The bell did not just fade it stayed in the storm long after the figure was gone
Jennifer stood at the edge of the cliff rain soaking her clothes her heart hammering against her ribs The Arabian Sea below writhed dark and violent waves crashing into the rocks with a force that sent salt into her mouth and throat
Wait she shouted but the wind carried her voice away as if it never existed
Her flashlight cut through the storm painting jagged rocks and thrashing trees but there was no trace of him No footprint no shadow not even warmth left behind Only the bell sounding again low and heavy as if it rose straight from the ocean
Lightning split the sky and for an instant something glinted on the cliff face
She dropped to her knees reaching with wet shaking hands and pulled a small pendant from between two stones It was bronze shaped like a conch shell strangely warm against her skin A thin chain dangled from it tangled up with a strip of crimson ribbon the same as the ribbon on the letters
The bell tolled again softer this time fading into the storm
Jennifer shoved the pendant into her pocket and backed away from the cliff The villa waited behind her massive and dark its windows flashing with light each time the sky ripped open
Inside the silence pressed even harder than the storm Water dripped from her clothes pooling on the cold marble as she left her shoes at the door Her heart pounded up the staircase pulling her toward the music room
The piano lid was closed The envelope she had left there was gone
Her breath caught She turned slowly scanning the shadows whispering
Who are you
Nothing answered Only the rain whispering against the shutters
Then her phone buzzed at last a signal