The air flickers a little and suddenly I stand outside Pete Maxwell's room in Fort Sumner. It's just before midnight 14th of July 1881 and I see Billy the Kid approaching the room. When he spots me he freezes and I'm happy he doesn't carry his revolvers. If he had been I'd probably be dead now.
"Who are you?" he asks suspiciously. "And where did you come from?"
"Who I am doesn't matter," I answer. "I came from the future and I'm here to warn you, Billy."
"Warn me? About what?"
"If you go through that door, you will die. Garrett is in that room and he will shoot you. Right here," I say and point at his heart.
He looks at me as if I'm mad, but since he's still standing here, he seems to believe me.
"And the men outside the house?" he then asks.
"McKinney and Poe. Garrett's deputies."
"Strange they didn't recognize me."
"They haven't seen you before, Billy."
"Okay, if you are who you say you are, then I won't go through that door," he says happily and turns around to walk away.
I stop him by putting my hand on his arm.
"There's one thing I have to tell you. If you walk into that room you will become one of the most famous outlaws in America, maybe in the whole world. For over a hundred years people will be fascinated by your story."
"And if I don't go in?" he asks thoughtfully.
"Then you will be forgotten. Your name will disappear from the history books and you will be a footnote at the most. The world demands an early death at the hands of a friend."
His eyes turn to the door.
"Over a hundred years, you said?"
"Yes, probably much longer," I answer with a grave voice.
"Die young and be remembered, or fade away as an old man, without anyone who knows who I am."
"It's not an easy choice."
"No, certainly not. But why are people in the future so interested in my life?"
"I honestly don't know. Maybe it's because your life contains so much. Excitement, sorrow, strong friendship, the struggle of the weak against political corruption, the treason of a friend and that you risk your life for love by hiding here instead of going to Mexico."
His eyes glitter and a smile can be seen on his lips.
"It certainly has happened a lot these past few years."
"Yes, but now you are at a crossroad. You have to choose how your future will be. I wanted to give you this chance. I didn't think it was right that you died in the dark without any choice. That's why I came here."
"I thank you for that, even if you give me a difficult problem."
He seems to think about what he should do and we stand silent for awhile. A few minutes later it feels as if an invisible hand grabs me. Time to leave again. The last thing I see before the darkness surrounds me is how Billy puts his hand on the doorknob.