Like Clockwork

Chapter 4 - Explanations

I blushed and looked down at my stocking clad feet.

"I knew you two would get along. I was just waiting for you to meet each other." exclaimed Agatha.

I wanted to say we didn't get along that well, but I didn't want to disappoint her so I stayed quit. Walter must have been on the same track because he stayed silent too.

"Walter, why did you bring me here?" I questioned.

"My apartment isn't the cleanest, safest place. I thought you would be more comfortable here." he replied.

My standoffish aura softened at that comment. I may not really know him and he may have been rude when I first met him, but he seemed to be a gentleman.

"Besides, I can't just let random riff raff into my home."

Never mind.

"I am not riff raff."

He gave me a look.

I just shook my head and looked away. I didn't have time for this.

"You said you were going to tell me what you knew about the wires."

"What are you talking about? What wires?" He replied looking confused.

I flapped my hands in frustration.

"The wires! The reason you were at the ball."

"I didn't go to the ball for wires. I was investigating a man that was moving a lot of suspicious resources lately."

"Wait, What? We're not even talking about the same thing? I'm investigating wires. They show up on the walls of the city and nobody notices or cares. I just don't understand it!"

"Calm down." He said and rolled his eyes to ceiling as if he was in deep thought.

"I'm not talking about the wires, but I am talking about a man that might be connected to them."

"What do you mean?"

"Did you see the man that was commanding the men that were chasing after us? His name is Mr. Churchill, you know like the prime minister, and he-"

"What's a prime minister?"

"You know, like a president, but for a different country."

"What's a president? And what's a country for that matter?! What are you talking about!?!"

"Oh, um, right. Nothing, I'm just babbling. Forget everything I said. So about Churchill, he's been transporting boxes of materials and parts to places around the city. I haven't the faintest idea what he's planting, but-"

"No don't you dare. Go back. How do you know all of this stuff?"

"You girls sure do like to interrupt me." He said while giving me a hesitant, pained look.

"Tell me!" I pushed.

"I read it in a book, it's no big deal"

"A book from where? The library? A bookstore?"

"No, just a book from somewhere."

"Show me." I said excitedly stepping closer.

This was new. This was interesting. The wires could wait; I had a feeling that this was much bigger than anything that could ever be made out of metal. And saying that is big for me. Walter could fill me in on Mr. Churchill on the way to his book.

"Why don't you just show her Walter? She's a stubborn one; she won't stop asking you now." Agatha said.

Walter and I started, forgetting that someone else was in the room. During our discussion we had gotten closer together. I was only about six inches away from him. I quickly backed up so we were decently spaced apart.

He cleared his throat awkwardly and turned his head toward Agatha.

"Is she trustworthy? Can I rely on her?"

"Well of course you can!" I said indignantly.

"Agatha?"

"She's a great girl, you can trust her."

"Thanks Agatha. See Walter? You can show me let's go."

"Wait a minute deary. I want to hear all about the ball and you still have to finish your tea. Let's go sit down, I just got a new shipment of furniture in this morning." Agatha said while walking over to one side of the store.

"Walter will you lock up please? Thank you."

Walter walked to the front to lock it and I followed Agatha to the chairs and tables. She sat in the armchair, leaving a love seat empty. I sat down on one side of it then pulled a low table toward us while running my hand over the velvet diamond pattern on the couch. It was a pretty shade of blue.

Walter came towards us carrying the tray of tea. He paused when he saw the only empty seat was next to me, but sat down anyways.

"So tell me all about it. I haven't been to a ball in ages."

"You went to balls?" I questioned. I never thought she went to those types of things.

"Oh yes deary, I went to quite a few back in the day. I always had the prettiest dresses, softest hair bows and the shoes..." she replied nostalgically.

"Those shoes you wore were mine when I was younger you know. They were made back when there was still magic. You know the stories about the magic. Back then we were still allowed, if we could afford them, to have things from the old world. They outlawed that long ago, but I kept a couple of mine in this shop. I miss those days..." she drifted off, her eyes a million miles away.

I looked at Walter astonished.

"Wait, those stories are real, with the magic? I mean I always believed them, but they're actually 100% real? The council always says that they were just myths."

Walter snorted.

"Of course the council would deny them. Any idea of an old world would undermine their authority. They always say that we were created with a social order, them at the top. What would the lower classes do if they knew their society was formed by the people not divinely created? They would rebel. The council would have a revolution on their hands."

What he was saying made sense, but I was having trouble comprehending it. Agatha interrupted my thoughts.

"So how was the ball?"

Walter and I told her all about it leaving out a few details like the running for our lives and not so pleasant first meeting.

When Agatha was satisfied with our descriptions and that we didn't get into too much trouble she let us go.

"I'm going to head to bed, we stayed up late. Why don't you both stay here tonight so you don't have to meet back up tomorrow? Walter your room is already made up. Elli, you can sleep in the guest room."

Then she left, off to bed, leaving us to our own devices.

"You stay here that much?" I asked Walter.

"My home is a little further away and it's easier to stay here most of the time."

"I guess that makes sense. Okay goodnight, I'll you tomorrow."

He nodded and disappeared behind a wardrobe overflowing with fur coats. It was odd, I don't know why somebody hadn't bought them. Fur was a rarity nowadays. Our city only had a limited amount of animals within its boundaries. Everything outside those boundaries is unlivable and forbidden. If anyone ever left they almost never come back and if they did they came back crazy and delusional.

I got ready for bed and sat thinking about everything I had learned today while running my fingers over the unfamiliar quilt covering me. The thoughts were still bouncing around my head when I fell into an uneasy slumber.