Clockwork Renegades Vol. 2: Clockwork Renegades, #2

By Ashleigh Hattingh Macfie

THE LOVE OF THE MANY OVER THE LOVE OF THE ONE

Glitch, the ardent visionary, has shepherded her people onto the path to victory against the iron handed monarchy. But her optimism isn't shared by Alex who fears the darkness growing inside their new rebel leader.

After the plan goes terribly awry, both women fall into the possession of the tyrannical Queen. Not all is as it seems though.

As the Clockwork Renegades fight to find their way back to one another, the manipulative Queen fights to pull them further apart.

The odds seem insurmountable as the final encounter draws near and the rebels will need to decide if the Queen is worth saving or if her death would bring salvation to all.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sera Blue
• Release date: Jun 6, 2019
• ISBN: 9780639983790

Book preview

Clockwork Renegades

VOL. 2

Ashleigh Hattingh Macfie

Copyright © 2019 Ashleigh Hattingh Macfie

Copyright © 2019 Sera Blue

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-0-6399837-9-0

eBook ISBN: 978-0-6398182-0-7

First published by Sera Blue in 2018

A South African Publishing company

Operating from offices in Midrand

www.serablue.com

ISBN 978-0-6399837-9-0

Copyright ©2019 Sera Blue

Copyright ©2019 Ashleigh Hattingh Macfie

The right of Ashleigh Hattingh Macfie to be identified as the author of their own work has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright Act, 1978

Use of this work by persons without prior permission from the publisher is liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages

A CIP catalogue of this book is available at the

Pretoria National Library – South Africa

This book was printed and bound by, SA Paperback

a South African company

This book was edited by Sera Blue

Cover art was done by Kelan Gerriety

The views expressed in this book do not represent the writer,

the publishing house or associated organisations.

Its intended purpose is for entertainment only. ­­

Any character or aspect of a character similar to persons

alive or deceased is purely coincidental.

For more information such as the latest book releases, author interviews and news, please go to www.facebook.com/serabluepublishing

Review Books to Help Authors.

To my Mom and Dad

for keeping the creative spark alive

Chapter 1

Glitch

"Shh." Glitch placed a restraining hand on Alex’s cold, metal forearm.

Alex froze, the snapping twigs beneath her growing silent in the darkness.

The women surveyed the base from their hiding place on the ridge above.

The soldiers below leaned against the walls, smoking and laughing, unaware of the armed rebel force that surrounded them.

Glitch’s eyes travelled the base, marking their positions and counting the minutes between the patrols around the Weapons Storage Area. She pulled a pocket watch free from her heavy coat and glanced down quickly.

11:59; they stand parade at twelve, so we need to be ready.

Glitch tapped Alex’s arm, the small metallic raps catching Alex’s attention. Glitch gave her a nod and Alex removed a small mirror from her sleeve, catching the light from the full moon above them, sending it bouncing into the shadows lurking at the edge of the treeline.

A horn blew in the base and Glitch watched the soldiers jump and throw still burning butts through the perimeter fence.

Fall in! A deep voice echoed through the base. The soldiers began to line up in neat ranks, their laughter is forgotten as the officers exited the barracks and stood before them, holding oil lamps aloft in the darkness.

Attention! the drill master called, and the men’s feet snapped together in unison. Order arms! Collectively, the soldiers lowered their rifles until the butts of the firearms rested on the ground beside their feet.

The officers began to walk down the lines, occasionally ordering a soldier to present his weapon for inspection.

Glitch raised her arm, she waited until the officers were in the centre of the ranks before dropping it.

A puff of smoke and a small thwump echoed dully behind the women. She lowered a gas mask over her face and plugged her ears with beeswax. Alex followed her lead, and her recruits thereafter.

Alex gripped Glitch’s hand and gave it a light, brief squeeze. Glitch’s heart ticked faster, and she inhaled deeply, exhaling slowly.

The whistling was faint at first but grew louder as the seconds passed.

Glitch’s eyes followed the small cannister tumbling through the air. She closed her eyes tightly and ducked her head into the crook of her arm. The concussion shook the ground she lay on.

She opened her eyes to a world lined with green. Smoke filled the base and the shapes of bodies could be made out through the dissipating haze.

Most of the soldiers lay sprawled on the ground, several leaned against walls, coughing as the dark gas burned their lungs, pink froth appearing on their lips. Many dropped to their knees, no longer able to draw breath.

Glitch waited for the lethal fog to clear enough for her rebels to see clearly through their masks and waved them forward.

Chapter 2

ALEX

They picked their way through the dead and dying. The pop of pistols sounded like children’s firecrackers ending lives.

A hand grabbed Alex’s boot. She glanced down into the face of a young man, barely older than a boy, his eyes full of terror. He was gasping for breath; he coughed and red mist sprayed the air.

Help me... Alex drew her revolver from the holster on her thigh and checked the barrels. Six bullets reflected the light from the gaslights set up by the rebels throughout the camp She clicked it back and spun the barrel before cocking the gun and pointing it down at his head. The gas had killed him already, there was no saving him.

Why let him suffer?

The boy’s terror-filled eyes widened.

I’m sorry. She squeezed the trigger gently and the hand that held her boot grew limp. Alex kicked it off and picked her way through the fallen towards Glitch, coordinating the cataloguing of the arsenal inside the Weapons Storage Area. Glitch tipped her head towards Alex as she drew near.

We have a good haul this time. Some Gatling guns, grenades, a lot of ammunition. One more run like this and our entire rebellion will be armed sufficiently to have a real chance in open war. She grinned widely. Alex remained silent and watched as crates were stacked beside trucks waiting to be filled. Glitch glanced at her, noticing her expressionless face and the red spray on her trousers and hand that still held the gun.

Are you alright?

It’s such a waste. Alex gestured at the carnage that littered the ground around them. Most of them are still children.

Glitch looked more closely at the damage they had caused.

Alex, we knew there would be a cost.

Yes, but when will it end? Two years Glitch, two years of this. They are not here because they want to be. Alex raised her gun and turned it over in her hands And they just keep getting younger.

Glitch whistled for one of her captains to take over the inventorying and took Alex’s hand, pulling her through the base and back up onto the ridge. She turned Alex to face her and rested her hands on her shoulders.

Alex, She dipped down to catch Alex’s eye, Go home, debrief with Michael. I will talk to you later. I need to finish here.

Alex nodded slowly and walked into the humid embrace of the trees. She glanced back once; Glitch was already jogging down the ridge back to the base. Alex walked deeper into the comforting solitude of green, avoiding the convoy of vehicles that travelled, laden with pillaged artillery. She needed time to think, away from everything, away from everyone.

Two years ago, she was the spoilt daughter of a wealthy General. Two years ago, she lost James, her arm and she had killed her father.

But she had also met Glitch.

Glitch who had given her a new limb, who had been there when James had died and who she had almost lost. Alex clutched at her chest, the memory still squeezing tightly.

It was two years ago that she had lost her innocence.

The dry leaves crunched beneath her boots with each weary step she took. Alex lifted a cold, brass hand to rub the bridge of her nose, a headache building, but stopped short when she noticed the red drops peppering the gold. Alex’s stomach churned and she let it drop to her side in disgust.

Maybe she had lost Glitch though. It started with the liberation of the camps, and then the increased frequency of the blitz attacks on the supply convoys as they recruited more people to their cause, but now...

Her breath produced faint clouds in the