Ding, ding.
After a while, longer than usual, the bell chimed, making the same sound.
'Weird, it's as if the bell hesitated.' Harlow glanced at the white handkerchief and saw that it was just as he had left it. Immediately, his instincts began telling him that something was wrong, not with the bell, but with the person in question.
However, he couldn't point at what exactly was wrong with Theodore.
'It took longer than usual this time. Is that a sign that I lied?' Not bothered by what might happen to him if he was caught lying, Theodore was somewhat hoping that he was caught, just to affirm his theory.
Ding.
The bell chimed once again, signifying to Harlow that the interview with Theodore was over. The white handkerchief under the silver bell began turning green, as if drops of dye were raining upon it. And at the same time, Harlow's skin looked a bit greener than it was before the interview.
With a slight grunt, Harlow stood up from the chair before reaching for the bell and handkerchief. As soon as the bell was lifted off the handkerchief, the green on it began vanishing.
This stunned and interested Theodore, but he couldn't show his interest in the acts of these devil worshippers. Although he didn't want to believe that they were truly devil worshippers, he wasn't as unhinged as most of this city, there is always a logical explanation; he only saw the things that they do as a type of science that a normal person wouldn't be able to understand.
In an attempt to hide his polarizing perspective of the devil worshippers, he pinched the bridge of his nose and shut his eyes, before massaging his temples, pretending as if he had just developed a headache.
'One can never be too careful now. It will look bad on me if I come off as a fanatic of the devil worshippers.' Theodore cautioned himself, trying to reel in his curiosity...
From the corner of his eyes, Harlow saw everything that Theodore did and he pegged it as an after-effect of being able to hear the chime of the bell. 'He really is a normal anomaly. Time to erase his memory.'
Harlow pocketed the handkerchief but stuck out the bell and brought it closer to Theodore's face. On its own, the bell trembled, producing a hymn that made Theodore feel light-headed. He started feeling sleepy and in seconds, he gave into the hymn of the silver bell and passed out.
"Onto the next person." Harlow sighed and walked out of the room…
While pacing around the room that he had been locked in, Matthew couldn't help but feel nervous and why? Well because he was guilty, but not guilty of a crime that Sir Kenneth was aware of, at least not yet.
Matthew was afraid of being caught tonight, his initial plan didn't include being interrogated. He planned to steal the blueprints and bail, never coming back to the factory. He was going to sell the blueprints in an underground market and then move away to a better life all in the same night.
His plan sounded well put in his mind when he first made it, in fact, it would have gone smoothly if not for his ignorance.
Matthew never really cared to read the notice that was posted in the factory whenever it was posted, he usually heard its details from those who worked around him. The only thing he was aware of was his job, his salary, and his shift time.
He didn't care to learn more about what was happening. Although he was aware of the killings that had been happening, he didn't care about it as it had nothing to do with him or his plans.
However, Matthew couldn't be more wrong, the killings wouldn't have affected his plans if not for his ignorance. His plan would have succeeded.
Matthew came in early today, his position in the factory was to tend to a few appointed stoves, and then assist the head blacksmith in moving heavy machinery.
Despite his rashness, he was rather strong for someone with his build and age.
Usually, Matthew dressed light in the factory due to the heat, but for the past week, he made sure that he had his old, brown leather pants on, with a shirt that he could tuck in.
It was only a week ago that he had overheard the big boss and the head blacksmith talking about blueprints that had just been delivered to the factory. He overheard them saying that the blueprints could sell for an astronomical price in the black market and how they were also tempted to steal it, but since it was a property of Sir Kenneth, they didn't dare to.
What piqued his interest the most was the statement they made about the blueprints bringing a change and a revolution to the world of mechanics.
As someone who used to be in love with the intricacies of machines, Matthew felt the urge to take a peep at the blueprints first, just to satisfy his curiosity. That same day he easily got access to it and although he was only able to see one of the blueprints properly, its content amazed him.
He even felt that the big boss and the head blacksmith were underplaying the changes that the blueprint could bring to the world if it was publicized. It was then that his greed hit and it was from that day that he made his plans. Out of the 9 blueprints, he stole 7 of them tonight but had only had the chance to peek at one of them.
Matthew hid the blueprints in his shirt, and although the material of the blueprint seemed to be waterproof, he was scared that his sweat was destroying the contents of them.
While he was in his thoughts and slowly regretting his actions, the door to the room opened and Harlow stepped in…
"Good, he looks dumber than the rest," Harlow said out loud as he walked into the next room, the last room by his calculations.
"Hey!" Mathew said defiantly. Facing the man who just walked in.
"You can't…" the words left Matthew's mouth in bits "Say that about…" As he took in all the weirdness that was Harlow's appearance "Someone."
He paused for a minute, fully scanning Harlow.
"Why, do you look like that?" Matthew said, looking perplexed.
Harlow paused in his stride, a bit surprised that Matthew voiced out his thoughts.
Because of his menacing appearance, most people tend to keep such questions to themselves whenever they are around him. Harlow continued to the chair opposite the one Matthew was meant to be seated on.
Harlow brought out the white handkerchief and the silver bell, ritualistically placing them on the ground before taking his seat. He looked at Matthew, who refused to take a seat and was slowly moving closer to the wall of the room.
"Are you a cult member?" He nervously asked.
From the moment he saw Harlow bring out the bell and handkerchief, his heart felt uneasy, and although he wasn't knowledgeable about the ways of the 'devil worshippers' he could tell that in looks and demeanor, Harlow wasn't far off. He was the textbook cult man archetype.
"It is none of your business. Take a seat. I don't have all night." Harlow dismissed.
'This one, he's just like the other one that could hear the bell chime. Another one with a great talent for the mystics, or…" Harlow reasoned.
He could see the dust-like specks of light swirling around Matthew as he did Theodore.
Matthew was skeptical, his guts kept on telling him to leave the room, but he was sure that he wouldn't be able to get out easily.
'Well fuck it. The only way out is through. If he finds out that I stole some of the blueprints, I'll just feign ignorance and act like I don't know how it got here. What's he going to do to me, kill me? It wouldn't be that easy.' Fool-heartedly, he thought before making his way to the empty chair and taking a seat.
He wanted to fake his confidence, bravely staring into Harlow's unusual pupils.
Immediately he did this, his bladder felt full and the urge to pee overcame him.
Matthew turned his gaze to the ground, regretting his decision.
"Your name?" Harlow asked, ignoring Matthew's foolish acts.
"Matthew, why? What's it to you?" Mathew blurted out without any thought.
Ding, ding.
The bell chimed, causing Matthew to yelp. 'Damn that's eerie,' He thought to himself as he eyed the silver bell.
'As expected, he can also hear the bell chime.' Harlow said to himself as he glanced at the handkerchief underneath the silver bell, checking to see if there was a different color on it.
"Your age?" He asked after inspecting the handkerchief.
"22… years, I'll be 23 in December. Is this even necessary? What does this have to do with the dead people?" Matthew blurted out, feeling more anxious the longer he stayed in the room with Harlow.
Ding, ding.
The bell chimed again, causing Matthew to flinch. 'Why the fuck is this thing ringing on its own?' He found the silver bell to be annoying.
"Firstly, I am the one asking the questions. Do not speak if you are not spoken to, give direct answers, and avoid giving vague ones. And also, this is my job, I know how to do it." Harlow said sternly.
"Well, to me, it doesn't look like you know how to do your job." He muttered as he folded his arms across his chest, turning his gaze to the metallic walls.
Ding, ding.
The bell seemed to have agreed with Matthew's comment.
This time Matthew didn't react to the chime of the silver bell.