The Architect of Forgotten Seconds

Arthur Penhaligon did not live in a house he lived in a building with a lot of gears. He was in charge of the Great Pendulum, a clock that went from the bottom to the top of the building. People in the city of Oakhaven thought the clock just told them what time it was. Arthur knew the truth the clock actually made time.

Every time the clock ticked it took a bit of time from somewhere else and every time it tocked it gave some time to the city.. The clock was not working properly.

Arthur wiped some oil from his forehead his hands were shaking. He was seventy-two years old. Being around the clock all the time made him feel much older. His joints. They made noises like the clock. He put on his glasses. Looked at the main spring it was getting weak and it was becoming transparent.

"We have lost three minutes of daylight already " he said to himself.

In Oakhaven the time of day affected how people felt. If the clock was slow the sun would stay up long and make people anxious if it was fast the nights would be too long and people would be depressed.

Someone knocked on the door it was his daughter Elara. Arthur covered the clock. Said "come in".

Elara came in she looked tired. Her clothes were dirty from traveling. She said "you did not answer my letters".

Arthur said "I did not have time" he did not want to look at her he did not want to see that she was upset, with him.

Elara said "I am leaving I am going to the Coast they say time is natural there it is not controlled by a clock".

Arthur said "nobody is forcing you to stay.

Elara said "we are trapped we are stuck in this rhythm my mother died waiting for a better time but it never came".

Arthur finally looked at her he saw that she was stressed and tired he knew she was right the city was a place to live.

He said "the clock is not just broken it is dying it has taken much sadness and grief it cannot work anymore".

Elara was scared she asked "what will happen when it stops".

Arthur said "the city will stop everything will freeze, unless someone resets the clock but that would require a sacrifice".

Elara understood what he meant she said "you are talking about yourself".

Arthur said "I am talking about giving up my life I have spent forty years taking care of the clock I think I have the right to decide when it should stop".

He went to the center of the room and pulled a lever the room started shaking the clock started making a loud noise it was not the usual sound it was beautiful and sad.

Elara screamed "you cannot do this you will die".

Arthur said "I will be free I will be everywhere go to the Coast find a place where time is natural".

He pulled the lever and the clock stopped the city was silent the sun started setting the sky was beautiful people came out of their houses they were scared. They were also happy.

Elara walked out of the tower she did not look back she started walking to the Coast she was finally free.

The city of Oakhaven started to change people were awake they were alive they were not controlled by the clock anymore.

The Great Pendulum was silent it was still it was a reminder of Arthur, who had given his life to set the city free.

Arthur was gone. The city of Oakhaven was finally alive and people were dreaming.