Old Tom watched the clock, dread clawing at his insides. At two in the morning on the night the clocks went back, they always returned to torment him—haunting reminders of the mistake he had made when he’d forgotten, one year, to turn the clocks back.
However, one fateful night, an hour after the clocks had gone back, the spectres faded, but the shadows lingered too long, and Tom never opened his eyes again.
The day before the clocks went back, Monica moved into Tom’s old house, blissfully unaware of the terror that lurked within its walls. Exhausted from the move, she resolved to set her clocks back an hour at dawn.
At 2:00 AM, Monica was suddenly jolted awake by the unmistakable creak of her bedroom door slowly opening. A cold sweat trickled down her brow as she froze in place, eyes wide, witnessing the ghostly figure of an old man twisting and writhing, a cruel smile stretching across his face as he glided towards her.
“What are you doing in my house and in my bed?” the ghost thundered, his voice echoing through the almost empty room, making her heart race.
For what seemed like an hour, the ghost tormented her with the same words until the clock struck 2 AM for the second time, and Tom’s malevolent spirit dissipated into the air. Monica’s pulse quickened, doubt lingering in her mind. Was it all a nightmare, or a malevolent invitation?
She blinked, and the chill of reality sunk in. The bedroom door gaped wide open, the darkness beyond beckoning like an abyss. She was sure she had locked it tight, a protective measure against the night.
As a cold autumnal breeze caressed her bare skin, a frantic shiver coursed down her spine. Heart pounding, she inched to the door and tentatively closed it, sealing herself in with the echoes of her terror.
Climbing back into bed, she pulled the covers tightly around her, desperate for warmth—a futile shield against her fear. But soon, sleep reclaimed her, its sweet embrace luring her into a false sense of security.
When the clocks struck 2 AM for the third time, a bone-chilling rustle beneath her bed shattered her dream. Something slithered just out of sight, a dread revelation that all was not right, confirming that her nightmare was merely beginning.
Monica never woke up from the nightmare until the following year, on the night the clocks went back, when, with Tom, she visited the new owner of Tom’s house to check if they’d remembered to put the clocks back.
Linking to Sunday Stills hosted by Terri Webster Schrandt – Theme: Scary
The clocks go back in Europe and the UK on the last Sunday of October.
In 2025, the clocks go back on Sunday, November 2nd, in most of the USA and Canada that observe Daylight Saving Time (DST).
Feature image credit: Image by Alexa from Pixabay
Looking for more spooky tales like this? Check out my first collection of short stories and flash fiction.
Glimpses
28 short stories and pieces of flash fiction take the reader on a rollercoaster of twists and turns.
Paperback – £4.99
Kindle – £0.99
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I too got a smile from this spooky little tale!
Good. And you survived a visit from Tom and Monica.
Excellent story, Hugh. I’ve forgotten the clocks a few times, but the worst thing that every happened is I missed a train.
I don’t think I’ve ever forgotten, Dan. Probably because I have such a big fascination with time.
this is an excellent illustration of the hazards of Daylight savings time.
I agree. There are worse things than being an hour late after the clocks go back and you forgot.
Great story. I’ve forgotten the clocks lots of times. That’s why I got married. She prefers such things. 🤣😎🙃
Since meeting old Tom, I’ve never forgotten to put the clocks back.
I wish I had met him. Then I wouldn’t have had to get married. 🤣😎🙃
Hugh, you had me on the edge of my seat! Superb story telling, my friend. I’m not a fan of changing the time, and wish it would stay one way or the other. Sigh.
Good to hear you were on the edge of your seat as you read, Eugi.
I don’t mind the extra hour in bed. It’s the hour less when the clocks go forward that I can’t cope with. But I agree that we should leave time alone.
A creepy tale. I’m reminded that I have ‘Glimpses’ on my tablet, waiting to be read. I must get around to it ASAP. (And of course, leave a review.)
Thank you. I hope you enjoy Glimpses. This story would have been perfect for it.
That extra hour isn’t for sleep, it’s for *them*! 👻🕰️ Perfect for spooky season!
Yes, you are right, whoever ‘Them’ are. It’s their time of the year.
Now that is a creepy story, Hugh. But thanks for reminding me about the clocks going back in Europe this summer as I call my parents every Tuesday, so I need to know the time difference. :)
Yep, we’re one less hour in front of those in North America (until next weekend), although I’m not sure if the clocks go forward at this time of the year in the Southern Hemisphere (where it’s spring). I’m just glad for the extra daylight in the mornings when walking the dogs, Liesbet.
There’s no daylight savings here in Chile, but I used to be five hours off from Belgian time, so I’m glad to read that the clock went back in Europe last night. This way, I can figure out when to call my parents this coming Tuesday as the difference is now four hours.
That’s almost as scary as having to set the clocks back to Standard Time. I miss Daylight Savings already!
I enjoyed the lighter morning this morning. It was as if summer was trying to make a comeback, until I stepped outside and realised how cold it was.
As if turning the clocks back wasn’t bad enough under normal circumstances, you had to entertain the idea of what would happen if we just didn’t do it, Hugh! Fun and scary!
I’m going to link this piece of flash fiction to your spooky Sunday Stills theme, Terri.
Don’t forget to put your clocks back before going to bed next weekend.
That would be great, Hugh! After reading what could happen, I ‘m (un)happy to change the clocks back. Sigh!
Yikes!! Definitely going to remember to set the clocks back before I go to bed! A great Halloween story!
Please do. I forgot to set them back last night, and now I have no idea who is replying to your comment.
What a great spooky tale, just in time for Halloween. Thanks, Hugh! 🎃
Happy Halloween, Colleen.
You too, Hugh. Thanks so much! 🎃
Oh my! The Fallback night has more to fear than I thought!
It does, especially when it falls nearer and nearer to Halloween.
Great spooky tale, nice lead up to Halloween!
I’m glad you think so. Happy Halloween!
Bad things happen if one does not turn the clock back! And the ghosts only have a small window to appear at Halloween. Well done!
Thank you. You are right. Just like the living, every second is precious, even for ghosts.
Ghostly hour incoming! Don’t get caught in the time warp! 👻
Exactly! Although there is the ‘time warp’ dance one can do if one gets caught.
A much more terrifying prospect than that of the following week’s All Hallows Eve
Imagine if the clocks went back on Halloween night. Thank goodness they never do. Oh, hold on, they do, but only at 2am on Halloween morning.
Now there’s a thought for a story prompt… We have till the year after next to work it out. confused spectres, perhaps? Appearing too early?
That’s a great start. Possibility of a comedy horror story.
Creepy!