“I know I upset him,” I smile, forgetting myself. The big man fights a convulsive shudder while I quickly try to make my face as blank as I can. It’s no good; I’m no poker player. “You’re all from some other dimension, another reality or something, and when he looks at me, he’s not seeing me, is he? Some other me? Some other possibility.” He doesn’t answer, but the grim, hard-set look on his face tells me everything. “You too. You’re afraid.”
“No I’m—”
“I can smell it,” I say. “Like before the lightning begins. Energy, tangy on my tongue. I love it. I’m sorry. But I do enjoy this. Whoever this other me is, he’s really made an impression. You won’t tell me about him.”
He sighs, shaking his head.
“Well, you may know best. I’m in the dark.” I sigh. “That’s why I can’t help you, though. I’m in the dark. For all I know, you’re decent people, or maybe you’re the villains. I’d hoped you’d at least, well, let me get to know you. I’m a good judge of people, I hope. If I could trust you—but you won’t trust me.”
Tale Told 