Shots of Eternity (Part 1)

Gavin Carlisle always hungered for the perfect shot—a photograph that would outlast him by centuries. But one day, an idea eclipsed all his usual pursuits. With a half-borrowed, half-stolen $TIME watch, he’d leap back to famed moments in history, sneaking himself into iconic photographs as they were taken. First, he posed as a bystander during a 1920s ticker-tape parade, peering out from behind cheering crowds. Another jump found him among top-hatted gentlemen at the opening of a famous world’s fair, grinning faintly in the background.

Fuelled by adrenaline and the praise from a small online following that devoured each newly discovered cameo, Gavin took greater risks with every jump. He’d arrive at the brink of a major peace treaty signing or the unveiling of a revolutionary invention, slipping into the frame just as the flashbulb burst. His digital feed buzzed with excitement each time a new “Gavin Sighting” emerged in a piece of documented history, boosting his confidence further.

Each photograph became a trophy for a life that would otherwise be lost to time. In his mind, it was immortalization of a different kind—never the central figure, but a quiet witness in the story of human progress. Leaning on the watch’s steady hum for safety, he plotted an even wilder jump: a famed war photograph rumored to have changed public sentiment forever. But as he dialed the watch’s coordinates, a flicker of misgiving crossed Gavin’s mind. Little did he know, that next shot would plunge him into danger beyond anything he’d faced before.

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