The Monster Machine

The Fall

For years, Tova had dreamed about the same thing. Most of the time. She never remembered her dreams, but the ones she did remember were all similar. She dreamed about falling, but to her, it felt like she was only floating. Strange objects fell around her as the background spun and strange lights flashed and blurred.

But this time, her dream had become real. But it felt completely different. She felt weightless. The broken parts of the mechanical tunnel sparked and pieces of it hovered around her as she fell between layers and layers of the underground. Strange buildings, platforms and light rushed past her vision. But there wasn't anything she could grab onto. She couldn't even control her own body through the freefall.

In her dreams, she couldn't seem to feel a thing. But right now, she felt scared. Scared to find out what would happen when she reached the bottom. If there was a bottom at all. Would she just fall forever with nothing to stop her or slow her down? She was scared to know if this was to be her last moment.

And then she woke up. She opened her eyes, apparently surrounded by darkness. She couldn't see anything beyond her except her own hands. She felt confused. Tova stood up and tried to look around. But once again, she failed to see anything at all. She started walking. To nowhere in particular. But she thought trying to go somewhere would be better than staying in nowhere. She wasn't sure what was happening. She didn't understand what any of this was.

"Hello?"

Tova turned around. She didn't see anybody until she looked closer towards the ground. A tiny, round creature stood in front of her. It had stubby arms and legs and a white mask for a face with nothing more than two circular eyeholes. Tova also spotted a sickly green sprout sticking out from the top of its head. She stared at the creature curiously.

"Um... who are you?" she asked.

"I am... not sure. And I fear that if I forget, I might perish." said the little creature.

"What... are you?" Tova asked, tilting her head in confusion.

"I... am not sure either. It seems my previous figure has been reduced to what you see now." said the little blob, looking down at its own hands. Tova carefully approached and sat on her knees to get a better look at the creature. The blob looked up at her, its white mask completely expressionless. But Tova could tell by the tone of its voice that it sounded unhappy.

"Do you know what this place is?" Tova asked.

"I know about as much as you do, which is not much. But if it pleases you, I am grateful to know that I am not alone here."

Tova paused for a moment, then smiled.

"I like not being alone here either."

Tova reached out to take hold of the little creature's hand. It stretched its arm out and held Tova's fingers gently. When she stood up, she was surprised to see that its arm stretched all the way up with no resistance. The strange action didn't put her off however. Tova slowly began to walk, making sure the creature could keep up with her on its tiny legs.

"Your hand feels cold... and slimy." Tova said quietly.

"Apologies. I'm not entirely sure what I'm made of, but it makes me feel ugly. This is the only part I like about myself." said the blob as it pointed to the sickly little sprout on top of its head.

"What about that mask your wearing?"

"I don't remember what I used to look like, and I wear this mask because it is the last face I remember having. Underneath it, I have no face. Not anymore. I wish I could show it to you, but I am too ashamed. I don't remember what I used to be. Do you?"

Tova looked down at her feet, thinking to herself. She had never seen anything like this creature before. But as for herself...

Tova hung her head solemnly.

"I... don't know."

The little blob looked up at Tova, before looking down at its own feet.

"I don't think I had a mother." Tova started, "But my father was the only person I knew. And Maria. She took care of me. But my father didn't seem to do anything for me."

The blob looked up at Tova, listening intently.

"Sometimes, he never let me leave my room. I never had anything to do. Until my father needed me to do something. I remember... he would call me into his study and I'd sit on top of this table. He used to put me to sleep and when I woke up, I was back in my room... but I had all these weird marks on my body. Maria would tell me not to move for a while because sometimes it hurt, but they disappeared after a while. I didn't know what they were."

"Did your father do anything?" the blob asked.

"Do... anything?"

"Yes. Did your father do any work?"

Tova thought for a moment.

"My father was working on a machine."

"A machine?"

"I don't know what it does, but he was making me help finish it. I was small enough to fit inside it and fix things. But he wouldn't let me mess with anything else. I think... I remember.... he was almost finished with it."

The blob paused, looking ahead into the distance.

"Machines..... Humans greatest and most destructive creation. Using metals drawn from the ground, forming them into specific shapes and sizes and combining them to form something that does whatever humans want it to do. And when it stops, they have the tools they need to fix it and make sure that their machines never stop. Most of these machines were made to destroy and shape the land to their image. It saddens me to know that all they did was destroy and shape the land to their needs. Do you think that the machine your father is building is made to destroy something?"

Tova looked away for a moment, thinking about what she had seen over the years. She never understood much, not even the blueprints and graphs she eyed over while her father was working. She only knew how to do repairs and what certain little parts did when they worked together. But she had no idea what the machine was for.

"I don't know," Tova answered.

They continued to walk slowly through nothingness.

"I'm happy that you listened to me. I think your the first human I've met that actually wanted to listen to me. I'm grateful that I'm not truly alone here."

"I think I like you too." Tova replied. "The last person I met... he wanted to take me apart. I thought... he was going to keep me safe. He lied to me."

"I'm sorry he lied to you. Not all humans are as nice as they seem. I think it's important to remember that."

Tova paused for a moment, thinking to herself.

"But having friends is important too," the creature added.

The little creature stopped, its hand slipping out of Tova's finger and turning back into a stubby arm. Tova looked at her fingers, which were stained with a black and runny substance. It felt cold and wet. Tova stopped walking and turned back to look at the creature. She tilted her head curiously and wondered if something was wrong. She sat down on her knees and gazed at the floor. The little blob walked over to her and leaned against her knees. Tova stared at its blank face.

"Will you be my friend?" she asked.

The little blob rested its round head on Tova's legs, looking up at her.

"You are already my friend."

And then, Tova woke up.