Author note: Yet again sorry for the wait but I'm trying to get into a routine of posting just once a week. That might help make the chapters longer, so it is a good thing! I still have a POLL OPEN in my profile if you wish to vote on what I might work on next. So feel free to head on over there.
Disclaimer: I own nothing to do with the television show Hannibal
Waking to the vibration from the car, Will rubbed his eyes looking around. They were still driving it seemed. As he turned his head looking out the window he could see it was night already and they were on a deserted road, trees passing on both sides. Looking to his left he saw Crawford sitting straight in his seat with his eyes closed. Getting back into a comfortable position, he drifted back off.
Blinding light flashing through his eyelids woke him the next time. Will sat up, stretching and looking out the window again. They were still driving but as he turned to Crawford, he saw that his companion was already awake and talking to the driver in a low murmur. After a few moments, Crawford noticed Will was awake and stopped talking to turn to him.
"We're almost there. It should only be another hour or so." Will nodded in response before turning and staring back out the window trying to figure out where they might be.
Glancing at Crawford he decided to ask, "So where are we going exactly?"
"Well, we have a couple of safe houses out of state up in the mountains I thought you might like. Just as a precaution since you know your way around the woods incase the unsub finds you again." All Will could do was nod. So they were bringing him out in the middle of nowhere where anything could happen, he thought to himself.
As they were turning into what looked to be a dirt road that was secluded and hard to find if you were not looking for it, Will sat up straighter looking around more. A couple minutes went by before he even saw the small little cabin he would be staying at for the duration of his time there unless something happened and he would have to leave. It was a pretty simple looking cabin. Made of thick logs, it looked to be only one bedroom with a small porch, if you could even call it that, more of a slight overhang. It was pushed back into a cluster of trees with different types of plants growing up and around it, some even spreading across the logs of the cabin and on the roof like camouflage.
The screen door looked rusty and ready to fall off any minute. Who ever said the houses the government kept to house people in were like warm cozy little homes were obviously lying their asses off. This place looked like any minute they were there Leather Face was going to come out of the woods with his chainsaw and turn them into dinner. Shivering at the image, he turned back to Crawford to ask him something when the car stopped and he immediately got out. Not wanting to be left alone, Will scurried out after him almost tripping over his own feet to try to keep up with Crawford's fast pace.
Making it to the front door, Crawford held open the screen door and the main one for Will to pass through before following him in. Turning to get a look at the place, Will gave a defeated sigh not believing he was staying here. Feeling any moment a mass murderer was going to come, what with all the animal heads hanging around. It was beginning to freak him out beyond belief. He was a hunter himself and enjoyed fishing but he never kept his kill, he always took what he needed and donated the rest. Along with all the flannel covering everything. This place was a hillbilly's wet dream and he was right in the middle of it.
Turning back to look at Crawford he saw the smirk on his face making him raise an eyebrow in question. At that, Crawford gave out a deep chuckle before walking forward and patting Will on the shoulder. "Don't worry, we aren't staying here the whole time. It's just a stopover. We need some rest too Will." He gave another chuckle before walking away to sit on the couch.
Letting out a sigh of relief, he walked around looking into the one bedroom and bathroom. They were not any better than the rest of the house. Do not get him wrong, he lived out in the woods but his house was at least up to date and a little less…southern murderish. Thinking of his house, he really missed it and it wasn't even that long since he had left it but the distance was daunting to him. Would he ever be able to go back and sleep in his own bed and play with the dogs or would he always be on the run never finding a place to call home?
He went back into the living room. Sitting in the single chair near the couch, he looked over at Crawford and the other person in the room before speaking up, "Who else knows where we are?"
Crawford glanced over at him before turning back to the television set. "Only the team and director. We didn't want anyone else outside knowing where we were just incase they might be watched."
Getting up and going to the small kitchen, Will looked around for something to eat seeing the place as stocked with the bare necessities. Groaning in annoyance he settled for a bowl of chicken flavored ramen and a glass of water. Finishing his meal in record time, though he had to force himself to eat it all, he went back to the living room. "I'm going to go to sleep. Wake me when you guys are ready to leave."
Crawford nodded to him, his eyes still locked onto the football game playing on the screen. Rolling his eyes and shaking his head, Will walked into the room closing the door behind him. Before getting into the bed, he checked to make sure the only window in the room was locked and the curtains were drawn shut. Finally making his way over to the bed, he stood next to it before he decided to just sleep on top of the blankets lest he catch something. Shifting around until he was comfortably was practically impossible to do. The bed seemed as though it was made out of a mound of lumpy dirt and it didn't smell any better either.
Finally rolling over on his back, Will laid staring at the ceiling counting the cracks in the plaster as the fan whirled overhead doing nothing to cool the room down. After some time his eyes began to drift, shut to the sound of the game Crawford was watching in the living room and the whir of the fan.
Knocking on the bedroom door brought Will out of his sleep. Standing and straightening his clothes, he opened the door to see Crawford and the other person whom he had yet to talk to standing in the kitchen. Walking up he took the cup Crawford handed him and went over to where the bowl of sugar was and made it the way he liked. Leaning against the table, he blew into his coffee waiting to be able to take a sip not wanting to burn his mouth. After finally getting some of the life's nectar into his stomach, he looked up glancing at Crawford. "So where to now?"
Crawford was leaning on the counter near the fridge drinking his own coffee before answering, "Well, we have a couple more hours heading north and once we hit the highway we are driving for about six more hours. Don't worry, we aren't driving straight through. I need something to eat and not from this shithole." Crawford let out a chuckle before walking to the sink and dumping the rest of his coffee down the drain and rinsing the cup out. Will followed Crawford's example in disposing of the rest of their liquid breakfast before both made their way out to the car where the other guy was already waiting.
As they started driving again, Will did not even spare a glance back at the cabin as it shrank in the rearview mirror wanting to forget that part of the journey. Sitting forward in his seat, he tapped the back of Crawford's seat getting his attention. "So the place we're heading is it better than that was?" he asked with a tinge of hope in his eyes.
Crawford chuckled again before saying, "It's a hell of alot better than that was. I don't even know what to call that place other than hell. Don't worry, just relax and take in the view. We'll stop in a couple of hours for a break." Will nodded in return before sitting back in his seat and looking out the window watching as the trees passed by.
It took some time before the trees began to thin out and slowly turned into buildings as they got closer to the city heading to the freeway. Before they actually made it, the car pulled into a diner with what seemed to be a sixties theme going on. Stepping out of the car after it had pulled into a decent parking space, they all made their way in taking a seat near the back, Crawford and the other guy sitting across from him. They took the menus the waitress gave them looking them over after she had taken their drink order and left.
Deciding what they wanted to eat the waitress came back and took their orders after delivering their beverages. They waited for their meals to arrive, making small talk about nothing, trying to avoid speaking about the case at hand. Will turned slightly looking around the diner noting all the sixties paraphernalia hanging on the walls and decorating the rest of the place. Only a handfull of patrons littered the place, none seemed suspicious or looked remotely how he thought the guy might look. Turning back to the table when their meal arrived they all said their thanks before digging in. No words were spoken as they shoveled food in just wanting this journey to be done already. Finishing up, they paid and made their way back on the road. Nothing of note happened for the next several hours, just random chit-chat to keep there from being a deafening silence in the enclosed space.
A phone ringing quieted them all down as Crawford answered. As he closed the phone with a deep sigh Will's stomach sunk knowing without a doubt it was bad news and it had to be about him. Crawford turned in his seat to face Will, his expression sullen as he took another deep sigh.
"It would seem the unsub has realized you are gone and has left another couple of bodies."
Will's eyes widened in surprise as he took in the information. "You mean he left more than one?"
"Yes, one is a male in his late twenties, African-American. The other is an early twenties, Caucasian male. Both less than five feet of each other but this time no messages just the intricate design but with pictures of you around the area instead of hidden. The victims were placed holding hands and the design from both bodies were interwoven together. Instead of using just the blood this time, he added some color to one of the bodies."
"So what are we going to do now?" Will questioned, stomach filling with regret at having two more people killed because of him.
"We continue on. I told you we wouldn't let him get to you." With that, Crawford ended the conversation facing forward in his seat turning slightly to talk to the driver.
Will zoned out of their conversation, instead choosing to focus on the new information he had just been given. As he sat trying to piece all the information together, the new and old a couple, more hours passed without words passing between anyone in the vehicle. As the miles went by separating them from the killer and any more victims that might be out there.
After some time Crawford turned his head slightly only enough to look back at Will. "We'll be there in about thirty minutes." Will nodded in reply, the only sign he had given in a while as he turned back to look out the window.
Pulling into another secluded driveway, Will prayed it would not be the same ramshackled cabin as before but the further they got down the road the more the house came into view. From what he could see through all the trees and foliage covering the place it was a pretty nice two story house nestled back into a group of trees. It had a wraparound porch that even had a swing on it. The house was an off white color with dark blue windowsills and a deep red door. How very patriotic of the former owners seeing as most of the houses the different agencies took was from criminals.
As they all stepped out of the car making their way up to the house, Will took his time to look around the property noting little foot paths winding through the trees and what looked to be a pond near the right back corner of the house. Everything seemed to be in perfect place, he thought taking in a deep breath as he closed his eyes hearing how quiet it was around here. As they made their way inside it was just as perfect as outside. The theme of the inside looked to be a comfortable modern with neutral colors and dim lighting. Heavy curtains covered the windows and there was a nice sized flat screen hung on the wall across from an overly plush couch. Making his way into the kitchen he saw everything was stainless steel with black granite counters.
As the two others stood in the foyer letting Will look around they exchanged conversation as Will continued on up a set of stairs to the second floor, hearing Crawford call behind him that his room was the one at the very end of the hallway. Going to the area he was told was his, he opened the door a small smile gracing his face as he took everything in. It was the complete opposite of the cabin, that much was true. Then he noted it had a similar feel to his actual bedroom giving the area a certain homey feel. Walking over and sitting on the bed, he realized he really had not had time to pack anything much before he left. He gave a sigh in agitation lying back on the bed staring at the ceiling. He was happy there were no ominous cracks in it or an annoying fan overhead. He sat up on the edge of the bed at hearing a knock on the door.
"Come in," Will said to whoever it was on the other side.
"I came to say goodbye," Crawford said as he made his way into the room to stand near Will. "I have to go back to help with the case. I just personally wanted to make sure you got here. Also another unit will be coming here besides Derek downstairs which made me realize I hadn't introduced you two yet anyways. The other unit will be bringing you some clothes so you can change. I'm also leaving you a cell phone," Crawford reached into his pocket pulling out a small cell and handing it to Will. "Remember when you talk to anyone keep it short and don't tell anyone where you are. You don't know if they are being watched."
Will nodded in understanding as Crawford walked over to Will patting him on the shoulder in a sign of comfort. "Be safe kid."
"I'll try. Let me know if you learn anything more about the case. I want to try and help as much as I can from here and if you could can you let me know how my dogs are doing by any chance, I know they must be scared not knowing what's going on." He looked up to Crawford seeing him nodding.
"Alright I'll see you later." With that Crawford left leaving Will alone in the house except for the guy, Derek, he hadn't even talked to yet. This was going to be loads of fun, he thought, rolling his eyes to the ceiling as he let out a chuckle. Oh, what he would not give to be back at home curled up with his dogs. Staring down at the phone in his hand, Will already knew the first person he was going to call. Flipping open the phone, he dialed the numbers and held the phone to his ear waiting to hear the sound of the phone ringing. Letting out a sigh of relief as he heard the sound of the others voice when the phone was answered after the third ring.
"Hello…" he heard from the other side.
And that's chapter fourteen. I wanted to show his journey away from everything, kind of the calm before the storm. So I hope you all like it. I'm sorry there is no Hannibal in this one but maybe he will be in the next.
I would like to remind you all that there is a POLL OPEN on my profile page if you want to vote on what I should write next.
Also I love reviews! However if you don't like leaving reviews on here you can always hit me up on my tumblr at belaildawn . tumblr . com (Just remove the spaces and I'll be there) Till next time, hope you guys enjoyed!