Here ya go Lennie
Keanna Greene was tired. Very tired. Traveling in her faded clothes with only a suitcase, a book, and a scrawny cat to keep her company, this journey was exhausting.
The wind danced around her as the shrill whistle of the incoming train rang through the morning mist. The old locomotive pulled into the station, and the station filled quickly as people flooded through the now open train doors.
Mozart hissed at the noise, the crowd, the smells and the people that he didn’t recognize. Dogs, squirrels, people, and, oh! how much food. Birch scampered up a nearby tree, chirping softly as she felt the harsh autumn winds glide past her. Her eyes searched through the milling crowds of the station for someone in particular. Her small paws clung to the three as she peered out into the storm of bodies. Where, where, where was the girl? Birch leapt nimbly into the crowds, scampering and ducking around legs and luggage. Her tail twitched, and she longed for a good acorn as she searched fruitlessly for the girl she had been sent to find. “Come, Mozart. Let’s get away from the crowds and… well, I don’t know what we’ll do next. He’s checking the applicant apprentices in, I think, two days, so we’ve got to hurry. I guess that we can just find an inn to sleep in tonight.” And then… Birch heard a voice. Light and soft but strong, just like the one she’d been introduced to. Find, Birch, find. She scuttled around, dodging a suitcase and many shoes. “BIRCH!” A young woman darted after the squirrel. “Come back here you naughty squirrel!” Gumdrop sighed, and glanced around. “We have to find the applicant before she boards!” Keanna felt something bump into her. “Um… excuse me?” She said softly, and definitely not unkindly. The girl behind her had wildly colored hair and an adventurous look about her. Keanna stared a little, before shaking her head and remembering her manners. “Sorry, do you need any help? Directions, or something?”
Gumdrop froze. Birch skidded to a stop at her feet and also looked up at Keanna, frozen in shock. “It's her” Gumdrop whispered. “Chikka chirp chip” Birch agreed. Gumdrop straightened herself. “You here to see the Clockmaster?” Keanna nodded. “Follow me.”
• • •
“Where are we going? I didn’t know he lived in a swamp,” Keanna muttered as the horses trudged through disgusting mud-water. Gumdrop rolled her eyes in a “shut up” way. “He prefers his privacy. We'll be there soon.” Birch quietly chirped nervously, and Mozart curled up, bored of the never ending ride. Soon enough the carriage stopped, and Gumdrop leaped over the side, landing squarely on her feet. “Show off” Keanna snorted. Keanna gracefully lowered herself down from the black stallion and smoothed her faded lilac dress and straightened her braided leather belt. Gumdrop, followed by the odd gang of a cat, squirrel, and girl stepped up to a huge rock on the side of the road. Pressing her ear to the rock, the faint ticking of a clock could be heard. She grinned. Tapping 12 times lightly on the rock, it gleamed a copper glow before slowly separating to reveal a winding copper staircase. Gumdrop smiled. “After you.”
• • •
Hadley sat watching from a tree, mystified by the sight in front of her. She couldn't tear her eyes away.
As the group descended the staircase, Birch saw a flicker of movement in the trees, and, chirping to Gumdrop that she would be back, set off to see what it was.
Hadley's eyes followed the squirrel, and she turned slightly so she was behind the tree's trunk. A small branch grazed her shoulder and she yelped, clapping a hand over her mouth.
Birch whipped around, and seeing Hadley's widened eyes, quickly scampered off to tell Gumdrop. The squirrel was sure that she had seen the girl in the trees before.
Hadley's breathing quickened, and she slid down from the tree, attempting to flee. While she was running, she tripped over a rock. “Stupid combat boots,” She grumbled. Hadley tried to get up, but her ankle bursted into pain.
As Birch descended into the swirling staircase, scampering and skipping steps. She leaped down to the bottom and ran to a wooden door. Pushing through a little cat-flap near the bottom, she hurried to tell Gumdrop that the trip here hadn't been nearly as discreet as they had hoped.
Hadley groaned in pain and noticed the squirrel scampering off. She sat upright and took off her boot, examining her swollen ankle.
• • •
Down in the mysterious room, Birch clambered up Gumdrop's leg to her shoulder, and chirped anxiously and quickly into her ear. Gumdrop straightened quickly, and, pardoning herself to Keanna and Mozart, ran back up the stairs with Birch in tow.
Keanna stumbled down the steps, Mozart mewling in her arms. “Stupid kitty. You distracted me!” The cat swiped at her chin, seeming offended. You could almost believe that he understood her.
“H-hello? Person? Human?” She called. “Shoot, I forgot her name!” Mozart let out a sound that sounded strangely sassy. “Shut it, Mo.” “Meoooow.” “Just because you’re a cat doesn’t mean you rule the world. And don’t get used to being carried.” He bit down on her hand playfully. “Ow! Mozart!”
• • •
Gumdrop and Birch at last reached the top step, and rushed to the tree. They could make out the figure of Hadley, cradling her swollen ankle. Birch clambered up, while Gumdrop chucked her boots to the side and climbed up as well.
• • •
“I don’t know where they are, Mozart. But they’ll be fine.” Keanna twirled on one foot, which seemed to really annoy Mozart. STUPID GIRL, he thought. WHEN WILL SHE LEAVE ME ALONE. “Mozart, stop your yowling.” She opened her arms and let him fall to the ground. “Shoot! Mozart!” She knelt down beside him. “Oh. You’re fine. Cut out your yowling, I thought you’d broken a bone or two.” And with that, she stalked off into the corner of the room.
It was only then, when she ran her hands over the walls, that she realized how intricate and beautiful they were. Her fingers touched flowers, cold still birds, her voice, softly singing, echoed around her. The notes collapsed and fell and rose, birds on their morning flight. She laughed, the sound beautiful. But weirdly high and cold. It was a scary noise, but good scary. “Wow,” she murmured. Suddenly, something in the corner of the room caught her eye. “Mozart, did you see that? Mo?” She turned around. “Mozart? Mozart! Come here, you stupid, STUPID cat! Mo, Mozart?” She collapsed against the cold, metal wall. Shivered. Sobbed. Her fingers scrabbled on the metal floor. Her ears rang with the metallic sound of her crying. Her cheeks burned with metal-cold tears.
Outside, unaware of the panic of their guest, Gumdrop and Birch silently snuck up to Hadley. Gumdrop quickly jumped next to her, and, grabbing her arm, careful not to disrupt her injured ankle, asked Hadley “Who are you, and what do you think you're doing here?”
• • •
Keanna moaned. “Mozart…” She gritted her teeth and stood up, trying to block out the sound of her feet grinding against the floor. Even that noise sounded metallic. Cold. “Keanna Greene. You came here. Keanna. You are strong. Keanna… Keanna Greene…” she sighed. She swept the dust off of her faded dress and took a deep breath. “Now, Keanna, walk. You can do thi-” She saw something. In the corner, again. Glinting, gleaming, shining in a patch of light. It was silver. And flesh-colored.
“Oh!” She ran, as silently as possible, towards where she’d seen the thing. As she rounded the corner, something hit her head. Hard. And stars bright colored purple green yellow red too much black goodbye.
The clockwork master shuffled around the corner, relishing the tick and tock of his beloved creations. He almost missed the girl lying on the ground, holding her head. “Oh my, what have we here?”
• • •
Back outside, Hadley whipped her head around at light speed and raised her eyebrows threateningly. “I could ask you the same question. Get out of my swamp,” she said, smirking to herself with that last sentence.
Gumdrop arched an eyebrow, while Birch chirped at the leaves above them. Then, with a snap of her fingers, Gumdrop whistled shrilly, and dozens of squirrels swarmed from the tree, surrounding Hadley. “Why don't you” she smirked, “get out of my tree.”
“Holy….” Hadley muttered. “Okay, but technically I'm not in your tree anymore, I'm lying on the ground, incapable of walking, and surrounded by squirrels,” she said, tilting her head slightly to the side and making a confused expression.
“Still my land” Gumdrop replied. She waved a hand at the squirrels, and in an instant the area was clear again. She stood there, looking over at Hadley for a moment, then sighed. “We should fix up that ankle of yours. And the clockmaster will want to meet you.” Hauling up Hadley, and draping her arm over her shoulder, she walked slowly down the spiraling stairs with Hadley, with Birch scampering behind them.
Hadley was stunned by Gumdrop's touch, but hobbled along with her. She decided that Gumdrop probably didn't want to chat with her, so she kept her mouth sealed, and pushed down her whimpers of pain.
Finally, the odd gang reached the workshop, where they found the clockmaster puzzling over a dizzy Keanna, who lay on the floor groaning and holding her head. Gumdrop sighed. “Must I do everything here?”
Hadley felt for Gumdrop, for she had someone at home to care for too… She pushed away the thought. They can't know. Not yet. Hadley raised her eyes from the girl lying on the floor, and became aware of the man towering over the moaning girl.
The clockworkmaster had never been one to ponder things, but as he came across the odd gang in front of him, he couldn't help but wonder why he had asked for a single apprentice and ended up with a security guard, her squirrel, an apprentice, her cat, and an unknown girl glaring bloody murder at Gumdrop. He sighed. That's life for you.
Hadley had the impression that the man was important, and that the girl was some kind of guard. Where have I ended up? A mafia gang? The situations she got into sometimes, she swore to god. She stared at Gumdrop, sending her best telepathic messages along the lines of “This is your fault. Leave me alone, you-” She noticed the man sigh, and deducted that he probably didn't want her here. So, either he'll kill me or I'll be set free! Yay. She thought.
Gumdrop, still supporting Hadley, told the clockmaster “We had a bit of a snooper when we arrived. And what did you do to the apprentice?! This is the 7th one this month!” Birch solemnly nodded her tiny head, chirping sadly.
“S-seventh? Th-that many? Where are- where- are they now?” Keanna groaned, holding her head. “Mozart? Come on, let’s go. Mozart…” she looked around, and suddenly she remembered. “Oh, MOZART!” Slumping against the wall again, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, then proceeded to open them abruptly and tear at her hair.
Gumdrop paused, thinking. “Well, apprentice 1 through 5 ended ALL being allergic to squirrels, so they left. I mean, come on, is that even a thing? And 6 and 7 both were too afraid of the giant clockwork dino in the closet. He's obviously really friendly!” She rolled her eyes, exasperated. And then, realizing Keanna meant to leave, she dived forward, accidentally leaving poor Hadley to tumble forward, saying “No! You can't leave! We need help with the Clockwork Boy!”
Keanna swiveled around. “The WHAT? Why the h-” and there comes a rattling sound, and a hand closed around her mouth. And then a cloth. Over her nose too. “Oh no, not AGAIN,” she groaned before falling to the floor once more.
Gumdrop snapped her fingers, and the swarm of squirrels gathered again. Gesturing to Keanna's now unconscious body, and Hadley groaning on the floor, she said “Bring these guys to the medbay. And Mr Clockmaster sir, get better security than a bunch of karate trained squirrels for the love of acorns!”
“Gumdrop? Have you not been a hospitable host to our guest here?” The Clockwork Master shuffled towards the now squirrel-clad Keanna. He bent over, stretched his long, spindly fingers and caressed her hair, or, the visible parts of it. “She’ll do fine. Boy! Medbay!” And the rattling and clanking, and closer the sound came, yes, closer, closer, what could it be? Right as it was about to round the corner, everything. Went. Black.
• • •
Gumdrop sighed. “I told her to stay put!” She snapped her fingers again, and the squirrels scampered away. Then, throwing the unconscious Keanna over her shoulder like a well dressed sack of potatoes, she gestured to the mass of copper that had just walked in. “Why do you ALWAYS introduce him this way? The med-bay has a bed marked ”Just met Clockwork Boy'' because of all the fainting!“
Gumdrop cautiously approached Clockwork Boy. ”Hey… buddy, why are you out of the lab?“ The machine simply whirred and shifted a few gears, staying silent.
• • •
She talks. I… he has taken out my throat. Has pulled the gears and clockwork. Has taken away my voice. I just grind out chaos, a mess, but not like those I always have to clean. A noise-mess. I am.. The Clockwork Boy?
• • •
Hadley just sat staring at the automaton in front of her. Her mouth opened and closed like a goldfish, not sure what to say. She found the Clockwork boy slightly creepy, but assumed that her reaction was more subdued than others. She hadn't fainted, after all. ”I just. Wow. That's an awful nice machine you have there,“ she said to no-one in particular.
The clockwork master let out a bark of laughter, and said ”Why don't you come over here so he'll recognize you in the future?“ Gumdrop sat impatiently, Keanna still carried over her shoulder.
”Uh, that would be amazing, but I sorta can't walk…“ She said, glancing over to Gumdrop, who was looking pretty fed up with life. Hadley's bravado was slipping, her walls falling. She wasn't sure why, but she decided to let them slowly crumble. She had a feeling that these were good people, and her instincts were usually right.
Gumdrop, who seemed to have forgotten that minor fact, stood there for a moment, then regained her senses and snapped her fingers. The expected crowd of squirrels came, and, clambering. over each other and standing on each other's shoulders, they made a small squirrel-made walker, like the ones grannies had. Gumdrop raised an eyebrow. ”Well, never thought I'd see THAT in my life.“
For once, Hadley agreed with Gumdrop. ”Me neither…“ She hobbled over to the squirrel-walker-thing and tentatively placed a hand on a tail. After nothing much happening, she placed another hand over and started walking. Though she felt VERY undignified, it worked and she was grateful for it. She made her way in front of the clockwork boy, and looked at it, up and down, her mouth hanging open.
• • •
Clockwork boy. That was the name they had given him. As he looked down at the new girl, who was using the security squirrels for support, he shifted a few gears nervously, unable to speak. He recorded her image into his database for future reference.
• • •
Hadley closed her mouth and smiled gently at the automaton as he made various clinking noises.
He reached out a single, coppery hand towards Hadley, then gently poked her, quickly drawing his hand back, as if checking if she were real. His gears whirred with nervous energy.
Hadley was slightly shocked by the touch, but recognised the Clockwork boy's fear. Her tone was gentle and calming as she said, ”Hey buddy.“
Slowly, Gumdrop stepped forward, and gently took hold of the Clockwork Boy's arm. Guiding him back to the door from which he had come from, the workshop, she turned back to Hadley and mouthed ”Thank you.“
Hadley nodded in understanding and hobbled back to her seat. She tucked her cyan hair behind her ear and waited for Gumdrop to return.
• • •
One of the security squirrels came running down the stairs, and when they had reached the ground chirped urgently. Birch chattered nervously, and ran to a large dashboard at one side of the room. She turned the minute hand of a clock-like panel to one side, and turned the hour hand to another, and a click resonated. The clock swung open, revealing a small hole just big enough for the squirrels. Birch gave a mini salute, then scampered down, closing the small door behind her.
Hadley watched the squirrels intently, and wondered how many secret doors and tunnels there were in this clock-filled place. She looked toward the Clockwork Master and studied him, trying to read the man.
The Clockwork Master had long gotten used to understanding the furry creatures that were his security team, and his brow furrowed, wondering what possible horror would be enough for Birch to have to go through that tunnel, which led to the utmost control room, that contained buttons that could lock everyone in in less than a second, and screens that showed security cam footage from all around the workshop.
Hadley turned from where Birch disappeared, and fixed her gaze on the clockwork master once again. ”Uhm, sorry to disturb you, but what's going on here? Why are squirrels everywhere? Who are you?“ she asked awkwardly.
The clockwork master jumped slightly, as though he had forgotten she was there. Taking off his glasses with a sigh, he replied ”It seems you weren't the only one that snuck after Gumdrop to get here. Though he may not seem this way, the Clockwork Boy is very important, girl, far more than you could ever imagine.“ The teasing twinkle in his eye had long gone, and it left a tired old man that seemed to have seen far more than any one person should.
• • •
Keanna woke with a start. Her fingers brushed something warm, her cheek against something harder, her arms around… “HOLY- ‘' Bolting upwards, she wriggled out of Gumdrop’s firm grip and dropped to the floor. “Where’s Mozart?”
Gumdrop rolled her eyes, and loosely pointed to the door out of the infirmary. ”He’s being as moody as a teenager in the living room.“ She seemed to be building a small copper thing in her hand, but as soon as Keanna had spoken, she closed her fist around it, hiding it away.
Keanna swiveled on her heel to face the Clockwork Master. “I want my Mozart back. Also… HOLY-” That seemed to be her favorite word. She turned pale, shivering and shaking like a little marshmallow melting in a mug of cocoa. “It’s ticking. I hear it. Oh GOD, I hear it, this isn’t…” she stared at the Master in the eye. “I hear the ticking, I hear- I hear it. But…” she stuffed her fingers into her eyes, then brought them back down. “I hear ticking noises but all the clocks are broken.” And then everything went black. “Oh, *, not again.” Keanna sighed before collapsing.
Hadley watched Keanna wake, shake, and sleep with slightly amused eyes. She cocked her head and returned her gaze to the Clockwork master, taking in his tired appearance. ”If he's so important, why'd you take his voice away? Surely something so essential should have freedom of speech?“ The cyan-haired girl felt slightly bad about verbally assaulting the poor man, but she dismissed the thought. She added the Clockwork boy's importance to her mental list of things to figure out, which was quite long, considering the situation at hand. Recalling the speechless automaton, she pondered whether she had stumbled upon some secret society. A mafia, maybe? That worked with clocks? No, what was she thinking? Be sensible Hadley. Not the time for adrenaline and panic to overtake you.
The clockwork man jumped at her words, as if he had been brought out of his thoughts, and narrowed his eyes. ”That is not your concern“ he said with a hint of frostiness in his tone. But right as he spoke, a security squirrel came scampering in, and climbing up his leg to reach his shoulder, it squeaked something into his ear in an urgent tone, then leaped away. The clockwork master jumped up, and as though he had become several years younger, ran out the room.
”I- uh,“ she stammered as the clockwork master sprinted out of the room. She turned to Gumdrop and gave her a confused glare, if that was possible.
Gumdrop sighed, then looked around as if to make sure they were alone. Gesturing for Hadley to come closer, she whispered ”Look, you didn't hear this from me, but let's just say that the Clockwork Boy isn't who you think he is. At all. And there are 3 people in this world that do know what he is, and one of them has been risking life and limb to get him. And this person is getting very, very close.“ Then, she pulled back her sleeve, revealing a gleaming copper watch with many odd shapes and mechanics, and, as if reading something worrying, furrowed her brow and swept out of the room without another word.
Hadley gulped as yet another clock-obsessed being walked out on her. ”Maybe this is a mafia? Why am I even bothering asking questions, it's not like I'm going to get a clear answer,“ She looked over to where Keanna was passed out, and took in the girl's appearance. Even unconscious, the girl looked somewhat frazzled and confused. Hadley wondered whether Keanna was dreaming, and then decided that waiting around isn't going to do any good. She took off her jacket and bunched it up into a pillow shape, lay down and tried to get to sleep.
Keanna shook her aching head. She breathed in and out, slowly. This must have been the millionth time she’d passed out that day. Groaning, she looked at the girl on the floor. Her cyan hair was spread out on her jacket, and she looked ever so peaceful but still slightly confused. Keanna, shivering, dragged herself up. She was on the verge of shouting out to somebody, anybody, but then remembered. She looked to the wall, cold and metal but covered in clocks. Broken clocks. But… she heard ticking.
Hadley was awoken by Keanna shifting positions. ”Ugh,“ she moaned as she pinched the bridge of her nose. Noticing Keanna was up, she turned toward her and stuck her hand out to the confused brunette.
“Um? Cyan? What’re you doing?” Keanna, confused, took the other girl’s hand. “You ok?” She pulled the dazed Hadley up, and tried her best at a friendly smile. It came out as forced and suspicious.
”I was going for a handshake, but that works too,“ She noticed Keanna's poor attempt at a smile, and pulled her hand away with a light shade of pink dusting her cheeks. Her cold demeanor returned and she asked with a straight face, ”Why're you looking at me like that?“
“We’re getting out of here-” Keanna looked at Hadley seriously and murderously- “and if you don’t wanna come, then you can stay with creepy oldie, squirrel soldiers, that poor mistreated, voiceless robot and the rooms full of ticking, but no working clocks.” At the thought of that, she shuddered a little. “Anyway, I’m going now, stay if you want to. If you want to come… I’ll let you ride my horse. Now no hesitation, you don’t want me to change my mind about that.” Keanna turned, and walked out of one of the many doors. In truth, she didn’t know which way was out.
Hadley stood there, slightly shocked and amused. ”Okay, wait up,“ she called, in a monotone voice. As she caught up to Keanna, she slowed her pace and turned her head toward her. ”The door is this way,“ she pointed out with a slight smirk. As the two continued along the corridor, she switched her attention to Keanna again. ”I'm Hadley, by the way. Hadley Hill,“
“Ok, sure, Cyan.” Keanna went in front of Hadley just a little, so that she could hide the little smirk on her face. “Wait. I’m not leaving here without Mozart.” Suddenly, Keanna broke away from her new friend and ran to one of the clock-covered walls. She began to climb it. There was a huge clock at the top, except it couldn’t be a clock unless the wall was hollow. It looked too flat from where she had stood before. “You know, Cyan, when I was little, my family would tell me about this place.
They would tell me of all the things to learn, but also all the things to stay away from. They told me of all these passageways, and to never, ever lose anybody here. They also said don’t run from, uh, HIM, because he’ll find you. I’m not running, I’m climbing!” She grinned like a madwoman. She WAS a madwoman, if we were to be honest.
”Honestly, I had no idea that this place existed. Everyone wanted me to get a corporate job, so I guess this clock-filled labyrinth wasn't really mentioned, “ she stated as she followed Keanna up the wall. A quiet stream of cursing came from her as her boots refused to cooperate with the task at hand. ”Mozart is the cat, right?“ she inquired.
“Yeah, he’s… yeah.” She shook her foot a little. “Anyways, I bet there’s a way to find him. Maybe there are windows, or something. Most probably the ‘something’ option.” She sighed, laying her head on a little bare space for a second. “Anyways, Cyan, what’s your family like?”
Then Keanna reddened, her own question waking unpleasant memories in her mind. “Just… forget I said that.” She curled her fingers tight around a new clock.
Hadley continued climbing wordlessly. ”…sure. I think Gumdrop said he was in the living room earlier… Mozart, I mean,“ Hadley hooked her leg up over a windowsill, maneuvering herself so that she was sitting on the ledge. ”Here's your window, but I think it just leads outside,“ She pressed her nose against the glass and squinted her eyes. ”I think it's either nighttime or it's early morning,“
“Yay. Well, let’s just drop by the living room.” Then a crash, crash, crash, boom, boom, boom. And Keanna slipped. “Hadley! HADLEY!” Keanna was now falling, down down from her high place, waving her arms, trying to reach out to Hadley.
The storm, oblivious to this struggle, thundered on outside.
”AGH!“ Hadley stuck her hand out and grabbed onto the plummeting Keanna, barely managing to keep a hold on the windowsill. She was in a star position, one hand clutching onto the cold cement of the window, and one grasping onto Keanna's hand. ”K-Keanna,“ she stuttered. ”I-I don't have enough upper body strength to haul us both up,“ She let out a short, sharp breath, a drop of perspiration gliding down her forehead from the sudden burst of exercise. ”I… could try and swing you up, but I have NO guarantee that it would work in the slightest,“
Keanna managed to grab a clock. “Just hold on for a couple seconds-” she grunted- “I can come up.” So Keanna clambered up the clocks, one hand still holding Hadley’s. When she got up to the windowsill, she didn’t let go of it.
Hadley flushed a shade of pink and turned her head briefly toward Keanna. ”Uh…"
“Sorry.” Keanna pulled her fingers away from Hadley’s, looking down, her cheeks a dark shade of red.