Think, Dr Lecter told himself, think. What could he do? It was possible
that what she was saying was true. After all, she was talking about things
that he alone knew. She spoke so confidently; as if she was convinced what
she was saying was the truth. She wasn't lying; he knew that from the
start, he knew when people were lying. No, she believed what she was
saying, but the question was. would he?
Well let's pretend that it is all true. He thought, then what? Did he really want to let eight whole years of his life go down the drain, for some. woman? And it wasn't just eight years, Alisha had said, it wasn't until seven years after he escaped that he would be with Clarice. Altogether that was fifteen years. Was he willing to give up fifteen years of his life for someone he didn't even know existed? Fifteen years, that's what she should have been really asking; would he sacrifice fifteen years of his life for his 'soulmate'? No. Nobody was worth that much, nobody. He valued his freedom too much, he valued his life. He had his answer, no.
Dr Lecter sat up again and looked at Alisha. "No." He said it clearly and definitely, almost stubbornly. He would not change his mind. Yet he felt he had to convince himself, as well as her.
Alisha looked deeply in his eyes and nodded. "I thought as much." She sighed. "Well, Dr Lecter, I must say, if you want to evade capture, you will have to leave today, as soon as possible in fact." She picked up a bag she had placed next to the chair and pulled out a thick envelope. "I know you have already prepared for an event like this, but you will not have enough time to retrieve the documents and identification you have created for yourself. In here you will find all the items you require. If I were you I would make good use of them." She handed Dr Lecter the envelope and stood up.
Dr Lecter stood up with her and came forward, a menacing look appeared on his face. "You know I appreciate what you have done for me, but I simply can't allow you to tell another living soul my secret." He slowly decreased the space between them. "I'm sorry, but I cannot let you live."
The Harpy appeared in his hand, as if by magic and he held it up to the light. Alisha looked straight at him, neither fear nor surprise reflected in her eyes. She was perfectly calm and didn't move as Dr Lecter advanced towards her.
"I regret having to end our first meeting like this, it is extremely rude and I do apologize, but as you see, I really have no other choice."
Alisha smiled. "I understand."
She didn't even flinch as the Harpy slid between her ribs and deep into her heart.
Well let's pretend that it is all true. He thought, then what? Did he really want to let eight whole years of his life go down the drain, for some. woman? And it wasn't just eight years, Alisha had said, it wasn't until seven years after he escaped that he would be with Clarice. Altogether that was fifteen years. Was he willing to give up fifteen years of his life for someone he didn't even know existed? Fifteen years, that's what she should have been really asking; would he sacrifice fifteen years of his life for his 'soulmate'? No. Nobody was worth that much, nobody. He valued his freedom too much, he valued his life. He had his answer, no.
Dr Lecter sat up again and looked at Alisha. "No." He said it clearly and definitely, almost stubbornly. He would not change his mind. Yet he felt he had to convince himself, as well as her.
Alisha looked deeply in his eyes and nodded. "I thought as much." She sighed. "Well, Dr Lecter, I must say, if you want to evade capture, you will have to leave today, as soon as possible in fact." She picked up a bag she had placed next to the chair and pulled out a thick envelope. "I know you have already prepared for an event like this, but you will not have enough time to retrieve the documents and identification you have created for yourself. In here you will find all the items you require. If I were you I would make good use of them." She handed Dr Lecter the envelope and stood up.
Dr Lecter stood up with her and came forward, a menacing look appeared on his face. "You know I appreciate what you have done for me, but I simply can't allow you to tell another living soul my secret." He slowly decreased the space between them. "I'm sorry, but I cannot let you live."
The Harpy appeared in his hand, as if by magic and he held it up to the light. Alisha looked straight at him, neither fear nor surprise reflected in her eyes. She was perfectly calm and didn't move as Dr Lecter advanced towards her.
"I regret having to end our first meeting like this, it is extremely rude and I do apologize, but as you see, I really have no other choice."
Alisha smiled. "I understand."
She didn't even flinch as the Harpy slid between her ribs and deep into her heart.