The Clock

Artwork by Chris Cold

When you crawled into Father's ear, you never imagined seeing anything like this.
You see that many walkways begin and end here, as if this central location reached out to all the others. The massive vessel in front of you shakes by some rhythm, which vibrates the stone of the pathway beneath you, and continues on back the way you came. There is a blue glow to it, which flashes and darkens to the beat.
Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
You've never heard anything of its like, but it is of Father, so could it really be dangerous? Despite your thoughts, your footsteps towards the vessel are cautious, testing each section of the walkway before continuing. Father is getting old - some of the stone crumbles as you stress it, and falls into the void below.
Eventually, you reach the center. The blue light is nearly blinding, but you make your way to the metal dais at the end of the walkway. The one that Father told you about. With a deep breath, you remove the circular amulet from around your neck, and place it in the slot on the dais. It fits like a well-worn glove.
You suppose it was a bit much to expect songs and fanfare - Father never did tell you what all this was for. But at least it's done now. You turn-
With a sickening lurch in your belly, the walkway shatters beneath you. You search wildly for a handhold, but find none. You notice briefly that all the walkways are crumbling, as if by design. They ripple backward from the vessel, fleeing from it.    As you fall into Father's bowels, darkness overwhelms you. No rubble strikes you. You never hit the ground. But the sound of the vessel consumes you. It pounds at you, overwhelming all of your senses. Is this really what Father wanted?
Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
Is this all that he wished for me?
Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
Is this the-

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Tick. Tock. Tick.
The Clock waits for no one.