Shocking

I woke up and my eyes were foggy. My head was pounding, while I tried to focus my eyes. I lifted my hand to touch my head, only to be able to raise my hand an inch or two. “What the hell?” My eyes were more focused now, I was in a white room with 3 doctor looking men staring at me. “what’s going on?” I struggle to get the words out of my mouth. “Ha!” One of the men smirked, as he turned around, clipboard in his hands. “He’s going to act like he doesn’t know what’s going on? That’s rich.” The second man smiled, as the words came out of his mouth. The last man had a more gentle demeanor, he was much older than the other two, and almost seemed like he could be a grandpa. “Do you really not know why you’re here son?” He looked concerned.

“If I knew why I was here, why would I ask?” The words came out of my mouth more sarcastically then I meant. The truth was I was terrified. The blood was pumping through my veins at an alarming rate. My head was still lightheaded and my eyes were not yet fully focused. My arms, legs, and chest were strapped to a chair. I didn’t have the slightest clue where I was, and who was in this room with me. The kind looking man let out a Sigh and turn away to work on, well whatever they where working on.

Just then all of the lights in the room turned on and I could hear the microphone being tested. I now got a clear picture of the room. My heart stopped. It wasn’t a large room, all white walls and white tiles. A large window was directly in front of me. To my left were the two men with their clipboards and to the right a switch board, the older nice man had his hands on a switch. It made sense why I was strapped down. My eyes focused on the window, in its reflection I could see, I was strapped to an electric chair. Taking in a deep breath. My thoughts race, as I tried to figure out what I was doing in an electric chair. I kept quiet though. Then I started to hear feet shuffling, looking directly through the window I watched on lookers take their seat. I was staring directly into the crowd of sick, and twisted people, who were about to watch an innocent man die. The microphone turned on, and I could hear a loud mans voice. “In the case against Henry J. Rockwell, proven guilty for 17 first-degree murders, impersonating police officers, identity theft, forging checks of 3.7 million pounds, conspiracy against the crown, and it dozen other violations. The judge ruled guilty of all charges, with sentencing an execution after convicted.” I could hear the people shuffle in their seats. “That’s not my name, that’s not me.” The words just shot out of my mouth. I could hear the whispers starting. “Sorry son, but you’re not going to be able to lie your way out of this one.” The gentle old man attached my chin strap. “Look you have to believe me! My name is Charlie! Charlie Cornfeld! I’ve never got a speeding ticket before! Let alone murder someone!!” The old man sighed and walked back over to the switchboard. “THATS NOT ME!!! IM INNOCENT!!! SOMEONE HAS TO BELIEVE ME!!!” I was despite at this point.

The microphone clicked back on. I felt the slightest bit of hope. Until I heard, “On my count. 3-2-1.” The old man flipped the switch. Electricity shot through my body. There was so much pain. But before I knew it. Everything went black.

“Pronounced dead 9:27am” one of the men had his hand on the dead bodies wrist. “Well fuck.” I thought. “That was too close for comfort.” I watch the on lookers get up and walk away. “Hey! You look an awfully like that guy.” A pudgy looking man in a suit pointed at the body. “Yeah crazy isn’t it. Someone can look so simaliar to you, yet live a completely different life. See, I heard everyone has one person in the world who looks exactly like them. So, when I saw in the paper mine was about to be exicuted, well I just had to see for myself.” The man nodded back. Picking up my brief case with the initial HJR and walked away.

“Charlie Cornfeld huh? Pretty lame name I'm stuck with… guess I’d rather be the fake Charlie then the real one.” I let out a morbid chuckle as I walked down the street. “Guess my count it now up to 18, but I think that last one was just self defense.” I looked up at the sky, it was more blue then I remembered. “Im a free man now. Maybe I can start over as this Charlie guy. Live a normal life. Start a family. Get a town home.” I laughed. “Guess I have options now.” I walked past a large man and handed him the brief case. 1 million pounds is a small price to pay for a new life.

“Whatever I do, one thing is for certain. I’ll never get caught again. Because I don’t have another I can trade places with again.”

I smiled and walked down the busy street. The world so full of opportunity for Charlie, oh wait that’s me…