Human At Heart (Inspired by Deactivated_Steambot)

16: Bleak

Third POV:

Meanwhile away from the Manor, two mechanical figures trek through the eye of the storm. Wintry winds offer them no solace, threatening to freeze the very core that powers them. Yet they continue further into the billowing snowfalls and ice laced paths.

Unlike the Summer or Spring, the land takes on a malevolent form during the midst of Winter. For the automatons, venturing out in such weather without the protection of a coat is certain demise. The clock counts down for Rose, who can already begin to feel her joints slowly freezing over. For Christine who had previously met her end some time ago, Rose senses that she is not too far behind. Time is thinning, closing its hand as the second's tick by. Hope is as bleak as the pale skyline.

Rose's POV:

The air is bitterly sharp, benumbing the brass joints ever so slowly in my legs. Tautly they groan, the springs creak in agitation. Christine seems to be faring better than me, yet again I doubt if she can feel the cold. Other than simple phrases of guidance to her residence, very few words are exchanged between us. What could I possibly say, to her? She is human, well at one point she was. Authentic blood and flesh, now ectoplasmic matter residing in a metal frame. A life that should have been hers was stolen, offered to an amalgamation of wires and metal in her place.

My-No, human Rose's sister. It is something that I shouldn't understand, yet I do. Sort of. Human emotions, sensations are all too real. A machine is not a human, not meant to be. Yet here I am, with her. Pain, love, elation...these are all human yet they don't yield just to flesh. It is strange how one's mind can conceive such thoughts, just to preoccupy itself from the death lingering upon the horizon.

Shaking off the notion, we have seemingly rove through the snow two miles in now. Only my trust in Christine's memory of her home is all we have. Silently I reject the idea of questioning her sense of direction, allowing her to lead us further. Tilting my head to the sky, the clouds thickening as the horizon drops three shades darker. I can't tell whether it is morning or night, reverting away from the sky I follow Christine's silent form treading forward. Without stopping or looking back, a ghastly voice carries over the wind. "Why do all of this?"

It takes me a moment to register that Christine is the one speaking. Blurting, a heated vapor of steam escapes my mouth. Leaving me colder than before. "Pardon?"

Christine repeats, faintly. "I've spent ages seething with a vengeance, long after death had claimed me. Yet here you are, showing me nothing but kindness? How come?"

Hesitantly I pause, pondering the question. Why am I doing this? I guess I had never really thought about it until now. Only one year after my Awakening, just barely coming to know my past. I realize that unlike Christine, the notion that I receive from this debacle is empathy. I have empathy for Christine. I can understand her sorrow and anger, and where it had stemmed from. Finally, with my response, I answer. "It's the right thing to do."

Christine halts abruptly in front of me, causing me to do the same. She turns to face me, photo-receptors wide with an ivy green shimmer. Without moving her mechanical jaw, she spoke in a tone of awestruck. "...I see..."

Taking a brief moment, Christine whispers. A bitterness follows ever so subtly. "You truly are human at heart."

Seemingly coincidentally, the storm ceases for the shortest of moments. Revealing a decrepit structure just several feet behind Christine. My eyes trail past her, the words hitching in my throat. Christine is unphased, still and resolute. The words slip through closed lips on her motionless robotic complexion. "We're here."