Good life to everyone! Glad to meet with you after all the troubles which happened to me! First, I had to do a lot of beta-reading /sad grin/. It's a terrible work, really. Second, I tried the thing they call 'family life'. Emm, don't try to repeat it without instructor /grin/. All this time I had absolutely no strength to write something, although I was full of ideas. But until now I can't promise good or bad end, 'cause I still don't know where this is going to go. Lots of thanx for those, who reviewed, don't forget about me, will you?
Chapter 2. The Cat.
Knock-knock. Who might it be? Is it dinner-time already?
No, it's not. What is our headmaster doing here? Had she come here for apologies? Am I here for forgiveness? Hey, I'm not insane, you are not supposed to stare at me like that, horror mixed with pity in your eyes. What are you up to?
"Clarice, I want you to meet someone."
Great, it's the witch hunt and these 'someone' are supposed to be my executoners. What age is it now? Certainly not XXth. Heh, what will be, will be.
"Good afternoon, Ms. Starling."
Soft, metallic male voice. Look at him, Clarice, don't stare at the window, it won't give you answers. Look at him.
He is handsome. Beautiful, mid-aged. Thin face features and pale skin gave away the aristocratic breed. So did his hands, slim, seemingly weak fingers. Not an executioner. At least not the one working with an axe. Thank you, headmaster. I wonder how he would look with moustache. Would the producer pick him for the role of Rett Butler? Ha-ha, don't even think of that, it seems he can read your thoughts just looking at you. Looking with his deep maroon eyes, glittering like the just sharpened butcher-knife. He IS working with cold weapons, not axes, but knives. He will take his secret kit, dissect you to look what's inside, explore you and then eat you for dinner.
Say something. They are waiting. You are showing your rudeness. Or your mental state, which differs from normal greatly. Say something, don't let those eyes savout you, suck out your soul.
"Oh, I'm sorry. How could I ever been so rude and not introduce myself! My name is Hannibal Lecter, I am Doctor of Medicine."
"Are you going to cure my psyche?" Oops. I'm rude again. Why did I say that? Why do I want to protect myself by all the means I have?
"Clarice!" Headmaster. Will she ever shut up? Will they all shut up? Will they ever learn to speak quiet? Not to scream? I hear enough screaming at nights..."
"Mrs. Lee, I am ought to ask you to leave us alone." Now his voice wasn't soft. It was a command, dare someone trying not to obey it.
And she obeyed, without any questions, saying only: "I'll see you both soon." She shut the door quietly, but Clarice's sensitive ears heard the noise – and it instantly echoed in every part of her body, causing physical pain.
And there was still him to cope with. To prove him she doesn't need any help. Noone could help her. Not a man, though she hadn't seen help from God too. Only tortures.
He was standing idly, staring at her, awaiting for her allowance to sit. She tried to speak, but ner tongue didn't seem to obey her. She nodded her head to the chair near the window at looked at him pleadingly. His smile slightly widened, thought his eyes remained serious.
She exhaled when he sat down. Now she was feeling much better. What are you thinking of yourself, little girl? That he is going to do something with you? Relax, everything's ok, just relax.
He gestures her to sit on the sofa. Instead of this she came closer and sat on the floor, close enough to touch him by exposed hand. A strange feelinng of comfort rushed through her veins. He is supposed to be your enemy, girl. Don't give up.
Soon she understood he wasn't willing to break eye contact. It was somehow very soothing. Se never felt so good in such a long period of two years. He seemed to read this in her eyes and grinned. Hmm, strange, who he reminds me? A cat? Not just any cat, but The Cat. Cheshire Cat. 'Better for me, I've never liked dogs,' she thought.
He smiled softly at the thought. Oh no, she thought, he reads me like another belle-lettres.
So what? Is that a problem? He is supposed to be your psyche-doctor. Good Doctor. If he comes next time, she will speak to him. But not today. Her head is filled with pain.
"May I?" He asked quietly. What did I miss, Clarice asked yourself, feeling his arms around her neck, her head on his lap, his fingers searching for something and finding right spots to massage. "It's Chinese medicine. Won't do you any harm." While feeling his fingers massaging her neck she got relaxed, pain went away. 'Don't tell me I only needed the right physician,' she thought.
"No, it's not that easy, Clarice." Surprisingly she liked the way he rolled her name on his tongue. "May I call you Clarice?" She nodded. He stopped massaging her and that moment she realised she didn't want to take her head off his lap. This WAS rude. Obviously unwilling movement of his lap after several minutes told her she must let him go.
He stood up, looking at his watch. "I should go now, Clarice."
"Will you come again?" she surprised herself, but not him. He seemed to be expecting her reaction. Damn you, little girl, he plays with you. He is able to predict your every word, her every movement, even her every thought. What are you going to do with this? Tell him about your nightmares? Let him sit near your bed when you sleep. Read a bedtime story, give a good-night kiss, hold your hand when you are waking up at night, all cold and sweaty...
"Only if you promise me to be courteous and at least say "Good afternoon, Doctor Lecter." Will you promise?"
She nodded again, feeling weak to say something. "You don't need to worry about the reaction of your body to the massage. As your doctor I strongly advise you to have a rest, even sleep for several hours. Expect me the same time tomorrow." Suddenly he smiled and winked. "Ta-ta."
She couldn't utter a word. Wait till he shows you his butcher-knife, she thought. Inpredictable, like a cat. Be careful with him, little girl. But she couldn't resist to do the thing she did only seldom – she smiled back.
How was that? Expecting the next chapter? Hmmmm.......... What can I give away? Well, the next chapter is going to be about the same events – but from His side. Wanna know how He feels? Review! And if you're not forgetting me, next chapter will come during three days /sadistic smile/.