I do own the copyrights to So Weird.

Putting Things Order

Ch 2

Silence..sort of

Ned stopped the bus too stunned to speak. No modern-day roads, no bright lights and definitely no gas station. The sight left him speechless.

"What's going on?" Molly asked just as Charly and Fi came out of their room.

"I think you took a wrong turn." Fi looked out the window, "That's not Los Angelos."

"Bag LA" Charly shook her head. "I don't even think we're in America, more like Victorian England."

"Very funny." Molly shook her head. "This bus can't cross the Atlantic."

"Then explain that." Charly nodded to a man walking by wearing a military uniform that shouted, 'I'm British'.

"Probably someone built this for those reenactments groups, and they wanted it to look authentic" Irene stood up.

"Let's go find Jack, he was supposed to meet us here." Molly led the group out of the bus only Charly pulled Fi back.

"Reenactment my foot." She hissed. "Look at those buildings. They're built stronger than any set I've seen."

"I know." Fi went to say more only her mother asked, more like ordered, them to pick their pace up as they didn't want to get separated.

The group walked more than one block; therefore, they easily saw people dressed up in eighteen hundred clothing. It was more than one accent drifting through the air which informed them no one sounded as if they were from America. Finally, after spotting a tavern on a corner the group all entered expecting to be seated or, at the very least, to see others eating and hear them talking. That's not what they got.

"This place sounds more like a cemetery than a place to eat and sleep." Ned spoke as he did not budge from where he stood.

"Let's sit down." Molly suggested. "Surely, things will pick up soon." Everyone did except Charly, she walked to a counter where a sign had been propped up.

"I wouldn't count on it." She turned and pointed back to the note. "We're supposed to serve ourselves, leave payment and then choose a room if needs be."

"Ha ha ha, very funny." Irene went to say more only Charly set her jaw in place and told her to come and read what had been written herself.

"Oh, my." Irene shook her head. "I've never heard of such a thing."

"Me either." Ned shook his head.

He started a discussion of what to do. There was nothing being said which Charly listened to as she walked around and headed to where she figured the kitchen was. Fi followed.

"What kind of cook leaves a kitchen unattended?" Fi asked as Charly walked over to a covered pot.

"None that I know." Charly walked up to the kitchen counter "Hope you in the mood for toast, bacon and eggs."

"It works. What kind of bread?" Fi asked then laughed as her friend gave the reply of edible.

"I'll fix five plates. You can get the drinks."

"Smells good." Molly would have liked something else but didn't gripe as her daughter said it was the only thing the two could find.

No sound could be heard as they ate. They all were confused by the situation. No costumers? No cooks? Finally, Irene wondered out loud where Jack was. It was as if she'd spoken a cue line for Fi's brother because entered the tavern just as she'd finished asking the question.

"Where have you been?" Molly pursed her lips. "You were supposed to meet us at the edge of town.

"I was dropped off at the wrong spot." Jack looked around. "Where is everyone? And where are all the employees? I would think with all the reenacting going on somebody would be here." When told he only shrugged his shoulders and chalked it up to people being lazy; however, he still went and got some breakfast.

Charly kept quiet even when others began talking; it was that action which allowed her to see and hear what others were somehow missing. Footsteps upstairs but which did not come down -or at least not to dining area. Shadows that cast -temporarily- themselves onto the wall only to disappear out of sight. She might have continued looking only her ears picked up the sound of a small child walking and the lady turned and saw what others were clueless to.

"What..." Charlie's thought froze and she didn't know who was shocked more; she or the young boy. However, he fled in an instant with a look of concern, or shock, the lady couldn't tell which.

"Hello...Hello... Anyone in there." Irene's hand waved in front of Charly.

"Yes." Charly shook her head. "I was just thinking." She stood up, as did Fi, when they saw Jack pay for his breakfast.

"Seriously, Jack? That's all you're paying for breakfast?" Fi was disgusted over the few coins her brother had tossed in the jar, as was Charly.

"I paid the prices I've been hearing."

"Just because people reenact things doesn't mean they can replace the items at two-hundred-year-old prices." Charly fought against letting out a low growl, only because Molly pointed to the jar with 'the look'.

"Happy?" Jack whispered low as he put more money in along with their own.

"Yes." Charly and Fi both whispered softly.

"Your brother's something else."

"Overall, he's actually a great guy." Fi spoke under her breath as they opted to go find a room as to have easier access to their belongings. "However, lately, he hasn't been so great. Hoping it's just a phase thing."

"Me too." They, along with Jack next to them opened their doors and instantly froze in shock.

.