Just a Movie

High Winds

"We're in a movie."

He stares at me, thinking.  I can't even read him.  He smiles, starts to chuckle, then laughs out loud, throwing his head back.  

"It's not funny," I tell him. 

Of all reactions he could have, it had to be this one.  Why is he laughing?  Does he think what I said is preposterous?  Stupid?  Probably.  I don't blame him.  

"That's where you're wrong," he replies, his expression changing back to serious, and the atmosphere tenses.  "It is funny.  You're telling me you knew everything that would happen, and you're just now filling me in?"

He turns his back to me, running his hand across his face and through his hair as he lets out a frustrated breath, then faces me.  

"You know what's even more funny?" he says.  "This lame excuse that we're in a fil."

He approaches me, looking at me sternly, anger burning in his eyes.  It's as if I'm a stranger to him now, and that's what hurts the most. 

"Come on," he dares, gesturing for me to come forward with the truth.  "What's the real reason you decided to tell me now?"

He puts his hands up, backing away. 

"Wait, don't tell me.  You're working for Tenner, and after getting to know everyone, you got a conscious."

"I'm not working with Tenner!" I assure him.  "We really are in a movie.  It's called Dust and Gold.  I've seen it a hundred times!"  

"Stop lying to me!" he shouts, clenching his fists. 

"I'm not lying!  You're acted by a famous actor named Daniel Bosh. You've spent 5 years with Chris moving around the desert, finding gold and anything else you can get your hands on.  You've never gone out of state.  You've been to prison twice, but that was before you ever met Chris." 

"So you know my background," he spits.  "You're a freaking bounty hunter.  You're supposed to study up on people.  This proves nothing."

I huff.  He's right.  Anyone could tell him this stuff.  I'm gonna have to get more personal for him to believe me, if he'll believe me at all.  

"Your father left you when you were young," I say, and his eyes fixates on me.  "You grew up on your own, since your mother worked in a brothel and spent no time with you.  You met Chris in a town called Little Lane.  You got in a bar fight and almost drew your pistol, but the bartender knocked you out before you could.  You act like you don't mind being alone, but that's what hurts the most."

He stares at me with disbelief, keeping himself distant from me.  I'm almost starting to think maybe I shouldn't have told him anything.  He may never look at me the same. 

"I've never told anyone that," he says, shaking his head.  "How do you know this?  You been spying on me?"

I huff, slapping my hands on my legs.  

"No!  I told you, we're in a movie.  The plot is to find the gold, which is in Daniel's Mountains, by the way.  It's just passed Silver Creek, and I've no idea why it's called that, considering it's a wild river beneath a huge waterfall.  And the gold?  It's in a tiny cave by two redwoods that are nearly identical.  You call them the Twins.  And how would I know this?"

I raise my hands in the air along with my eyebrows, hoping he's catching on.  He's probably thinking I'm really crazy and maybe there's a flask on me somewhere.

"Because we are in a movie," I finish.

He sucks on his lip, making it squeak as he glances around the cabin then back at me.  God, he still doesn't get it.  Ok, get in his shoes.  If you were a character, and someone told you everything you knew was fiction, would you believe him?  I sigh.  Nope, I wouldn't.  I'd like to think I'd begin to understand though.  Maybe.