Chapter 41

Amelia was laying in a dark room made entirely of concrete. She had one arm chained to the wall and the other was left free for when the guards came in to feed her. It had been a full week since their abduction and Amelia had not seen Henry since they had been taken. She fought for them to stay together until one of the guards knocked her unconscious. She woke up dazed and confused. She heard one of the guards mention the day of the week so Amelia made sure to keep track of the passing time. She cried most days but was ignored by the men outside. Today was different however, there was a knock at the door and Amelia's head bolted upright looking around. She knew Hannibal and Clarice would come for their son. She also knew it was only a matter of time until she was considered useless in this situation and killed. Amelia had accepted that as the truth. She wanted nothing more than to live out her days in peace and perhaps have a family of her own, but time seemed to creep by in this place. The knocking persisted until Amelia answered, "Who is there?"

The door opened and a man walked through that Amelia was not familiar with.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Elijah. You are Amelia is that correct? Henry has told me much about you."

Amelia spat in his direction, "Where is he? Do you have any idea what you have done? His parents will come for you."

Elijah laughed, "Why yes Amelia, I know that. As a matter of fact I am counting on it. And the boy is fine. He has learned so much in a week's time already. Clever boy."

Amelia stood up as best she could with her arm still attached to the wall, "Leaned what? What have you done to him?"

"Done to him? Nothing. I have only shown him the truth."

"What truth?"

Elijah came closer, "The identity of his parents. What a pity his daddy has been lying to this poor boy."

"What? Why would you do such a thing? His parents have been nothing but loving to him. He isn't ready to know the truth!" Amelia stomped her foot, "That story isn't for you to tell. That story is for his father to tell. A sick twisted mind like yours….what did you say?"

Elijah responded, "No twists, no surprises, only the truth. Am I to take it Amelia that you knew their true identities this whole time? You know who his father is?"

"His father is Hannibal Lecter and his mother is Clarice Lecter."

Elijah winced, "Clarice….what?"

"LECTER!"

Elijah closed the distance between them and struck Amelia. She fell back to the ground, "Her name is Clarice Starling. That thing warped her mind and yours too apparently. What means do you have of sticking up for that thing."

"That thing….is more of a man than you could ever be! Kidnapping children and hurting the innocent…what good are people like you in this world, Elijah? I hope that when Hannibal gets here, he rips your throat out!"

Elijah smiled and turned to face the open door, "Have you heard all you need Henry?"

Amelia looked so confused as she glanced at the figure coming through the door. Henry approached with tears in his eyes.

"Henry you are ok! Come Henry, come to me!"

Henry stood at a distance and started fidgeting with the edge of his shirt, "So he wasn't lying? Hannibal is my dad? Why didn't he tell me? Why didn't you tell me?"

Amelia frowned, "Henry! Please whatever he has told you, your father is a great man and your mother is his love. You are his pride and joy Henry….please just listen to me."

Henry interrupted, "So my dad didn't really kill all those people? I just heard you say that you hope he rips Elijah's throat out. Why would you say that?"

Amelia panicked….Henry wasn't listening to her at all, "Henry, he took you from your parents. Your father has not and would never hurt you!"

"Then why would he do those things?"

Amelia glanced around the room, "Henry…your father….has done things yes…but when your father met your mother…he fell in love Henry. And that love gave them you."

"But why wouldn't he tell me?"

"He wanted to Henry…but he wanted to wait until you were older….so you could understand…"

"And my Mom….she worked for the FBI….why would she go with him? Elijah told me he drugged her. He said they found drugs at the crime scene from the house at Chesapeake when my Mom ran away. Why would my dad do that if he loved her?"

Henry was crying freely now. Amelia was at a loss for words. He was just so lost and confused.

Elijah approached Henry and placed his hand on his shoulder, "I know Henry, I know. It is a lot to take in…but I knew your trusted Amelia….I knew if you heard it from her, you would understand. Amelia wasn't with them in the beginning Henry. She came much later in life. Amelia had your father kill some people for her too Henry. That is why she is with you now, she doesn't have anywhere to go."

Amelia snapped, "That isn't true, Hannibal saved my life and my brother's life."

Henry gripped his hands so hard that his knuckles turned white, "My dad….still kills people? Why?"

Amelia snapped her fingers to get Henry's attention, "Henry, this man kidnapped you and me both. He has me chained to this wall. He is not a good man Henry. He is not. Please, please don't listen to him. I have been wrong about a lot of things in my life, and yes your father…he is no innocent Henry….no….but he loves your mother and he loves you more than anything else. He would do whatever it takes to make sure you both stay safe."

Henry raised his eyes to meet Amelia's, "I want to believe that I do…but I just don't understand…why he would do such a thing. Why he killed those nurses, police officers, all those people, and why he would use those drugs on my Mom. Why?"

"Henry those are answers that only your father can give you. I am sorry."

Elijah interrupted, "Henry, your father made you out of a false love. He made you from the number of times he drugged your mother. Amelia, is blinded by all of this. Henry, in this week's time we have been together, I have shown you records of your father's arrest, his time in jail, his time helping your mother solve her first case, his records from his recapture to now, and guess what Henry? He is still a killer. What do you think will happen when he tires of playing house with you and your mother? What do you think will happen when he is done? He is a monster Henry. True, I have brought you and Amelia here against your will. But I just wanted to show you who you have been living with all this time. Your mother and I were in love. He took her from me. He took her from me and drugged her. You were the child we should have had…not that, that monster."

Amelia shouted, "That is not true."

"Miss Amelia, your role came in far too late in this story to know. You could not know anything. I was with Clarice from the academy days. How would you know a damn thing about us hhmm?"

"Because Clarice and I are friends. The only one she cherished from the academy was Miss Mapp. Your name was never mentioned."

"It wasn't mentioned because she has been drugged and kept under a spell. His spell. Amelia our time is up I am afraid. I know you wouldn't understand. But Clarice is very, very special. She is the love of my life and Hannibal must be taken care of appropriately for the atrocities he has committed. I didn't kidnap Henry, I saved him. Leon come take the boy back to his room please."

A large man entered and took Henry back. But Henry was reaching out toward Amelia, "Wait! Amelia, what are you gonna do to Miss Amelia?"

Elijah turned back with the most pleasant of smiles, "Nothing to fear my boy, I just thought Miss Amelia here might want to join me on a little phone call to Hannibal."

Henry's eyes widened, "I want to talk to my Dad! Wait please!"

"I told you Henry….he is not your father. Never forget what he is Henry, never."

"And what is that?"

Elijah's smile was gone and he took on a more serious look, "A monster."

Leon took Henry out of the room and shut the door. Elijah turned his attention back to Amelia. He reached in his back pocket and pulled out a knife and a cell phone.

Amelia broke the silence, "This was never about Hannibal was it? This is some sick and twisted story you put together to take Clarice. That is what this is about? She will never, ever go with you."

Elijah crouched down til he was eye level with Amelia, "I have her child in my possession and once her husband is dead, I will be all she has left. You should know your story ends soon Amelia. But please, let's call them. It has been one week and I am sure they are worried."


Hannibal and Clarice were driving after the events at the warehouse with their new destination in mind. Hannibal drove while Clarice changed back into cargo pants and a black shirt. She got her gun ready and was just pulling her hair up into a ponytail when the phone rang. The caller ID showed up as unknown. Hannibal looked at Clarice and answered on the third ring.

"Hello Elijah."

"Hello Hannibal. I suppose if you know who I am already, then there isn't much need to explain."

Clarice chimed in, "Elijah, if you have a grudge to pick for your drug bust all those years ago then you come for me, not our son and leave Amelia out of this."

"Aaahhh Clarice. Why would I have a grudge with you? You were always serving justice, so virtuous. I remember in school you were always such a straight arrow. But no, I don't blame you Clarice. Actually, the only one I fault in this situation is Hannibal. I want him out of our lives. Henry is such a good boy, he should he ours Clarice, ours."

"Elijah! You are delusional, I swear if there is so much as a scratch on Henry, it isn't Hannibal you are going to fear but me."

"Ooohhh feisty. I like that. But I do have someone here for you to talk to."

The screams of Amelia flooded the phone.

Hannibal shouted, "Enough! Amelia, is not involved in any of this."

"Yes she is Lecter she is involved in all of it. I called to give you one last phone call with her before we kill her. Figured it was the right thing to do. So go on, I will give you but a moment."

Amelia cried, "Hannibal….Clarice….I consider it an honor to have worked with you both and Henry. I spoke to him today….he is alright. But he needs you both. Thank you so much. My last book I wrote for you both and I want you to read it. It is in my room in the purple box, top shelf in the closet. And the money that is left in there with the book is for my brother. I wrote a note for him, please deliver it. I am so sorry I couldn't better protect him. I tried… I tried so hard."

Clarice spoke, "Amelia we are coming to get you, we will get you out of there do you hear me Amelia we-"

Hannibal grabbed her hand and Clarice looked over. He was completely serious and had a sad look on his face. He looked her in the eyes and shook his head, Hannibal spoke, "Amelia, you always knew the risks by involving yourself with us. I appreciate everything you have ever done for our family. I am sorry you got involved truly, this was never our intention. We will get Henry back."

Amelia's voice sounded stronger, "Hannibal…please promise me one thing?"

"Yes."

"Make them suffer, for me….for Henry….for your wife."

"I promise."

A loud gunshot rang over the phone before the line disconnected. Clarice had tears welling up now. She looked over at Hannibal who had a cold look on his face. Unbeknownst to Elijah, Hannibal and Clarice were well on there way over to his hiding location. In the short time of a week, they both had already taken down 2 of his drug operations, killed around 15 of his men, and received the location of Leon, Elijah's right hand man in this whole situation. They knew exactly where he was hiding. They were ready and so was Elijah.