Susie discovers a strange old watch in her grandfather’s house, and when she tries it on, the room spins and time itself seems to open.
Susie loved visiting her grandfather’s house. It was full of little secrets: creaky floorboards, sleepy cupboards, and shelves that seemed to hide something in every corner.
One afternoon, while she was squeezing behind the big wardrobe in the living room, she spotted a dusty box tucked away on the floor. Inside were old buttons, a cracked comb, and a round watch with a scratched glass face. Tiny stars were carved around the edge, and the hands looked thinner than needles.
Susie lifted it carefully. "Grandpa, can I look at this watch?" she called.
Her grandfather looked over and smiled in a way that made his moustache twitch. "That watch is special, Susie. People say it can travel back in time."
Susie laughed, because watches were for telling time, not leaping into it. Still, she slipped it onto her wrist. The clasp clicked shut.
At once, the watch began to hum. The tiny hands spun so fast they blurred into silver circles. The room wobbled. The wardrobe, the sofa, and the lamp all stretched and swayed like they were made of water.
Then the floor vanished beneath her.
Colour burst all around Susie in a whirl of bright sparks. When she opened her eyes, she was standing in a place she had never seen before. Tall, funny-shaped trees leaned over her, giant wings beat the sky, and far off in the mist, something large and dark was moving closer and closer toward her...