There are many ways for a detective to discover that his entire town has disappeared.

The first is to look out the window and see nothing.

The second is to ask someone where the town went and receive the answer:

“What town?”

The third is to trip over a giant clock gear that is floating in the middle of nowhere.

Inspector Milo Finch experienced all three.

He opened his eyes.

He was lying on the ground.

The ground was white.

The sky was white.

The air was white.

Everything was white.

Milo slowly sat up.

“Clara?”

No answer.

He looked around.

“Mayor?”

Nothing.

“Professor?”

Silence.

“Edgar?”

Nothing.

Milo suddenly became nervous.

He stood.

“CAT?”

A loud meow came from behind him.

Milo turned.

The orange cat was sitting on a floating piece of stone.

Milo pointed at it.

“Of course you’re alive.”

The cat yawned.

Milo looked around.

“Where is everyone?”

A voice answered.

“Right here.”

Milo turned.

Clara was standing behind him.

She was covered in dust.

Milo stared.

“Are you okay?”

Clara nodded.

“Yes.”

“Good.”

“Are you?”

Milo looked at himself.

His coat was torn.

His hair was covered in dust.

His mustache was pointing in two completely different directions.

He touched it.

“I look magnificent.”

“You look terrible.”

Milo nodded.

“Then I’m definitely alive.”

Clara looked around.

“Where are we?”

Milo shook his head.

“I don’t know.”

They stood in silence.

There was no Bellwick.

No clock tower.

No streets.

No houses.

No people.

Nothing.

Only white emptiness.

Then something moved in the distance.

Milo squinted.

“What’s that?”

Clara looked.

A tiny object was floating toward them.

It was a clock.

A very small clock.

It stopped in front of Milo.

The clock had thirteen numbers.

Milo stared.

“That’s not normal.”

Clara sighed.

“Nothing is normal anymore.”

The clock’s hands moved backward.

Then forward.

Then backward again.

Milo leaned closer.

Suddenly, the clock spoke.

“Welcome, Milo Finch.”

Milo jumped.

“NOPE!”

He ran away.

Clara grabbed him.

“Come back!”

“It’s talking!”

“Everything is talking!”

“That doesn’t make it better!”

The clock continued.

“You have reached the end of time.”

Milo slowly turned.

“The end?”

“Yes.”

“Is there a gift shop?”

“No.”

“That’s disappointing.”

Clara stared at him.

“Milo.”

“Sorry.”

The clock continued.

“The Thirteenth Hour has begun.”

Milo frowned.

“Why?”

“Because the timeline has been erased.”

“Can we bring it back?”

“Yes.”

Milo’s eyes widened.

“How?”

“One must remain.”

Clara stepped forward.

“One person?”

“Yes.”

Milo looked at her.

“What does that mean?”

The clock didn’t answer.

Milo pointed.

“Hey!”

The clock disappeared.

Milo stared at the empty space.

“I hate clocks.”

Clara looked at him.

“You’ve spent your entire career investigating clocks.”

“Exactly.”

Suddenly, someone screamed.

Milo turned.

“Who was that?”

Clara pointed.

A man was falling from the sky.

He landed directly on Milo.

BANG!

Milo’s face hit the ground.

“Ouch.”

The man stood.

It was Professor Tickwell.

Milo slowly raised his head.

“Professor.”

Tickwell looked at him.

“You’re alive.”

“Unfortunately.”

“Where are the others?”

Milo stood.

“That’s what we’re trying to find out.”

Tickwell looked around.

His face became pale.

“The timeline has collapsed.”

“We know.”

“You don’t understand.”

“Nobody ever explains anything properly.”

Tickwell looked at Milo.

“Adrian activated the Thirteenth Hour.”

Milo clenched his fists.

“My brother.”

Tickwell nodded.

“Yes.”

“Why did he erase Bellwick?”

“Because he wanted to create a new timeline.”

“Why?”

“Because he believes this world is broken.”

Milo stared.

“Then he needs therapy.”

Tickwell blinked.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

Clara stepped forward.

“Where is Adrian?”

Tickwell pointed into the distance.

“He’s inside the machine.”

Milo frowned.

“What machine?”

Tickwell pointed again.

A massive shadow appeared in the white emptiness.

Slowly, a gigantic clock tower emerged.

It was the Bellwick Clock Tower.

But it was enormous.

Much larger than before.

Its gears were as big as houses.

Its hands stretched across the sky.

And at the top was a glowing number.

Thirteen.

Milo stared.

“That’s not good.”

Tickwell nodded.

“No.”

Clara looked at Milo.

“Let’s go.”

Milo sighed.

“Why does everyone always say that?”

“Because we have to.”

“Fine.”

They walked toward the tower.

The cat followed.

Milo stopped.

“Why is the cat coming?”

Edgar’s voice came from behind them.

“Because he’s my cat.”

Milo turned.

Edgar was standing there.

Milo stared.

“Where did you come from?”

Edgar shrugged.

“I don’t know.”

“Where is the mayor?”

Edgar pointed behind him.

The mayor appeared.

She was carrying a large wooden box.

Milo stared.

“What is that?”

The mayor opened it.

Inside were dozens of sandwiches.

Milo’s eyes widened.

“Food!”

Clara stared.

“Why do you have sandwiches?”

The mayor looked embarrassed.

“I was hungry.”

Milo nodded.

“Finally, a sensible person.”

Clara sighed.

“Focus.”

They reached the tower.

The enormous doors opened by themselves.

Inside was a gigantic staircase.

Milo looked upward.

“How many steps?”

Tickwell shook his head.

“Nobody knows.”

Milo groaned.

“Of course.”

They climbed.

And climbed.

And climbed.

After twenty minutes, Milo stopped.

“How much longer?”

Clara looked up.

“Probably a lot.”

Milo sat down.

“I’m tired.”

“We just started.”

“I’ve been emotionally exhausted for several chapters.”

Clara grabbed his arm.

“Get up.”

Milo stood.

They continued.

Suddenly, they heard laughter.

Milo froze.

The laughing clock.

But this time, the laughter was different.

It wasn’t mechanical.

It wasn’t evil.

It sounded almost sad.

Milo looked around.

“Where is that coming from?”

Tickwell pointed upward.

“The top.”

They continued climbing.

Finally, they reached a massive chamber.

At the center stood the machine.

The thirteen golden gears were spinning.

And beside it stood Adrian.

Milo’s older brother.

Adrian turned.

“Welcome.”

Milo stared at him.

“You erased my town.”

Adrian nodded.

“Yes.”

“My parents.”

“Yes.”

“My friends.”

“Yes.”

“The bakery.”

Adrian frowned.

“The bakery?”

Milo pointed.

“Mrs. Bumble makes excellent pies.”

Adrian looked confused.

“That’s your biggest concern?”

“Have you tasted her apple pie?”

Adrian shook his head.

“Never.”

“Then you don’t understand.”

Clara stepped between them.

“Milo.”

“Sorry.”

Adrian looked at Milo.

“You still don’t understand.”

“Then explain.”

Adrian pointed toward the machine.

“This world is broken.”

Milo looked around.

“Yes.”

“People lie.”

“Yes.”

“People betray each other.”

“Yes.”

“People make terrible choices.”

“Yes.”

Milo paused.

“Sometimes they burn soup.”

Clara looked at him.

“Why are you agreeing with him?”

“He’s making good points.”

Adrian continued.

“I discovered that the machine could create a perfect timeline.”

Milo shook his head.

“No.”

Adrian frowned.

“No?”

“Perfect worlds don’t exist.”

“Why not?”

“Because people aren’t perfect.”

Adrian stared at him.

Milo continued.

“People make mistakes.”

“Exactly.”

“They get hurt.”

“Exactly.”

“They lose people.”

“Exactly.”

“They forgive each other.”

Adrian went silent.

Milo stepped closer.

“That’s what makes life real.”

Adrian shook his head.

“You don’t understand what I’ve lost.”

Milo’s expression softened.

“Maybe I do.”

Adrian stared.

Milo pointed toward the machine.

“You lost your family.”

Adrian’s eyes narrowed.

“How do you know?”

“Because I lost mine too.”

Milo looked at his parents inside the machine.

“My father disappeared.”

“My mother disappeared.”

“And I spent my whole life believing they were dead.”

Adrian looked away.

“But they weren’t.”

“No.”

“They were trapped.”

“Yes.”

Adrian’s voice became quiet.

“You were supposed to disappear too.”

Milo frowned.

“What?”

“Samuel wanted to erase you.”

“Why?”

“Because you were the last person who could stop the machine.”

Milo looked at his hand.

The golden gear appeared again.

Adrian stared.

“That’s impossible.”

Milo smiled.

“Apparently, I am very difficult to get rid of.”

Adrian stepped backward.

The machine began shaking.

Tick.

Tick.

Tick.

The thirteen gears spun faster.

Clara looked worried.

“What is happening?”

Tickwell shouted:

“The machine is failing!”

Adrian looked at the gears.

“No.”

Milo turned.

“Why?”

“The fourth gear is missing.”

Milo looked at his hand.

The golden gear was glowing.

Adrian stared at him.

“Give it to me.”

“No.”

“Give it to me!”

“No.”

Adrian rushed forward.

Milo ran.

Adrian chased him.

Milo ran around the machine.

Adrian followed.

Milo ran faster.

Clara shouted:

“Milo!”

“What?”

“Stop running!”

“Why?”

“You’re making it worse!”

“I’m distracting him!”

“You’ve been running in circles for five minutes!”

Milo stopped.

He looked around.

He had indeed been running in circles.

Adrian was standing behind him.

Milo smiled nervously.

“Hello.”

Adrian grabbed him.

Milo shouted:

“CLARA!”

Clara threw a sandwich.

It hit Adrian in the face.

Everyone froze.

Milo stared.

Clara stared.

Adrian slowly removed the sandwich from his forehead.

Milo looked impressed.

“Excellent throw.”

“Thank you.”

Adrian roared.

Milo ran again.

The cat suddenly jumped onto Adrian’s back.

Adrian screamed.

“GET THIS ANIMAL OFF ME!”

Milo stopped.

He looked at the cat.

For the first time, he understood.

“The cat!”

Edgar shouted:

“Don’t hurt him!”

Milo stared at the cat.

It was wearing a small golden collar.

On the collar was the symbol of the Thirteenth Hour.

Milo’s eyes widened.

“The cat has been carrying the thirteenth gear!”

The cat meowed.

Edgar looked confused.

“What?”

Milo grabbed the cat.

The cat immediately scratched him.

“OW!”

Clara shouted:

“Careful!”

Milo held up the cat.

A tiny golden gear fell from its collar.

CLANG.

Everyone froze.

Adrian stared.

“The thirteenth gear.”

Milo picked it up.

“Yes.”

Adrian reached for it.

Milo stepped backward.

“No.”

Adrian’s expression changed.

“Give it to me.”

“No.”

“You don’t understand.”

“I understand enough.”

“If you don’t give it to me, your parents will disappear.”

Milo froze.

“What?”

Adrian pointed at the machine.

“Their existence is connected to the timeline.”

Milo looked at his parents.

His mother was crying.

His father shook his head.

“No, Milo.”

Milo stared.

His father pressed his hand against the glass.

“Don’t give him the gear.”

Milo looked confused.

“But he’ll erase you.”

His father smiled.

“Your mother and I have already lived our lives.”

Milo’s eyes filled with tears.

“No.”

His mother shook her head.

“We wanted you to live yours.”

Milo stepped closer.

“I just found you.”

His mother smiled.

“You found us long ago.”

Milo cried.

“I don’t remember.”

“You don’t have to.”

His father placed his hand against the glass.

“Remember this instead.”

Milo placed his hand against his father’s.

“You were never alone.”

Milo’s face crumpled.

Clara looked away.

Even the mayor was crying.

Edgar quietly ate a sandwich.

Milo turned toward Adrian.

“You wanted a perfect world.”

Adrian stared.

“Yes.”

“But you forgot something.”

“What?”

“People aren’t supposed to live forever.”

Adrian’s eyes filled with tears.

Milo held out the thirteenth gear.

Adrian reached for it.

Milo stopped.

“But you don’t get to decide who disappears.”

Adrian froze.

Milo turned toward the machine.

“Nobody does.”

He placed the thirteenth gear into the machine.

The entire chamber shook.

Adrian screamed:

“NO!”

The machine exploded with light.

The thirteen gears spun.

Faster.

Faster.

Faster.

Then…

STOP.

Silence.

The machine opened.

Milo’s parents stepped out.

Milo stared.

His mother smiled.

His father smiled.

Milo ran toward them.

They hugged.

For the first time in twenty-eight years…

Milo was home.

Clara wiped her eyes.

The mayor smiled.

Edgar blew his nose.

The cat sat beside them.

Adrian stood alone.

Milo walked toward him.

Adrian looked defeated.

“Why didn’t you stop me?”

Milo shrugged.

“I tried.”

“You could have destroyed me.”

“Probably.”

“Why didn’t you?”

Milo smiled.

“Because you’re my brother.”

Adrian stared.

Milo continued.

“You’re annoying.”

Adrian laughed.

“So are you.”

“Exactly.”

For the first time, Adrian smiled.

The machine began to disappear.

Tickwell shouted:

“We have to leave!”

Milo looked around.

“Why?”

“Because the timeline is repairing itself!”

“Is that bad?”

“Very!”

“Why?”

“Because we’re inside it!”

Milo’s eyes widened.

“RUN!”

Everyone ran.

They raced down the enormous staircase.

The tower shook.

Gears fell from the ceiling.

Milo grabbed Clara.

Clara grabbed the mayor.

The mayor grabbed Edgar.

Edgar grabbed the cat.

The cat grabbed absolutely nobody.

They ran faster.

Behind them, Adrian shouted:

“Wait!”

Milo turned.

“What?”

Adrian pointed.

“My hat!”

Milo stared.

“You’re worried about your hat?”

“It’s my favorite hat!”

Milo looked at Clara.

“Do we have time?”

“No!”

Adrian ran toward his hat.

Milo shouted:

“Forget the hat!”

“Never!”

The entire tower shook.

Adrian grabbed the hat.

A giant gear fell.

Milo screamed:

“RUN!”

They reached the bottom.

The doors opened.

White light filled the tower.

Then everything went black.

Milo opened his eyes.

He was lying in Bellwick Square.

The town was back.

The clock tower stood in the center.

People were walking through the streets.

Mrs. Bumble was yelling at someone.

A baker was carrying pies.

A dog was chasing a pigeon.

Everything was normal.

Milo sat up.

Clara was beside him.

She looked at him.

“You’re alive.”

Milo nodded.

“Again.”

Clara smiled.

“How do you feel?”

Milo thought about it.

“Hungry.”

Clara laughed.

Milo looked around.

“Where are my parents?”

A voice answered.

“Behind you.”

Milo turned.

His mother and father were standing there.

Milo smiled.

He ran toward them.

They hugged.

For a long moment, nobody said anything.

Then his father whispered:

“I’m proud of you.”

Milo smiled.

His mother kissed his forehead.

Then she looked at his mustache.

“Is that real?”

Milo nodded.

“Naturally magnificent.”

His father laughed.

Clara shook her head.

“Some things never change.”

Suddenly, a loud noise came from the clock tower.

DONG.

Everyone froze.

Milo slowly turned.

The clock had hands again.

Twelve numbers.

Everything looked normal.

Then the clock laughed.

“HAAAAA-HA-HA-HA!”

Milo stared.

“Not again.”

Clara smiled.

The mayor laughed.

Edgar laughed.

Even Milo began laughing.

The clock stopped.

Then a small door opened at the bottom of the tower.

A golden gear rolled out.

Milo stared.

Clara stared.

The mayor stared.

Milo slowly picked it up.

There was a message engraved on it.

TIME ALWAYS LEAVES ONE SECRET BEHIND.

Milo looked at Clara.

“Does this mean the mystery isn’t over?”

Clara smiled.

“Maybe.”

Milo sighed.

“I need a vacation.”

“You can’t.”

“Why?”

A man came running toward them.

“Inspector Finch!”

Milo turned.

“What?”

The man was carrying a newspaper.

“There has been another mystery!”

Milo stared at him.

“Of course there has.”

Clara laughed.

Milo looked toward the clock.

The clock suddenly laughed again.

Milo pointed at it.

“Don’t think I didn’t hear that.”

The clock continued laughing.

Milo looked at his family.

Then Clara.

Then the cat.

Then the mysterious golden gear.

He smiled.

Perhaps Bellwick would never be normal again.

Perhaps there would always be strange clocks.

Secret machines.

Mysterious gears.

Impossible disappearances.

And suspicious cats.

But Milo Finch had finally learned something important.

Mysteries were not always about finding the person who committed the crime.

Sometimes, they were about finding the people you thought you had lost forever.

Sometimes, the biggest secrets were hidden inside the strangest places.

And sometimes…

The best detective in town was the man who had absolutely no idea what he was doing.

Milo turned toward the police station.

Clara followed.

His parents followed them.

The mayor followed.

Edgar followed.

The cat followed everyone.

Milo stopped.

“Wait.”

Everyone stopped.

Milo looked at the cat.

“Why is that cat still following us?”

Edgar shrugged.

“He’s hungry.”

Milo stared.

The cat stared back.

Milo sighed.

“Fine.”

The cat meowed.

“One pie.”

The cat meowed again.

“Two pies.”

Another meow.

Milo pointed.

“Don’t push your luck.”

The cat walked away.

Milo smiled.

“Smart animal.”

Clara looked at him.

“I thought you said it was a criminal mastermind.”

Milo considered this.

“It can be both.”

They walked toward the police station.

Behind them, the ancient clock tower stood silently beneath the afternoon sun.

For one final moment, everything was peaceful.

Then the clock moved backward one second.

Nobody noticed.

Nobody except the cat.

The cat looked up.

Its green eyes reflected the golden clock face.

And from somewhere deep inside the tower…

A tiny voice whispered:

“See you at thirteen.”

The cat smiled.

Or perhaps it only looked that way.

And then the clock began to laugh.

THE END