"Seeker" by Luca G. Storman: October 2024 3rd Place

In the heart of a bustling city, there existed a hidden hour known only to a select few: the 25th hour. Most people were oblivious, busy with their routines, of what lay out in the day. But for those in the know, it held the promise of magic and secrets.

I was usually busy with these routines and dances. But you notice the small things when slowly losing hope in the world. The small voices. The little whispers that tell you the most in the world. So whilst I was lying in a dark room deep in thought, I saw two small beady eyes looking back from the ceiling, I wasn’t alarmed. He said, “It’s a time when dreams dance with reality.” unalarmed, thinking I must have just fallen asleep, I followed him. What could happen to you in the dream world anyway?

As I watched as my watch hands stopped at midnight, I felt the world transform. The dark shadows from before glimmered with light and colors, pulsing with life. It seemed as if I had placed myself between reality and the dream world beyond. The figure from before who had just been eyes, now takes its shape. Fitting right in.

“Welcome, seeker.” He said, his voice no louder than a hush. Yet so comforting. “Here, we let creativity flow like the water.”

Liro, as he revealed himself to be, told about how they used the “25th Hour” as a time for lost souls. Where you could confront your hidden fears to unlock their true potential. He guided me through the visions of his past, which was scaringly close to my own. Failed exhibitions, self-doubt, and the great expectations beyond. I felt a piece of my guilt leave as the memories swirled away into the distance.

“Imagine from your heart, not your mind.” His words rang in my mind, as the world of creativity and greatness left. “The 25th hour is fleeting, but its gifts will always remain. Return soon, Seeker.”

His words left a dent in my soul.

The sun rose, and my heart was opened. I had to be the seeker of my fears and desires. The 25th hour was a reminder that the magic we seek lies just beyond the edge of our fears.