The Enchanted Clock of Midnight🔊

In the heart of the vibrant city of London, hidden away in a small alley, was a charming antique shop. It was owned by an old man named Oliver, whose white hair, wizened face, and warm smile made him loved and respected by most in the city. The shop itself held a timeless charm that told stories of forgotten eras.

One day, a young lad named Benjamin, fascinated by Oliver's trinkets, wandered into the shop. Benjamin was an adventurous and curious young man, but most importantly, he had an affinity for timepieces - a passion he developed from his late grandfather, who was a renowned horologist. His eyes sparkled as he observed the clocks around him, but one caught his attention. It was a vintage clock with an intricate design and magical aura set on the topmost shelf, collecting dust over time. It was the enchanted clock of midnight.

Oliver, noticing Benjamin's intrigue, shared the legend that came with the timepiece. He whispered, 'Weird things happen when it strikes midnight. The story goes that the owner of the clock can travel through time, but he must return by the last stroke of midnight. If he fails to return, he will be locked in that era forever.' Benjamin was captivated by this tale and purchased the clock immediately, with all his savings, excited for the adventures waiting for him.

At midnight, as the clock chimed twelve times, Benjamin carefully reset the hands of the clock to the year 1650, the era of the British colonial empire that had always intrigued him. As the last chime faded, a white mist enveloped him. When it cleared, he stood in the bustling streets of colonial London. He spent the day exploring, blending in with the folks dressed in their colonial attire, visiting the old establishments, and absorbing their culture and way of life.

Hours turned into minutes as time flew by, and before he realized, it was almost midnight. He hurried back to the spot where he had arrived and reset the clock's hands to his time. As midnight's chime echo died down, he found himself standing back in Oliver’s shop. The joy of his adventure reflected on his face. He shared his experiences with Oliver, who listened to his stories with twinkle in his eyes.

For the next few nights, Benjamin traveled to various periods in history, soaking in experiences and knowledge until a fateful evening arrived. He had set the time to 1912, the night Titanic sank. Amidst the chaos and cries of the drowning, Benjamin found himself attempting to save as many people possible. However, in his heroic attempt, he lost track of time.

As midnight approached, he realized he was far from the spot where he made the first step and he wouldn’t make it back in time. As he heard the first chime of midnight, he ran. The night air was heavy against his skin. He could hear the clock chime relentlessly, mocking his futile efforts as he was nowhere near the initial spot. People around him started disappearing and as the last chime echoed, he stood in a silent endless expanse of sea, locked forever in 1912.

Back in 2020, Oliver sadly gazed at the empty space Benjamin had disappeared from. He missed the young man and the life his stories brought to the shop. As midnight approached, Oliver hoped Ben would return, even though he knew it was in vain. Strangely, the clock chimed but once. As it did, a letter manifested under it. Opening it, Oliver found a farewell note from Benjamin, describing his fate and expressing contentment in the era he was locked in. As he read, tears welled up in his eyes; sorrow for the lost young man, and respect for his valiant heart.

The enchanted clock of midnight, hence, stayed silent as though mourning its lost traveler. Benjamin’s adventure turned into a tale shared amongst the city folk, emphasizing the importance of time. Oliver, the keeper of the tale, continued to tell young lad's story to anyone who pointed to the silent clock. The echo of Benjamin’s adventure lingered in time, serving as a reminder that time is of the essence, a clock to each man, and no one can cheat it.