Neil had been pretty surprised to find out that he had been asleep for more than two days straight. In actuality, it made sense since normally he couldn't bring himself to eat very much. Yet, he had eaten more than three plates of eggs, four pieces of bread, and likely an unhealthy amount of bacon. While Locke had happily been eating some chicken Mrs. Blackford was nice enough to cook him.

It was fairly calm with Mrs. Blackford occasionally asking Neil about his life and other small little details. On the other hand, the family's Chow Chow, Lupa, laid on her dog bed near the back door of the home. Her dark-brown, almond-shaped eyes almost seeming to analyze her new housemates. The action not going unnoticed by Neil who found himself wondering why animals just seemed so human-like. After all, he’d often times found Locke doing such things…

Just as he finished his food the back door slammed open as Hilda came into the home with a lab coat-clad man. The door slamming shut behind them just as the freckled, raven-haired boy, Neil had met all those days before came into the doorway. A pointed glare being shot towards the white-haired scientist. “Watson, god damn you!”

It was then that a much taller man appeared behind the angry Forrest Blackford, a sigh leaving his lips before he scoldingly called him. “Forrest,”

The angry one, Forrest simply gave this Watson character another glare before walking into the home, with his giant of a friend not far behind. All the while, Mrs. Blackford simply shook her head. “I’ve got some business to attend to. Why don't you all get acquainted?”

With that, the woman gave the group the best smile she could muster and shuffled out the room. Her shoes making light clicking noises as they hit the wooden floors before they suddenly vanished as she left the house entirely. Leaving only her two children, their friends and the two guests.

“So, your Neil, huh,” Watson spoke as he pulled a chair close to the aforementioned male. Scrutinizing him almost worse than Lupa had previously. “You don't look too different for someone from the future… your clothing is a bit odd, but who am I to judge?”

The man didn’t even give the male enough time to utter a single word before he was practically nose to nose with poor Locke. “Your an odd one aren't you, kitty?” The cat only blinked as if he was too awestruck by the man’s almost hyperactive ways. “Hmm, how peculiar…”

The feline tilted its head to the side, seemingly in confusion before a look almost akin to realization came into his features. His mitten-like white paw pushing the man away in a way that would have looked playful to most. However, it seemed more than a bit odd to young Hilda who watched the twos exchange intently. Something didn't quite seem right about the way the feline had responded… it was almost as if while Watson and Locke had been engaged in their staring contest, the man had found something. But, what?

Shaking off the thought, she returned to the present to see Ronald scolding her elder brother and Watson. The tall male occasionally having to shush either one in the oft attempt to stop more fighting. She sorta felt bad for Neil and Locke who had been watching the three. “Sorry about them… it happens a lot around here.” the girl mumbled to the brunet who simply gave a small nod of understanding, almost too drawn into the conflict happening between Watson and Forrest.

However, when the phone rung Forrest quickly trudged off leaving the rest of the group amassed in the kitchen to question Neil longer.

Though, now Ronald kept a firm hand placed upon Watson's shoulder in hopes of keeping him away from Neil and Locke. He really couldn't quite see why the normally laid back man had become so excitable. Then again most had pegged Watson for the mad scientist who was a few fries short of a happy meal.

“So, what are you planning to do first now that you've finally woken up,” Ronald spoke up after slamming his hand over Watson's mouth. Between Forrest and him, Ronald could never tell who could be worse.

Neil seemed to think for a moment, a sigh leaving his lips. “Probably talk to the people around here… would you give me a list of people that you think I should speak with.”

Ronald nodded his head as he let go of Watson before walking over to one of the kitchen drawers. Searching amongst the obvious clutter of object before he pulled out a fresh notepad and pencil.

The group watched intently as he scribbled down a few names before passing the notepad on to Watson and then Hilda. Both of them taking the time to add a few more names to the list before Forrest hollard for the scientist to answer the phone.

Forest came back into the room, sending the group a quizzical look as he watched Hilda pass the notepad to him. “What's with the notepad, ” he mumbled as he dropped it onto the table before he took a seat once more.

“We're making a list of people on the farm for Neil to interview,” Hilda answered as she placed the bowl of now untouched chicken on the floor for Lupa to eat. The animal seeming pleased with the fact that it was now her turn to eat. “Do you want to add anyone to the list?”

He peeked over at the list, humming as he read each name before he shook his head. “Nope, that's a pretty good list of everyone who could have seen anything.”

Just as those words left his mouth Watson came in, now void of the excitableness that once radiated from his being. Neil was almost sure that he might have had some kind of mental illness, however, this was the twenties - things like mental illness weren’t really looked up very well. Hell, they weren't in Neil's time either.

“I'll be leaving, I have some business to attend to. Have a good day, everyone.” With that, he took his leave.

“What could Vincent and Monroe need with a crazy loon like you, Watson?” Forest shouted after him.

•••

After a few hours of speaking with the two Blackford children and Ronald, Neil had gained some perspective of Mr. Blackford in general. He was obviously dedicated to his work, however, he didn't seem to neglect his family. He was also apparently a traveler, often bringing back numerous books and objects in his travels - something Neil had seen firsthand from his dreamscape meeting with Mr. Issa.

Forrest had even allowed Neil to borrow a shirt, pair of trousers, and some suspenders. The brunet feeling like a child who had outgrown their elder siblings hand me downs as the trousers were practically capris on him, showing a small patch of skin above the size twelve work boots he had borrowed from Ronald. And thankfully those were a bit on the bigger side than as small as Forrest’s clothing. “Why did I have to wear your clothes, Forrest? There too small.”

The slightly shorter male grumbled as he led the way down the dirt path. Though this one looked much different from the one Neil had met Forrest on. “Do you really want to wear Ronald's? You’d be swimming in ‘em.” He spoke after a few moments of muttering under his breath.

Neil looked back to see Ronald snickering to himself. Locke not seeming at all bothered by the way the six-foot-eleven male’s shoulder shook. “Don't be so unhappy Forrest, maybe you'll grow a bit more.”

All the freckled boy did was give his friend a small glare before nearly tripping over a black and white creature. “Saga stop sleeping in the middle o’ the path!” The raccoon giving a small hiss to Forrest before it skittered down the path and towards a barn where the sound of horses was slowly becoming obvious.

The three boys quickened their pace so that they could follow the small animal. Forrest catching the small creature before she could escape into the pen with all the horses. “Not this time Saga.” He spoke as he pried the animal from the fencing. A sigh leaving his lips as the animal continued to growl at him. Forrest not taking his eyes off Saga as he held her.

Not too long later did the door to the barn open and a small girl around Hilda’s age come out. Followed by a much older girl. Both of whom had olive skin, coarse black hair neatly plaited into to braids, and wore fairly plain dresses.

The younger of the two ran up to Forrest. Holding her arms out in a silent bid for the boy to hand over her precious raccoon companion. The boy quickly obliging and handing the hissing creature over. Saga instantly seeming to calm as she melted into her masters hold. Neil couldn't help but smile at the little interaction before looking to the older girl.

His smile hadn't faded as he placed his hand on Neil's shoulder. “This is Nei-”

“You must be the traveler.” The woman inferred. Completely cutting Forrest off, though the younger Blackford boy didn't seem to affect by her oddly sage-like words. “Why have you three come to see me,”

The native woman told the younger girl to go run along and help one of the others. The child and Saga waltzing off towards a group of woman who seemed to be taking a small break by one of the houses. Three of the women looked to be relatives. One of them seemingly in her forties. Neil would've guessed that the other two may have been older siblings of the two sisters.

“He's here to investigate…”

The native woman glared at Forrest. Effectively shutting the boy up before he could finish what he was about to say. “I was not speaking to you,” she raised her pointer finger towards Neil. “I want to hear it from you.”

Neil swallowed down a lump that had formed in his throat. He never really liked being forced to speak, like this. Especially not after what he experienced with Watson not long before. However, he knew he couldn't keep his mouth shut, he did need to get some clues to solve Mr. Blackford's murder.

“I'm here to investigate Mr. Blackford's murder.” The woman seemed to frown at that. Almost satisfied by his words.

“Only his?” She mumbled, “What of the others,”

Neil seemed confused at that. “What do you mean by ‘others’?” He questioned the native woman.

She gave both boys a angry look, something which was so angry that Forest and Ronald had to look away. “Many have disappeared within the last two years. Some are found dead… others haven't turned up yet. That's really all I know of them.”

“What about Mr. Blackford?”

She sighed. “All I know is that a week before he died, he went to the city and met a man by the name of Shaunacee.” The woman walked off to the other women and her younger sister. Not saying another word.

•••

Upon arriving at the home no one said a word. And Locke and Neil had sat on the couch with Hilda who was busy reading The War of the Worlds. She looked pretty interested in the book, however, Neil couldn't figure out why. He could only think that in eleven years from now that would be on the radio and everyone would be terrified about it. But, really it would just be some big misunderstanding.

“Neil, ” in his musings he had been starting at the book cover for a few moments. Something which had begun to worry the girl more. “Are you okay?”

The male chuckled but nodded nonetheless. “Yeah, I'm fine, just thinking. Ya know… it's pretty weird being here. So many thing have yet to happen… so many throwing stones change history after this… but most get taken away too.” He spoke, causing Hilda to smile. The way he spoke seemed almost dream-like. “I can't really explain much better, ”

“I can't wait to see these changes.” The girl grinned. “Anyway, did you find anything out?”

The male nodded, “Does the name Shaunacee sound familiar to you, Hilda? Apparently, your father met with a man by that name a week before he passed.”

Hilda frowned before going into the kitchen and looking around. Talking to herself, likely a trait she picked up from Forrest, as she rummaged through the drawers and cupboards. Eventually coming back with a small leather-bound book with the words addresses and phone numbers printed in neat golden cursive.

Flipping through it she finally landed on the ‘S’ page where the mysterious name was printed. The phone number being printed right underneath. “I don't think it's current though… it's still four numbers, but we use a different system across the whole of the city as well as the cities around us.”

Neil sighed at that but nodded all the same. “Thank you, Hilda. I'll see if I can get some more information on him later.”