Set Your Clock

Each day he stands by the window and watches, his eye upon the hands of the watch. The lamps flicker, casting shadows across the street. Footsteps echo on the cobbles. A spider scuttles across the cobweb, long legs dancing on thin threads.

Each day, the times are the same. Everything in this world happens on a schedule, regular as ticking clockwork.

And this means that none of it is real: not the cobblestone streets, not the sky overhead, not even the spider on the windowsill. All of this is a trap, a lie, designed to keep him placid.

“It won’t work,” he whispers. “I’ll escape.”

Far away, They watch him on the monitor. One of Them sighs and taps at the black-and-white screen.

“This unit’s gone wrong.”

“We’ll have to reset,” his supervisor says. “Again. That one breaks down so often you could set your clock by it.”

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Word Count: 148

This is for FFfAW. Thanks to Priceless Joy for running the challenge and Enisa for providing the prompt photo!