Chapter 7

Darkness

Hannibal stole glances at Clarice from the side mirror of the car that angled just right so he could see her face staring out the window with those unimaginably blue eyes that moved relentlessly on wherever they pleased. The car was moving fast, with Will at the wheel going exactly where they needed to go. Hannibal was not used to being in control of where he was going, but the atmosphere from Will and Clarice set him at ease that he was still in a way very much in control.

They were going to the first neighborhood to meet up with Jack Crawford and Beverly Katz to spread out and search the area for any possible attempts that Jame Gumb might try.

"You said the people that live in the house do not have a daughter?" Clarice said focusing on Will as he drove.

"Yes, but they have a niece that lives with them right now" Will said "And guess what she has?"

"Red hair" Clarice said shaking her head.

"What does he get out of having such a variety of girls?" Hannibal said outloud.

"He gets what he's always wanted" Clarice said "Girls that would do anything for him, girls he may have at one time fantasized about in his younger years."

"But why in that order?" Will said.

"His mother was blonde, that I do know" Clarice said "He often talked about her."

"And the other hair colors?" Hannibal said glancing back at her.

"He probably is just going in the order that the women hurt him the most, his mother was always first, I can only assume the other hair colors followed" Clarice said.

"So he lashes out on women that lashed out on him" Hannibal said "But why are they so young? You suppose he may be attracted to children?"

"No" Clarice said shaking her head "Children are just easier to control. He may have tried brainwashing women, but found them too strong. Children are easy to coax, easy to manipulate. He targets them because he needs control over them, absolute control."

"Which is why you escaped" Hannibal said softly.

"Which is why I escaped" Clarice said staring at the back of Hannibal.

Will talked about how Jack Crawford was trying to track down where the fishing line was purchased and how forensics had found traces of rock minerals in the house but Clarice was distracted as she stared at Hannibal from the backseat.

His features were handsome to her, his strong jaw line and intense eyes almost mesmerizing to look at. The rest of him looked distinguished, classy, and made Clarice feel frumpy and low classed whenever she stood around him. It didn't help that he was patient with her, gentle when he spoke, and looked at her as if she were fine art instead of a busy student.

Hannibal's eyes suddenly looked over at her through the mirror, and for a moment their eyes locked on to each other. Clarice could feel her heart pumping in her chest, the cavity walls fluttering as she couldn't break her stare with his. Hannibal felt the connection, felt the lightning bolt that struck between them in that moment. It made his skin come alive and a stirring deep within himself that he had not felt since he was very young.

Clarice suddenly bit her lip and looked away, which made Hannibal silently hiss to himself. He was losing control, losing his grip on things if he kept this up. Maybe he should kill Clarice, maybe he should end this torment...

"No" a deep resonating voice said within himself "She has given you all, and you would still take from her without giving nothing in return?"

Hannibal decided he would not kill Clarice...no, he could not kill her.

"We're here" Will said parking the car.

Hannibal felt himself move fast, his dark jacket being lightly put on over his silk white shirt as he moved towards where Jack Crawford and Beverly stood waiting on the sidewalk with Brian Zeller who had volunteered because he himself had a little sister and would not wish this kind of crime on anyone. Will followed close behind with Clarice at the back, her jeans and boots ready to trek around the neighborhood to find any sign of where Jame might be staking out.

"Dr. Lecter, nice to see you" Crawford said shaking Hannibal's hand "And you too Starling."

"Mr. Crawford" Clarice said shaking his hand "Thank you for keeping me on this case."

"We need your insight" Jack said his eyes looking at her expectantly "And I won't be surprised if we catch Mr. Gumb today."

Clarice felt rest assured at Crawford's confidence in her and looked over at Will with a hesitant smile. Will smiled back but Clarice noticed Dr. Lecter watching them both carefully.

Hannibal watched the exchange and for the first time in a long time jealousy rose in his chest like a bubbling wave. He wanted her smile, wanted those expectant eyes looking over to him for re assurance. The fact that Will smiled back at Clarice did not sit well with him either.

"The girls name is Hannah Jackson" Crawford said "She's six, a little younger than the last two girls, but her aunt and uncle tell that she has been having bad dreams, saying there is a man outside her window at night. We think this may be Jame Gumb and he's hiding out in this area."

"So the plan is to take teams of two and search the neighborhood" Beverly said pointing in several directions, her raven hair swept back in a ponytail "Look for any signs of stake out claims, that means empty houses, sheds, that sort of thing. We've informed the parents of the situation and they are keeping Hannah under a close eye."

"I'll go with Beverly" Crawford said "Will you go with Starling, and Dr. Lecter if you wouldn't mind going with Agent Zeller, we can get this ball rolling."

"Actually Jack if you wouldn't mind I will escort Ms. Starling in our search, it would seem unwise to have to like minded people going after something dangerous without a logical perspective joining them along the way" Hannibal said stepping forward.

Jack Crawford looked at the doctor for a moment before seeing his point. Having Clarice and Will together should they encounter Jame might not be the best move.

"Alright" Crawford said "Will go with Zeller and Starling will stay with Dr. Lecter."

Will seemed a bit perplexed at Hannibal's interference between him and Clarice as he watched Hannibal simply gesture to Clarice to follow as her feet moved towards him. Clarice gave Will a confused look as well before walking off with the doctor.

"You coming Graham?" Agent Zeller said expectantly.

"Yea" Will said shaking off his confusion and focusing on the job at hand "Let's go get him."


Hannibal followed close behind Clarice, watching the way her body moved and come alive at the very sound of something cracking around them. Night had fallen and Hannibal was growing anxious by being this close to Clarice for such a long period of time.

They had been searching for a couple hours, asking questions around the neighborhood and looking around empty houses that still waited to be put up for sale. Clarice remained adamant though that they would find at least one stake out place Jame might have set up to see the girl.

"Do you think we will actually find him?" Hannibal said looking around the empty alleyway between houses, the lawns separated by privacy fences as their feet marched through the tall grass.

"Maybe" Clarice said sniffing "Or we will catch him when he tries to go after Hannah."

"I admire your confidence" Hannibal said "This must feel like a personal crusade for you."

"You see a lot of things doctor" Clarice said turning to him "But don't over analyze me, I just want to keep this girl safe and hopefully save the others."

"You want to save your lambs Clarice" Hannibal said quietly as he moved closer to you "You want to save them so that you can sleep at night."

"How would you know-" Clarice started.

"You have bags under your eyes and you have been trying to stay awake for a little over two hours now" Hannibal said "I know the signs."

"I didn't sleep last night is all" Clarice said looking away from him "Come on, we are wasting time."

Hannibal watched her march away from him and felt rude for calling her out on how tired she really was. He quickly caught up to her as the chilled night air blew around them. Clarice stopped and looked around the houses, visibly shivering from the coldness of the dark.

Hannibal felt the stirring in his chest again as the streetlight illuminated Clarice face hauntingly, the pink blush of her cheeks and lips too inviting for him to resist. He drew closer to her and Clarice felt the heat of his body next to hers. She turned and looked up at him as he stared down at her with darkness in his eyes. What that darkness held, she didn't know, but it captivated her in a way that almost scared her.

"Here" he said taking off his jacket and wrapping it around her shoulders "You shouldn't be running around in the cold."

Clarice hugged the jacket against her as she held on to her flashlight firmly "Thank you" she said still looking up at him.

Hannibal wanted to stare down at her for eternity but the surroundings they were in were not ideal for his admiration of her in the dark. He looked up quickly and noticed the house they were in front of.

Clarice turned and sighed "It's Hannah's house."

"Yes" Hannibal said moving quickly towards it "And all the lights are on."

Clarice's eyes were wide in terror, realizing what the doctor meant.

The sound of Clarice's flashlight echoed in the empty street as the pounding of her feet slapped against the pavement, hoping, praying that she wasn't too late.