Clockwork

Chapter Four

"What a douchebag!" Hunter commented as Felicity entered her room. His longs limbs were draped on her armchair. He seemed to be fiddling with something.

"Yeah, couldn't agree with you more. Shift, you're in my chair," Felicity muttered, dumping her coat on the shambles of which she called a bed. Hunter shifted slightly to the left and motioned to her to join him. Sitting down next to him, she put her head in her hands. Hunter looked on awkwardly, trying to think of something to do.

"Um, Flicky? It's gonna be alright. We'll get out of here soon, I swear on my very valuable life."

Felicity scoffed and lifted her head.

"With that attitude, you could make it anywhere, Hunts."

"You should be more like me then. Flick, you're really talented, I mean you're really wasting time here in Amortia. Hell, you should be working in the palace!"

"I'd rather be here than working for that bitch."

"And she's back. Didn't take long to cheer you up. I should become a therapist."

Shaking her head, Felicity got up and made her way over to her bathroom. She gave Hunter the finger and told him to stay put. Hunter's eyes lit up with mock innocence as he splayed his arms in defence.

In the bathroom, Felicity quickly had a shower. It brought a sense of calm about her, the methodical beating of water drops falling, their coldness kissing her skin. She stood there, letting the water take all her troubles away. At last, she opened her eyes and got out of the shower. Wringing her hair in a fraying towel, she got dressed and headed back into her room. Hunter nodded in acknowledgement.

"So, about sleeping arrangements?"

"I think the bed is big enough for both of us. Not like we haven't done that before."

Hunter nodded in agreement and joined her. Felicity lay down and let sleep overtake her.

                                                                                                     *

By the time morning had come, Hunter had gone. Felicity thought this wise as if the Patron had caught them, she would have to pay more than 3/4 of her earnings. Groaning at the darkness of the room, she got up and made her way down to her workshop.

Felicity was the only woman in the village that owned her own shop. Many people came to her to have their electronics fixed, some to have their own custom made by her.

The blackened walls of the shop had become a home to her.

Business went about as usual except for the fact that Hunter didn't come to have lunch with her. Felicity guessed that he was at another fight. That boy was going to get himself killed.

Just as she was about to close, a cloaked figure entered the shop, the doorbell chiming its merry song. The figure moved very gracefully towards the counter, the cloak bellowing out around it. Flashed of silver adorned the cloak, giving it the appearance of the night sky.

"I was just about to close." Felicity said, not bothering to turn around.

"I'll be quick, I promise." A voice said. Felicity couldn't quite think where she had heard this voice before but it seemed annoyingly familiar.

"I need this telescreen fixed please." The cloaked figure continued, placing it on the table. Felicity picked it up and examined it intently.

"This is quite an impressive model. Very fine workmanship." Felicity commented, running her fingers across the copper finishing. "Where did you get this from?"

"I.. I.. does that matter?" The voice stuttered. "So can you fix it?"

"If you can tell me what is wrong with it. It seems perfectly fine."

"It's the droid that it's attached to. It's unresponsive. That telescreen is very important to me, it would mean a lot if you could fix it for me."

Felicity nodded. Unresponsive droids were hard to fix but she was fairly confident that she could fix it.

"Of course. It will probably take a week-"

"That's fine." The figure said, turning around to leave. "I'll pay when I come back."

With that, the figure was gone. However, Felicity had caught a glimpse of under the hood. A slither of deep navy hair had caught her attention. It must have been a foreigner, she reasoned, because there was no way anyone in Amortia could have hair like that. Everyone but her was blonde. It was quite unsettling, really.