(A/N: Last chapter at last!! Well, sorta I guess since there is an epilogue
coming also. Anyways, enjoy!)
Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters except for the ones I created myself. As always, please don't sue!
Give Me Darkness, Give Me Light
Chapter 8: Calm After the Storm
Clarice tried her best not to cringe in pain as Dr. Lecter bandaged her foot. Even though he was being very gentle and careful, the foot still throbbed with every touch or movement.
"How bad is it?" she asked him once he had finished.
"Nothing that won't heal in time I assure you. I would advise that you try to stay off of it as much as you can until it has healed."
Clarice nodded as her gaze went to the nearby window. It was still dark outside since it was about 3am. The cottage didn't do much for heat, but Dr. Lecter had found a small portable heater while searching for a first aid kit of some kind. Clarice had also found a small radio while waiting for him and at the moment the local news station was reporting on the breaking news item of the night.
"Earlier tonight a fire broke out in the cottage area," the reporter said through the static. "A car belonging to Special Agent Jadis Monroe of the FBI was found at the scene. Both Agent Monroe and Special Agent Clarice Starling are now reported missing. These two agents have been working on the Chimera killings in this area for about a week now. It is not known as of yet whether or not their disappearances are Chimera related. So far the FBI hasn't released any comment."
Clarice sighed and laid back into the chair she was currently occupying, being careful of her now bandaged head injury. She had long given up on a way to get away from Dr. Lecter, her foot prevented her from moving anywhere for very long. Also, she didn't want to leave Jadis behind.
She watched as Dr. Lecter checked over the still unconscious woman lying on the couch. She was covered with a dark green quilt since the doctor had to take off her clothes to treat her wounds.
"How is she?" Clarice asked him.
"She's lost a lot of blood, but she'll live," he responded as he checked the stitches on her shoulder.
Satisfied, Dr. Lecter went back to his own chair beside Clarice. The lingering silence was starting to get on her nerves in the worst way, especially around this man. Eyes dropping to the floor, Clarice got a glimpse of the scar on his left hand. She suppressed a shudder at the sight, suddenly feeling very guilty.
"I'm sorry," she found herself saying in almost a whisper.
Dr. Lecter looked back up at her. "About what Clarice?" he asked, curious.
She sighed, not sure of what exactly she was going to say, but at the same time knew that she needed to get her confession out. "I'm sorry for what happened that night. I was just trying to do my job and now look at me, I'm the FBI's personal scapegoat. Apparently to Pearsall and Noonan and everyone else at the Bureau 'trying' is a synonym for 'failed'."
She paused for a second to gather her thoughts before going on, just grateful for the opportunity to vent about these things to someone, even if it was Dr. Lecter. At the back of her mind, she was even grateful that he was here with her.
She continued to pour her heart out. "Over the last few weeks I've been thinking about my future in the FBI, only to realize that I don't really have one. So a few days ago I had decided that after the Chimera case was done and over with I would finally resign before I get beaten down even more." Another sigh before looking Dr. Lecter straight in the eye and finishing. "I know that you've always said that I was a warrior Dr. Lecter, but even a warrior can only take so much."
Her gaze dropped back down to the floor, waiting for his response. The short silence that followed made Clarice a little tense, but she tried her best not to let it show.
"Clarice," Dr. Lecter spoke softly, but it still had great strength behind it. He walked over to her and, kneeling before her seated figure, lifted her chin so that she was looking straight into his eyes. Clarice couldn't suppress the shudder that his touch evoked from her. They stayed like this for a few minutes, Dr. Lecter studying her eyes, Clarice mesmerized by his. "What will you do know Clarice?" he finally asked her.
She hesitated, finally breaking her gaze. "To tell the truth Doctor," she said in a quiet voice, "I'm still not one hundred percent sure of what I'm going to do."
"Well, what do you want to do then Clarice?"
Clarice tilted her head slightly in thought. "I just want to relax for a bit I guess," she finally said.
Dr. Lecter raised his eyebrows. "And how do you plan to accomplish that?"
Clarice swallowed. She knew what she wanted, she knew ever since Chesapeake. The only problem was, she refused to admit it. "Maybe going on a trip somewhere far away, or just staying home and lying around and do nothing..." she trailed off, not wanting to admit it, yet wanting to at the same time.
Dr. Lecter made her look at him again. He knew what she wanted as well. 'You're going to make me say it, aren't you?' Clarice fumed silently in her mind.
"A trip Clarice?" the doctor asked. "And where would you be going?"
She replied a little too eagerly than she would have liked. "I was thinking of somewhere in Europe perhaps. You wouldn't happen to have any suggestions would you Dr. Lecter?"
Inwardly half of her was smiling at the truth that was slowly dripping through, while the other half couldn't believe what she was hearing. The FBI part of her, the part called Special Agent Starling, was kicking and screaming at her to take down his ass right now. 'Shut up shut up SHUT UP!' Clarice screamed inwardly at the special agent part of her. She knew that it wouldn't be easy to shut her up, if it was even possible, but in time she convinced herself that she can do it.
Her face did its best not to reflect these conflicting ideals within her at the moment. If Dr. Lecter had seen anything that hinted this, which Clarice was almost sure that he did, he didn't draw attention to it at the moment.
Instead, he did something that would cause most people to run away screaming, he smiled at her. "Suggestions Clarice?" he seemed to be lost in thought for a split second before continuing again. "Would you object to having a tour guide accompanying you on your travels?" he said with a wink.
Later on Clarice would wonder if it was brain damage from the head injury that caused her to tell Dr. Lecter these things, or the thought that he had saved her life for the second time. But for now, she was just glad to have them out, to be able to at least quiet the special agent down a couple notches. She no longer cared about the FBI, she stopped caring a long time ago in fact. She knew what she really wanted to do, she had just been too stubborn to admit it until now.
Looking up at him, the amusement was apparent on her face, a silent confirmation.
A few minutes of silence followed, which Dr. Lecter used to check on Jadis again. Clarice briefly wondered what will become of her friend now and made a mental note to ask her when she woke up.
"Dr. Lecter?" she quietly got his attention again when he was done with Jadis.
"Yes my dear?"
Clarice hesitated for a second. She wanted to ask him this for a few hours now. Though she thought that she already knew the answer, she wanted to hear it straight from him. "Why did you come to help me?"
Dr. Lecter looked upon her for a second before responding. "The same reason why I didn't cut off your hand or killed you that night. You know as well as I do, Clarice, that I would sooner harm myself than to hurt you. Richard Silversted would have killed you, and that is something that I can't allow to happen."
Clarice nodded at his answer. It wasn't exactly what she was looking for, but she was satisfied nonetheless.
***************************
Jadis' eyes fluttered painfully open. She found herself staring up at an unfamiliar ceiling and amongst unfamiliar surroundings. Remembering the events leading up to her passing out, Jadis felt where she was injured, her hand meeting stitches and bandages.
"Hey, you're awake!" a familiar voice greeted her.
Turning her head, Jadis looked to see Clarice seated in a chair near her.
"Hey," she weakly returned the greeting, drowsiness still heavy on her. "How are you doing?"
Clarice shrugged. "Been better, but been worse as well. How about you?"
Jadis grinned slightly. "A little worse for wear I suppose.
The other woman raised a brow. "A little?"
Jadis chuckled. Falling silent, she looked around the rest of the room. "Where's Dr. Lecter?" she asked.
"He's outside, checking the surroundings or something." Clarice sighed and looked at the younger woman. "Why didn't you ever tell me Jadis?"
She swallowed, knowing what Clarice was talking about. "Starling, I wanted to tell you, I really did. I just didn't know how you would take it. Plus I had to keep it secret for as long as I could. I hope you understand."
Jadis let her gaze drop, not wanting to meet her friend's eyes right now. "Clarice, I feel really guilty about it. It wasn't that I didn't trust you, I just didn't want to take any chances. I mean, it's not everyday you find out that an FBI agent is the unknown daughter of a wanted serial killer. Even I used to have problems admitting it." Finally finding the courage, she lifted her now sad, tired, maroon eyes to Clarice. "I'm honestly sorry for what it did, but it was necessary. If anyone at all found out who I was I would have been booted out of the Bureau so fast, and maybe even worse. The only reasons I even joined were to make myself known to my father and to track down my mother's murderer. Now, I've accomplished both. I know who killed my mom, and Dr. Lecter knows that I'm his daughter. What do I have left in the FBI? My days there are already extremely numbered, it'll only be time before they find out who I really am. I can't stay with them anymore Clarice, it's too dangerous."
Her eyes dropped once again. Clarice took the opportunity to speak. "So what are you going to do now?"
Jadis sighed. "I don't know, I honestly don't know." She looked like she was going to have an emotional breakdown.
Clarice bit her lip. "Have you thought about staying with Dr. Lecter? You are his daughter, after all."
Jadis looked sharply at Clarice, surprised by her suggestion. "He only found out about me last night Clarice. Just because we're related doesn't mean he won't at least try to kill me."
"And what kind of a father would I be then Jadis?"
Both Jadis and Clarice jumped at the sound of Dr. Lecter's voice. Neither of them had heard him come in.
Jadis swallowed again. "How much of that conversation did you hear?" she asked him.
"Enough," he replied simply.
Leaning over his daughter, he checked on her injuries again. "Do try to stay still Jadis," he told her. "The medical supplies I managed to find in this cottage are primitive at best, but until I can get my hands on some more proper provisions they will have to do."
Jadis nodded as he continued to check her over. She tried hard to not cringe as he looked over her body underneath the covers and not to flinch when a sting of pain erupted from a particularly bad injury.
Her hand traveled up to the fresh cut on her face. A brief flashback to her young five year old self lying in the hospital bed, her little fingers brushing over her stitched cheek, tears running down from her bloodshot eyes. Taking a sharp inhale of breath, Jadis snapped back to reality, forcing a tear to stay in her eye. She felt the cut again, a scar on scar. A cold, hard feeling suddenly ran through her.
"Is Silversted dead?" she asked, her voice emotionless.
Clarice looked up at Dr. Lecter as well, eager for the news also. He covered Jadis back up with the quilt and then answered, "No."
"What?!" both Jadis and Clarice almost yelled, not believing what they had just heard.
Dr. Lecter nodded. "I'm afraid so. I found a trail in the sand when I went outside. It was most defiantly human, one that has taken a lot of damage. There's no question that it's Richard. Luckily for us he's a fair distance away from here. By the time he even has the energy to walk, we'll be far away from here." He noticed the hard look the two women gave him and quickly added, "I share your desire to see him dead, but neither of you are even nearly healed enough to go after him now. Personally, I'm more concerned with getting all three of us out of the country as soon as possible, before the FBI finds out about us."
Jadis blinked. "We're going with you?" she asked, taken aback. She looked over at Clarice and saw a small hint of a smile playing on her face.
"I've already agreed to come," she told the younger woman.
"Jadis," Dr. Lecter spoke again. "You know as well as I do that you're not safe here. Richard Silversted is after you, the FBI will soon be after you as well. I'm offering you a place to stay and recuperate before facing-off with Richard once again. You don't have to do this Jadis, I won't force you to do anything. However, I gathered that you don't have any plans concerning your future, so I gave you an option." He paused for a second. "Personally, I would enjoy getting to know my daughter more. If I had wanted to kill you, why would I have saved your life last night? Just as I would never harm Clarice, I would never harm you either. As Clarice said, you are my daughter after all, my own flesh and blood."
Jadis sighed, not wanting to meet the doctor's gaze right yet. "Can I have some time to think about this?" she asked quietly.
"Of course," Dr. Lecter replied.
After an hour of debating with herself, Jadis had finally made her decision. Looking up at her father and smiling, she simply asked, "When do we leave?"
**********************************
About five miles down the shore, a bloody, mangled, and exhausted man dragged himself onto a nearby patch of grass, damp with the morning dew. He could feel clumps of sand and the occasional insect finding its way into the hole in his head that used to be occupied by an eye.
There were no houses or people in sight, just endless ocean in front of him and deep, dark forest behind him. The rising sun began to beat down on his torn body, intensifying the pain. As the dark navy blue sky slowly changed to a dim shade of violet, a wave of unbearable rage surged through the man.
"I'll kill them," he rumbled before raising his voice into a terrible yell. "I swear I'll kill them! I'll kill them I'll kill them I'LL KILL THEM!!" He pounded his fists onto the ground, ignoring the pain the action evoked.
On that autumn morning, Richard Silversted swore revenge on Clarice M. Starling, Jadis Rebecca Lecter, and Dr. Hannibal Lecter.
FIN
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(A/N: The epilogue should be up soon. I still haven't decided if I want to do a sequel or just end it all in the epilogue, but at the moment I'm leaning towards sequel. What do you guys think? Anyways, as always, many thanks for all the great reviews!)
-SP
Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters except for the ones I created myself. As always, please don't sue!
Give Me Darkness, Give Me Light
Chapter 8: Calm After the Storm
Clarice tried her best not to cringe in pain as Dr. Lecter bandaged her foot. Even though he was being very gentle and careful, the foot still throbbed with every touch or movement.
"How bad is it?" she asked him once he had finished.
"Nothing that won't heal in time I assure you. I would advise that you try to stay off of it as much as you can until it has healed."
Clarice nodded as her gaze went to the nearby window. It was still dark outside since it was about 3am. The cottage didn't do much for heat, but Dr. Lecter had found a small portable heater while searching for a first aid kit of some kind. Clarice had also found a small radio while waiting for him and at the moment the local news station was reporting on the breaking news item of the night.
"Earlier tonight a fire broke out in the cottage area," the reporter said through the static. "A car belonging to Special Agent Jadis Monroe of the FBI was found at the scene. Both Agent Monroe and Special Agent Clarice Starling are now reported missing. These two agents have been working on the Chimera killings in this area for about a week now. It is not known as of yet whether or not their disappearances are Chimera related. So far the FBI hasn't released any comment."
Clarice sighed and laid back into the chair she was currently occupying, being careful of her now bandaged head injury. She had long given up on a way to get away from Dr. Lecter, her foot prevented her from moving anywhere for very long. Also, she didn't want to leave Jadis behind.
She watched as Dr. Lecter checked over the still unconscious woman lying on the couch. She was covered with a dark green quilt since the doctor had to take off her clothes to treat her wounds.
"How is she?" Clarice asked him.
"She's lost a lot of blood, but she'll live," he responded as he checked the stitches on her shoulder.
Satisfied, Dr. Lecter went back to his own chair beside Clarice. The lingering silence was starting to get on her nerves in the worst way, especially around this man. Eyes dropping to the floor, Clarice got a glimpse of the scar on his left hand. She suppressed a shudder at the sight, suddenly feeling very guilty.
"I'm sorry," she found herself saying in almost a whisper.
Dr. Lecter looked back up at her. "About what Clarice?" he asked, curious.
She sighed, not sure of what exactly she was going to say, but at the same time knew that she needed to get her confession out. "I'm sorry for what happened that night. I was just trying to do my job and now look at me, I'm the FBI's personal scapegoat. Apparently to Pearsall and Noonan and everyone else at the Bureau 'trying' is a synonym for 'failed'."
She paused for a second to gather her thoughts before going on, just grateful for the opportunity to vent about these things to someone, even if it was Dr. Lecter. At the back of her mind, she was even grateful that he was here with her.
She continued to pour her heart out. "Over the last few weeks I've been thinking about my future in the FBI, only to realize that I don't really have one. So a few days ago I had decided that after the Chimera case was done and over with I would finally resign before I get beaten down even more." Another sigh before looking Dr. Lecter straight in the eye and finishing. "I know that you've always said that I was a warrior Dr. Lecter, but even a warrior can only take so much."
Her gaze dropped back down to the floor, waiting for his response. The short silence that followed made Clarice a little tense, but she tried her best not to let it show.
"Clarice," Dr. Lecter spoke softly, but it still had great strength behind it. He walked over to her and, kneeling before her seated figure, lifted her chin so that she was looking straight into his eyes. Clarice couldn't suppress the shudder that his touch evoked from her. They stayed like this for a few minutes, Dr. Lecter studying her eyes, Clarice mesmerized by his. "What will you do know Clarice?" he finally asked her.
She hesitated, finally breaking her gaze. "To tell the truth Doctor," she said in a quiet voice, "I'm still not one hundred percent sure of what I'm going to do."
"Well, what do you want to do then Clarice?"
Clarice tilted her head slightly in thought. "I just want to relax for a bit I guess," she finally said.
Dr. Lecter raised his eyebrows. "And how do you plan to accomplish that?"
Clarice swallowed. She knew what she wanted, she knew ever since Chesapeake. The only problem was, she refused to admit it. "Maybe going on a trip somewhere far away, or just staying home and lying around and do nothing..." she trailed off, not wanting to admit it, yet wanting to at the same time.
Dr. Lecter made her look at him again. He knew what she wanted as well. 'You're going to make me say it, aren't you?' Clarice fumed silently in her mind.
"A trip Clarice?" the doctor asked. "And where would you be going?"
She replied a little too eagerly than she would have liked. "I was thinking of somewhere in Europe perhaps. You wouldn't happen to have any suggestions would you Dr. Lecter?"
Inwardly half of her was smiling at the truth that was slowly dripping through, while the other half couldn't believe what she was hearing. The FBI part of her, the part called Special Agent Starling, was kicking and screaming at her to take down his ass right now. 'Shut up shut up SHUT UP!' Clarice screamed inwardly at the special agent part of her. She knew that it wouldn't be easy to shut her up, if it was even possible, but in time she convinced herself that she can do it.
Her face did its best not to reflect these conflicting ideals within her at the moment. If Dr. Lecter had seen anything that hinted this, which Clarice was almost sure that he did, he didn't draw attention to it at the moment.
Instead, he did something that would cause most people to run away screaming, he smiled at her. "Suggestions Clarice?" he seemed to be lost in thought for a split second before continuing again. "Would you object to having a tour guide accompanying you on your travels?" he said with a wink.
Later on Clarice would wonder if it was brain damage from the head injury that caused her to tell Dr. Lecter these things, or the thought that he had saved her life for the second time. But for now, she was just glad to have them out, to be able to at least quiet the special agent down a couple notches. She no longer cared about the FBI, she stopped caring a long time ago in fact. She knew what she really wanted to do, she had just been too stubborn to admit it until now.
Looking up at him, the amusement was apparent on her face, a silent confirmation.
A few minutes of silence followed, which Dr. Lecter used to check on Jadis again. Clarice briefly wondered what will become of her friend now and made a mental note to ask her when she woke up.
"Dr. Lecter?" she quietly got his attention again when he was done with Jadis.
"Yes my dear?"
Clarice hesitated for a second. She wanted to ask him this for a few hours now. Though she thought that she already knew the answer, she wanted to hear it straight from him. "Why did you come to help me?"
Dr. Lecter looked upon her for a second before responding. "The same reason why I didn't cut off your hand or killed you that night. You know as well as I do, Clarice, that I would sooner harm myself than to hurt you. Richard Silversted would have killed you, and that is something that I can't allow to happen."
Clarice nodded at his answer. It wasn't exactly what she was looking for, but she was satisfied nonetheless.
***************************
Jadis' eyes fluttered painfully open. She found herself staring up at an unfamiliar ceiling and amongst unfamiliar surroundings. Remembering the events leading up to her passing out, Jadis felt where she was injured, her hand meeting stitches and bandages.
"Hey, you're awake!" a familiar voice greeted her.
Turning her head, Jadis looked to see Clarice seated in a chair near her.
"Hey," she weakly returned the greeting, drowsiness still heavy on her. "How are you doing?"
Clarice shrugged. "Been better, but been worse as well. How about you?"
Jadis grinned slightly. "A little worse for wear I suppose.
The other woman raised a brow. "A little?"
Jadis chuckled. Falling silent, she looked around the rest of the room. "Where's Dr. Lecter?" she asked.
"He's outside, checking the surroundings or something." Clarice sighed and looked at the younger woman. "Why didn't you ever tell me Jadis?"
She swallowed, knowing what Clarice was talking about. "Starling, I wanted to tell you, I really did. I just didn't know how you would take it. Plus I had to keep it secret for as long as I could. I hope you understand."
Jadis let her gaze drop, not wanting to meet her friend's eyes right now. "Clarice, I feel really guilty about it. It wasn't that I didn't trust you, I just didn't want to take any chances. I mean, it's not everyday you find out that an FBI agent is the unknown daughter of a wanted serial killer. Even I used to have problems admitting it." Finally finding the courage, she lifted her now sad, tired, maroon eyes to Clarice. "I'm honestly sorry for what it did, but it was necessary. If anyone at all found out who I was I would have been booted out of the Bureau so fast, and maybe even worse. The only reasons I even joined were to make myself known to my father and to track down my mother's murderer. Now, I've accomplished both. I know who killed my mom, and Dr. Lecter knows that I'm his daughter. What do I have left in the FBI? My days there are already extremely numbered, it'll only be time before they find out who I really am. I can't stay with them anymore Clarice, it's too dangerous."
Her eyes dropped once again. Clarice took the opportunity to speak. "So what are you going to do now?"
Jadis sighed. "I don't know, I honestly don't know." She looked like she was going to have an emotional breakdown.
Clarice bit her lip. "Have you thought about staying with Dr. Lecter? You are his daughter, after all."
Jadis looked sharply at Clarice, surprised by her suggestion. "He only found out about me last night Clarice. Just because we're related doesn't mean he won't at least try to kill me."
"And what kind of a father would I be then Jadis?"
Both Jadis and Clarice jumped at the sound of Dr. Lecter's voice. Neither of them had heard him come in.
Jadis swallowed again. "How much of that conversation did you hear?" she asked him.
"Enough," he replied simply.
Leaning over his daughter, he checked on her injuries again. "Do try to stay still Jadis," he told her. "The medical supplies I managed to find in this cottage are primitive at best, but until I can get my hands on some more proper provisions they will have to do."
Jadis nodded as he continued to check her over. She tried hard to not cringe as he looked over her body underneath the covers and not to flinch when a sting of pain erupted from a particularly bad injury.
Her hand traveled up to the fresh cut on her face. A brief flashback to her young five year old self lying in the hospital bed, her little fingers brushing over her stitched cheek, tears running down from her bloodshot eyes. Taking a sharp inhale of breath, Jadis snapped back to reality, forcing a tear to stay in her eye. She felt the cut again, a scar on scar. A cold, hard feeling suddenly ran through her.
"Is Silversted dead?" she asked, her voice emotionless.
Clarice looked up at Dr. Lecter as well, eager for the news also. He covered Jadis back up with the quilt and then answered, "No."
"What?!" both Jadis and Clarice almost yelled, not believing what they had just heard.
Dr. Lecter nodded. "I'm afraid so. I found a trail in the sand when I went outside. It was most defiantly human, one that has taken a lot of damage. There's no question that it's Richard. Luckily for us he's a fair distance away from here. By the time he even has the energy to walk, we'll be far away from here." He noticed the hard look the two women gave him and quickly added, "I share your desire to see him dead, but neither of you are even nearly healed enough to go after him now. Personally, I'm more concerned with getting all three of us out of the country as soon as possible, before the FBI finds out about us."
Jadis blinked. "We're going with you?" she asked, taken aback. She looked over at Clarice and saw a small hint of a smile playing on her face.
"I've already agreed to come," she told the younger woman.
"Jadis," Dr. Lecter spoke again. "You know as well as I do that you're not safe here. Richard Silversted is after you, the FBI will soon be after you as well. I'm offering you a place to stay and recuperate before facing-off with Richard once again. You don't have to do this Jadis, I won't force you to do anything. However, I gathered that you don't have any plans concerning your future, so I gave you an option." He paused for a second. "Personally, I would enjoy getting to know my daughter more. If I had wanted to kill you, why would I have saved your life last night? Just as I would never harm Clarice, I would never harm you either. As Clarice said, you are my daughter after all, my own flesh and blood."
Jadis sighed, not wanting to meet the doctor's gaze right yet. "Can I have some time to think about this?" she asked quietly.
"Of course," Dr. Lecter replied.
After an hour of debating with herself, Jadis had finally made her decision. Looking up at her father and smiling, she simply asked, "When do we leave?"
**********************************
About five miles down the shore, a bloody, mangled, and exhausted man dragged himself onto a nearby patch of grass, damp with the morning dew. He could feel clumps of sand and the occasional insect finding its way into the hole in his head that used to be occupied by an eye.
There were no houses or people in sight, just endless ocean in front of him and deep, dark forest behind him. The rising sun began to beat down on his torn body, intensifying the pain. As the dark navy blue sky slowly changed to a dim shade of violet, a wave of unbearable rage surged through the man.
"I'll kill them," he rumbled before raising his voice into a terrible yell. "I swear I'll kill them! I'll kill them I'll kill them I'LL KILL THEM!!" He pounded his fists onto the ground, ignoring the pain the action evoked.
On that autumn morning, Richard Silversted swore revenge on Clarice M. Starling, Jadis Rebecca Lecter, and Dr. Hannibal Lecter.
FIN
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
(A/N: The epilogue should be up soon. I still haven't decided if I want to do a sequel or just end it all in the epilogue, but at the moment I'm leaning towards sequel. What do you guys think? Anyways, as always, many thanks for all the great reviews!)
-SP