Before the news of Hannibal and the rest of the Murder Family's escape got into the papers, Pascal Popil passed away in his sleep. He died believing that the murderer who had plagued most of his young adult years was in prison. Popil died happy.
Lady Murasaki did not have that luxury. She read the entire story and it broke her heart even more than her nephew's capture had. With Hannibal locked up, she had at least been able to pretend that he might be getting some type of help.
Reading about all the carnage he had caused sickened her, especially because she knew he'd continue on with killing.
Lady Murasaki died several days later with a broken heart.
As she was laid to rest, Clarice woke up in a hospital.
She was alone and confused as she looked around. Clarice tried to sit up but it hurt to much and she quickly had to lay back down. Slowly, everything came back to her.
It was surprising she wasn't dead.
Hannibal's words ran through her head again and again. She'd thought for sure that he meant 'good night' as in death. Clarice had seen the look in his eyes. It was a farewell, a good bye. Despite this it appeared that he had saved her.
Clarice knew that if he'd left her she'd be dead from blood loss. Even if paramedics had arrived on the scene quick enough it was still extremely doubtful she would've survived.
As she debated whether or not to call in a nurse yet, the phone on the night stand was ringing. Clarice frowned. No one knew she was awake yet so who could possibly be calling?
She reached for it but had to stop as her wound stretched. The phone continued to ring and she reached a bit farther, finally taking hold of the chord. She pulled on it and the phone fell off the receiver. Clarice pulled up the phone by the chord and when she put it to her ear she was met with silence.
There wasn't even the sound of breathing on the other end so finally Clarice asked, "Hello?"
"Hello Clarice. How is my little Starling doing?" asked Hannibal from the other end.
Clarice gulped and then replied, "You saved me. Why?"
"No point in letting you die. Besides, I didn't have time to make a proper meal out of you anyway."
A shiver rolled down her spine. "But you could've left me there. Ms. Hobbs and Mr. Graham don't like me or at least don't really care for me. They probably would've been fine with letting me die."
"Abigail yes, Will actually sends his regards and apologizes for the whole shooting."
Some how Clarice didn't really believe that and even if Will had said that, it was probably because Hannibal had asked him to. "Where are you now Dr. Lecter?"
"Oh no, I won't be telling you that dear Clarice. This will be the last time we speak but I'll keep my eye on you. You'll do great things Clarice. I know that," Hannibal said.
The phone gave a small click as he hung up but Clarice didn't put the phone down. She was frozen, thinking about how she should tell Jack about all this. When a nurse finally came by she found Clarice still in the same position.
After having a doctor come in and do a quick check of her, Jack came by. He told her everything that happened even though she remembered all the details. Hannibal, Will, and Abigail had all escaped and no one knew where they were going.
"Do you have any ideas Starling?" asked Jack.
"No sir but there is something I need to tell you," Clarice said. She paused, more from the shock that it had actually happened than suspense. "Dr. Lecter called me. After his escape."
"When?" asked Jack quickly.
"Almost immediately after I woke up. He didn't tell me where he was and there wasn't any sound in the background to suggest where he might be. Dr. Lecter wasn't on long enough for a trace either and he promised that the conversation we had would be the last one we would have."
Jack was silent. Anger and pain went across his face as he finally said, "Is there anything else you can tell me Starling? Anything at all?"
"No sir."
"Then get some rest. I'll need you up and ready as soon as possible," replied Jack as he left.
The next few weeks were some of the hardest Clarice had ever gone through. Besides the obvious reasons, she also had a number of journalists trying to see her. Now there was a new woman, a new person who had 'survived Hannibal the Cannibal.' Freddie Lounds was the most persistent and annoying one of them.
Clarice didn't usually hate people on site but Freddie was one of the few.
Jack's mood wasn't helping either. Even though she didn't see him often, she knew everything must be getting to the man. Not only had an entire group of murders escaped but the Bachelor was still avoiding them and Jack's wife was dying.
Apparently Hannibal had sent Jack a letter after a few weeks, saying that he was sorry how soon Bella's death would be. Jack asked Clarice if she had shared any type of personal information involving Jack with Hannibal. Of course she hadn't and neither had Jack so it was a mystery how Hannibal could know how much worse Bella's condition was.
As Clarice became stronger and she left the hospital, she started going back to class. She did shooting practice even more often than normal too. It was doubtful that she would be asked to get back on the case for the Bachelor but that didn't mean Clarice should stop practicing.
She also met with Alana a few times. Some of the psychiatrists and special agents thought it might be a good idea, especially sense they had gone through the same experience. Clarice honestly hadn't found it that helpful though she did like Alana.
Though she wasn't fully healed, Clarice was surprised when Jack let her come back onto the case. She couldn't do to much, mostly paperwork, but at least she was doing something useful.
Freddie Lounds continued to annoy her until one day she simply didn't. No one seemed to know where she had gone or what had happened to her until Clarice received a letter. It read:
Dear Clarice,
I apologizing for letting it go on for so long. I had to take some time from America for a bit and simply couldn't deal with your problem. Miss Lounds will bother you no more however. I also see you've been hanging around Dr. Bloom. Send her my regards.
Hannibal Lecter M.D.
It was of course taken to the FBI at once but they didn't find anything. There weren't finger prints, hair, and the letter itself couldn't be traced back. It was a dead end and only made Clarice all the more irritated.
As they came closer and closer to catching the Bachelor, Clarice was able to think less and less of Hannibal. There was always sometime in the day when he would cross her mind but at least she could forget about him when she immersed herself in work.
One day, she was supposed to be reviewing people who had known the most recent victims. It was supposed to be a simple job and Clarice should've been back at the office before it got to dark outside.
However, she was not that lucky and one of the women she came across was none other than the killer.
The papers printed copy after copy as some lifted her up onto the highest pedestal and others blamed Jack for the danger she had gotten into. Clarice had to go to the hospital again, getting hurt but not mortally so in the fight.
On the first night she was able to sleep in her own bed, Clarice couldn't help but think about how glad she was that Freddie Lounds wasn't alive anymore. If she had been, her current situation would probably be even more stressful.
The thought sickened her a bit but Clarice couldn't deny that it was true.
