The brass handle turned gently in my hand, and the wooden door creaked with age as it opened. Inside the entire clock tower was dimly lit, but I could still make out the long wooden spiral staircase in the center.
Taking down the lantern hanging outside the clock tower, I lit it softly, casting a faint glow on the small area of floor beneath my feet.
"Creak..." I held the lamp, carefully stepping on the dust-covered wooden steps of the spiral staircase. They groaned under my weight, making me hyper-aware. I feared that if these boards broke, I'd be stranded.
The spiral staircase wasn't long, and I cautiously made my way to the top. There was only a tightly closed mahogany door at the end. It had no handle, and as I pressed against it, the uneven texture felt strange. I pushed gently, an
