Chapter 2

Charlie moaned, as there was a lot of noise. She had a pounding headache. She opened she eyes and gasped as she saw a face peering in at her from a window.

"It will be all right Mademoiselle. We will have you out of there soon." The face disappeared.

Charlie shook her head but stopped when there was a flash of pain. Mademoiselle? Nobody in her town called anyone 'Mademoiselle'. She began to look around as the noise started up again. Instead of steel, she was surrounded by wood. She shifted and saw that she was indeed in a wooden box. Suddenly there was a bright flash and a slab of wood was pulled away. Arms reached in and pulled her out. Charlie reeled back in shock at the sights. Carriages and horses were everywhere. The people that pulled her out leaned her against the wooden box. She felt something run down her cheek and when she pulled her hand away her fingers came back red. Blood.

The men that had helped her were wearing Victorian type clothing. The buildings were different and right in front of her was a huge building. Charlie was sure she had seen that building somewhere before. She shook her head then tried to stand but the minute she did a dizzy pain blinded her and she black out.

xxx

"Mademoiselle? Are you all right?" a female voice asked.

Charlie opened her eyes. Two faces peered down at her. She groaned. "Well, does fucking look like I'm all right? I don't even know where the hell I'm at!" she snarled.

There were gasps of shock. "She's as foul mouthed as a sailor." Some man said.

"I think the crash shook her up badly." One on her left said.

"Hey, don't talk like I'm not here. What happened and where is Mary?" Charlie sat up fast and grabbed the side of the couch to steady herself as the room spun. She closed her eyes and then opened slowly. To her relief the room stopped spinning. It was even worst when her horse threw her. "So, where am I and where is Mary?"

The people exchanged looks. There was a tall older woman that had graying blonde hair in a long braid. She was dressed in a long black dress, something that a widower would wear. Then there was an older man with white hair. He looked in her eyes and checked over her head.

"Mam'selle, you have a rather deep gasp on your head and I must stitch it or you could get an infection." He said as he pulled out a needle and thread.

Charlie sighed. "Oh come on. It can't be that bad." She stood up and ignoring the strange people she stood up and walked over to a large mirror in the room. She peering at herself. Indeed there was a rather large gash that was just below her hairline. She poked at it and felt a blinding pain. She grimaced then turned back to the people. "Well, if you must. But after you do I want answers."

They exchanged looks and then nodded. The doctor took her by the hand and pulled her to the couch. "This will rather hurt…."

"I'm not a baby. I had stitches before. Just get on with it." Charlie snapped.

The doctor looked taken back but he nodded and began to stitch up the wound. Charlie paid it no mind.. Soon the doctor was done. As he began to put the items in his bag, Charlie turned to the woman.

"Ok, now, I want to know where I am, what happened and where is Mary?" Charlie asked clearly annoyed.

"Mademoiselle-" the older woman began. She paused and looked at her.

"Charlie Marquez."

"Mademoiselle Marquez, you were in a carriage crash, your horse spooked and you crashed into another carriage. The girl that you speak of was lost in the river. She hasn't been found…as for where you are you are in Christine's dressing room at the Opera Populaire." She would have gone on when Charlie jumped up causing the doctor to stumble back.

"What? No…no. I was in my jeep, not some carriage, we was heading home after a movie. There was a crash, but not with a carriage. Mary was thrown from the jeep but not into some river. And the Opera Populaire? Not that's not even in America! That's in Spain, Japan, somewhere, not Texas!"

"Please Mademoiselle Marquez! Settle down!" the older woman yelled. "Doctor! Subdue her!"

The doctor took a needle that held morphine and both the older woman and the doctor grabbed her. Charlie felt a sharp pinch and she let out a cruse before blackness set in.