[ WP ] You discover a 25th hour of the day , in which the universe is frozen in time for a whole hour each day . You are the only thing that can move . You must decide what to do with your new knowledge .

Every night at the stroke of midnight, for one hour, time stops for everyone but me. 
 
 Me and my watch. I had missed one or two classes before I realised that my watch was reading an hour fast every day, but I could n't miss the frozen drops of rain in the air, or the utter silence of an unmoving world. Silence except for the soft ticking of my watch. 
 
 You know that game you play with your friends where you pick a superpower, and how everyone chooses flying, or reading minds, or turning invisible ( pervert ). Well I had always chosen the ability to stop time. I never felt like I had enough time, and I dreamt of being able to stop it to write reports, look up answers in exams, take naps, or just think of the perfect response during a conversation. But no amount of wishing or experimentation had uncovered a way for me to control my time stopping powers, for a while all that I got was an extra hour each day, and I was pretty happy with that. 
 
 Anyone who is or has been a student knows one thing about us, we're poor as shit, and I have to admit that having time frozen while I was drunk in the middle of a crowded club was a bit too tempting for my empty wallet. I started out just borrowing a few drinks, to kill time while I waited. After the first couple of times I took out a few peoples wallets and took some of their Money, little enough that they might not realise and would n't miss it. 
 
 After spending forty five minutes one night stealing a pittance from random other students in my local bar I could n't stop feeling guilty and decided that if I was going to steal from people, then it should be people who would n't miss the money. And if I was going to put in the effort then I might as well make a bit more money off the heist. All I had to do was pick the right target. 
 
 A quick search on the internet told me that the local theatre was hosting a midnight art exhibit on Friday, and I decided that it would probably have the perfect selection of fat-cats with wallets full of walking around cash that half of them would hardly even realise was missing. I would wait in a bar nearby until midnight, breeze in, skim a decent amount off everyone who looked rich, and be back in the bar before my watch hit one in the morning. 
 
 The plan went off without a hitch, and at one o'clock I was back in the bar, setting my watch back to midnight, with a pocket full of cash. I grinned at the bartender as she poured me a drink and gave her a hefty tip, which caused her to raise an eyebrow, especially considering the fact that I'd been paying with small change and loose bills all night. I shrugged and refused the change she tried to give me, gaining an appreciative smile. 
 
 There was an opera on the Friday after, and a concert performance the week after that. I began a routine, catching up on sleep and studying midweek, drinking at the bar across from the theatre each Friday, and skimming the pockets of the theatre patrons for the twenty fifth hour. A few months later and I had a decent contribution towards my student loans sitting under my bed, and the I thought the bartender was starting to like me. I did n't want to deposit too much of the money into my bank in case I raised suspicions, but there's a lot a young man can do with a pocket full of hard cash, and I was making full use of it. 
 
 Living the easy life could only go on for so long though, and on a Friday night just like any other, I heard something unexpected. 
 
 It was the twenty fifth hour, and I was making my way along the isles of the theatre, greeting the regulars. Waistcoat and big hat were sitting at the front tonight, they must have booked their tickets in advance this time. I reached into waistcoat's jacket, dutifully folded over his knees with his pocket facing upwards. `` Thank you waistcoat'' I said aloud in the silent auditorium, my voice fading eerily outwards without an echo. 
 
 I took half of the bills out of the wallet and was putting it back into his jacket when I heard a faint noise to my left and jumped backwards. I quickly checked my watch, which read five past, plenty of time. I stayed as still as I could and listened carefully but could n't hear anything beyond the soft ticking of my watch. 
 
 Checking quickly between the isles I chuckled softly, what was I afraid on? I'd been wandering through this creepy twilight hour for months, and I was alone here. I started to gather more money, keeping an eye on the time as I worked, but I could n't shake the feeling that someone else was watching. Whether it was the motionless staring eyes of the frozen seated audience, or just the silence of my still hour, something was making me nervous. 
 
 Two more wallets and I'd had enough. There would be plenty of other nights to get more money, I could finish early tonight. I shivered as I stuffed top button's wallet back into his trouser pocket, it easily my least favourite part of the work, but it was quick and I was finished. I walked back over to the doorway where I had left my coat draped over the back of an empty chair. 
 
'Tick, Tick' 
 
 I spun on my heel and stared towards the source of the sound. Nothing, the place was empty of course. My watch read twelve thirty five, no way was anyone moving yet. I bundled myself up before leaving the theatre, it was getting warmer, but spring had n't quite hit us yet, and I hated being cold. 
 
 Scurrying across the road to the pub I kept glancing over my shoulder and watching the door to the theatre. I do n't know what I expected to happen, if anything, but there was something wrong. I went into the bar and took off my coat, placing it on the back of my chair, and my book on the bar. Carefully putting things back the way they had been before time froze. I knocked back the whisky left in my glass and topped it back up from the bottle behind the bar. The measure was a little generous, but I'd drink up the difference before the twenty fifth hour was up. I checked my watch again. Twelve forty two. 
 
 Suddenly I turned around in my chair. There was someone there, I knew it! I waited, watching and listening, but nothing moved, and no-one made a sound. Just the gentle ticking of my watch. 
 
 I turned back to the bar to pick up my drink and took a sip, three more to go and I would be level. It could n't be long now before time started again, I picked up my book to pass the remaining minutes and glanced at the time then stopped, staring. 
 
 I looked at my watch, as unmoving as those around me, and as unmoving as the hands on the watch itself. 
 
'Tick, tick, tick,' I heard from behind me,'tick, tick, tick.' 
 
 ** 
 
 I'd write more, but I'm running out of time ( lol ) and have to go out unfortunately. 
 
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