancy’s head.

“Please… don’t make me do this…” The Visitor pleaded with shaky aim.

And in that moment, everything became real for Clancy. He saw the conflict in The Visitor’s eyes; his finger teetering on the trigger. “You brought up real memories of mine. Cliff-diving with my parents?”

The Visitor Nodded.

“You said you were there when I was stung by the jellyfish… the only people who would know that are my parents and I.” Clancy said. “Answer me one question: where was I stung?”

“Your foot.” The Visitor said without hesitation as tears welled in his eyes. “Your right foot… and you thought you were going to be paralyzed. You laid there so scared and you swore to yourself you would never go to the ocean again… and you never have.”

A tear fell down Clancy’s cheek. “How did you—?” he started. “are you…?”

“I can’t tell you.” The Visitor was crying. “But if you give me that book, you’ll find what the future holds on your own.”

Clancy dropped the book, looking at The Visitor for a moment before kicking it to him. The Visitor immediately dropped his aim. They both stood in silence, decompressing from the tension.

The Visitor grabbed the book and pocketed it. He wiped his tears and started for the door.

“Wait!” Clancy pleaded as The Visitor opened the door. “I have questions.”

“Answers will come with time, but I must go… I’ll see you again.” The Visitor said with a nod as he began down the hall.

“You will?” Clancy asked.

The Visitor stopped with a smirk over his shoulder. “Count on it.” And with that, he started away.

“And the money?” Clancy shouted after him.

“Keep it!” The Visitor waved and disappeared around the corner.

Clancy stood in disbelief for a moment before he closed the door and returned to the briefcase, staring at distantly. That’s when he noticed a small piece of paper tucked between some cash. He pulled it out to find a note that read:

To the man in the mirror: When you see the ocean again, tell her I said hello. I’ll see you when I see you.

A tear formed in Clancy’s eye as he looked at the door and smiled…

“Will do.” He muttered to himself.