The best Enemies in the World

by Sataï Nad

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

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Chapter 3 : Doctor Lecter's Letter

Dear Clarice,

First, do forgive me and allow me to express sympathy with your present outstanding situation. Now well, tell me: did the rumours already start? If not, be assured it is just a matter of time.

Soon, people will go beyond your current disgrace and will wonder why I neglected to make you my next meal. Do not worry. Do not feel the need to clear up this suspicion because they will make up their own opinions. And unfortunately, no matter what you say, people believe what they want. Your determination to save me from Mason Verger's claws will darken their judgement.

Clarice, I have the regret to tell you they will never accept your merciful action as a gesture for sparing me torture. They will not see your obsession to save poor lambs from committed injustice. They will only see an F.B.I. agent who risked her career, her morals and her life to help a monster. You have now a stain on your character. No matter what you achieve in the future, it will never disappear. You will become the turned-bad agent and I will be forever your diabolic lover. What you did made me a new enigma but made you a corrupted outcast. Clarice, does that devour you to know that you sacrificed everything for finally losing everything? What remains to you now? A sullied name, a broken career? Do you always cherish the idea that the F.B.I. is your reason for living? Be honest towards yourself, Clarice. Enemies and envious people will always threaten you. What can they offer you? Only misunderstanding and suffering.

Did you keep the dress? I hope so. Forgive me for having violated your intimacy during your sleep, but even Venus wouldn't have been able to appear as beautiful as you were. Sensual, provocative… and so fragile.

I still have the taste of your lips on mines. All the emotions you felt at this moment will remain engraved forever in my memory. Confusion, sadness, loss. Yes. The bitterness of this tear. Why and who did you cry for? Certainly not for me, nor for your career. Would this be shame? Perhaps one day, you will tell me. Perhaps or never.

In the eyes of the majority, you seem common. Few people see beyond appearances. Very little see into the splendid butterfly you could metamorphose. You still need to enrich you, Clarice, because nobody will do it for you. As my supposed love letter implied, you are indeed "honey in the lion". Release you of these unimportant beings. They do not see you as I see you. They do not know what I know. Does that devour you as well to know that the only being who sees you such as you really are is a murderer? Although that idea frightens you, you know that I know you better than yourself. And you know me like anybody. In the eyes of the world, you are my weakness. Is that statement wrong or true? Alas, you might never know.

Do tell me, Clarice Starling, will you continue to chase me without the support of the Bureau? Will you try to prove your real value in the external world? I hope so. We could have so much fun.

Where are you, Clarice?

What do you want?

What is my place in your world?

Ask you sincerely the questions and the answers will obviously burst out.

Yours sincerely,

Hannibal Lecter

Clarice Starling slowly read over and over the letter and remained thoughtful. Her first reaction would have been to give it to the laboratory for analysis. Of course, they would have discovered nothing. And doing so, she would have respected the procedure. The truth was she did not want to do this. This mail was too personal. Clarice approached the paper of her nose and smelled it. The fragrance of his cologne, this male odor so typically him reminded her of their kiss. She drove out the images which had spouted out spontaneously in her mind. She did not want to go in that direction: fancying about him lead to nothing.

However, she could not draw aside the feeling of loss and regret which remained all this long day.

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When Starling arrived one morning at her office - "Hannibal's house" as it was called - she found Clint Pearsall waiting for her with two men she didn't know.

"Starling, let me introduce Matt Jennings from the Department of Justice. And this is Josef Stevenson from the Organized Crime Section."

They were greeted. Jennings spoke.

"Agent Starling, we will not lose ourselves in chatterings concerning this affair: things are going wrong for you. And as you know it, this Lecter business disturbs the Department of Justice. We would like to put a term in it for the benefit of the two parts. But first of all, I want it clear that this conversation will remain between us."

Starling threw a glance towards Pearsall who imperceptibly shook his head.

"All right. I'm listening to you."

"In a few days, you will be informed of your dismissal. Of course, we will ask you to resign. What you will do officially…"

The young woman tensed. She felt a knot in her stomach and a sense of panic overwhelmed her. She looked alternatively at the three men and felt they had something else in mind.

"And?"

"You will leave a few days in order to think of your new situation, to plan your future without the F.B.I. "

"The decision to dismiss you is primarily political. You're only a scapegoat. And we want to benefit from this opportunity."

"An opportunity? I don't understand. What are you getting at? "

"Your states of service are proof enough of your abilities, Agent Starling. In fact, you have the perfect profile for the assignment we want to entrust you."

Starling was surprised.

"What kind of assignment?"

"Josef will give you all the details. Semi-officially, you're still an active agent. Put aside Josef, Clint and I, nobody else will know about your role. You have to rely on yourself. I don't hide this undercover mission is particularly risky."

"And if I say no?"

There was an heavy silence. Matt Jennings spoke again.

"You really don't have many choice, Starling."

"If you succeed, you will gain a new respectability. You will be officially reinstated and promoted."

"And if I fail?"

"You will be out on your own. Pearsall and his men will not intercede unless things really turn bad."

Starling remained quiet, measuring the importance of Stevenson's words. Her future was at stake. The three men awaited her immediate answer.

"Very well, I'm in."

… To be continued…