"Mr Clockwork... May I... Ask you a question?"
"Go ahead kid, ask away"
"Erm... What are you?"
The pieces were falling apart. Memories melting like snow in the heat... It's gone...
= =
Jogete opened his eyes, the alarm would start ringing at any moment, should at least. Looking at the clock, he realized that there's another hour or so before the city came to life. Might as well see the sights of still life around here.
He put on an overcoat as he stepped out the door. The gears might grind in the light, but the coal fire dies in the dark. The cold pierced through his bone as he shut the door, cutting of the heater's warmth as he did so. It was just like he imagined, the place was dead, though why the government had curfews he didn't know. What he did know was that he just broke the law. It's not like anybody'll know anyway. Everyone's locked in from the so called 'dangers of the night'. Jogete chuckled at the thought. The government loves making stories to scare the citizens, that's what he thinks at least. It's his first time visiting the dead city after all.
***
"Flip the coin, take a chance, if you win, you just might last" A wolf dumped pieces of cardboard into the fire as she looked at a young feline. "I say tails you fail, so come on up, make a choice" The cougar, no older than 10, pointed at the side which he wanted, heads. "Heads it is, I might say, the coin however, says it nay" The coin was tossed into the air and disappeared in mid-flight into the hands of the wolf. It was tails. "Sorry to say, but you sha'nt stay, so take your leave, you are a peeve" The cougar looked down sadly and handed the wolf a coin. The cougar wasn't living another night "Sometimes I take pity for the street urchins. But in a world like this, money does the talking"
***
As Jogete turned into the next alley, a kid came out, startling him a little "Whoa, kid. Shouldn't you be indoors with your parents?" The cougar shook his head then looked at the fire at the end of the alley. "How about you come with me for awhile? You look awful" Jogete took out his overcoat and covered the kid with it. He couldn't feel his hands already. "Greetings good gentleman, are you here to game? For as I see it the business life is lame" A wolf in a worn out top hat and torn clothing attracted his attention "Gamble? Sorry you picked the wrong guy" Jogete warmed himself by the fire but was surprised when the wolf snuffed it out faster than what water could do. "You want warmth, I want play. So pick a side, fate shall say" The wolf produced a coin and gave Jogete a deadly glare. "Heads or tails? Pick. A. Choice" The wolf's voice gone deep, Jogete realized that he just met the devil.
***
"Tails" Jogete gulped as the coin flew in the air, the wolf never breaking eye contact. "Ah, it seems we have a winner" The wolf changed to a peppier tone as she caught the coin and handed it to the fox. The coin had no indentation whatsoever. "You were cheating"
"Indeed I was"
"So why let me win?"
"Because I wanted to"
"That does not make any sense"
"Do I look like the person who makes sense?" The wolf laughed and took out a tinderbox. "Jogete Clockwork, working in district 5 as a machine operator correct?" A fire started, and Jogete felt his blood flow again. "How did yo-"
"What do you think people like me do for a living?"
"Noth-"
"Exactly, so I watch people walk around town, eavesdrop a little, see who does what."
"So that's how you knew I was? Fascinating...."
"Nah, I just slipped this out of your pocket when you weren't looking" The wolf tossed him his I.D. He felt a sudden urge to just run. He didn't know why but... There's something about the wolf that unsettles him. "Going already? I thought you wanted the fire. But of course, you have a heater at home don't you" The wolf lowered her top hat to the point where it covered her eyes. "The name's Pierce, Lucida Pierce. And I'll be seeing you soon"
***
"Kid why don't you stay at my place for awhile, the place has been empty for quite awhile already. Besides, I need somebody to talk to every now and then" Jogete noticed the sun over the concrete jungle. The light felt warm, comforting. The cougar didn't speak, but nodded shyly as they reached Jogete's home. "You gotta talk someday you know. I mean, I need to know your name, or you'll just be Kid for the rest of your life"
***
Pull, release, pull. Pull, release, pull. Another day at work, though the job was simple, the pay was rather high. After all, they're one of the only companies who still use manual labor to stamp coins, meaning they have a different look and value. "Hey Jeggo, got ya coffee" A tiger, around twenty years of age, left the cup of coffee on the machine. "Fletcher, you know its against the rules to bring liquids into the machine room right" Fletcher shrugged as Jogeted took a sip. "The boss says the company might have to be sold. You know, old man not having any kids and wanting a nice few years off."
"And you're telling this. Why? It's not like I'm interested in things like these."
"Just saying that you should get a better job. You deserve better"
"As if the pay isn't good enough already"
"Not for long" Fletcher walked out the door carrying a box of his belongings. "We're getting picked off one-by-one, better get something stable while you're still working the machines"
***
The way home seemed to have lengthened, getting a new job? That's troublesome, but hey, better not risk anything while he can right. Jogete opened the door to his home, wondering how's the kid doing. Hopefully not starving as all he seemed to be eating for the past few days were bread. He took one out from the basket and noticed a few missing. The kid must be a big eater, but he guess food could easily make a person sleepy by seeing how he just slept on the sofa undisturbed. He needed a nap, too. Hopefully he would be able to wake up at the right time this time
Topic: A story thingy (Read 1166 times)