The Elixir

'The elixir - I know you want it.'

He stood over the bench, pondering whether or not to do it. Everyone around him had told him not to, but he was his own man. He could make his own decisions. That's what he told himself then, but now it was different. He wasn't sure anymore.
Something in the back of his mind egged him on.
'It will work.' No. 'Of course it will work!' No. 'Why wouldn't it?' No. 'Come on, give it a try!' No! 'Gee, someone's crabby today. Just do it!'

'The elixir - so come & get it -'

He gave in. He couldn't stand it. He picked up the flask. It was heavy with the odd liquid. He raised the flask to his lips & let the vile contents of it trickle into his mouth. Too fast & it could maim or kill him; too slow & it could not take effect. He couldn't risk either. He had only this flask. After that, it would be gone.
He felt the last droplet enter his mouth.

'- the elixir - & I can show you what the world looks like in the future.'

He blinked. Bad idea. The room started to spin. Black faded to blue. Red to pink. Green to yellow. It continued like this until it all stopped.
He looked around. All was white. His head was heavy. He went to sit down, but as he touched the floor he started falling. Around him was a kaleidoscope of color. He started to make out shapes: squares, rectangles, circles, etc. Those shapes morphed together, forming larger, more complex shapes. He recognised them as things like people. They started to speak. It was just noise at first, then gibberish, then garbled English. He tried to understand it, but could only make out a few words.

"Mark iahsnzk unconscoudksjsnx! Hekksbs dying! Someone cakshha doctor! Anyosjsjgwge! We neghkjd bszzghd! Please!"

Mark. Mark was his name. He saw the figures kneeling over the body of another. It didn't seem to be breathing. The figures flickered for a moment, then disassembled. He continued falling, viewing more of these disturbing images. He also noted that in almost every scene, his name was mentioned. Mark. He fell once more, then the final scene played.
It was of another figure. He stood over a bench with a flask resting atop it...