The machine ground its gears against one another. A creaking groan that echoed through the halls. It was everywhere X looked. They could see gears in the windows and flows of liquid could be heard beneath the floorboards, long stained black with oil. X had walked these for as long as they could remember. Food was always placed by the whistle unless they sat and watched for it. If they waited for the foodbringer the food would be placed at the edge of an oil vat. X long stopped looking for the foodbringer. 

X could climb to the tallest point of the machine and hit the tin ceiling but nothing would budge, nothing would loose a screw to their relentless pounding.

Today was dark, everyday was dark but today was darker. X watched their reflection in the reflective surface of the whistle before moving into the main room. As they walked the room grew quiet and X felt their breath speed up.

Nothing was quiet here. There was always a part grinding on another or a whistle blowing steam or liquid bubbling.

Tic

Toc

Tic

Toc

Someone was messing with them. X ran around back to the whistle and the window covered with gears. X screamed themself hoarse. All but one sound stopped.

Tic 

Toc

Tic

Toc

It was becoming louder. X followed the noise through every room. It grew faster.

TIC
TOC
TIC
TOC

With the clocks speed grew X's heart rate. Their breathing came in burst. 

TICTOCTICTOCTICTOC

"WHERE? WHERE?" X screamed.

TICTICTICTICTICTIC

TOCTOCTOCTOCTOC

A loud bang echoed from the switch room and X sprinted for it. They arrived just in time to watch as the ticcing grew louder and the machine combust. 

TICTICTIC eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee static