The boy who borrowed tomorrow
298 Words
Chapter 1 – The Clock That Shouldn’t Exist
The rain fell like shattered glass against the streets of Arkon City.
Sixteen-year-old Daniel ran through the narrow alley, his backpack bouncing against his shoulders. He was late again. Late for school. Late for life. Late for everything.
But tonight, something strange waited for him.
At the end of the alley stood a small antique shop Daniel had never seen before, even though he walked this road every day.
The sign above the door flickered:
“Timekeeper.”
Daniel hesitated.
The shop door creaked open by itself.
Inside, the air smelled of dust and metal. Hundreds of clocks ticked at different speeds. Some moved too fast. Some barely moved at all.
Behind the counter sat an old man with silver eyes.
“You’re late,” the man said calmly.
“For what?” Daniel asked.
“For the moment your life changes.”
Daniel laughed nervously. “I think you’ve got the wrong person.”
The old man slid a strange watch across the counter.
The watch had no numbers—only a glowing green line moving in circles.
“This,” the man whispered, “lets you borrow time from tomorrow.”
Daniel blinked. “That’s impossible.”
“Try it.”
Daniel pressed the button.
Suddenly—
The world stopped.
Rain froze in the air. Cars halted mid-motion. Even the clocks stopped ticking.
Daniel’s heart raced.
“What did I just do?”
The old man’s voice echoed through the frozen world.
“You borrowed ten seconds from tomorrow.”
Daniel looked outside.
For the first time in his life…
Time belonged to him.
But the old man’s next words chilled his spine.
“Just remember,” he said softly.
“Tomorrow always wants its time back.”
- Writer
