....::meeps:: Um yeah, I don't know who it was that sent the message about
this story making Thomas Harris cry, but to tell the truth, I haven't read
any part of this or typed a word except what's already been typed and being
typed. Personally, I think the movie version of Hannibal was badly done
and that the book wasn't that great either. The only reason I'm uploading
this is because my friend's laptop won't let him down load or upload
anything and I don't have his password or it would be under a different sn.
And yeah, I totally agree, Starling's the shit, but it isn't my story and I
wouldn't read or write anything like this because my genre leans more
towards humor and AU. If you have qualms that you want to bring up with the
author, his addy is I apologize to anyone who's
read this and thinks it sucks, but I'm going to continue uploading until
it's done or he gets bored with it because I don't want to listen to his
bitching.
Ravyn sat at the desk, waiting for the phone to ring. It had already done so twice, and both of those had just been telemarketers. They were abruptly told off in either Italian or Arabic and the phone slammed down. It rang again and she waited until it stopped before picking up the receiver and listening.
"Your mother is sick Sedin," said the man's voice in Arabic. Ravyn translated it easily enough. "How long has she been in that condition?" asked another more familiar voice. Ravyn found that her hand had already wandered to the recorder from the first word. "Two months. We believe she was like it for the last two before now." 'Four months...Wasn't...' "What about my father?" "We've not been able to catch him. He's been in the fields or moved." "My sister?" "We believe your father may be looking for her assistance with the other children." "Do you know when we can find her?" "I would say Thursday. She makes an appearance in town that day usually." "Good. She will be difficult." "We are aware." The other phone clicked and she could here Sedin saying something before he hung up the phone. Ravyn did the same, the conversation going through her mind. 'What the fuck? His whole family died last year in a soot out,' she thought, staring at the phone. Ravyn stared at the door, thinking. The other phone rang and she picked it up.
"Fowling," she said. "How long have you been here?" asked the voice on the other end. "I don't know, a couple hours why?" "Did you know someone broke into your house earlier today?" "No. Was anything taken?" "Not that we could tell. Your neighbor called and said she saw a man wearing a suit walk in and come out about a half hour later. She couldn't give a description." "Mrs. McCalister?" "I think that was her name." "Don't take everything she says as true. She's not even sure who she is most of the time." "We know, but this time she sounded like she was serious." "Alright, and I'm guessing you want me to stay somewhere else tonight yes?" "If you would." "No. I'll be fine in my home." "Are you sure?" "Quite. Look Mr. Wellin, I've taken care of myself in worse situations. I'll move the key and sleep with my guns ready." "You had better." "I will." The other end clicked off and she muttered a low asshole before hanging up her end and glancing at the clock. "Shit!" she said, jumping up over her desk and grabbing her bag. She ran down the hall and out to her bike She had ten minutes to make a fifteen minute drive. She threw on the helmet and started the bike, peeling out of the parking lot. She made it with a minute to spare.
"Good to see you could make it," said the Doctor. Ravyn sat across the table. "Sorry about that. I lost track of the time," she said with a small shrug. The waiter brought her, her usual. She looked up at him. "Thank you," she said. He walked off with a small smirk on his face. "You work for the F.B.I." Ravyn looked up over the rim of the cup. She swallowed and set it down. "Yes. How did you figure that one out?" "The National Tattler. I remembered reading about the piece you made there. You also changed your name did you not?" "I did." She wasn't offering anymore than that. That was her past and it was staying where it was. If he asked she would tell. "What was your name?" 'Damn all men,' she thought. "Avel Verger." "Were you by chance related to Mason Verger?" The doctor watched. She did well at keeping her face basically devoid of emotion, but her eyes gave her away. She was uncomfortable with this line of questioning. "I was. When he died Margot and Judy were left with the inheritance because Judy was pregnant with a male heir. They changed the will so that the last living relative would get whatever there was." "You were on the Lecter Starling case weren't you?" "Until they decided I needed a change." "Yes. You're now on The Hand of God case are you not?" "I am." "You're not getting very far with it are you?" "No. Every lead we get turns out false or a dead end. I really can't go into the case Dr. Feldman." "Of course, I understand. Why is it you work when you have no need to do so?" "I prefer to earn what I get as opposed to having it handed to me." "How long have you had your shop and been doing that?" "Sixteen years." "Your friends?" "They work for the bureau as well. They're mainly international workers." "Were you born in Russia?" "No, but my grandma and mom were born there so I was raised around the language." "You were born in the United States?" "Yes. Born at the airport on the way to the hospital." 'What's he doing?' she thought, continuing to answer the questions and ask a few of her own. The waiter came over and refilled Ravyn's cup quite a few times before they finally departed. Ravyn went home, finding everything as it should be and the doctor went to gather some supplies for his later plans.
Monday morning came and Ravyn was up and in the office she held below the ground in the Behavioral Science building, going through some files. She read over one page twice, before moving on to another, aggravated at how slowly this was going. She looked up when there was a knock and set the papers down. "Yeah," she said. The newest trainees never knew what to do when they heard that and so squeaked some kind of response. The older ones who were more used to the flow just walked in. Franco and Sedin barged in without knocking and anyone else just opened the door. Whoever this was, they weren't opening it. She cursed and stood, opening the door. "Package ma'am. We took it to the lab and they said you were down here," said the deliver man. She took the box and set it on her desk before signing for the package and hurrying the man out. She produced a knife and sliced open the box, taking out the branding iron that had been found at another scene. She laid it on the desk and took out a paper, reading it before laying it beside the brand. She reached in once more and took out a package of pictures. She tossed the box across the room and sat back down, looking through the images. Most of the dead had the brand on their backs or legs. The few who didn't have the brand had some sort of other marking on them to show who they belonged too and served.
She put the pictures away and took up the brand. It was in a plastic evidence bag even though it had already been printed and had the usual looking over. She kept it there, looking over the hand holding the world. She heard footsteps outside and put the brand away. The door burst open soon after. "We're going now. Wish you luck in your hunt," said Sedin. Franco rolled his eyes. "She doesn't need luck. She needs a miracle." "I do not. Have fun you two." "We will, and we'll bring you something back." "Oh joy. Do I want to know what you plan on bringing?" "Probably not." "Goodbye." "We'll be back by next Monday maybe." "Alright." "Come on! We're going to miss the flight!" "Bye." "Bye." They left, closing the door behind them and Ravyn shook her head. She took out the brand again, this time taking it out of the clear plastic bag and running her fingers over the edges. 'God holds the world in his hand. It's his decision who lives and who dies and they believe they are his right hand,' she thought to herself. She looked at the clock. Ten minutes to go before she could finally leave. She hated staying indoors like this and wished she had a window. She put the brand back and flipped through the pages of the files once more, not noticing that time was flying by. She looked up at ten after six and shook her head before standing and leaving. She locked the door and left the building under the watchful eyes of her superiors. She was teaching a class tomorrow. Price had requested her to take his place while he was gone on another case. 'Floaters galore,' she thought dryly. She started her car, not realizing she had already made it there and went home.
The next two days passed by without incidence. She found a few leads as to the whereabouts of some in the American ring, but otherwise all was calm. She left the building and headed out to her shop to do a bit of cleaning and check the online orders. She parked the bike out back and went in. She took out a piece of steel from the order she had made and started heating it. She had shed her jacket and pants, instead wearing a pair of jeans and tank. She raised the hammer over the steel and heard a click in the back. Ravyn stopped, placing the hammer in the loop of her pants and left the steel where it was. She walked softly to the back and looked around. There were here men standing there and another walking in. They were talking quickly amongst themselves. Ravyn walked out with her arms crossed.
"In case you can't read, we're closed," she said. The men looked up at her and the one that had just walked in stepped closer. "We are not here for any of the objects you have or sell," he said. "What do you want then?" She stood straighter and watched the group. "We want your skill added." "Hmm...let me think...no." "You will come with us or suffer." "And how can you make me suffer? Pain is only a trivial thing." "We have ways." "I'm sure you do. Look, I want to finish what I'm working on and go home. If you gentlemen would be so kind as to leave and come back in the morning..." She watched the other three men come closer at a signal from the one in front of her. "There will be no coming back in the morning. Come with us or we will make you wish you were dead." "I already do." The man motioned with his hand and the three men lunged towards Ravyn. She danced away from them, going into the back and closing and locking the door. She started the fire and heated the metal until it was white hot. The men barged in. Ravyn struck the first one across the face with the hot steel. He let out a scream and she moved to the other two. They kept their distance from her. She used her free hand to pull out her gun. She cocked it and held it trained on the burnt man. One of them came at her from the side and she hit his arm with the quickly cooling steel. She held it there and waited for the man to pull away. He did and she heard a low growl. Ravyn jumped up onto the small island in the center of the room, knocking off a few tools in the process. The so far unburned attacker walked towards her. The steel was going cold too quickly. Ravyn cursed and threw it at him. He dodged around it and grabbed her ankles. She shot his arm and he cursed. She didn't hear the one behind her until she was being yanked down and her mouth covered with a hand. She held her breath, trying to shoot any of them. She missed and was thrown against a wall. She stood from it and shook her head. The burnt faced man grabbed her throat and lifted her from the ground. Ravyn scraped at his arm and kicked as hard as she could. He grunted once before throwing her down against the counter. She heard the click of a knife and dodged as one tried to stab her. She punched the man with a hole in his arm and he stayed where he was. 'This is not good. Nope, uh-uh,' she thought as she felt the knife blade slice through her stomach. She grimaced and bit down as hard as she could on the man's arm. She drew blood and tore a chunk away. He punched her jaw and she flew down on the floor. The three pounced on her as one, kicking, punching and beating her in every place on her body. She felt a knife slice down one of her arms and another once more over her stomach. She heard her bones crack and yelled out with pain. Something was shoved in her mouth. The beating continued for nearly an hour until Ravyn passed out and could barely breathe. They removed the cloth and blood came out of her mouth. Her hand twitched once before it was still. She coughed and blood and spit came from her mouth. "Is she dead?" asked the man out front. "Not yet. She will be soon though," said the burnt faced man. "Call the police. Tell them there was an accident and you saw two men leaving." There was a scraping sound from the back and Ravyn managed to hobble out with her good leg. She raised her gun. She fired twice and two of the men fell. She slumped to the ground as well. "Don't kill her!" said the leader of the group. The man stopped halfway to her. She shot his legs. He fell to the ground and she shot one of his hands. Ravyn managed to reach her speed loader and loaded the gun, shooting the man's other hand. He yelled in pain. The last one ran from the shop and sped away. Ravyn kept her eyes open as long as possible before she passed out. She could faintly hear the sounds of someone talking on a phone. She tried to open her eyes but couldn't. With a last heave she fell into blackness
Ravyn sat at the desk, waiting for the phone to ring. It had already done so twice, and both of those had just been telemarketers. They were abruptly told off in either Italian or Arabic and the phone slammed down. It rang again and she waited until it stopped before picking up the receiver and listening.
"Your mother is sick Sedin," said the man's voice in Arabic. Ravyn translated it easily enough. "How long has she been in that condition?" asked another more familiar voice. Ravyn found that her hand had already wandered to the recorder from the first word. "Two months. We believe she was like it for the last two before now." 'Four months...Wasn't...' "What about my father?" "We've not been able to catch him. He's been in the fields or moved." "My sister?" "We believe your father may be looking for her assistance with the other children." "Do you know when we can find her?" "I would say Thursday. She makes an appearance in town that day usually." "Good. She will be difficult." "We are aware." The other phone clicked and she could here Sedin saying something before he hung up the phone. Ravyn did the same, the conversation going through her mind. 'What the fuck? His whole family died last year in a soot out,' she thought, staring at the phone. Ravyn stared at the door, thinking. The other phone rang and she picked it up.
"Fowling," she said. "How long have you been here?" asked the voice on the other end. "I don't know, a couple hours why?" "Did you know someone broke into your house earlier today?" "No. Was anything taken?" "Not that we could tell. Your neighbor called and said she saw a man wearing a suit walk in and come out about a half hour later. She couldn't give a description." "Mrs. McCalister?" "I think that was her name." "Don't take everything she says as true. She's not even sure who she is most of the time." "We know, but this time she sounded like she was serious." "Alright, and I'm guessing you want me to stay somewhere else tonight yes?" "If you would." "No. I'll be fine in my home." "Are you sure?" "Quite. Look Mr. Wellin, I've taken care of myself in worse situations. I'll move the key and sleep with my guns ready." "You had better." "I will." The other end clicked off and she muttered a low asshole before hanging up her end and glancing at the clock. "Shit!" she said, jumping up over her desk and grabbing her bag. She ran down the hall and out to her bike She had ten minutes to make a fifteen minute drive. She threw on the helmet and started the bike, peeling out of the parking lot. She made it with a minute to spare.
"Good to see you could make it," said the Doctor. Ravyn sat across the table. "Sorry about that. I lost track of the time," she said with a small shrug. The waiter brought her, her usual. She looked up at him. "Thank you," she said. He walked off with a small smirk on his face. "You work for the F.B.I." Ravyn looked up over the rim of the cup. She swallowed and set it down. "Yes. How did you figure that one out?" "The National Tattler. I remembered reading about the piece you made there. You also changed your name did you not?" "I did." She wasn't offering anymore than that. That was her past and it was staying where it was. If he asked she would tell. "What was your name?" 'Damn all men,' she thought. "Avel Verger." "Were you by chance related to Mason Verger?" The doctor watched. She did well at keeping her face basically devoid of emotion, but her eyes gave her away. She was uncomfortable with this line of questioning. "I was. When he died Margot and Judy were left with the inheritance because Judy was pregnant with a male heir. They changed the will so that the last living relative would get whatever there was." "You were on the Lecter Starling case weren't you?" "Until they decided I needed a change." "Yes. You're now on The Hand of God case are you not?" "I am." "You're not getting very far with it are you?" "No. Every lead we get turns out false or a dead end. I really can't go into the case Dr. Feldman." "Of course, I understand. Why is it you work when you have no need to do so?" "I prefer to earn what I get as opposed to having it handed to me." "How long have you had your shop and been doing that?" "Sixteen years." "Your friends?" "They work for the bureau as well. They're mainly international workers." "Were you born in Russia?" "No, but my grandma and mom were born there so I was raised around the language." "You were born in the United States?" "Yes. Born at the airport on the way to the hospital." 'What's he doing?' she thought, continuing to answer the questions and ask a few of her own. The waiter came over and refilled Ravyn's cup quite a few times before they finally departed. Ravyn went home, finding everything as it should be and the doctor went to gather some supplies for his later plans.
Monday morning came and Ravyn was up and in the office she held below the ground in the Behavioral Science building, going through some files. She read over one page twice, before moving on to another, aggravated at how slowly this was going. She looked up when there was a knock and set the papers down. "Yeah," she said. The newest trainees never knew what to do when they heard that and so squeaked some kind of response. The older ones who were more used to the flow just walked in. Franco and Sedin barged in without knocking and anyone else just opened the door. Whoever this was, they weren't opening it. She cursed and stood, opening the door. "Package ma'am. We took it to the lab and they said you were down here," said the deliver man. She took the box and set it on her desk before signing for the package and hurrying the man out. She produced a knife and sliced open the box, taking out the branding iron that had been found at another scene. She laid it on the desk and took out a paper, reading it before laying it beside the brand. She reached in once more and took out a package of pictures. She tossed the box across the room and sat back down, looking through the images. Most of the dead had the brand on their backs or legs. The few who didn't have the brand had some sort of other marking on them to show who they belonged too and served.
She put the pictures away and took up the brand. It was in a plastic evidence bag even though it had already been printed and had the usual looking over. She kept it there, looking over the hand holding the world. She heard footsteps outside and put the brand away. The door burst open soon after. "We're going now. Wish you luck in your hunt," said Sedin. Franco rolled his eyes. "She doesn't need luck. She needs a miracle." "I do not. Have fun you two." "We will, and we'll bring you something back." "Oh joy. Do I want to know what you plan on bringing?" "Probably not." "Goodbye." "We'll be back by next Monday maybe." "Alright." "Come on! We're going to miss the flight!" "Bye." "Bye." They left, closing the door behind them and Ravyn shook her head. She took out the brand again, this time taking it out of the clear plastic bag and running her fingers over the edges. 'God holds the world in his hand. It's his decision who lives and who dies and they believe they are his right hand,' she thought to herself. She looked at the clock. Ten minutes to go before she could finally leave. She hated staying indoors like this and wished she had a window. She put the brand back and flipped through the pages of the files once more, not noticing that time was flying by. She looked up at ten after six and shook her head before standing and leaving. She locked the door and left the building under the watchful eyes of her superiors. She was teaching a class tomorrow. Price had requested her to take his place while he was gone on another case. 'Floaters galore,' she thought dryly. She started her car, not realizing she had already made it there and went home.
The next two days passed by without incidence. She found a few leads as to the whereabouts of some in the American ring, but otherwise all was calm. She left the building and headed out to her shop to do a bit of cleaning and check the online orders. She parked the bike out back and went in. She took out a piece of steel from the order she had made and started heating it. She had shed her jacket and pants, instead wearing a pair of jeans and tank. She raised the hammer over the steel and heard a click in the back. Ravyn stopped, placing the hammer in the loop of her pants and left the steel where it was. She walked softly to the back and looked around. There were here men standing there and another walking in. They were talking quickly amongst themselves. Ravyn walked out with her arms crossed.
"In case you can't read, we're closed," she said. The men looked up at her and the one that had just walked in stepped closer. "We are not here for any of the objects you have or sell," he said. "What do you want then?" She stood straighter and watched the group. "We want your skill added." "Hmm...let me think...no." "You will come with us or suffer." "And how can you make me suffer? Pain is only a trivial thing." "We have ways." "I'm sure you do. Look, I want to finish what I'm working on and go home. If you gentlemen would be so kind as to leave and come back in the morning..." She watched the other three men come closer at a signal from the one in front of her. "There will be no coming back in the morning. Come with us or we will make you wish you were dead." "I already do." The man motioned with his hand and the three men lunged towards Ravyn. She danced away from them, going into the back and closing and locking the door. She started the fire and heated the metal until it was white hot. The men barged in. Ravyn struck the first one across the face with the hot steel. He let out a scream and she moved to the other two. They kept their distance from her. She used her free hand to pull out her gun. She cocked it and held it trained on the burnt man. One of them came at her from the side and she hit his arm with the quickly cooling steel. She held it there and waited for the man to pull away. He did and she heard a low growl. Ravyn jumped up onto the small island in the center of the room, knocking off a few tools in the process. The so far unburned attacker walked towards her. The steel was going cold too quickly. Ravyn cursed and threw it at him. He dodged around it and grabbed her ankles. She shot his arm and he cursed. She didn't hear the one behind her until she was being yanked down and her mouth covered with a hand. She held her breath, trying to shoot any of them. She missed and was thrown against a wall. She stood from it and shook her head. The burnt faced man grabbed her throat and lifted her from the ground. Ravyn scraped at his arm and kicked as hard as she could. He grunted once before throwing her down against the counter. She heard the click of a knife and dodged as one tried to stab her. She punched the man with a hole in his arm and he stayed where he was. 'This is not good. Nope, uh-uh,' she thought as she felt the knife blade slice through her stomach. She grimaced and bit down as hard as she could on the man's arm. She drew blood and tore a chunk away. He punched her jaw and she flew down on the floor. The three pounced on her as one, kicking, punching and beating her in every place on her body. She felt a knife slice down one of her arms and another once more over her stomach. She heard her bones crack and yelled out with pain. Something was shoved in her mouth. The beating continued for nearly an hour until Ravyn passed out and could barely breathe. They removed the cloth and blood came out of her mouth. Her hand twitched once before it was still. She coughed and blood and spit came from her mouth. "Is she dead?" asked the man out front. "Not yet. She will be soon though," said the burnt faced man. "Call the police. Tell them there was an accident and you saw two men leaving." There was a scraping sound from the back and Ravyn managed to hobble out with her good leg. She raised her gun. She fired twice and two of the men fell. She slumped to the ground as well. "Don't kill her!" said the leader of the group. The man stopped halfway to her. She shot his legs. He fell to the ground and she shot one of his hands. Ravyn managed to reach her speed loader and loaded the gun, shooting the man's other hand. He yelled in pain. The last one ran from the shop and sped away. Ravyn kept her eyes open as long as possible before she passed out. She could faintly hear the sounds of someone talking on a phone. She tried to open her eyes but couldn't. With a last heave she fell into blackness