The rats didn’t know the details of the calamitous ruin, but they could sense it in the air. They knew it from the moment the clocktower was off. Maybe it was just a fraction of a second, but for generations, it had been clanging into their bones with its tolls and its chimes.
So now, they knew.
Skittering over one another, a panic ensued as the furry rodents became disoriented. The world was ending, the universe exploding.
Squeals and squeaks ringing through the clocktower. High above them, gears and cogs worked themselves together in a symphony of metal. The creaks seemed to mimic the whines of the rodentia below.
The hysteria went away as quickly as it had begun, but rats and mice were left with a feeling of unease. A jumpiness. When the nice giant came to give them scraps, they were wary. Perhaps this time, it wouldn’t be so kind, and would instead ground them beneath its tarnished boot.
It didn’t. It did just as it usually did.
Sat and threw scraps, talking into the air with a drooping head and a heavy heart. The rats strained to listen, but could not, of course.
For there were greater things to worry about now.
****
Badger enjoyed dressing up. It was as if putting on a gilded vest could hide the blackened heart underneath. Of course, it could not.
But he did love the gold edges.
He straightened the vest as he walked through the courtyard of Clockworth. The boy–Tim? No, it was Tev. That’s right. Technically Araden–wasn’t as bad as Badger expected. Though he was certainly worse than he’d hoped.
He was certainly just one puzzle piece, though. That much was certain. Whatever games the Outcasts were playing, it was a long one. How they’d managed the kidnapping of the Scopulus’ was beyond Badger’s paygrade. Though he was very curious. Badger was definitely out of it today, however. He felt something off, as if someone else was speaking for him. He was playing a part, certainly, but this he felt on a larger scale.
His thoughts were cut off by a stern voice behind him.
“Mr. Scopulus, you forgot something,” the teacher from before said. What was her name? He didn't remember. Was she the one with the nice rump or was that the ginger? Badger wasn't sure. Although the janitor–he was surprisingly young– had the best of them all.
“I assure you I forgot nothi-” Badger began in that grandiose voice that made him internally roll his eyes.
The woman opened her hand and revealed several coins that Badger had given the administrators. He blinked. People here acted… surprisingly..
“You must be mistaken, I do not want your money, ma’am. I have plenty of my own,” he turned to leave. Those coins certainly were his own, not that he’d admit it (too good of a reputation and all). A little flirtation wasn’t terrible, was it? I mean, counterfeit coins might’ve been the wrong choice, but you can’t blame a man for trying.
The woman rolled her eyes, “Mr. Scopulus, I don’t know what you’re trying to do here, but your son is in safe hands. We do not need donations, nor do we need bribery. Especially with… questionable money.”
Badger stared at this woman. He was starting to like her more and more, no matter how much it was insane.
“Noted,” he said, taking the coins from her. Those accursed secretaries had probably run their darn mouths as soon as he’d left.
The woman turned to leave.
“Oh, won’t you tell me your name first?” Badger called, forcing his eyes to raise when she turned around.
“If you’d been listening you would have known. But it’s Linda. Oh, and uh, bring your wife by sometime. I’d love to meet her. Maybe you could ogle her instead.”
Then she was gone.
Badger just stared after her, a strange feeling rising in his chest. He was just rejected from something that wasn't really an accept or reject situation, but he felt great. Or at least as great as he could without a soul. After all he–
After all *I*, don’t have emotions.
It’s just my life after all.
But I stared after Linda with what was probably just a perverted attraction, as usual. Because romance is actually perverted. Roses? Candles? Simply disgusting.
Although, that fire I saw in her eyes…
What is wrong with me?
I finally turned around and left Clockworth with my illegal coins and headed back to my den to contemplate what had just happened, and why it had happened so quickly.
Me and my empty heart.
****
It was night time when I finally went outside again. I don’t know why, but the soft sprinkling rain of the night has always enticed me. I get to watch rich people scuttle around, doing their futile attempts at escaping the piss of the gods.
I grinned as the droplets fell on my dirty face.
I’d mucked it up on purpose, ya see. After getting back from the School of Super Stuck Upness, I couldn’t stand how rich I looked, you know?
I’d taken a proper bath beforehand, but that was just to play the part.
Now I am back to good ol’ me.
Walking down the street of my oh-so-nice neighborhood (most people would just call it the slums, but that’s just downright hurtful), I watched several shadows slink back into the alleys. They’d seen it was one of their own, and not even a good target at that. Besides, a run in with me would probably leave you with less money with you instead of more.
That ratty little cat that was always hanging around hissed at me, as I enjoyed the rain.
So I kicked at it, like a normal human being.
After a few minutes, the rain was getting worse, pitter pattering onto the much better paved road that I was walking. Most people had gotten home by now, especially since it was nearing the wee hours of the night.
Just me and whatever else lay in the darkness.
I finally just stopped and took a deep breath, staring up into the sky.
You see, I took this walk mostly to see children slip in mud. But partly, I did it to clear my head. Surely Linda had one of the Knacks. Some strange hypnosis. That was the explanation, yeah. Either way, I would appreciate it if she just got out of my head.
The stars twinkled down at me. Tonight they looked a little suggestive.
“Aw c’mon. Reassurance is what I need, not any of your little matchmaking tactics.”
Not that I’d mind.
The reassurance I mean. Yeah.
Obviously, I’m not bat crap crazy, I just have a quirk. Stars and fate were always closely intertwined, so I figure if I yell at the stars, maybe one day they’ll yell back.
So just a little crazy, I suppose.
My pondering was cut short as I heard some strange sound nearby. Several voices, growing louder and louder. I crossed into the alleyway to get closer to what sounded like a commotion.
There was some flickering light there too, probably from torches. Strange, I thought, getting closer. Then there was an explosion and my world became a blinding flash of heat and white, before fading to a cold blackness.
(1220 Words)
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