The Clockwork Crisis

The digital clock mounted above the lab chalkboard felt like a guillotine blade, counting down the ninety minutes remaining to submit their 'Sustainable City' prototype. Arthur stood frozen over the balsa wood framework, his eyes darting between the blueprint and a tangle of copper wires that refused to cooperate. Beside him, Ryan pounded the keyboard, his face illuminated by the harsh red glare of a coding error blinking on the monitor. Mr. Sterling, their instructor, paced the aisles with a measured, silent gait, his grading clipboard tucked under his arm like a threat, heightening the tensi...