Clock at the top of the tower
Rokosz, a small town nestled in the midst of sleepy hills, has long concealed something that has eluded ordinary residents. Most passed by the old stone tower in the centre of the town square, treating it as just another sad relic of times gone by. But not Lena, Philip and Veronica.
Ever since Lena turned thirteen, she began to see a faint light appear in the tower's window just after dusk. She told Philip and Veronica, her best friends, who, it turned out, had also noticed something unusual. One cloudy Saturday, they couldn't contain themselves any longer. They met in the town square, just before midnight, when the town was falling into a deep sleep.
"Do you think anyone lives there?" - whispered Veronica, her voice trembling with excitement.
"I don't know, but it's been a long time since anyone went in there. Even the mayor doesn't have the key, my dad told me," replied Philip, glancing uncertainly at the tower door, adorned with a carved clock whose hands stopped exactly at 12:12.
Suddenly, they heard a soft sound like the ringing of a bell. Something in the top floor window flashed more intensely. Without a word, Lena went to the door and touched it with her hand. Then the hands of the clock vibrated and slowly began to move forward, making a quiet ticking sound.
The door creaked and swung open on its own, and a cold breeze gushed from inside the tower, carrying the smell of dust, old paper and something neither of them could name. Inside, there was semi-darkness punctuated by pulsating streaks of light that swirled around the spiral staircase.
Philip took a deep breath and was the first to cross the threshold. Veronica glanced at Lena and then, without a word, they moved behind him. As soon as they were inside, the door slammed shut with a bang. Shadows appeared on the walls, arranging themselves into unfamiliar shapes, and somewhere high up they heard a distinct whisper: "Time needs you here..."
Suddenly, all the clocks in the tower began to tick simultaneously, and the spiral staircase flashed, leading them upwards towards an unknown light. With each step, time around them seemed to flow faster and faster, and the echo of the unfamiliar voice returned, "Are you ready for the change of time?"
Author of this ending:
English
polski
What Happens Next?