6 | Prop Sword

Colt managed to jump away, just before the sword would have impaled him in the chest. He forward-rolled onto the couch, spilling his coffee in the process. "Shit."

"Colt!" I shouted out as the sword came swinging down again. This time, I was able to see who was wielding it. "Oh my god, you're—"

I couldn't finish my sentence, due to Colt bowling me over and dragging me to the ground. "Get down." He grabbed my hand and we ducked behind a column, with bated breath and pricked ears. Colt pointed ahead of us. "Quietly."

I nodded quickly and tiptoed forward, acutely aware of Colt's hand still in mine. We rounded the column and I stopped, poking my head around to check if the coast was clear. I was about to step forward, but the attacker jumped out of nowhere, bringing her sword to my throat. I froze, feeling Colt's hand leave my own.

My eyes squinted in recognition as I took in her face. "Wait," I muttered, sensing her name on the tip of my tongue. "Why do you look so familiar?"

I waited momentarily, but she didn't answer. Instead, she raised the sword again, bringing it down towards me, but Colt pulled me out of the way. He pulled me behind him, grabbing a golden award from the table nearby. He held it in front of him. "What do I know you from?"

"I'm Iggy Star," the woman grunted out, bearing the sword in front of her, with anger. "Lead actress on Metalstorm." Colt looked back at me, confused, which Iggy failed to miss. "I'm Ryder's girlfriend?"

I looked her up and down, recognition filling my eyes. "No way..." She diverted her glare to me. "Sorry," I stuttered, biting my lip self-consciously. "Sorry, I just... I really love that movie you did with—"

"—Carjacked!" Colt interrupted me. I went to object, but he continued. "Isn't that the one where the guy named Jack steals your car and then you shoot him in the hand and you say I hope you know how to drive stick! And it doesn't make sense because it should be automatic, but the way you say it..."

"That's Naomi Watts!" Iggy screamed, lunging for us again. I ducked under the table, cringing as her sword scraped the top of it. Colt reached out to block her with his meagre statue as defence. I poked my head above the table to watch.

"I'm just a stunt guy," he said, holding his now-empty hands out in surrender. "I'm working on Metalstorm, too."

"You lie!" She growled, raising the sword ever-so-slightly. "We're only on Metalstorm One!"

She raised the sword again and Colt threw up his hands in anguish. "I meant also!"

Right then, my eyes honed in on the display case, where (lit up in all its glory) was the prop gun. Without a moment's hesitation, I lunged for it, grabbing it in my shaky hands. I flipped off the safety as the sound of punching and smashing glass sounded from behind me. I whipped around, just as Iggy lunged for Colt once again.

Bang!!

Everything went silent as the gunshot echoed around the large room. Both Colt and Iggy turned to face me, surprise in their eyes as if they'd forgotten I was even there. "Stop," I ordered in a low voice. Iggy just grunted and dropped her sword to the ground, where it made an incredibly plastic-y sound. "Wait..." I mumbled as Iggy flopped onto the couch dramatically. "Is that a prop sword?"

"Mhm-hmm." Iggy nodded innocently, sitting up to face me. "I'm a good actress." I sighed and made my way over to them, discarding of the gun on the table. "Who are you?"

"Oh, I'm Skye," I replied, perching on the arm of the couch opposite her. "I'm also working on Metalstorm." Iggy nodded. "I'm a camera operator."

"I don't think I recognise you," Iggy said, looking me up and down. "But then again, I don't really care."

I shot Colt a look that said 'is she serious?' but I was just met with a shocked expression, maybe even mixed with a bit of admiration.

"So... if you're really working on Metalstorm..." Iggy looked between Colt and I. "Why are you sneaking around here?"

I shot Colt a look, equally awaiting his response. He just shrugged nonchalantly. "Just trying to find Ryder."

"He's like really drugged up and paranoid right now," Iggy replied as Colt tried to get shards of glass out of his jacket hood. "He thinks someone's trying to kill him, and I'm like if you don't finish Metalstorm, I'm gonna kill you myself. "

I watched in amusement as shards continued to fall from Colt's jacket. I walked over to help him, chuckling as even more glass fell onto the floor. I grabbed his sleeves and helped him take it off, shaking it until no more fell onto the floor. "Thanks," he muttered.

"Now, there is some dark shit going on," Iggy continued, looking between Colt and I. "And the sooner I can get out of here the better."

Colt put the jacket back on with a sigh. "Any idea where I can find him?"

"Uhh..." Iggy thought about it for a moment. "You could try this club he hangs out at." She looked Colt up and down. "But you're never gonna get in looking like a povo."

I couldn't help the snort that escaped me and immediately covered my mouth in embarrassment. Iggy looked over at me in amusement, while Colt tilted his head in confusion. "What's a pah-vo?"

I looked eyes with Iggy and we immediately burst out laughing. "It's a poor person," I informed him, out of breath.

Iggy nodded. "Like you."

I howled in laughter, unable to control it. "Holy shit..." Colt just shook his head in bewilderment as I caught my breath. 

"Oh, cool."

***

Iggy lead us into Ryder's walk-in robe and I looked around, impressed at the amount of clothes. Colt was rummaging through the hats, while Iggy sifted through clothes.

"What's with the Miami Vice Stunt Team jacket?" She asked Colt. I wandered over to the shoes, my ears pricked as I eavesdropped.

"Oh, it was the first show I ever did," Colt replied, turning around to face us. "I had to jump a boat through a ring of fire." He glanced over at me. "I got so good I could to it with my hands tied behind my back."

"Wow," Iggy responded, shooting me an amused eye roll. "You're really into yourself."

I approached Colt, two pairs of over-the-top, neon shoes in my hands. He shook his head in bewilderment, taking the one I held out for him. I chuckled at his expression and he muttered under his breath. "I mean, you did ask."

"It's neon night at the club," Iggy informed, handing Colt and I clothes to match the shoes. "He's always there with this guy called Doone, who's his drug dealer. He's got like leopard print tats on his head." I nodded, trying to remember her words exactly. "They won't let nobody's like you into the club, so just act like Tom." She nodded at Colt. "You're a stunt double, you know how to do that, don't you?"

"Yeah, I'll just act like I own everything and everyone and there's no repercussions for my actions."

Iggy nodded. "And you..." She turned to look me up and down. "Just act like a total bitch."

"What?"

"Everyone Tom hangs out with is a bitch."

I really wanted to remind her that she was Tom's girlfriend, but I refrained. "Okay."

***

A/N: What is your favourite location in the film?

I thought it was cool seeing Sydney locations as I used to live there and visit a few times a year. Seeing the Harbour Bridge and Opera House was pretty cool. But My favourite was the bus stop with the LED screen with Tom Ryder.  I know that's not super unique to Australia, but it did feel very familiar, which I liked.