Note: This chapter contains torture.

Chapter Five: Release

Matthew leaned back as he observed Clarice, her face emotionless and staring directly at him. Why wasn't she afraid? He pondered. He was about to end her life and she didn't shed an ounce of emotion except for the single tear that had rolled down her cheek. Matthew grew angry. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a pocket knife.

There was a sound from behind that caught Matthew off guard. As he turned around he was just in time to meet a hand to his nose. Matthew fell back against the wall and tried to gather his bearings after he realized that part of his nose had been cut off.

"You see Mr. Carter, a common pocket knife is very dull compared to others. If you want your job to be neat and by judging in the past..." Dr. Lecter stood at Clarice's side so he was in between the two. "You do like to be rather organized."

"You son of a bitch!" Matthew howled in pain. "I'll kill both of you." He staggered to his feet, light headed due to the blood loss.

Dr. Lecter grinned almost daring him. "I would like to see you try." Dr. Lecter's tone was serious. He placed his back to Matthew giving him the opportunity to attack while he picked up Clarice and placed her on the table. "Wakey Wakey." Dr. Lecter grasped Clarice's chin and shook it slightly. He waited for her to open her eyes. "Don't close your eyes Clarice." He thought about explaining to Clarice that if she were to close her eyes and drift in to sleep she may never wake up. "I wouldn't want you to miss this." He said rather excited. He knew Clarice would understand his metaphor.

Clarice's eyes met Dr. Lecter's. His very presence brought back a flood of feelings and memories of the night at Krendler's town home. The night that Clarice realized there was a twisted part of her that actually liked the touch of Dr. Lecter brushing his hand over her cheek and the taste of his kiss. His eyes were fixated on hers and there was a smile across his lips and a twinkle in his eyes.

"Dr. Lecter," She started. "How did..?"

"We'll talk about that later Clarice. Right now I'm afraid I'm a bit tied up." He swung around in the nick of time to catch Matthew's hand in the air who's plan on stabbing Dr. Lecter from behind was disrupted.

"You really need to work on your stalking skills as well Matthew." With one arm Dr. Lecter twisted Matthew's arm that held the pocket knife and broke it as if it were a toothpick. Ignoring Matthew's howls he continued. "You see, I've been watching you who in return had been following Clarice. I knew every plan, every thought, every gesture you ever made since you walked out of that prison. A decision.."He leaned over Matthew who was on his knees. "That I must inform you, will be your last."

Dr. Lecter took the pocket knife from Matthew and examined it. "If I may correct myself when I said that pocket knives were messy. They are unless you are experienced." Dr. Lecter smiled and called back. "Are you still awake Clarice?"

"Yes." She whispered as if she were keeping a secret.

"Good." Dr. Lecter gathered Matthew in his fists and pushed him to a chair and forced him to sit down. "Do you know what happened the last time someone ill treated Agent Starling?" He was disgusted with Matthew. The kid was a slob sitting hunched over. What a disgusting disgrace. "Perhaps you would like to fill him in Clarice."

"Krendler." She tried to sit up.

"Lie still. It's hard enough on the body to try to keep you awake, love. And yes, you are right. Agent Krendler had a rather embarrassing ordeal of exposure." He leaned forward to intimidate Matthew. "Would you like me to demonstrate?" He held the knife up to the base of Matthew's forehead.

Matthew shook his head madly in a no. Blood seeped down his face from the hole that was once part of his nose.

"Okie Dokie." He lowered the knife and without taking his eyes off of Matthew's he slit across Matthew's pelvis which was easy to access beings that it had been unbuttoned from earlier. "Since you obviously don't know how to use it wisely." Winked Dr. Lecter.

Clarice listened to the cries of the prisoner. There wasn't an ounce of remorse for him. She had done the mistake as of feeling sorry for Krendler when she shouldn't have and she wasn't going to make the same mistake twice. The same mistake twice, she thought. Her mind began to drift back to the kiss and she became oblivious to the screams.