TIME

Billows of black smoke came out of the beast’s metal maw. Its roar lasted for only a few seconds. Lockett again turned the key and its engine gave out an explosive roar, then it died down into a yelp as it slept in silence once again. Out of all the places where she could stop, this hunk of junk decided to break in the middle of the road where vehicles would not go through at this time of hour.

“I’m going to be late,” she tapped the screen of her phone and looked for her co-worker’s number. “What was his name again? Robert?” she muttered as she continued to scroll down a list full of names.

“Why would they hold a meeting at 9 in the evening?!” she grunted with widened eyes. “Oh! Robert Porter!” just as she was about to contact him the last few red bars on her phone disappeared and the screen turned to black.

“Agh!” She tossed the battery-drained smartphone on the driver's seat and slammed the door shut. Lockett took a few steps away from the car then kicked the front wheel only to reel back and scream at the top of her lungs.She bit her lip and hopped on one foot while applying pressure to the other. “Damn these high-heels,” she hummed to ease the sharp pain on her foot.

“Damn piece of junk, why now? Why would you decide to give up now?” Frustrated- she waved her arms in the air. When she first received this car as a gift from her father, it ran like a beast. A stallion drenched in midnight flair zoomed unnoticed in the darkness of the hour. Despite being an older model, it was quite unstoppable. But over the years the young woman grew tired of it and wanted something more powerful than this stallion.

The shining white knight, the radiant beast that peeked from the desert sands, the silver chariot that zoomed like a falling star, and various more cars with brand new engines riddled her own personal parking lot. Thus, the stallion was left unbothered, unused only to collect dust, left alone as a vintage display near the gates of their house. Until now, and all it took was an unprecedented call.

Lockett heaved a sigh as she turned her back against the cool metal frame and slid down to sulk in defeat, placing her stilettos to the side. The rich soil and grass were playful, ticklish to her thighs and feet. She eyed the lit road that was about a few feet away from her. Nothing, not a single car even drifted towards that direction especially this late at night.

The once-proud woman in the black dress tucked her knees closer to her chest. She didn’t mind if the dress got all creased up, all Lockett wanted then was warmth from the cold breeze.

“Is this what it feels like dad?” Lockett said as she brushed her arms. Never in her life had she experienced something this harrowing as if time stood still. She curled her lips and sighed, well at least she was not resting on a concrete floor.

Lockett took a deep and heavy breath and held it for five seconds and breathed out to lessen the build up stress, a breathing exercise taught by her father to soothe herself, eventually she dozed off, minutes on her wristwatch continued to tick.

The gentle breeze mixed with the ticks was interrupted by the engines that purred, a slow and steady vibration that acted like a massage behind her back. Then, the headlights flickered open, a bright luminescent glow that pierced through the dark and empty road.

The black stallion revved its engine into a deeper growl that made Lockett open her eyes in confusion.

“What?” she responded in a half-awake state as she scratched the back of her hair.

Numbers illuminated by neon blue blinked from within, casting a glaring glow to the car’s interior. The volume knob spun to the right and channels kept switching back and forth.

Before Lockett could pull herself together, the front door window reclined.

“How does it feel?” A loud, modulated voice boomed out of the stallions speakers. The headlights dimmed down as it turned back to its previous state.

Lockett jolted her body backwards in shock and banged her head against the car door, “Ow, damn it!” the woman exclaimed as she managed to get up on her two feet, her hands comforting the back of her head.

“Who’s there?!” she ignored the good for nothing vehicle and spun around to find the voice that woke her up.

“Is there anyone there?” She raised her voice and hoped that nothing responded back. No matter how desperate she wants to be saved, the idea of a random stranger just popping out of dark was something she couldn't handle right now. Her heart pounded, sweat trickled down her bun-tied hair.

“Hello?!” She asked again to clear her doubts and when no one answered the pounding gradually came into a halt. She wiped the sweat on her forehead and took a few steps back.

Next, Lockett put on her stilettos, walked past her car and gave it a disappointed look. “We wouldn’t be having this problem if you have just worked.” she grumbled under her breath. Soft crunching of grass turned into a clicking noise as she strode towards the highway and the streetlight shone above her like a spotlight.

She looked to her left and to her right but there was nothing, no sense of life except hers. Lockett scratched the back of her head and wondered what woke her up. It could not be the wind, it was not gentle and it sounded deeper.

“By the gods you are so dense,” the same modulated voice echoed from behind and Lockett spun around. Her eyes darted from the still dead car and beyond the foliage of darkness that stretched in front of her.

“This is not funny!” her voice stammered as her legs began to tremble. “Whoever is out there, come out and show yourself.” She gritted her teeth and straightened her back to show a fake confidence that she used from time to time.

Before the woman could react, the ground quaked intensely. Leaves made their way up into the air and the streetlight flickered abruptly. Lockett wobbled and found herself gripping the metal pole to support her balance. She closed her eyes and took a few breaths just like a while ago. “Could this day get any worse?” she muttered to herself.

After a few seconds the shaking stopped. Upon opening her eyes she noticed how the shadows got closer because of the flickering street light. She eased her grip on the metal pole and heaved a heavy sigh.

She inched away from the spotlight, her heels clacked heavily onto the cracked concrete mixed with broken branches and autumn leaves. Beads of sweat began to roll down her forehead.

She gulped a heavy lump in her throat. It was just there, Lockett’s eyes widened and looked from side to side. How could something that big disappear without a trace? She had been here for hours, no, minutes maybe. The vehicle had disappeared. Swallowed by darkness.

A mixed bag of emotions swelled up deep inside Lockett’s heart. The pounding came back along with cold chills that ran from her back. She rubbed her eyes just to make sure that the dark didn't any tricks on her. She approached where her car was, Lockett yelped and stumbled when the ball of right foot sank to the ground, she reeled herself only to plunge face first into the dirt.

She raised her head and brushed off a few dirt stains away from her face. Her frustration and panic gaveher a rush of adrenaline, allowing her to get back up on her feet. Lockett's vision cleared, she looked at the strange marks bellow her and followed where they lead.

It lead to place where streetlights couldn't even reach. A place where leaves, trees, and branches cover the midnight sky.

"Snap out of it!" Lockett slapped her cheeks and flicked off her stiletto, grabbing the front as handle, pointing its tip like a makeshift knife. She licked her lips and locked her gaze towards the darkness.

“I’m not afraid of you! I have a… uhm… a weapon!” she stabbed the air. “Right now I’m very pissed and if you’re the one who took my car then maybe you should give it back!”

Absolute silence.

“Answer me!” Lockett demanded as she stomped her foot and stabbed the air with her stiletto. “I just wanted to show them that I can make it. That I can make it at a much faster pace.”

Images of her father flashed through her head. For every moment where she mentioned to quicken her pace, she remembered the conversations she had with the man who she both loved and hated. A kind and lovable man who took his time in life.

“Remember to take a break.”

“One day the company will be yours.”

“No. The slower you become the faster death comes for you.” she cursed as she grit her teeth.

Lockett reached for her knees and panted, “Aghh…. this is pointless.”

“Why am I arguing with a bunch of trees, I must be going crazy, oh dear.” Drenched in sweat, she dropped to the floor with her stilleto still in hand. She raised her head and gazed at the dancing trees but one seemed to remain static. She blinked, furrowing her eyebrows. The more she focused in the dark the more she recognized a figure. A figure that loomed above the blanket of trees.

A set of lights popped out and swiveled towards the woman, Lockett shielded her eyes away from the bright tinted glow that focused on her like the flickering streetlight.

“Stay back! Stay back!” Lockett swung her stiletto wildly as she crawled backwards, only to fall on one of the shallow pits left behind and further messed her black dress with dirt.

“Stay away!!!” she continued to swing her stiletto even with her eyes closed.

Trees creaked as the humongous figure moved the trees on its path to the side like curtains, the tinted orange glow on its optical sensor whirled and blinked, then magnified its sight towards a particular woman who it just got tired of.

A metal giant that surpassed the height of the bustling trees strides onward to where the light could reach. The sleek, onyx metallic frame of its torso resembled the hood of the car. Bits of intricate and intertwined complex wirings glowed beneath its frame like armor, along with strange mechanisms connecting each limb to the main body.

A loud clunk could be heard when it whirled its legs to move forward with ease as if its tremendous weight meant nothing to it.

The reticle on its sensor turned reddish, it stretched its right arm and pointed at the young woman.

“I never had any problems with your ancestors, until you came along.” the giant spoke with a heavy modulated voice.

Lockett's scrunched up face dropped into a more disappointed look. She gently turned her gaze to the front in order to get a glimpse of what was speaking to her.

Lockett opened her lips to ask a question but for some reason nothing could come out of her throat except for a certain word that struck her.

“What the hell are you?!” she shrieked, scrambling desperately away from the giant creature that stood before her.

The giant’s facial feature creaked as it smirked before lumbering in a stiff motion. Bending its metallic legs to reveal a set of glowing cable-like veins before it placed its mechanical hands to the floor to support its body. The ground beneath shook for a few seconds as it plopped itself down in a crossed leg position.

Lockett scooted herself back into a corner and raised her stiletto on the giant with her back against the dirt wall.

“Pff, what are you gonna do? Stab me with that stiletto?” the giant said confidently as it tapped its chest to clank metal against its thick finger.

“This is not happening, I’m just imagining this.” She patted her sweat ridden cheeks and took a few more heavy breaths. “I’m just dreaming and once I wake up I’ll be back in my bed.” Her voice quivered as she gripped her stiletto with both hands and closer her eyes.

“Do take your time, because this is real life,” the giant said right after it placed its curled fingers under its chin.

“I’m not listening!” Lockett yelled.

“Okay fine, have it your way.” Fumes of black smoke escaped from its jaws as it sighed.

“One.”

“Two.”

She drowned out the sound of grinding metal and squinted her eyes to further focus. All she hoped was for this dream to end.

“Three.”

“Four."

The giant leaned in closer and waited for the girl to get spooked.

“Five.” Lockett deeply exhaled, smiled and opened her eyes.

“Told you. It’s not a dream.”

Lockett screeched and quickly stabbed the giant with her stiletto, only for the sharp end to break against the giant's metal chin.

“Told you it wouldn’t-”

Lockett threw her broken stiletto straight at the giant's eyes. It could have shattered the glimmering lights if only the giant didn’t use its massive palm to block it.

“Hey! You need to stop that!” the giant demanded in a deep and booming voice.

“What are you!? And what do you need from me?”

“I could have answered your question a while ago if only you would stop.”

In an instant Lockett gulped and stayed quiet and looked at the giant from head to toe, still astonished to see something that she would only see in films or video games.

Now that Lockett had calmed down the giant spoke, “Listen kid, I have been in debt with your family for almost a century. I was there when steam and smoke still blocked out the sun's gaze.” It moved its arms to emphasize its story.

“I was there when bombs rained from the sky.” It clenched its fingers to a fist. “ A dark time for me to be in.” The metal giant stood upward and tapped its chin. “If it weren’t for Jacob I would have been scrapped.”

Jacob, the mere mention of that name halted all the mixed emotions Lockett felt. It brought back a part of her past. A vivid memory of her father.

“Granpa Jacob? The Jacob who started Tele Engines company?” Lockett questioned the giant with furrowed brows. She had only heard of Jacob from her father and only saw him in a portrait that’s lavishly displayed near their fireplace.

“Yes. Jacob was a good man.” The giant’s voice went low as the mechanical expressions on its face slowly lost its annoyed composure.

She remembered that on her 16th birthday, before she could see her gift her father told him how his great great great grandfather was no ordinary man. Now she knows why and how long they were keeping this secret away from her.

“Granpa Jacob, huh.” she raised her head and noticed the facial features the giant wore. Bolts and constricted metal loosened up like an old man reliving his past. Somehow, her worry disappeared, if it wanted her dead it could have killed her when it first emerged. She dropped her arms and placed them on her side, patting her dress before gripping the wall of soil behind her back, lifting herself to sit on the edge of the shallow hole formed by the giant's feet.

“Listen, all I ever wanted was to get promoted and I thought today would be my chance,” she exclaimed. “None of this would have ever happened-”

“None of this would have happened if you were just patient enough,” it interrupted her before she could even finish her sentence.

“If I had waited and took my time to think it through, then I would have just ended up like my father.” Lockett raised her voice then bit her lip.

“Don’t you dare say that about him. He might have taken his time but he enjoyed every single moment of it.”

“He did take his time.” Lockett’s voice quivered. She bit her lip and turned around as old memories started to seep in once more, “and he died because of it.”

The giant blinked and took a few steps forward near the girl. Despite how annoyed it was it couldn’t help itself but feel bad for Lockett.

“Stallion, all i ever wanted to do is make the most of my life. To feel that everything I do has a purpose and that I can finish them because if I sit still I remember how spoiled I was, how I took everything for granted and how I could repay my father if his only child couldn't accomplish anything.”

Stallion, now that’s a name that he never heard for a long time. Stallion pondered on it and thought Lockett would never call it by that name again.

“Lockett,” Stallion called for her in a low and mellow tune. “It’s okay to take a break every once in a while.” It tried to reassure the woman that everything was going to be alright. For years it had been stuck in the parking lot but it saw how this girl changed and it would never forget the last request James gave to him.

“Be gentle with her, if she seems to be in a bad spot then maybe you can put some sense into her.” James had chuckled, patting the hood of Stallion before disappearing, never to come back again and instead replaced by a girl who over the years went through so much pain.

“Your father was a good man,” Stallion nodded. “I’ve learned alot from him. To be honest I never wanted to stay here, I wanted to be out there looking for my kind. But you know what he told me?”

Lockett ignored Stallion’s question but as silence grew she wiped the tears on her cheek and faced Stallion with reddish eyes.

“What?” she stuttered as she placed her hands behind her back.

Stallion chuckled and plopped on the floor once more, “He told me to-”

And in unison they said, “loosen up, you still have time and it's not the end of the world.”

Stallion gave Lockett a curious look and creased the metal all on its face,"How-”

“He kept on telling me that.” she covered her mouth as she chuckled.

Stallion smiled and felt glad that Lockett's that had been long gone returned once more.

For Lockett, this moment felt longer as if time stood still and for once she didn’t feel any pressure. Her heart felt free as her thoughts were replaced by this moment. The cold breeze, the marks left on the floor, the glimmering stars, Stallion, and the memories of her father.