Rex Lemaign was in the same place he usually was in the morning, slumped over his desk next to an empty bottle of Lyndon's Whisky.
He groaned and cursed to himself as he lifted his head just enough to check the clock. Ten in the morning. He sat up with another groan. He had a meeting with a client soon.
Got the letter yesterday. He knew better than to drink the night before, but he did anyway. Like he always does.
His office doubled as his living space, so lucky for him a much needed shower was only a room away.
He headed to the next room, sparsely decorated, clothes tossed on the bed and floor, and empty bottles on the nightstand. The client wouldn't see any of it though, so what did he care?
All he needed to do was wash off the smell of booze and desperation. A shave wouldn't hurt either.
Rex was a private investigator, an experienced one as well. He used to run with the Davenport agency, before things started to go sour.
Unfortunately for him, they still had a strong brand. No one knew who Rex Lemaign was, but they sure knew the Davenport Detective Agency.
He hated to admit it, but things were a bit tight.
He cleaned up just in time, because within minutes of him changing clothes there was a knock at the office door.
He quickly adjusted his hair in one last attempt to look professional, or at the very least, presentable. He headed to the door, unlocked it, and headed back over to his desk.
He sat down and called his visitor in. The door swung open and in came a large and imposing man. A real tough guy, Rex figured. Not really his normal clientele either.
The man slowly looked around the room before looking at Rex.
"You Rex Lemaign?" the man said warily
“That’s what the door says, anyway.” Rex replied
The man didn't really seem to appreciate that as he stepped forward. Rex tensed up, slowly reaching for the revolver hidden under his desk.
"For goodness sake Morris, step aside," said a different voice
The big guy, Morris, started to protest before being shooed aside by this new visitor. He was dressed to the nines.
A stern looking man with a quite the mustache, and just a little paunchy. Rex recognized this guy. Forrest Wentworth. A serious big shot.
One of those captains of industry, with more money then he knew what to do with. Why would someone like Wentworth come to a small timer like Rex?
"Mr. Lemaign, I presume?" Wentworth said
"That's me, and you are?" Rex replied.
He knew who he was, and he was pretty sure Wentworth knew that he knew. All a part of the game. Don't let him feel too powerful. He came to Rex, after all
"Wentworth. Forrest Wentworth. And this is my bodyguard, Morris. You'll have to forgive him, he's quite dedicated to his work." Wentworth said, gesturing to the big lunk he brought with him
"Bodyguard? Do you have enemies, Mr. Wentworth?"
"Men in my position usually do, Mr. Lemaign. That's part of why I've come to you. You see, I've lost contact with my daughter.
Rex had to hold back a sigh. This old story. Rich man's socialite daughter runs off after a wild night.
They usually show up after a day or two. Still, should be an easy job, he figured.
Question her friends, check her local haunts. The normal routine.
"I'm willing to take the case, but if I may ask, why me? A man like you could hire the finest the city has to offer." Rex asked
"I'd like to treat this matter with subtlety, something the Davenports seem to have lost as of late." answered Wentworth.
"I had some people look into you. You've done good work, even back when you were a Davenport yourself. Now, if I may ask, what made you leave?"
"They aren't quite what they used to be. I joined up to be a detective, not muscle. But that's the path they seem to be leaning towards.
I wasn't looking to break up picket lines. I hope you don't know anything about that, Mr. Wentworth."
Wentworth stared at him for a moment.
"Certainly not. An ugly practice. Now, if we may get back to the matter at hand, my daughter."
Wentworth proceeded to give Rex all the details. Sophie Wentworth. College student at Cornerstone University. Dean's list. Choir member.
Well behaved. A real good girl. They had a fine relationship as far as he knew. Rex could see why he'd be worried.
He got a list of the friends Mr. Wentworth knew about, he'd start there. It felt mundane, but hey, work was work.
Mr. Wentworth and Morris soon took their leave. Rex grabbed his hat and coat and set out himself.
A quick ride later and he was at the university. Of course, it wasn't as easy as just asking folks about a girl. He knew he was out of place.
Shabby looking thirty-something wandering around campus asking about a rich girl? It made things difficult.
Not a problem though, a few bucks and the right person never failed to start the trail. Sure enough, he caught a bite and started his hunt, soon finding his way to Sophie's friends.
They told him a similar story as her father. Although, according to them, she wasn't so much gone as she was distant. Apparently she had slowly been removing herself from social activities, unusual for her.
They said that she seemed to be in a haze at times. At first they thought maybe she was simply studying for some big assignment or something, but she never mentioned one.
However, one thing they did mention that stuck out was that she had been assisting one of her professors lately. A Professor Erwin. It seemed like he had his next stop.
Upon reaching Erwin's office, Rex was surprised at how spacious it was. Various shelves, tables and cabinets covered in what looked like various antiquities.
Rex didn't really recognize any of them, then again, why would he? In the center of the office a space had been cleared for a wheeled winch that held a large, old, and decrepit bell.
He could make out faint symbols and designs around it, weathered with time. He saw a few hand bells on the Professor's desk, bearing similar symbols as well. Of course, these appeared to be modern made.
He turned back to the larger bell and reached out. He got closer and closer, and right as he was about to make contact, a voice startled him.
"Excuse me, but please don't touch that. It's quite fragile."
Rex had to fight his reflex to reach for the gun in his jacket. He turned to see a man standing there.
He was slight, looked to be in his forties maybe. He adjusted his glasses and spoke again.
"Quite the artifact, wouldn't you say?" he asked
"Well, I don't really know, to be honest. Just looks like an old bell to me." replied Rex
The man chuckled.
"I suppose I can see why you'd see it that way. I'm Professor Douglas Erwin. I assume you're in my office for a reason?"
"Yes, actually. Name's Rex Lemaign. I was hoping to ask you a few questions about Sophie Wentworth."
"Oh? Whatever for? Is she in trouble?" Erwin asked with a touch of concern
"Apparently she's been acting odd recently. Distant. Her father's worried. I don't suppose you've noticed anything.
I'm told she's been assisting you with whatever you've been doing. I'm not much of an academic so I can't really be too sure what that might be. Maybe you can enlighten me?"
Erwin stroked his chin for a moment in thought before turning his attention back to Rex.
"I haven't noticed that much different, personally. Sophie is quite the hard worker, it's more than possible she's simply overworking herself. She's quite interested in the subject matter."
"Which is?" Rex asked
"Anthropology. More specifically, I study the religions and myths of ancient cultures. Most of them are not practiced anymore and even more are lost to time. Take this bell for example.”
He walked over to the large bell
"This was used by an ancient cult who believed it could be used to communicate with their God."
"Well, I hate to break it to their God but I think its ringing days are over."
"Ah, maybe so, but still it remains. It really is a fascinating subject. Did you know there's been tales of the sound of bells from the heavens throughout history?
The Miracle of Clorita. The Bells Over Bahn. The Ringing at Pesh. All were said to harbingers of significant events." said Erwin with obvious enthusiasm.
"I think you might be reading a few to many of those pulp books." Rex replied dryly
"Tales of mankind making contact with Gods is consistent throughout the ages, you can't just write that off! Similar, recurring themes can be found all over the world!"
"Maybe so Professor, but I'm here about the girl, not a scholarly debate." Rex said, trying to get the man back on track
"Hmm? Oh, of course. Forgive me, Mr. Lemaign. I can get passionate about my field.
I'm afraid I don't know much more about Miss Wentworth's whereabouts. I suppose you could check to see if she's at her dorm."
"I think I'll do just that. Thank you for your assistance, Professor."
Rex was glad to get out of there. He was never one for that kind of thing. He headed to the dorms, but she wasn't around. No one had seen her that day.
Someone suggested that perhaps he should ask around the choir members. But oddly enough, he couldn't locate any of them either.
He asked more questions, and found out that the rest of the choir had slowly been showing similar behavior to Sophie. This was a bit deeper than one missing rich girl.
Of course, his hands were tied as to where he could really do there, considering he wasn’t a student or faculty. Legally, anyway.
Frankly, he was lucky enough to get that far. And with no signs of these kids, what could he really do?
If he gave up there goes a payday, and he doubted Wentworth would keep his reputation intact. Hell of a jam that’s for sure.
Rex milled around for a while, trying to stay inconspicuous, until the sun began to set. Turning things over and over in his head.
Sophie was clearly the center of things. The choir started behaving strangely shortly after her, and as far as he knew only she was assisting the professor.
There was definitely something more here. He decided to press the Professor again, try and squeeze more out of him. He headed back to Erwin's office only to find it locked.
He peered through the window and saw that the large bell was gone. He questioned a nearby custodian who told him that Erwin had it wheeled out only a little while ago.
Apparently it was being brought to a storage building near the rear of the campus. Rex was quick to head over. The sun had set by now, and there was no one around.
He reached the building only to find it locked. However, he could see a faint glow through the windows. He walked around checking each one and, lucky for him, one window was unlocked.
Crawling in, he made his way as quietly as he could. The storage building was laid out like a warehouse. He carefully made his way through the shelves towards the center.
Peeking around a shelf, he was surprised at the sight before him. Candles were lit to provide just enough light to see. The large bell had been winched up high.
Underneath, standing in a circle were several students, each holding a bell. Among them, Sophie Wentworth. Rex guessed that they must be the choir students.
Before he could act, however, he heard the sound of a bell from behind him. It was then that a wave of intense dizziness hit him like a ton of bricks and he collapsed to the ground.
Rex started to crawl and watched as someone walked past him and turned around. It was Professor Erwin, holding one of the hand bells from his office.
"Mr. Lemaign! And here I thought you said you weren't an academic!"
Rex started to stand, only for Erwin to ring the bell and again Rex was hit with intense dizziness.
"Quite interesting isn't it?" Erwin asked "The way the right sound can affect a person. Of course these are no ordinary sounds. They're the sounds of the divine!"
"What the hell are you talking about?" mumbled Rex, struggling to think straight
"Ever since the Bell of Bhent came into my possession, I could hear it. The ringing at the very edge of hearing. Whispering instructions to me.
Everything I had researched could become reality. A direct link to a God. Bhent, the Divine Reverberation!
I had these bells made to exact specifications, to match his sound and let his voice enter this plain as it did in ancient times! These, however, are mere whispers!
But even a God's whispers are enough to cloud and manipulate a person's mind. Or their equilibrium."
He laughed and turned to the students.
"Everyone! It's time to begin!"
In perfect unison, the students began to hold a single note, each student singing a different one. One rang a bell, followed by the student on their left, and the next student after that.
The ringing traveled in a circle as they continued singing. They never stopped to breathe. It made no sense. Rex laid there in a daze as Erwin watched expectantly.
Rex could swear the noise was getting louder and louder, the bells getting faster and faster. Thundering in his ears when suddenly the students stopped.
From the ancient bell came an impossibly deep ring. No sound should be able to be so low. Rex felt it reverberate through his entire body. The very whole of his being.
It made him feel so heavy. So hollow. He felt as though he couldn't breathe. The ringing continued.
"Can you feel it, Mr. Lemaign? Can you feel the voice of Bhent in your soul? Let it wash over you." Erwin said blissfully
Rex could feel himself slipping away, sinking into a void, all the while being shaken by the ringing. With every fiber of his being he fought, his hand slowly and arduously reaching into his jacket.
Erwin was too distracted to notice as Rex pulled out his revolver. He could barely hold it up now, he would only get one shot. Erwin turned to Rex, saw his arm raised and shrieked.
A loud crack broke the air and the ancient bell cracked and crumbled. The students collapsed and the deep ringing shifted up with a continuous metallic shriek filling the air.
Erwin screamed, but Rex couldn't hear it. He could only watch as Erwin fell to his knees and covered his now bleeding ears. He started to claw at them, shouting something.
He frantically scratched and tore away at the sides of his head, the blood pouring over his hands, as if trying to get the sound out.
Finally, almost mercifully, Rex watched the back of the Professor's head exploded outwards and the sound abruptly ceased.
Sound returned to the world, and Rex gasped for air
Rex Lemaign sat in his office. The bottles were gone. His belongings straightened out. He was still coming to terms with what happened.
The kids were alright. They didn't seem to have any real memories of what happened. The official story ended up being that Erwin became obsessed with the cults he researched.
Started using drugs and hypnosis to control the students. Eventually he committed ritual suicide.
Mr. Wentworth was thankful for his daughter's safety, and used his influence to keep Rex free of any possible blame or accusations.
He also promised that Rex would be hearing from him in the future. He reached into a bag and pulled out a book he just bought.
'Lost Myths and Legends', by Douglas Erwin.
As he read, he could swear he heard something. Far away. Just beyond the edge of hearing, but he was sure it was there
Bells.