Chapter: Becoming Cautious
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The class were broken up in groups, doing a group discussion while Anastasia walked around the classroom around the groups, asking questions or answering questions. She walked back to the front desk and stood there for a few moments. Her eyes flickered down to her cellphone that poked out the side pocket of her backpack.
For the past few days, there appeared to be a hectic, rushing atmosphere. Such as everyone was rushing to get something done. She hadn't spoken to Will in a few days and there had been no words from Abigail which was a surprising to Anastasia. Usually the teenager tried to make some sort of contact with Anastasia. Then there was Hannibal. He was the only one to appear before her, but he too appeared to be rushing to get something done. But she knew why he was in the door one minute and out the next. It was because he was trying to break Will's sanity.
Her eyes glanced down at her wristwatch to see that there were only a few minutes left before the end of class. Dropping her hand down to her side, she turned to face the class.
"All right, we only have a couple minutes left. Wrap it up. As I mentioned before, the group that you are in is your group to do a class presentation for next week. If you have any questions, I have class hours after class today or you can send me an email. Thank you and have a good day." Anastasia said and turned to her desk when the students got up to arrange the desk back to their original spots.
A few students came up to question about the format of a presentation and while she answered, she saw in the upper parts of her eyes a figure standing nearby the back of the classroom. Her eyes flicker up to see that it was Hannibal. Looking back at her students, she answered their questions before they left to allow her to finish packing up her things.
She couldn't help but grin when a few female students that were exiting out of the classroom eyed Hannibal and giggle. Anastasia found it amusing how Hannibal drew eyes to him and made someone to fluster with a simple look.
"What was the discussions today?" Hannibal asked, holding open the door as Anastasia went to exit out of the classroom.
"The starting lines of the Emperors during Ancient Rome. Each group has an emperor that they have to talk about, their success, their downfalls and so forth."
"There were indeed successes and failures." Hannibal said and stared up at the sky when they stepped outside.
Anastasia noted that the last part of the sentence, his voice faded in a lower tone. She stared at him as he stared at the sky for a few moments and then looked ahead as they took the path to the building where her office was.
"What is going through that mind of yours, Hannibal?" Anastasia asked.
"If Jack comes by and asks you questions about Will or Abigail-"
"Or you." She cut in saying.
"Yes, or I, deny everything."
The two made their way into the building and were climbing up the stairs.
"I know how to handle Jack, Hannibal. Plus, Jack knows how I feel about Abigail and her father."
"Yes, but he could turn that against you."
"I would like to see him try." Anastasia paused on the platform and turned halfway to Hannibal, preventing him from stepping up to her level. She stood above him and stared down at him as he stared up from his spot on the stairs. She kept a stern face before turning away to walk out into the hallway balcony and to her office door.
"Will wants to confront Abigail privately."
"That's not a good idea, is it?" She said, stepping through the doorway of her office once she unlocked the door.
"No, I do not agree with what Will is requesting. He wants to delve into her mind the way that Jack wanted to do in the first place." Hannibal said as he stood in front of the wall that held pictures and framed sketches of landmarks in Rome.
"As of late, I noticed that you are on your toes more. Why is that?"
Hannibal turned away from the photos and sketches to watch her go around her desk, setting her backpack down behind it. She rested her hands on top of her desk and kept her eyes focused on every movement made by Hannibal as he walked toward her desk in a few long strides.
"After Will's release from the hospital, he appeared to see clearer."
"He will be gathering his thoughts of everything that happened him thus far. I can see why you are so alert this past week." Anastasia said, dropping herself back into her seat and watched Hannibal walk toward the windows that overlooked the pond.
Anastasia eyed the way that Hannibal stood tall as he always did, but she could see that his shoulders were raised more than usual. Immediately, she picked up that he was tensed. He had faced challenges before, but it was clear that he had never gotten this close to dancing around the fire. Will was the key to bringing Hannibal down and Hannibal knew that. Yet, he continue to play along with Will as he found Will intriguing, even as he was chipping away Will's sanity.
"Will wants to bring Abigail back home."
"And you disagree or agree?" Anastasia asked as she stood up from seat to walk around her desk, but came to a stop on the side of it and continued to stare at Hannibal.
"Disagree. I said that Will was seeing clearer and he wants to further question Abigail, especially about Nicholas Boyle."
"Oh, that isn't good."
"No, no it is not."
Anastasia came to stand off to the side of Hannibal leaving about eight feet of space between the two.
"What do you have planned for Abigail, Hannibal?"
"How do you know I have a plan set for Abigail?" Hannibal questioned in reply, turning his attention away from the windows and stared at her with a raised eyebrow.
"You're always steps ahead that's why." Anastasia looked away from staring out the window and turned her body toward Hannibal.
A low hum sound emitted from Hannibal and he turned back to the window, staring out the window with his hands tucked in his suit pant pockets. She closed the distance that was between them and came to stand beside him, staring out the window too.
"What will you do, Hannibal?"
"Do I hear concern in your voice for Abigail?"
"I am curious at the way you move across the chessboard. What runs through your mind as you make your move." Anastasia turned her head and stared up at him with curiosity running through her eyes.
The hand closest to her came out of his pocket and he turned the top of his body in her direction. His hand came up and his fingers ghosted over her jawline and then over her lower lip.
"You will see." Hannibal told her.
Anastasia should had guessed that Hannibal will not thoroughly explain his plans for Will or Abigail. But she had a feeling that all this madness with Abigail will be coming to an end. She saw that Hannibal was being extra cautious since Jack began to question about Hannibal without Hannibal knowledge. But Hannibal found out. She knew that Hannibal will always find out about anything if it involved him.
"Do you have office hours?"
"I do." Anastasia told him.
A small nod and slowly he faced her. The hand came back up to rest against the side of her face and Hannibal leaned down, pressing his lips a bit too softly, which made Anastasia suspicion, against her forehead. When he pulled away, he stared down at her with a blank expression and then he pulled away.
Anastasia stood back as she watched him leave her office without another word.
She stood there for a few moments and then she moved to her desk, sitting down behind it. Her hands came up to grab her laptop, but she paused and rested her hands palms down on the surface of her desk. Eyes narrowed as her mind began to race about Hannibal's actions just moments ago.
With everything going on, Anastasia felt a twinge in her stomach to watch herself. She had been so focus on being with Hannibal, she was unconsciously letting down her guard around him. It made her to question whether he had something planned with her. Was she involved in any of this? Will he do something that will put her in harm's way? Was she part of his plans all along without her knowing?
Immediately, Anastasia leaned back in her seat and shut her eyes as those thoughts ran through her mind. She had to be cautious in these days and weeks to come. There couldn't be any mistakes on her part. She will play along if Jack comes into question her about Hannibal, but she also felt as if she had to watch her back now.
A knock on the door made Anastasia to sit up straight in her chair and open her eyes, staring at the door.
"Come in."
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There were a group of students that sat around the front of her desk, discussing about the emperor they were assigned.
"I'm sorry to ask this, when was the first draft due professor?"
Anastasia pushed a few of her papers away from the desk calendar she had. The paper desk calendar was where she wrote down a lot of her class times, assignments and due dates. As she gazed at the calendar, her eyes paused on today's date.
Her eyes widen for a moment and her head shot up to hit the time on her laptop screen to make the calendar to come up to reassure herself that she had the today's date right.
"Professor?" A different student spoke out with clear concern in their tone.
The small group of students glanced at one another as Anastasia eyes went back and forth to the desk calendar to her laptop before her eyes shut. The students eyed her with concern when her body tensed up.
"Professor, are you all right?"
"I'm fine. Fine. The due date is the end of this week." Anastasia answered quickly, her eyes scanning over the desk calendar.
She sat back in her seat and ran her right hand through her hair, a shaky breath escaping her. She ignored her students expressions, but she had to recollect herself as if nothing was wrong.
Sitting back tall in her seat, Anastasia forced a smile on her lips and clasped her hands together on top of her desk.
"Now, let's continue talking about Augustus success in expanding the empire." Anastasia said, getting the group of students to show less concern for her actions moments ago and to focus back on the reason that they were here.
When the students left her office, there was only a minute left for her office hours. She rushed in packing her items and then she was rushing out of her office, locking it up. She rushed out of the building as quick as possible. The thought of the date today kept playing in her mind as she walked in long, quick strides across campus in the direction of the faculty and staff parking lot.
The date today kept echoing in her mind as she pulled her car out of the parking lot and almost pressed the gas pedal to the floor as she sped out onto the road.
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There was a small beeping sound.
A shaky breath and an equally shaking hand reached out to grab the device to lift slowly up into the pale green eyes line of view. A gasp escaped and the device dropped out of the hand, clattering in the sink.
A small whine from the side caused the pale green eyes to glance down at the maroon brown eyes of the German Shepherd that stare up with concern for its owner. The pale green eyes were wide similar to an owl and those eyes looked up at the mirror that hung over the sink. The reflections staring back with a disbelief expression.
The device rested in the sink with one word that changed so many things.
There were many thoughts running through the mind, wondering how to approach this.
One main thought that echoed through Anastasia's mind was how do you tell the man that was known as the Chesapeake Ripper by Jack and his team, that she was pregnant with his child.
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Hi Everyone,
Here was a new chapter after months of not posting.
Shocking chapter, but it also one where Anastasia was beginning to question her stand in all of the madness that will be happening with Will, Abigail and Hannibal. She knows how Hannibal is and saw how he was acting, thus, she will began to question her true intentions with Hannibal. It will also make Anastasia to bring out a side of her, (especially the shocking revelations at the end of this chapter), that will not have anyone walk over her.
Enjoy. Please Review.
Check out my other Hannibal stories and my other stories.
Thank You!