Chapter Thirty: So Much like Her Mother
Ashley falls asleep in the car and bounces along quietly as Lecter plays some gentle classical music. Ashley dreams of all the places Dr. Hannibal Lecter could be taking her. It could be Disney World, after all she hadn't ever been there and it was a well known place for children, though she was no longer a child but saw it a new adventure anyway. Was she being taken to Hannibal and her mother's old home in Buenos Aires? So many places so little time to dream.
Lecter looks down at the girl she lays in a small fetal ball facing him. A strand of her soft brown hair, so much like her mother's, has fallen across her face and moves with each of her small breaths. Her creamy soft white skin lay across the tattered red cloth interior of the car. This young girl could be nothing less than her mother's child, Ashley was a near replica of Clarice. Near replica, he kept saying in his mind, there was something that was different about her, something familar yet something so distant, Hannibal for all he was worth could not pinpoint what that thing was.
Ashley's eyes fluttered open and she looked up at Hannibal who was now focused on driving. She yawned and rubbed her eyes as she sat up, her hair flying every which way. She scanned the area for road signs, mile markers, any sign of life but found nothing, just open plains and space.
"You have been sleeping for a few hours." Hannibal spoke answering the question that was on the tip of her tongue.
"Where are we? Besides the middle of nowhere I mean." She turned around in her seat seeing no cars behind them either.
"Nowhere is somewhere, dear." Lecter spoke a sly grin tugging at the corner of his lips. "You will see soon, we are almost there. Just another hour or so."
Ashley nodded slowly with another yawn. Her mind was focused on the classical music station when suddenly the music stopped.
"Ladies and gentlemen I apologize for the interruption in your commercial free hour. However, we have an urgent news bulletin that was just put out by the FBI and the Virginia State Police. You may remember Clarice Starling an FBI agent who was reported to have connections with cannibalistic serial killer Dr. Hannibal Lecter. We've recieved news that Clarice Starling was killed in a hit an run accident just over a year ago. Her daughter, Ashley Starling was kidnapped in the early morning hours today by fugitive Hannibal Lecter. Reportedly, Lecter is driving a dark colored, windowless panel van. If anyone has any information on the whereabouts of Hannibal Lecter or Ashley Starling you're asked to contact the Virginia FBI field office at 804-555-5555. Let's bring Ashley home safe and sound 67.9 listeners."
"How about, let's leave Ashley alone." She grumbled as the music returned to the radio. "At least they've got the wrong car description."
"They will find the van before long." Hannibal stated dryly.
"What about video tapes in the garage? Won't they see this car on there?" She questioned.
"By the time they find the tape this car will be safely locked away from the public eye and we will have another car to travel by. I thought this out well little one, have no fears."
"I'll trust you on this one." Ashley rested her head against the glass and sighed softly as Hannibal turned off the 'main' road and headed up a gravel road towards an old farm house.
Author's Note: HOLY CRAP! I am so sorry guys. It's been a really long time since I've updated. I apologize immensly. You'll be rewarded for your patience with 2 chapters. School gets in the way with my writing. Stupid school.