Alan walked through the foggy streets of the town with his rucksack slung over his shoulder, kicking pebbles he encountered along the way. A seemingly ordinary Thursday. After school, instead of walking home, he turned towards the neglected city library, whose doors creaked menacingly every time he entered. Here, time passed more slowly - shelves full of forgotten books, dust swirling in the afternoon sunshine and a silence so thick he could hear his own heartbeat. He knew such places were out of fashion, but he liked coming here. He felt different between the old volumes, as if each book whispered secrets of past readers into his ear. Mrs Celina, the librarian with glasses so thick it was impossible to guess whether she was looking at you or out of the window, just nodded to him in greeting. Alan moved deeper into the building, towards the young adult literature section. He was running his fingers over the spines of the books when he suddenly came across 'Tales of the Incredible' - a volume he always returned to when he wanted a break from reality. When he opened the book, a neatly folded sheet of paper fell out from inside. Alan looked around; he couldn't see anyone who might have lost something here. He gently unfolded the piece of paper and read the handwritten words: "If you're reading this, it means you're ready to see a world that others can't. Go up the attic stairs behind the bookcase and look for the clock that goes backwards." Alan felt his heart beat faster. What was that all about? Was this a joke? He cast a glance towards Mrs Celina's desk, but she looked busy reading. Maybe not to tell anyone? For a moment he wondered if he should put the book down and leave, but curiosity won out. He walked unnoticed behind the last bookcase and indeed - behind it were narrow wooden steps leading to an attic he had never heard of. Each step creaked and the air smelled of dust and some inexplicable, electrifying mystery. The attic was full of old crates, cobwebs and items that had probably belonged to the library for decades. In the middle, on a wooden box, stood a clock with a pendulum. The hands were slowly moving... backwards. Alan approached the clock. As soon as his fingers touched the cool case, he felt a slight shudder. At the same moment there was a quiet rustle and something moved in one of the dark corners of the attic....