The Best Enemies in the World

by Sataï Nad

Ladies and gentlemen, your attention, please! This chapter is the translation of a complete story originally written in French and posted into the french Hannibal section a long time ago. I'd like to thank Julie for her help in the translation process of this 1st one. If someone is interested in the story and wants to give some time for further english chapters, you're welcome ! Otherwise, you will find the entire French story in its corresponding section. Hope you enjoy it ! And please don't forget : review…

Disclaimer : The characters are not mine. They belong to Thomas Harris. I just borrowed them. No copyright infringement is intended.

"They say that light is stronger than darkness...

Pray they're right."

Chapter 1: Chesapeake Bay

Clarice Starling slipped silently into the kitchen, a candlestick in her hand. Doctor Lecter, his back turned toward her, wiped his hands, and then launched the towel towards Paul Krendler, still prostrate in his wheelchair. She approached the doctor from behind and held the candlestick over the top of his head, ready to crack Lecter's skull open. In a flash, Doctor Lecter turned around and caught the young woman's arm. He twisted her wrist and she had to release the heavy candlestick. A short fight ensued until the doctor pushed her roughly against the refrigerator. He held her firmly in his grip, staring at her coldly, intending, it appeared, to kill her.

"I came halfway around the world to watch you run, Clarice... Let me run, huh?"

"Don't count on it."

He let her hands go and with a growl she immediately lunged for him. He grabbed her wrists again, pushed her back against the fridge and opened it enough to catch her ponytail in the door. He then tore off the handle of the refrigerator and deposited it beside the young woman's head who was now unable to move.

"Tell me, Clarice, would you ever say to me… stop... If you loved me, you'd stop?"

"Not in a thousand years."

"Not in a thousand years..."

He had a frightening grin and leaned suddenly over her, ready to bite her, then thought better of it.

"That's my girl!"

With a smile, he kissed her gently. Starling did not make any movement. As he pressed his lips against hers, Lecter heard a rattling noise and opened his eyes. Clarice's statement remained immeasureable, although a single tear ran down on her cheek. The doctor moved back and raised his left arm with surprise. He was handcuffed to her.

"Now, that's really interesting, Clarice, and I'm really pressed for time... So where's the key?"

Clarice Starling didn't answer. Doctor Lecter's face hardened.

"Where's the key?"

He should have known she'd say nothing. So he turned to the table behind him and grasped a cleaver with his free hand. With an abrupt movement, he took her wrist and firmly placed it on the draining board. He then ran the blade over Starling's wrist, his statement unreadable.

"Above or below the wrist, Clarice?... This is really gonna hurt..."

Clarice stared at him with doubts, seeking to hide her fear. He raised the cleaver... The young woman closed her eyes.

With a dry slam the cleaver came down. Starling screamed...

His left hand laid neatly cut on the board. The bloodstain spread and started to drip to the ground. The cleaver fell with a cold clanking noise. Doctor Lecter's right hand was clenched in a trembling fist. Only his heavy breathing betrayed his pain.

"My God... Doctor Lecter!" Starling said.

Against her will, she started to shake and sob. He finally raised his head. Sweat was streaming down his face but his blue-eyed glance was always inscrutable as if the physical pain had not reached his mind. He met her tear-filled eyes and turned away. He then snatched a towel from the table and made a tourniquet around his left forearm.

Clarice was staring at him in shock.

Without a word, Doctor Lecter turned for one last glance at her. He left the kitchen, carrying with him the memory of a horrified Starling, incapable of making the least movement.

Clarice was left alone. She glanced at Doctor Lecter's left hand. Red blood appeared black under the harsh neon lighting. Her head spun. She turned it away and started to vomit. Closing her eyes, she methodically recovered her composure. She contorted herself in an attempt to free her hair from the refrigerator.

Free at last, she looked at Paul Krendler who was lifeless. She opened the tap and rinsed out her mouth. In a vacant way, she washed her hands, watching Lecter's blood whirling in the u-bend. She took another look at Lecter's hand and saw his signet ring. Without thinking, she removed it from his little finger and wiped it. She left the kitchen, went upstairs, took the handcuff keys near the telephone and slipped the signet ring in her trousers pocket.

Outside, the police sirens wailed. Clarice Starling came out in the garden facing the lake. Already, the police headlights pierced the darkness. A helicopter flew over the park. She looked around for Hannibal Lecter. There was no trace of him. On the lake, the small boat that she had seen before loose from the dock. She moved forward in order to see it better. During this time, the police officers had already stormed the house and shouted from behind her. The beams of their flashlights cut through the night.

Someone shouted toward her back.

"Show me your hands!"

Clarice raised her hands.

"Identify yourself!"

"I'm Clarice Starling… FBI!"

She had a better view of the boat now and it was empty. No movement in front of her, everything remained deathly calm.

Suddenly, fireworks exploded in the Chesapeake sky on this night of Independence Day. Clarice Starling's face betrayed no emotion.

Hannibal Lecter had managed to escape.

… To be continued…