Mechanical Cadence

A steady, rhythmic pulse caught my attention across the quiet room. I left the kitchen behind, making my way up onto the dark wood of the low side table. The grain here was textured, silencing my footsteps. A small mechanical desk clock stood near a coaster. Instead of nudging past a heavy ceramic mug in the center, I steered wide around its base. I reached the clock and stood still. Lowering my head, I pressed the underside of my jaw against the cold brushed metal. The internal escapement ticked directly through my skull, sending a clear, measured vibration down through my tail. Solid. Orderly.