Sorry for the slow update... This was a tough chapter. Enjoy!

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Exodus

Chapter Six.

Will awoke with a startled cry, his eyes snapping open. He was breathing heavily, staring up at the wooden ceiling above him. His whole body was aching, but he didn't seem to be in too much pain. He struggled to remember where he was, and what he was doing there. He rubbed at his eyes, looking down at the blanket pulled up tightly to his neck. So, he was tucked up in bed. But where? He glanced to his left, noting the small table beside his bed. Was he back in his motel room? No. This wasn't his room. This wasn't that church either. He was somewhere new.

The church...

Like a slideshow in his mind, it all came flooding back to him. Horror after horror, he saw it all. And he remembered.

Joe had knocked him out. Taken him.

All those people. Screaming and shouting, wanting him harmed.

Rephael smiling down at him.

The fear. The terror.

"Witch!"

The rape. The pain as he had thrusted into him. The feeling of helplessness and shame. The humiliation as his body was used against him.

The sharpness of the knife against his throat...

And then... Oh God...

He had come for him. He'd killed them all.

Lecter.

With a horrified sob, Will sat bolt upright and he was suddenly hit with waves of agony. He cried out, the pain too much for him to cope with. He lay back down, whimpering, waiting for the agony to subside.

Just as he felt it beginning to ease off, he suddenly realised that he was not alone. Someone was watching.

He was there.

"You need to rest."

The hated voice came out of the darkness, surrounding him, and Will let out a low gasp, leaning back against the wall. He watched, horror-struck as Lecter walked out of shadows. Will was just able to make out his satisfied smile as he crossed to the window, and pulled open the blinds. The morning light lit up the room, and Will whimpered, protecting his eyes. Hannibal moved closer, only to pause when Will edged his way even further into the wall. "I gave you a small dose of morphine to relieve the pain." Hannibal told him, keeping his distance, much to Will's relief. "You will feel light-headed and nauseous for a short while, so no sudden movements." He tilted his head slightly. "You will be okay."

Will managed a humourless smile at that. "I'd hoped it had all been a sick nightmare." He croaked, staring up at the ceiling. "Especially the part where you appeared."

Lecter's tone was suddenly more clipped. "I saved you, Will."

Will shrugged.

"Did you?" Another cold smile. "How long have I been here?"

"Four hours. It's five am."

Will blinked. "Jack will find out I'm gone soon. He'll be looking for me-"

A smirk crept onto Hannibal's face. "As we both know, Jack has a tendency to miss what is right under his nose."

Will bristled at the slight against his friend, but didn't push the point. He changed tack.

"How did you know where to find me?" He swallowed down his fear. "Don't tell me that you smelt me."

Hannibal smiled. "I have been in this town for a few days." He replied. "In fact, I arrived before you did."

Will shivered.

'He'd been right.'

He had sensed Lecter's presence from the second he walked into that damned town.

He wished he'd had the sense to walk away...

"I've been watching you and Jack for some time. I've been very interested in your efforts and ideas to track me down." There was unmistakable pride in his tone. Hearing it chilled Will to his core. "Some of your theories to my whereabouts and actions have been very imaginative, Will. I've been most impressed."

Will's smile was more of a grimace. "Your little toy hasn't quite run out of batteries yet."

Lecter didn't respond.

Will looked away.

He was very aware that Hannibal would be finding his behaviour rude and was obviously overlooking it. Biting on his lip, Will asked. "Why didn't you leave when you saw us? I assume you didn't want to be caught?"

"Not at all." Lecter offered. He lowered his voice. "But I did want to see you."

Will couldn't help himself. He actually started to laugh. Eventually, the grim laugh turned into painful hacking coughs. Lecter was suddenly by Will's side, taking hold of his arm, and handing him a glass of water.

At long last, Will's eyes met Lecter's.

The gazed at each other. As ever, Lecter's expression was unreadable. Will knew he would be an open book to the doctor and he didn't give a damn. He was thinking back to that church, and to what the boy Joe had yelled at Hannibal, just before all Hell had broken loose.

His words played over and over in Will's mind. And they were loud and clear.

"I trusted you! I did what you asked!"

Will could feel the rage building up inside him again. The darkness that threatened to consume him, if he were to give into it. And, right at that moment, how he wanted to.

"You knew him."

Lecter said nothing.

Will's anger increased. "You told him about me, didn't you? Led them right to me? You let them think that I was a witch, and that's why they chose to "cleanse" me. Because you handed me to them on a plate." He was shaking. "You twisted sonovabitch!"

Hannibal didn't budge.

"Will, I must ask you again to calm down. You have been through an ordeal-"

Will laughed bitterly again, as he attempted to sit up. "You're damned right!"

"I suggest you listen to me," Hannibal told him. "If you attempt to move, you will only fall down again."

Will didn't care.

"Why?" Will snapped, ignoring his doctor's words. "Why did you do it?"

Lecter actually had the good grace to look slightly unsure. He even fiddled momentarily with his tie. "I needed to get you alone, away from Jack. I wanted to talk to you."

Will shook his head, disbelieving.

'He wanted to talk?'

As he waited for that revelation to sink in, Hannibal paused, before adding: "And I wanted to see how you would react."

Will froze. Turning his head, he finally met Hannibal's gaze.

There was a pause.

Finally, Will returned, "React to what?"

Hannibal didn't reply. He didn't need to. The unspoken truth was obvious.

Will's bottom lip trembled as he digested Lecter's words, and their meaning.

He was back there, in that church. Rephael was behind him, inside him. Contaminating him to his very core…

He was being pinned, he couldn't move. Rephael had hold of him so tightly, grunting in pleasure with every brutal thrust. Every movement by the crazed man was tearing him apart. Rephael was destroying him, and there was nothing Will could do about it. He was helpless...

This is how he was going to die… defiled and thrown away…

And then, he was back. And Lecter was watching him closely. Will closed his eyes, bringing his breathing back under control. He had to push aside the memories of his rape for now. He couldn't deal with that too. That was for another day. For now, all his attention had to be focused on the monster in the present, not in the past…

"You wanted to see how I'd react to being raped." He muttered. That rage was only building. He wanted to hit out, to hurt, to kill. But his body wouldn't obey. Instead, he asked: "How long were you there for before you bothered to show yourself?"

Hannibal's lips twitched. "I had to wait for the perfect moment, Will."

Will wasn't listening. He was glaring at Hannibal with horrified realisation.

"You watched him rape me." It was a statement, not a question.

Lecter frowned. Before he had the chance to speak, Will tore into him. "You stood there, out of sight, watching as they humiliated me." He was trembling. "Did you enjoy it? Did you get aroused watching him sticking his prick into me?" Will was fighting back tears he refused to allow to spill. "Answer me!"

Lecter shifted, showing an uncharacteristic sign of uncertainty. "I didn't have the opportunity to-

"Did you enjoy it?"

"No." Lecter answered. "I did not." His lips twitched. "As I hope my response to their actions proved.

The younger man took a few deep breaths, composing himself, before adding: "Don't you lie to me."

There was a beat as they gazed at each other.

"I promise you, Will." Lecter's tone was steady. "If I had acted sooner, Joe would have easily slit your throat with his knife, the knife he eventually handed to his father, before I could even get to you." He blinked. "I'm sorry I couldn't prevent what they did to you."

Will was staring up at him. He had listened as Hannibal had spoken, chewing on his lower lip. Once the older man had finished, he whispered, his hands balled into fists as his side. "Just this once, Doctor Lecter, could you please not fucking lie to me?!"

Lecter grimaced at the coarse language.

He held up a hand, in an effort to contain Will's anger.

"Calm down, Will."

But the softly spoken instruction only proved to incense Will all the more.

He couldn't deal with this any longer. He wouldn't. He would not be manipulated by this demon again. Those people back at the church, with the exception of Rephael and Joe, all those dead people; they may have been brainwashed into committing a vile act. They had been twisted in their desire to do right.

But Hannibal Lecter was on another level of evil to them.

This time, Will would stop him.

Hissing furiously, he lunged toward Hannibal, scratching red lines down the side of his face, digging into his flesh like a terrified, trappedanimal. Hannibal recoiled slightly in surprise at the unexpected attack. Seeing his small opportunity, Will rolled over onto his side, grunting in agony when his body shouted its outrage at the sudden movement. Ignoring the pain, Will groped for the table beside his bed, saw the discarded glass sitting atop it, and grabbed for it. Hannibal wiped at the blood on his cheek, glaring at Will. With a cry of effort, the younger man smashed the glass against the table, leaving a sharp edge. He then attempted to stab at Hannibal, but Lecter saw the blow coming. With an impatient frown, he grabbed at it, ripping the impromptu weapon free from Will's grasp. Will continued his attack regardless, trying to grab for the glass once more, until Lecter had him pinned helplessly beneath him. The weapon, and Will's only chance of escape, was safely out of Will's reach.

Will cried out, trying to kick out at his captor, desperate to get him away.

"Get off me! Get OFF!"

"You must stop, Will. You need to rest after-"

Will was not listening. He continued to struggle weakly against Lecter, hitting out at him, but he was so lethargic from the drugs, not one punch had any effect.

Will was already tiring as he spat insults to the man that had ruined his life.

"You let them take me. You let him rape me. You son of a bitch. You let them-"

Lecter, holding Will's wrists tightly, let him shout and writhe, allowing him to tire himself out.

Will eventually grew still, stared up at him, his breathing now laboured sobs. He was fighting back tears as he looked into the eyes of the monster he had once been naïve enough to call "friend."

"Why did you do that to me? Why did you do any of it?"

Lecter searched his face. Will glared back, waiting for his answer.

"To make you see."

Will blinked.

"What does that mean?"

Hannibal finally glanced down, and walked around the side of the bed, until he was standing directly beside Will.

Will stared up him, his insides churning.

Hannibal gave him a small, nervous smile.

"I want you to come with me."

Will's eyes widened. That was not what he had been expecting.

Maybe he'd heard wrong?

"What?"

Hannibal took a step forward, his shoes now touching the bottom of the bed. "Come with me, Will. I want you to become the person you were born to be. You have buried your true nature as deeply as you can and I believe I can help you find it again." He paused, as if searching for the best words. "I want you to leave this place and come away with me." He extended his arm toward Will, who instantly recoiled, so Hannibal stopped. "Let us find the answers together."

Will gaped up at him for a few moments. Then suddenly, inexplicably, considering his situation, he burst out laughing.

Hannibal stood perfectly still, waiting for Will's hysterical reaction to cease.

Finally, Will grew silent. Shaking, he covered his face with his hands.

He replied, with a sigh: "Even you think I'd go anywhere with you by choice, you're even more insane than I thought." Will lowered his hands, and eyed Hannibal with disdain. "If that's actually even possible."

Hannibal ignored him. "If only you could see what I see when I look at you, Will. You have no idea how special, how beautiful, you truly are." He reached down and picked up the broken glass Will had tried to attack him with. He toyed with it, slicing the top of his forefinger, drawing blood. He stared down at crimson liquid, and then placed his finger in his mouth and licked. His eyes then met Will's once more. "You are afraid of what you don't understand. Of what is inside of you. You have nothing to be frightened or ashamed of, Will. There is so much more to you than what they, what Jack, have turned you into."

"Stop it," Will snapped.

"You are scared to give in to your true self, Will." He pressed. "You and I, my friend. We are the same."

Before Hannibal could stop him, Will grabbed at the broken glass, and with all his remaining strength, he lobbed it at Hannibal, who ducked. The glass hit the far wall, where it shattered into a million pieces.

"Don't you ever say that to me! I'm nothing like you! I'm not insane!"

Hannibal stared at the wall for a few moments, then down at the shards of glass lying on the carpet, and then turned back to Will, his face passive.

"That was rude, Will. I must confess I find myself disappointed."

Will let out a cold chuckle, closing his eyes. "You can't make me do what you want, Lecter. Not anymore. You can't make me leave this place with you willingly. There's nothing more you can do to me."

Lecter's eyes narrowed as he regarded the stubborn younger man.

"There's always something else I can do, William."

Will glowered at him. "Fine. Go ahead. Do what you do best, you sick bastard, and kill me. Like Beverly and Abigail. Finish it!"

Something flickered across Lecter's face. It was only there for a moment, but Will saw it. Anger Pure, unadulterated fury. He'd gotten to him at last. Finally, Will had something he could work with.

Hannibal tilted his head slightly, clearly attempting to keep his anger in check. "You're being very foolish, Will. Quite unbecoming of you. I will not abide rudeness, not even from you. I would have hoped you'd have done me the courtesy of remembering that."

"Don't come near me then." Will retorted.

Lecter sighed, and then reached out, firmly taking hold of Will's chin, forcing him to look at him.

"I want you listen to me, Will. You are not making this very easy."

Will was disgusted. Did Lecter expect him to go quietly? Fuck that. He began to thrash about, trying to force his body to move, desperate to get Hannibal away from him. Unfortunately, he was still too weak, too beaten, and Lecter was easily able to restrain him.

Holding Will down by his shoulders, Hannibal again attempted to calm the younger man.

"You need to stop these pointless tantrums, Will."

"Go to hell."

Hannibal frowned. "The only person you are hurting is yourself."

Will stared up at him with wide eyes. How did he have the audacity?

Then, rage seized him once more.

Against his better judgement, and sickened by Lecter's close proximity to him, Will did the only thing he could think of to force him away.

He spat on him, hitting him square on his cheek.

Silence fell.

Hannibal eyed Will for a moment, who gazed back, breathing hard. Hannibal then wiped at the flem on his cheek. With a smirk playing on his lips, he then licked at his fingers, keeping eye contact with Will as he did so.

"I hate you." Will whispered. "Just the sound of your name makes me want to vomit, doctor."

Hannibal's eyes narrowed. His lips twitched.

With a growl, he once again pinned Will down to the mattress, though this time he wasn't so concerned about not hurting the younger man. He straddled Will, almost crushing him with his weight. He leaned down onto him, his teeth bared, as if he planned to bite him.

Will closed his eyes, waiting for the doctor to tear out his throat.

He was stunned when he felt cold lips pressing gently against his own. His eyes sprang open, and he gaped.

After a few seconds, Hannibal drew back. He regarded Will closely, a tiny smile playing on his lips.

Will, meanwhile, was trembling. It was a real battle for him not to lose control completely. He was aghast. This was just another violation, to go with everything he had suffered that night. He stared up at Lecter with hatred.

"I'm nothing like you." He repeated, softly. "And I never will be."

"Come with me, Will."

"Never."

Hannibal stared at him. Will stared back, unblinking, controlling his breathing.

Finally, Lecter seemed to give in.

He gave Will a sad, resigned smile.

"I accept that this was too soon. I hoped you would feel some gratitude for what I risked for you tonight. I see I gave you too much credit."

Will couldn't actually form words. He stared up at Hannibal, not quite believing the man had the nerve.

"Jack's influence on you is clear to see, Will." He bowed his head sadly. "There is nothing more to say here today. You will have to discover the answers on your own, I'm afraid." His eyes bored into Will's. "When you do, I'll be waiting."

As Will watched, Hannibal placed his hand inside his jacket, and pulled out a small box. He opened it carefully, to reveal a set of syringes. He lifted one up, looked at it, and then smiled back down at Will.

"What is that?" Will eyed it with dread. "More morphine? Is it safe?"

"I'm sorry I couldn't convince you, Will..."

Panic seized Will. He tried to pull away, but he had nowhere to go.

"Doctor Lecter, please… wait..."

Hannibal raised an eyebrow. "Some respect at last, William? We are finally getting somewhere..." He smiled. "I assure you I am always very careful with your doses. You will sleep, and then, once you have recovered, you will be fine."

He leaned forward quickly, injecting the drug into Will's arm. Within seconds, the younger man could feel that wonderful nothingness descending to claim him once more. He knew he should fight it, that he should fight Lecter, but that desire to give in was just too strong.

He needed to close his eyes. The sleep would do him good...

Lecter stroked Will's hair, watching as he slipped into unconsciousness once more.

"I must leave you now, my dear. There is something I need to attend to." There was regret in his tone as he whispered: "Goodbye, Will."

Will couldn't resist the pull of that darkness. As he allowed himself to fall into the blessed blackness, the last thing he heard was Lecter's quiet voice, already so far away, calling to him...

"Until the next time, my friend."

TBC