Hatching part 1

For close to a year, Molly had been alive, or at least, she thought she had been. What exactly living meant was lost to her. Too often, she had pondered what it meant to be human – to be alive.

No time for such ideas now however – her mind was now occupied with another dilemma: what is the stinging ache in her heart?

At a moment like this, she would ask Maya of such questions, however Maya, her best friend and caretaker disappeared more than a month ago.

Moreover, all of the people dearest to her was out of her life at the moment: both Jacob and Dr Kladwig were out of the city for various reasons.

Sitting by the windowsill, Molly looked upon the clockwork tower in the distance.

A short while later, the sound of twelve bells resonated from the tower.

Her eyes shifted focus from the tower and onto her reflection on the window, and she stared at herself for a moment – she gazed inwards: what was she for? What was her purpose?

Then she looked outwards, towards her friends.

She felt betrayed by them. She knew they weren’t at fault, however that did not alleviate the pang in her chest.

She moved away from the windowsill, away from the cool night breeze. Putting on her coat and beret, Molly left the apartment, hoping a brief walk would clear her mind.

She headed to the nearest park to her apartment, coincidentally Maya’s favourite place to be.