Ah, stories are like family heirlooms, and we keep them in a little secret box that only the elders know. There’s a rule that only a whisper can unlock the tale, and that whisper must be spoken at the right time, at the right table, with a pinch of tea and a dash of patience. That’s how they stay safe, my dear.

You’re right—time is the real lock, the whisper just nudges it open. When the hands hit the right hour, the story wakes up and keeps itself safe.