Chapter 5 - The Toll of the Ghost Bell
Upstairs, the council meeting was reaching a critical climax.
"All in favor of transferring full financial command to Margaret Ashford, raise your hands," Walter Pike announced, standing beside Margaret at the head of the table.
Several captains raised their hands hesitantly. Margaret smiled, preparing to sign the official transfer documents that would give her absolute control over Gabriel's billions.
CLANG!
A sharp, reverberating bell tone echoed through the heavy wooden walls.
The entire ballroom fell dead silent.
Margaret’s hand froze over the parchment. Her face lost all its color.
CLANG!
CLANG!
The sound wasn't coming from the main chapel tower. It was echoing from the ancient brass speaker box mounted high on the wall of Margaret’s private balcony—the bell line marked 17.
"What is that?" Captain Dominick shouted, standing up and reaching for his shoulder holster. "That bell hasn't worked in a decade!"
"It's... it's just a short circuit from the storm," Margaret stuttered, her voice shaking as she tried to cover her panic. "Ignore it!"
CLANG!
"That's the emergency line from the lower vaults!" another captain yelled. "Gabriel's father installed it!"
From the hallway corner, hidden behind the heavy silk curtains, Evelyn pulled a secondary copper wire hooked directly into the antique junction box, forcing the hidden hammer to strike the brass bell over and over.
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The psychological impact was instantaneous. The captains, deeply superstitious men who believed in omens, began murmuring in terror.
"He's ringing from beyond the grave..." one old lieutenant whispered, crossing himself.
