Chapter 1: The Shop that Time Forgot
Mara had always thought Elmridge was a sleepy town. A place where nothing much ever happened, where the days slipped by like the slow drip of honey. But today, something felt different.
On her way home from school, she noticed the old clock shop—the one that had been closed for years—had its door slightly ajar. The windows were dusty, covered in cobwebs, but inside, faint golden light flickered.
Curiosity pulled her in.
The air inside smelled of old wood and oil, mixed with something faintly metallic. Hundreds of clocks hung on the walls, their hands frozen at different times. Yet, in the middle of the room stood one clock ticking steadily. It was large, ornate, with an intricate design Mara had never seen before.
Suddenly, a soft voice startled her.
"Welcome, Mara."
She spun around. An elderly man with silver hair and kind eyes smiled gently. "I've been waiting for you."
"Who… Who are you?" Mara stammered, heart pounding.
"I'm Elias, the clockmaker," he said, his voice warm but mysterious. "This shop holds secrets—not just about time, but about your destiny."
Mara's mind raced. How could this stranger know her name? What destiny? Before she could ask, the clock's hands began moving backward, ticking faster and faster.
"What is happening?" she whispered.
Elias's eyes twinkled. "Time in Elmridge is more fragile than you think. And it's up to you to keep it from breaking."