Tick - Hard

It was his own voice, counting down the seconds he had left.

Use a "time clock" device—an expiring deadline or a literal countdown—to increase tension and suspense . hard tick

Instead of saying a sound is loud, describe it as a "hammer hitting an anvil" to create a vivid mental picture . It was his own voice, counting down the seconds he had left

Ensure every story segment builds toward a transformation or revelation to keep the audience engaged. It was his own voice