The Cabin

The Cabin

The goon cocked the gun. He aimed for Alan’s head.
 “Don’t shoot!” cried Alan.
“Why not?” asked the goon.
“Because I’m not Alan Johnson, he is!”
 

#

Steven looked at his weak small old diminutive frame in the cabin mirror.
I was never good at sport and always too short to get the ladies. Never had any money! I have been single my whole life! Spurned! I have been spurned my whole life! Well that’s about to change!
 

#

Alan Johnson was a world famous movie star. He stared at the old creased photo of his one and only daughter. Tears came to his eyes. 
Gone without a trace at the age of just three. I’ve spent million’s trying to track her down but to no avail.
He wiped the tears.
OK, guess I have to get up and get some breakfast.
A short while later he was morosely opening the mail. When he found a letter that he could not believe.
After years of searching could this finally be the lead I’m looking for!
He read the letter again a second time then a third.
I can’t believe it!
The letter read:
I know where you daughter is, come to the outskirts of town to Yellow Stone Lake, there is a log cabin nearby. I will be waiting. Tell no one and come alone or you will never see your daughter again.
Signed: The Switcher
After years and years of searching. After spending millions and millions on private detectives, could this really be the lead I been waiting for?
I got to go and see. I just got to.
Within the hour his smart black Mercedes was screaming down the highway. The air was cold and there was frost on the road as he headed to Yellow Stone Lake. 
Eventually by mid day he had made it to the lake.
Now I just got to find the right cabin.
There were about seven cabins but within a short space of time he had found the right one.
This has to be it! All the other cabins are closed, probably due to the severe winter weather. What kind of lunatic stays in a hard to keep warm log cabin in the middle of winter?
He knocked on wooden cabin door.
“Hello?” He shouted. There was a sound from inside. Suddenly he felt apprehensive.
I hope to God this isn’t some trick by the mafia. I been paying them protection money for the last seven years, but haven’t paid them this year yet due to them putting up the rate. Shit, I wish I’d have paid them.
Just then his fears subsided as a diminutive old man in his 70’s opened the door. He had a long white beard, thick rim spectacles and a dirty stained T-shirt with an ancient rock group on it.
Alan relaxed a little.
This guy isn’t the mafia.
“Please come, MR Johnson. “  
That look in his eyes, this guy is trouble!
He entered. There was a single bed, a small table and two chairs, a door to the right and a log fire, which was even now crackling away, bringing heat and warmth to the cabin. The old man beckoned Johnson to sit.
Alan sat.
“My daughter?” Alan asked barely able to contain himself and looking round expectantly.
“Yes...Your daughter. Don’t worry all will be revealed in a short while.”
The old man poured two glasses of whisky and handy one to Alan. 
There’s something about him...I can’t put my finger on it.
Alan swigged back the whisky.
Suddenly everything started to go black.
God! The room is spinning around me!
Alan awoke; he suddenly felt pain spring from his hands and up his back. He looked down.
I’m tied up! Hands and feet!
He looked around.
I’m in some sort of pyramid shaped glass container.
“I’m glad you are awake.”
“What the hell is the meaning of this?” His throat tickly and painful, “What the hell do you want?”
Alan looked to his right and saw an identical pyramid shaped glass structure which had aluminium mesh surrounding it just like his had.
“Not much, you will soon find out.” The old man suddenly stopped peering at him from outside the glass pyramid shaped prison and went over to some controls on the far side of the room.
“You will see.”
“If you’re mafia, I promise I will pay, just let me go!”
“It’s ok, don’t worry I’m not mafia, but now you mention it your money will come in handy.”
“What the hell do you want and who are you if you are not mafia?”
“I will explain, I’m Professor Brown.” His eyes seem to light up for a second. “No, I will do something better then explain, I will show you!”
The old man slowly walked over to the controls on the far wall.
“Excellent. Everything seems to be working.” He seemed to say more to himself then to Alan.
Alan heard a low hum and felt the electricity run through the mesh of the glass pyramidal structure.
“Be very careful not to get too close to the sides of the structure or you might get a nasty shock.” Said the professor in a low voice. The professor opened the door to the identical structure next to him and entered, holding a small controller device.
“My daughter! You promised to help me find my daughter who went missing several years ago.”
“I knew that ruse would get you to come. Everything seems to be going according to plan.” Said the professor again but Alan wasn’t sure if the last sentence was aimed at him or if the professor was talking to himself.
Just then the electrical hum increased to a crescendo. 
Lights. Bright white unbearable lights all around. The noise, it’s increasing along with the lights!
 

#

Alan awoke. He realised he was no longer tied up. He looked down. 
My hands! My hands! They old and wrinkled! 
He saw the rise and fall of his chest. He heard the sound of muffled conversation coming from the next room.
My breath is coming out in a wheeze! What the hell has he done to me?
Then realisation dawned on him.
He’s switched bodies!
Alan looked round.
I’m still in the structure. The door! It’s open!
Alan pulled himself to his feet, short of breath and wheezing. He pushed open the structure’s door. He looked around.
No one here, the scum bag must be in the next room.
What the hell!
 His heart beat thunderously in his chest as he heard a loud noise.
He moved as fast a she could. 
“Now wire us the money or we are going to put you at the bottom of the lake out there!” The voice was harsh and gravelly, “Do it now!”
Alan pushed open the indoor cabin door.
Oh my God! That loud sound was of a gun. 
He saw blood on the floor. 
He’s been shot!
“What the hells going on?” he asked.
“Pops stay out of this, or you will be at the bottom of the lake too.”
“Call your bank and wire us the money and then we will take you to a hospital.”
 “I can’t I don’t know my pin code!”
“Then we have to make an example of you.”
 “Please! Please! Just let me go!”
“Times up bud!”
 

#

The goon cocked the gun. He aimed for Alan’s head.
 “Don’t shoot!” cried Alan.
“Why not?” asked the goon.
“Because I’m not Alan Johnson, he is!”
The goon pulled the trigger.
What had been Alan Johnson’s body collapsed to the floor. 
“You never saw me.” Said the goon.
The goon turned to go.
“Sir! Before you go, won’t you have some whisky to celebrate the kill and to protect you from the winter chill?”
The goon turned back to the old man.
“Well, that’s very kind of you, I don’t mind if I do.”
The old man hobbled over to the table and poured two glasses of whisky, he handed one to the goon, who swigged it down in one go. A smile spread across Alan’s face.
 

The End