Inspired by the following prompt: [WP] You are doing chores or homework or some other mundane activity. Tell the story with the tone and style of an action movie.
The crack of the pencil being broken sounded like a gunshot in the dark, locked room. The only source of light was a lamp on a faux wood desk. Dan quickly reached for another from the holder on his desk.
The clock on the second hand crawled forward passing twelve and moving the minute hand to the forty-six minute mark. There wasn’t enough time, the deadline was 11:59.
The new pencil scratched against the scan-tron as Dan completed another question. He looked up at the clock, 11:48 now. The camera in front of him recorded his every move. Another crack, another broken pencil. Dan looked up and noticed his holder was empty.
He spoke to the camera, “Hey, I’m out of pencils, what should I do?”
No response.
“I won’t be able to finish the test”
No response.
11:53.
Sweat formed on Dan’s brow, the stress of the test getting to him. Eyes darting around the room, he tried to find anything that would help him in this situation. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed something barely illuminated by the lamplight in the corner of his room. Something that very dusty but still yellow enough to be recognizable.
11:54.
He squeaked, “I see a pencil behind me. I’m going to go pick it up.”
Dan shot out of his chair and vaulted over a pile of unwashed clothes. He went to his knees, his momentum causing him to slide and softly bump into the wall. Quickly, he cleaned the pencil off, vaulted back over the clothes, and hurriedly sat back down in his chair. The camera watched.
11:56
He desperately scanned his paper reading the final question, the stress causing a ringing in his ears. Then, a sigh of relief. He knew this one. Confidently, he filled in the final bubble on the scan-tron.
11:58
Relieved he raised the scan-tron to the camera, “I’m done! Here are my answers.”
The robotic voice of the camera replied, “Your answers have been received. You will get your results in three to four weeks.”
11:59
The recording light of the camera turned off; the room was completely silent again. Heart beating erratically, Dan raised a forearm to wipe the sweat from his brow. Then he reached to the lamp switched, turning it off and leaving the room in complete darkness. He’d done it, he couldn’t believe he’d actually done it.
Words All The Way Down 
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