This story is dedicated to Kelly for her support and for sharing my obsession and fandom.
Blood and Love
A Story of Hannibal Lector
Hannibal
Everywhere had been dipped into greyscale in the night air. As I shut the door of my car behind me, I once again noticed the chill in the air, possibly due to the time of year, and the fact that the sun had already set in the sky. Locking the doors, I made my way over to the tennis courts. The main gate was locked, but it didn't take much effort to climb up over the chain link fence.
I tried to land lightly on the balls of my feet, so as to not make any noise. I managed to accomplish this as quietly as I was capable of. I pretended to bend down to tie my laces, and looked around me. As far as I could tell no one was around, apart from the pair waiting ahead of me I the shadows of the sports centre. There was a numb feeling beginning to creep up on me, the way it always did when I was facing my enemies. My body was preparing itself for feeling nothing as I mutilated them. However this time, for the first time, I felt afraid. I feared that I was simply walking to meet my death.
Grutas was waiting for me in court seven, the furthest away from any building and prying eyes. Next to him, my heart lurched as I saw Lady Murasaki tied to the fence beside him. Even though the night air was below freezing, he had dressed her in nothing but a small cotton dress. She was shivering, her hair quaking with the movement.
"Why are you alone?" Grutas demanded. He seemed almost livid that Maia was not with me. I smiled at him as I approached. It was a small smile of acceptance and contentment, which I was now beginning to feel.
"I have come to a decision Herr Grutas, and it is neither one which you so kindly offered me. Let Lady Murasaki go free, take me, and then never go near Maia. Once you have killed me you should have no reason to harm her." I explained, straining to keep my voice calm and clear. Grutas struggled to compose himself. He looked away quickly at Lady Murasaki, as did I. When our eyes met, she tried to mouth something to me, but I had turned back to Grutas. He was smiling.
"You are mistaken. As a matter of fact I was counting on it." He pointed behind me. "In fact...I have a present for you."
Maia
Meanwhile
I lay in bed until twelve; got up for a few hours before climbing back into bed again. I was fraught with worry. Hannibal had told me nothing about the business between him and Grutas. I was not under the impression that he no longer loved me; that would be highly unlikely considering how many times he had told me. However, I was considering the possibility that he did not want me being part of it. I shrugged under the covers. Oh well, everyone had their hobbies.
It was ten to six when there was a knock on the door. I was sat on the end of my bed already in my converses. I was playing with the hem of my long sleeved white t-shirt until it hung loosely over my jeans. Since I was too keyed up to sleep, I was more than able to answer the door.
A figure suddenly threw themselves at me, long black hair flailing. I found myself pinned to the floor, looking up into the eyes of a wild woman. She sat on my stomach her hands around my throat. I opened my mouth to shout out. This was a mistake. Something was shoved roughly into my mouth, a pill of some sort. Slowly, I became to feel my limbs go numb, the sensation sweeping through my body.
"Who...what..." I tried to say, but I was cut off not only by my lack of vigour, but by the gag that she was pressing against my mouth. She then taped it to the side with masking tape. As my thoughts became erratic, all I could think of was ripping that masking tape will sting like a bitch.
Suddenly, even the gag was not enough to hold back my scream. Through the fog in my brain, I felt the most excruciating pain imaginable. She had taken a long piece of metal, the end of which had been shaped into a point. It was this sharpened point which was now being embedded in my cheek. The blood began to trickle all the way down to my collarbone, pooling against my shirt. I tried desperately to struggle against her, thrashing with as much energy as I could muster, but the drug had already taken full effect. I limply swung my arm out, making light contact with her arm. She returned the favour by cutting deeper into my flesh, then pushing it out again on the other side. She did this again, like the metal was a needle and thread, and my skin was the cloth. But instead of pulling it out the other side, she left it there, weaving in and out of my cheek. Thankfully the drug spread to my face, and I found myself slipping into unconsciousness.
Hannibal
"You are mistaken. As a matter of fact I was counting on it." He pointed behind me. "In fact...I have a present for you."
I allowed my eyes to follow his finger. He was pointing to where I had come in, over the chain link fence, behind which was a car. At first sight it seemed parked, but the low rumble of the engine told me it was merely stationary. Grutas must have signalled in some way, as the driver suddenly revved the engine. With a loud crash and a screech of wheels, the car burst through the fence. It pulled to stop only feet from us.
The driver wore a mask so that I could not see their face, but the defined, sharp cheekbones gave them away to be a man. He pulled his gloves further up his arms, pushing them under the sleeves of his black sweater. He could not look at me, or Grutas.
I never took my eyes off of him, as he slinked to the back door of the car. Opening it, a girl fell out of the car. There was a dull thud as she hit the ground. The bag was removed from her head, and her long black curls tumbled out. My eyes opened wider, and my chest heaved as I tried to control my breathing. I glanced wildly from Lady Murasaki, still shivering and terrified, to Grutas. He saw the conflict on my face and smiled evilly. The black-clad henchman grabbed a fistful of Maia's hair, and I choked when I saw her face. Her eyes were closed, her mouth open ajar. Buried in her left cheek, were two metal rods, and on her right; three. They weaved in and out of her skin leaving exposed pieces of metal. The blood that had trickled down her face had now dried and she was left stained with her own blood. I clenched my teeth. My fault.
"Well Hannibal, you seem so emotional. This is very unexpected." From his tone, I could tell that this is exactly what he expected. "It is not common for a monster to have feelings. But I stray from the point." He walked over to Maia, holding her up by the arm. The henchmen let go, and under Grutas' silent command, he went to hold up Lady Murasaki in a similar way. They then threw both of them at my feet.
"Hannibal, don't listen to them!" Lady Murasaki sobbed. Grutas kicked her sharply with the point of his shoe. She whimpered, and my stomach lurched.
"Hannibal; we are going to kill one of them, then we will kill you, and then the last one. You must make another decision. Which one will you watch as she dies, and which one will be left to our mercy after she bears witness to your slow and very painful death?" It was obvious Grutas expected an answer quickly.
"You were wrong." I whispered. "You are the monster here." I spat on the ground to show my evident scorn and disgust for him. Grutas was livid. His lip quivered and his face screwed up. He nodded to his henchman.
Maia
My eyes flickered open. I had heard the whole sickened conversation, and now the drugs were wearing off. I searched the scene desperately for Hannibal, and when my eyes locked on with his, I felt safe, even though I felt my own blood crusting against my skin, my open flesh exposed to the cold air. Hannibal swallowed, but apart from that, I saw no emotion from him. I nodded slowly, trying to show him that I understood.
Before I could even move, Grutas's henchman acknowledged the gesture that Grutas had given him, and dropped me immediately. He marched over to Hannibal and swiftly punched him in the stomach. Hannibal groaned and doubled over, but his knees didn't tremble. He stayed standing, his back bent over; his neck arched...his eyes boring into mine.
"Hannibal." I gasped, seeing physical pain in his face for the first time. Grutas noticed that my eyes were open. He grinned evilly.
"Well, it seems I will have to make the decision for you. You will watch each other die. Lady Murasaki comes with me." He pulled a revolver out of his back pocket and pointed it at me, signalling for Henchman to do the same.
I never thought that moments like this would really go in slow motion, which was just in books. But it did. Henchman pulled out his own gun from his coat and aimed it at Hannibal's back. I didn't want to take my gaze away from Hannibal's, but instinct took over, so I pressed my face against the ground and hoped it would be quick.
The gunshot rang out.
I felt no physical pain.
Then the agony came.
I was alive, but there had been a gunshot.
Hannibal was dead, so I waited for death to save me.
I heard a clatter as a gun fell to the floor. I dared to look up. Hannibal was standing up straight, walking towards me. I smiled at him, although it hurt. Death had come to me. No, death didn't hurt this much.
I looked behind me, and saw Grutas sprawled across the ground, blood still dripping from the fresh bullet wound in his chest. Henchman lowered his gun, replacing it in his pocket.
I saw Henchman peel off his mask.
"Mr Carther?" I said, confused. I was looking at Loleia's father.
"I'll explain later." He said, helping Lady Murasaki into the car.
Hannibal pulled me to my feet, and held me for a few moments.
"Is it over?" I whispered. Hannibal pulled away from me. His voice was strained.
"Not yet." He said, his eyes tightening.
THIS IS NOT THE END! THE EXCITING PART IS TO COME! BE NOT DISSAPOINTED! Reviews please, no flames.