Chapter 50

The sun came through the window with the promise of a glorious day, the lavish light played along with the shadows in the kitchen, where Clarice was finished with her writing. It had felt like taking forever getting this finished, while it had in fact only taken about an hour.

But there had been so much to think about. Plans to be made. In the course if the night, Clarice had made a new life for her self. And it was about to start today. And she couldn't wait.

Clarice left the kitchen to take a shower and get dressed. And then went out to her mustang. She could feel the horsepower already. And she wanted to take it out on the highway and push it to its limit. But now she had a destination, maybe later.

Clarice got to Quantico in no time, and she felt how her heart was beating in her chest, she was excited about their reaction. The last time she had felt like so, was back in Baltimore after having found Raspile's head in a jar. Clarice was relieved to notice that it wasn't only Dr. Lecter that could make her feel so, so free, but she herself could do so as well.

Clarice made her way to Clint Pershall's office. Taking one last look at the den of her soon to be former masters. It was a pitiful look, she would have wasted away here. And nobody would have cared.

Clarice reached the office door. His name printed lavishly making sure no one was in doubt as to the position he kept in the bureau. Clarice knocked heavy 3 times, and was granted, "enter" and she did. With all her pride she stepped into the bear's cave.

"Starling what are you doing here?" his voice wasn't cold, but it was clouded with uncertainty, and something else, Clarice couldn't put her finger on. "I've come to say that I quit." Clarice threw the paper in front of Pershall. A look of utter surprise was on his face. And his voice seemed lost except for one word. "Why?"

Clarice was in nod mood to clarify, but did it anyway. "I've grown tired of hitting the glass ceiling." It was as simply as that. Pershall looked at her in disbelief. "You can't be serious Starling." The only answer Clarice offered Pershall was moving towards the door, and before disappearing through it, she said her goodbyes.

She walked down to Hannibal's house, his pictures still dominated the one wall, and her desk was filled with papers. And the computer hadn't been used in ages. Clarice gathers what few belongings she had in a box. And made her way out, into the free world. In search of her destiny.

The dark hollow halls were filled with her presence, and she felt light. The last door was reached, and it was there she bumped into Ardelia.

"What are you doing here Clarice" she didn't try to hide her surprise at finding Clarice here, what was the point. Clarice was equally surprised. "I just came to get my things." Clarice saw the anger in Ardelia's eyes. But the anger was not directed at Clarice. "They kicked your ass out girl?" "Not exactly" Clarice was being evavesis to the best of her abilities. But Ardelia wasn't one to let it go. "What do you mean?" "Well I quit." "You did what?" Ardelia was almost screaming. And she dragged Clarice by her arm over to the mustang.

"Tell me I dreaming." Clarice thought it was growing tedious. "Listen Ardi, you heard right. I am tired, my so called career was going no where, and I saw no point in staying on." Ardelia still had the look on her face. "You can't be serious, this was you life, your dream, you can't quit now, things will get better girl, you just gotta hang in there."

"NO!" Clarice's voice was clinging. "It's over." With that Clarice open the door to her car, threw the box in, and got in her self. "I'll see you back home." Clarice gassed up and drove away without looking back.

As the distance grew Clarice felt more and more liberated. The ride back to the duplex felt short. And Clarice suddenly realized that she would be moving. If she was to start anew, then she had to change the whole setting. Clarice was sure that it would bother Ardelia more then her.

Clarice went inside, she saw her answering machine had a message. She pushed the bottom to play the message.

"Good day, this is from the D.C. bank, we wanted to inform you that the job you have applied for is waiting for you. If you would be so kind as to call in so that we can arrange a meeting."

The message ended. And Clarice was smiling. She had a tad of good luck, and she was starting to enjoy this.

Clarice called back and arranged for a meeting the same day. And she called a real-estate agent as well. Setting up her second meeting.

Before leaving the duplex she wrote a note to Ardelia, just to let her know that she didn't know when she would be home.
A/N so what do you think.... are this going the right way? I am dying to know. So please need I say it?? Reviews would be welcomed