Clockwork Twist : Missing by Emily Thompson

answered instantly.
    “Myra, just leave him,” Arabel said. “You know what he’s like when he’s cross. You can feed me, if you like.” Twist and Myra both gave her a suspicious look. “Well, whatever,” Arabel said, shaking her head. “I’ll meet you there, if you come,” she said to Twist before she moved to leave.
    Myra looked to Twist with a slight pout on her metal lips.
    “It’s been three days, and I still have four more to endure,” he said as gently as he could without losing his firm tone. “I simply need a break. I usually adore monotony, in general. But this is too much.”
    “So, you’re just going to sit here?”
    “Yes. It’s empty. I’m going sit right here and wait for the rest of the passengers to go to the buffet, while I catch a moment’s peace.”
    Myra gave a sigh.
    “I’m sorry, my dear,” Twist said, getting to his feet to lay his hands on her still-crossed arms. “There are just too many people. I’ll go and eat with you again later, but right now I simply need a rest. This trip is very tiring without Jonas. He always keeps me steady.”
    “Right,” Myra said softly, nodding. “I just wish that I knew how to steady you.”
    Her words stung him so quickly that he flinched against the sensation. “You help immensely,” Twist said. “You make me so very happy.” She looked up to him hopefully. “I just need a little silence right now, that’s all,” he added. She nodded, looking down again. “There’s no reason to be sad,” Twist said, lifting her chin with a gentle finger. “And no reason for you not to have a good time. You should go with Arabel.”
    “And do what?” Myra asked, frowning. “I can’t eat anything.”
    “You can tell her all about how much I’m annoying you,” Twist said with a smile. “I know she’d like to talk about how troublesome I can be. I’m sure you two will both have a nice time.”
    “Maybe…” Myra said, smiling softly. “Well,” she said on a heavy breath, “I suppose, if you change your mind, you know where we’ll be.”
    “Thank you, my love,” Twist said, smiling with relief. Myra sighed and shook her head, but her smile didn’t fade as she left him.
    True to his word, Twist waited until he could no longer hear people walking by out in the hall. But then he grew swiftly restless. He crept out of his cabin and turned to walk toward the back of the ship. The silence of the empty hallways, lined with innumerable doors on both sides, did little to quiet the uneasy tremors in his nerves that never seemed to stop.
    He hadn’t had another dream about Jonas since the first, no matter how he’d tried to find the buzz in his neck again. Every time he thought of reaching for the sensation, fear now kept him from pushing hard enough to make it hurt. And once the sun was gone, there would be one less comfort on this ship for him.
    He didn’t notice that he’d run out of hallway until he came to a door at the very back of the ship. The door was clearly printed with the words “ Crew only—do not enter ” in four different languages, but it was propped slightly ajar with a metal toolbox. A quick glance around the intersection proved that he was totally alone. As he stared at the door, a new sound came to him in the silence of the empty hallway and nearby rooms. Deep, growling, pumping. Metal and fire. The door led straight into part of the engine room.
    Curiosity brought Twist’s eyes to the gap by the slightly open door. There didn’t seem to be anyone on the other side, but the scent of coal, oil, and hot metal wafted to him alluringly. If he could lay a hand on some part of the machine, the sheer power of it might just clear the unease from his mind. Steam engines usually had a temper, but they were never confused and never lost. Twist gently pulled the door open just a little more and slipped inside.
    There were no workers around him, but he felt anything but alone. He was surrounded on all sides by pipes, gears,