Beaten Chapter 2

(Continued..)

Starling entered swiftly, crouched next to Hannibal Lecters still form. "They really got you for running out on them last time didn't they Lecter?" she asked his limp body, more to herself as she took in his appearance.

He was curled into an foetal position, back to her. The room was dark but she could tell the darkening on his skin and clothes were not just shadows. Gingerly she rolled him over so he was on his back, careful not to be too rough as he may well have broken ribs.

"Oh". The sound escaped her in a sigh of genuine pain. His fine-featured face was marked with swellings and cuts, the delicately pale skin marked with dark bruises and streaks of crimson blood. His red lower lip had a deep cut curving round like a lip piercing, there was a particularly darkly blooming bruise tracing his defined jaw line and cheekbone on the left side.

The right side of this beaten face was peppered with smaller bruises, Starling could tell had been inflicted with the butt on a gun and his forehead bore a particularly worrying cut, spanning from the top of his bleeding nose to half way across his pale forehead. His dark hair was clogged with blood and several strands stuck to his bloodied forehead. His eyes were shut and one circled with a near crimson bruise and swelling.

Dragging her eyes from this paining sight she swept her hands gently over his body-there was no broken bones but there was several tender areas where she suspected he'd been bruised severely probably from being kicked while on the ground. His unconscious body jerked slightly as she passed these places. Pushing back his crusted hair a foul anger filled her, this damage had been inflicted by men whose job it was to stop this kind of physical abuse everyday.

Knowing the court was no longer inclined to care about Lecter's wellbeing they had taken advantage of it and punished him as they saw fit. Starling briefly wondered if Jack Crawford had helped. That thought sent a shiver of repulse towards these creatures that had did this and were probably asleep now with a clear conscience, thinking justice had been served.

Trying to clear her mind of such musings until later when they were both safe Clarice checked the corridor outside for any backup but saw none. They didn't think he would be even conscience until tomorrow and also thought that no one would bother to try and help him. Didn't think anyone cared. Well she cared, no human should have to go through this and she wouldn't let him see any more suffering, especially not death. Gently tilting his body, she cupped him in her arms and lifted him clear off the thin mattress he was resting on.

This was not a hard task as he weighed little more than she did. Carefully she carried him out and down. Near the exit she found a stretcher and sheet (they had brought him in drugged with tranquillisers) and slipped him back on it, covering him with the thin sheet then hoping against hope that no one had seen her or would see her she hurriedly pushed him out into the crisp night air and to her car.

AN: Think its any good so far? I'll be adding to this soon coz I like the story even if no one else does! If you have any comments, queries, complaints plz leave them in a review-I need to know if its total crap and I should just abandon it or not! THANK YOU ALL!