30 days Flash Fiction Challenge

Frozen in Time

DAY 14: ALL THE CLOCKS STOP AT 2:50.
April 14th 2024

Gayle lived in a world where time stood still every day at 2:50. For one minute, the clocks would freeze, and everyone around him would become as motionless as statues. Everyone, that is, except for Gayle.

At first, Gayle thought he was going mad. He would watch in horror as his classmates, his neighbors, even strangers on the street would freeze in place, their expressions frozen in time. But no matter how hard he tried to alert them, to shake them out of their stupor, they remained frozen in place, oblivious to the world around them.

As the days passed, Gayle began to notice a pattern. It wasn't just the people who froze at 2:50-it was the entire world. The birds would cease their chirping, the wind would die down to a whisper, and even the leaves on the trees would hang still as death.

At first, Gayle tried to ignore the phenomenon, going about his daily life as if nothing had changed. But as the minutes ticked by and the world around him remained frozen in time, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at the edges of his consciousness.

And then, one day, as he stood alone in the silent streets, a voice whispered in his ear-a voice that sent shivers down his spine and chilled him to the bone.

"Help me," the voice pleaded, its words echoing in the empty air. "Help me find justice."

Gayle's heart raced as he turned to see a figure standing before him-a figure clad in tattered clothes, its face obscured by shadows. It was the ghost of a young woman, her eyes filled with anguish and despair.

"What do you want from me?" Gayle whispered, his voice barely above a whisper.

The ghost's eyes bore into his soul, their gaze piercing him like daggers. "I was murdered at 2:50," she said, her voice hollow with grief. "And until my killer is brought to justice, time will remain frozen for eternity."

Gayle's blood ran cold as he realized the gravity of the situation. He was the only one who could see the ghost, the only one who could hear her cries for help. And if he didn't act fast, the world would remain frozen in time forever.

With determination burning in his soul, Gayle set out to unravel the mystery of the ghost's murder. He combed through old newspapers and police reports, piecing together the clues that would lead him to the truth.

And as he delved deeper into the darkness that shrouded the young woman's death, he uncovered a web of lies and deceit that stretched far beyond anything he could have imagined. It seemed that everyone had something to hide, everyone except for Gayle.

But with the ghost's guidance and his own tenacity, Gayle was able to uncover the truth-a truth that would finally set the young woman's spirit free and release the world from its frozen prison.

As the clock struck 2:51 and the world sprang back to life, Gayle stood before the ghost, peace washing over him like a warm embrace. The ghost smiled, her form beginning to fade into the ether.

"Thank you, Gayle," she whispered, her voice soft and ethereal. "You have given me the justice I sought, and for that, I am eternally grateful."

And with that, she was gone, leaving Gayle standing alone in the empty streets, his heart filled with a sense of accomplishment and closure. For he had helped a lost soul find peace, and in doing so, he had found a sense of purpose that would guide him through the rest of his days.