Inspector Milo Finch had made many mistakes in his professional career.

He had arrested a statue.

He had once accused a sandwich of being a spy.

He had spent three hours following his own shadow because he believed it belonged to a criminal.

But running away from a mysterious underground machine was not technically a mistake.

According to Milo, it was a tactical retreat.

According to everyone else, it was running.

“Come back!” Clara shouted.

“No!”

“We need to solve the mystery!”

“I have solved it!”

Clara stopped.

“What?”

Milo stopped too.

He turned around.

“The mystery is dangerous.”

Clara stared at him.

“Yes.”

“Therefore, I am leaving.”

“Milo!”

“I have always wanted to become a baker.”

“You can’t bake.”

“I can learn.”

“You burned water.”

“That was one time.”

“You somehow burned soup.”

“It was complicated soup.”

Clara ran after him.

Milo ran faster.

Unfortunately, he had forgotten that the underground chamber was surrounded by walls.

He ran directly into one.

BANG!

He slid down slowly.

Clara reached him.

“Are you all right?”

Milo raised one finger.

“Perfectly.”

“Your nose is bleeding.”

“That’s a minor detail.”

“You just ran into a wall.”

“Because the wall attacked me.”

“It didn’t move.”

“Exactly. Very clever.”

Clara helped him stand.

Behind them, the others were still staring at the enormous machine.

The mayor looked worried.

Professor Tickwell looked terrified.

Edgar Bell looked confused.

And the cat was licking its paw.

Milo pointed at the cat.

“Why is nobody questioning that animal?”

Edgar frowned.

“Because he’s innocent.”

“He’s standing beside a machine that controls time!”

“He’s a cat.”

“Exactly! Nobody suspects cats!”

The cat looked at Milo.

Milo pointed at it.

“See that?”

Clara sighed.

“Yes.”

“It knows something.”

The cat yawned.

Milo narrowed his eyes.

“Classic criminal behavior.”

The mayor finally stepped forward.

“Inspector Finch.”

Milo turned.

“Yes?”

“We need to talk.”

“About my resignation?”

“No.”

“My new bakery?”

“No.”

“My nose?”

“No.”

Milo sighed.

“Then I don’t want to.”

The mayor walked toward him.

“Samuel Bell is alive.”

Milo stopped joking.

“Yes.”

“And he has the thirteenth gear.”

“Yes.”

“And he knows about the machine.”

“Yes.”

Milo looked at Professor Tickwell.

“Why?”

The professor looked away.

“Because he built it.”

Milo’s eyes widened.

“What?”

Professor Tickwell took a deep breath.

“Samuel Bell wasn’t just a clockmaker.”

“Then what was he?”

The professor looked toward the enormous machine.

“He was the founder of the Thirteenth Hour.”

The underground chamber became silent.

Milo slowly turned toward the mayor.

“You knew?”

The mayor nodded.

“Yes.”

“How long?”

“All my life.”

Milo stared at her.

“That’s a very long time to keep a secret.”

“I had to.”

“Why?”

“Because the Thirteenth Hour is not an organization.”

Milo frowned.

“Then what is it?”

The mayor whispered:

“It’s a promise.”

Clara stepped forward.

“A promise to whom?”

The mayor didn’t answer.

Instead, she walked toward the machine.

The enormous gears were still moving.

Slowly.

One by one.

Tick.

Tick.

Tick.

She placed her hand on the metal surface.

“The original founders of Bellwick discovered this machine beneath the town.”

Clara looked at the machine.

“Who built it?”

“We don’t know.”

Milo raised his hand.

“I have a theory.”

Everyone looked at him.

Milo smiled.

“Aliens.”

Clara closed her eyes.

“Of course.”

“Think about it.”

“No.”

“Ancient machine.”

“No.”

“Controls time.”

“No.”

“Nobody knows who built it.”

“Still no.”

“Aliens.”

“Milo.”

“Fine.”

The mayor continued.

“The founders discovered that the machine could record time.”

“Professor Tickwell already told us that.”

“Yes. But he didn’t tell you everything.”

Milo turned toward the professor.

“Professor?”

Tickwell looked uncomfortable.

“What?”

“Did you lie to us?”

“No.”

“Did you hide something?”

The professor hesitated.

“Yes.”

Milo pointed at him.

“HA!”

Clara frowned.

“That’s not a surprise.”

“It is to me.”

“You accused him of being a criminal bird earlier.”

“I was under pressure.”

The mayor continued.

“The machine doesn’t simply record time.”

Milo waited.

“It can also change it.”

Everyone froze.

Clara whispered:

“Change it?”

The mayor nodded.

“It can alter events.”

Milo stared.

“You’re saying it can change history?”

“Yes.”

Milo looked horrified.

“Then why hasn’t anyone used it?”

The mayor looked at him.

“Someone did.”

The room went silent.

“Who?”

“Samuel Bell.”

Milo’s expression changed.

“One hundred and fifty years ago, Samuel Bell used the machine.”

“To do what?”

“To prevent a disaster.”

Milo frowned.

“What disaster?”

The mayor looked toward the ceiling.

“The Great Bellwick Fire.”

Clara’s eyes widened.

“The fire that destroyed half the town?”

“Yes.”

Milo looked confused.

“But the fire happened.”

“Exactly.”

The mayor pointed to the machine.

“Samuel Bell tried to stop it.”

Clara stepped closer.

“Did he fail?”

“No.”

The mayor’s voice became quiet.

“He succeeded.”

Milo blinked.

“Then why do we remember it?”

“Because Samuel didn’t stop the fire.”

He changed something else.

Milo waited.

The mayor whispered:

“He moved it.”

Silence.

“Moved it where?”

“Into another timeline.”

Milo’s face went blank.

Clara stared.

Professor Tickwell looked down.

Edgar’s cat suddenly sneezed.

Everyone jumped.

Milo pointed.

“See!”

Clara shouted.

“Stop blaming the cat!”

The mayor ignored them.

“Samuel Bell discovered that every change made by the machine created a new timeline.”

Milo slowly understood.

“So there are two Bellwicks?”

“Not exactly.”

“Three?”

“No.”

“Four?”

“No.”

“How many?”

The mayor looked at him.

“Nobody knows.”

Milo stared.

“That’s not comforting.”

“No.”

“How do we know we’re in the correct timeline?”

The mayor paused.

“We don’t.”

Milo immediately looked at Clara.

“Let’s go.”

“Where?”

“Somewhere safer.”

“Like where?”

“Another timeline.”

Clara grabbed his coat.

“No.”

The machine suddenly made a loud noise.

CLANK!

Everyone jumped.

A small door opened on its side.

Inside was a narrow compartment.

Clara walked closer.

“Look.”

Inside was a collection of old objects.

A pocket watch.

A photograph.

A newspaper.

And a small red notebook.

Milo picked up the notebook.

Clara immediately shouted:

“Don’t touch it!”

Milo froze.

“Again?”

“Yes!”

“But I’m getting better at this.”

“You touched every mysterious object we’ve found.”

“And I’m still alive.”

“That’s not an argument.”

Milo opened the notebook.

The first page contained a name.

SAMUEL BELL

Below it was a sentence.

IF YOU ARE READING THIS, THE THIRTEENTH GEAR HAS RETURNED.

Milo’s smile disappeared.

Clara leaned over his shoulder.

“Keep reading.”

Milo turned the page.

The next sentence was:

THE MACHINE IS NOT BROKEN.

Another page.

IT IS HUNGRY.

Milo stopped.

“That’s not good.”

Another page.

IT FEEDS ON LOST TIME.

Clara stared.

“What does that mean?”

Milo turned another page.

The handwriting suddenly became messy.

EVERY PERSON WHO DISAPPEARS GIVES THE MACHINE MORE POWER.

Everyone looked at each other.

Milo’s face went pale.

“Professor.”

Tickwell stepped forward.

“Yes?”

“How many people have disappeared?”

The professor didn’t answer.

Milo grabbed his coat.

“Professor.”

Tickwell finally spoke.

“Twenty-seven.”

Clara stared.

“Twenty-seven people?”

“Over the last hundred years.”

Milo looked at the notebook.

“All connected to the Thirteenth Hour?”

“Yes.”

“Where did they go?”

“We don’t know.”

Milo looked at the mayor.

“Do you?”

The mayor nodded slowly.

“They were erased.”

“Erased?”

“From time.”

Milo stared at her.

“That’s impossible.”

“That’s what Samuel Bell said.”

“Then why did he do it?”

The mayor looked toward the machine.

“Because he believed some people were meant to disappear.”

Clara stepped back.

“Who?”

The mayor looked directly at Milo.

Milo froze.

“Why are you looking at me?”

The mayor didn’t answer.

Milo pointed at himself.

“Me?”

Still silence.

“Why me?”

Professor Tickwell stepped forward.

“Because the machine has chosen you.”

Milo stared.

“Chosen me for what?”

The machine suddenly began moving.

Faster.

Faster.

Faster.

The thirteen empty spaces began glowing.

Except one.

The thirteenth.

A deep mechanical sound filled the chamber.

Then a voice spoke.

Milo’s voice.

“Hello, Milo.”

Everyone froze.

Milo stared at the machine.

“Did…”

He swallowed.

“Did I just hear myself?”

Clara nodded.

“Yes.”

Milo looked horrified.

“I sound terrible.”

“Milo.”

“What?”

“That’s not the important part.”

“Oh.”

The machine spoke again.

“Milo Finch.”

Milo stepped backward.

“Yes?”

“Time has selected you.”

“Can I decline?”

“No.”

“Can I appeal?”

“No.”

“Can I speak to your manager?”

Silence.

Milo nodded.

“Fair enough.”

The machine continued.

“One person must disappear.”

Clara grabbed Milo’s arm.

“No.”

The mayor stepped forward.

“That’s why Samuel Bell took the thirteenth gear.”

Milo stared at her.

“To stop the machine?”

“No.”

“Then what?”

“To activate it.”

Milo’s face went pale.

“Why would he activate it?”

“Because he wants to bring someone back.”

The machine suddenly stopped.

The silence was terrifying.

Milo whispered:

“Who?”

The answer came from behind them.

“Me.”

Everyone turned.

Samuel Bell stood at the entrance.

But he wasn’t alone.

Beside him stood a young woman.

She looked exactly like the woman in the old photograph.

Clara gasped.

“That’s impossible.”

Milo stared.

“Who is she?”

Samuel Bell smiled.

“My daughter.”

The woman stepped forward.

“My name is Eleanor Bell.”

Milo looked at Samuel.

“Your daughter?”

“Yes.”

“But you’re…”

“Old?”

“Very.”

Samuel smiled.

“I have had a complicated life.”

Milo looked at Eleanor.

She didn’t look older than thirty.

Clara whispered:

“How is that possible?”

Samuel answered.

“The machine.”

Milo suddenly understood.

“She was erased.”

Samuel nodded.

“One hundred and fifty years ago.”

Milo stared.

“She disappeared?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because I sent her into another timeline.”

Clara stepped forward.

“To save her?”

Samuel’s face became sad.

“To save everyone.”

Milo looked at the machine.

“Then why bring her back now?”

Samuel’s expression changed.

“Because the timeline is collapsing.”

The lights flickered.

A deep rumble shook the chamber.

Milo grabbed Clara.

“That’s bad, isn’t it?”

“Very.”

Samuel looked at the machine.

“The gears are returning because the machine is trying to repair itself.”

Milo stared.

“And if it succeeds?”

Samuel shook his head.

“It won’t repair the timeline.”

“Then what?”

“It will replace it.”

Milo’s eyes widened.

“Replace Bellwick?”

“Everything.”

The room became silent.

Clara looked terrified.

“Everyone in this timeline will disappear.”

Samuel nodded.

“Yes.”

Milo looked at the thirteen spaces.

“Then we have to stop it.”

Samuel looked at him.

“That’s why you’re here.”

Milo pointed at himself.

“Why me?”

Samuel smiled sadly.

“Because you are the only person the machine cannot erase.”

Milo blinked.

“Why?”

“Because you were never supposed to exist.”

Milo stared.

Clara stared.

The mayor stared.

Even the cat seemed interested.

Milo slowly pointed at himself.

“Excuse me?”

Samuel continued.

“Your birth was changed.”

Milo’s face became pale.

“By whom?”

Samuel looked at Professor Tickwell.

Milo turned.

Professor Tickwell lowered his head.

Milo stared at him.

“You?”

Tickwell didn’t answer.

Milo’s voice became quiet.

“Professor…”

Tickwell finally looked up.

“I’m sorry.”

Milo stepped backward.

“You changed my life?”

“I saved your life.”

“Why?”

“Because your parents were part of the Thirteenth Hour.”

Milo froze.

“My parents?”

Clara looked at him.

“Milo…”

Tickwell continued.

“Your father discovered the machine.”

Milo shook his head.

“No.”

“He tried to destroy it.”

“No.”

“Samuel Bell stopped him.”

Milo stared at Samuel.

“You knew my father?”

Samuel nodded.

“Very well.”

Milo’s voice trembled.

“What happened to him?”

Samuel looked away.

“He disappeared.”

Milo’s face changed.

“That’s impossible.”

“It happened twenty-eight years ago.”

Milo stepped forward.

“You said twenty-seven people disappeared.”

Samuel nodded.

“Your father was the twenty-eighth.”

Milo’s hands began shaking.

“Then where is he?”

Nobody answered.

Milo looked at the machine.

The thirteen gears began turning.

Tick.

Tick.

Tick.

Then a voice came from inside the machine.

A voice Milo knew.

A voice he had not heard since he was a child.

“Milo.”

Milo stopped breathing.

The voice spoke again.

“Don’t trust them.”

Milo stared at the machine.

“Father?”

Clara grabbed his arm.

“Milo, don’t.”

The voice continued.

“The machine is lying.”

Milo stepped forward.

“Father!”

The machine began shaking.

Samuel shouted:

“Don’t touch it!”

Too late.

Milo placed his hand against the metal.

The entire chamber exploded with light.

Milo saw a house.

A woman.

A man.

A small boy.

Himself.

Then the vision changed.

He saw his father standing before the machine.

He saw Professor Tickwell.

He saw Samuel Bell.

And he saw something else.

Someone else.

A shadowy figure standing behind them.

The figure turned.

Milo couldn’t see the face.

But he heard the voice.

“Everything is going exactly as planned.”

The vision disappeared.

Milo fell backward.

Clara caught him.

“Milo!”

He opened his eyes.

“There’s someone else.”

“Who?”

“I don’t know.”

Samuel looked frightened.

“What did you see?”

Milo stared at him.

“A man.”

“Who?”

“I couldn’t see his face.”

Samuel stepped backward.

“That’s impossible.”

Milo looked at him.

“Why?”

“Because he died.”

The chamber went silent.

Milo slowly stood.

“Who died?”

Samuel whispered:

“The original creator of the machine.”

Suddenly, the thirteenth gear appeared in the center of the machine.

Everyone froze.

Milo stared.

“How?”

Samuel’s face went pale.

“Someone has activated it.”

The machine began to spin.

The entire underground chamber shook.

The clocks above them began ringing.

One.

Two.

Three.

Then thirteen.

The machine opened.

A blinding light filled the chamber.

And from inside the light…

A man stepped forward.

He wore an old black coat.

His face was hidden.

Milo raised his spoon.

“Stop right there!”

The man laughed.

Milo lowered the spoon slightly.

“Actually…”

The man continued walking.

Milo raised the spoon again.

“Stop!”

The figure finally stopped.

“Do you know who I am?”

Milo swallowed.

“No.”

The man slowly lifted his head.

“Then ask your father.”

Milo’s heart stopped.

“What?”

The figure disappeared.

The machine shut down.

The thirteenth gear vanished.

And Milo heard his father’s voice one final time.

“Run.”

Then the entire underground chamber collapsed into darkness.

When Milo opened his eyes…

He was lying in the middle of Bellwick Square.

Clara was beside him.

The mayor was unconscious nearby.

Professor Tickwell was missing.

Samuel Bell was gone.

Eleanor Bell was gone.

The machine was gone.

And the clock tower…

Was completely silent.

Milo slowly stood up.

Clara looked at him.

“Are you okay?”

Milo stared at the clock.

“No.”

“Why?”

Milo pointed.

The clock had no hands.

Clara stared.

“What happened?”

Milo shook his head.

“I don’t know.”

Then a piece of paper floated down from the clock tower.

It landed at Milo’s feet.

He picked it up.

There was only one sentence.

THE FOURTH GEAR IS INSIDE THE DETECTIVE.

Milo stared at the message.

Clara’s face went pale.

“Milo…”

“What?”

“Look at your hand.”

Milo looked down.

A golden symbol had appeared on his palm.

The circle.

The thirteen lines.

And in the center…

A tiny golden gear.

Milo screamed.

Clara screamed.

A dog across the street screamed.

A man dropped his groceries.

And from somewhere far away…

The clock laughed.

But this time, Milo heard something hidden inside the laughter.

A voice.

His father’s voice.

“Find me.”

Milo looked at Clara.

Clara looked at Milo.

The detective who was supposed to disappear had survived.

But now the mystery was no longer about a stolen clock gear.

It was about Milo Finch himself.

And somewhere beyond time…

His missing father was waiting.