Hindsight Chapter Three (Revised)
Openings
Disclaimer: Thomas Harris owns all characters except my OC and certain themes have been lifted from John Steinbeck's inspiring 'Of Mice and Men'.
Barney watched Dr. Chilton from a distance, carefully masking his distaste for the smaller, oily man. At the present moment, he was leaning so close to the flickering monitor that his nose was reflected on the black and white screen, bulbous and oddly curved. On the monitor the familiar cell looked lighter in the monotone of greys, blacks and whites. Sat at his desk, Dr Lecter was sketching in quick smooth strokes and huddled in the corner, between the wall and the netting was the quiet young woman who had arrived yesterday, Barney's day off. He had a sneaking suspicion this had been planned to avoid any resistance and had he been there Barney certainty would have kicked off. To force co-habitation between these two inmates was not only cruel, as Barney knew how much the doctor abhorred his cramped conditions as it was, but dangerous for both parties and doubled the complexity of cleaning, both the doctor and young woman ordered into full restraints when outside the cell. Now she was here however, it would loose Barney his income and job if he did anything to separate them. The little of her background he was told for safety's sake made him wonder what went so wrong in her short years and he could appreciate why she looked to uncomfortable being in such a n enclosed space with a stranger.
"God Dammit!" Chilton suddenly exploded, slamming the side of the screen in frustration.
"Why aren't they doing anything? They're goddamn killers for Gods sake!"
Barney looked down on the angry, mottled face of his boss.
"I'm not sure they know they are guinea pigs for your obscure experiments. Is an article in a medical journal really worth.."
Chilton glared furiously at the big, black man. "If I wanted your opinion, orderly, I will ask you." He snapped, irritably.
Glaring at the screen for another moment he snarled and turned on his heel.
"If anything changes, you call me immediately, understand?" And with that he swept out, stomping back ton his office.
Barney looked after him with an expression of contempt then looked to the monitor and the two figures on display. With a jolt he realised they had moved. Looking to where Dr Chilton had just disappeared, he considered then declined the notion to call him. On the monitor, the young woman was now sitting opposite Dr Lecter and Barney watched as he looked up from his sketch and sat back in his chair slightly. Curious and nervous, Barney watched as the girl's lips moved as she leaned forward slightly, ready to intervene if it got nasty.
"Do you mind if I sit here?" A soft voice broke into Dr Lecter mind, which had been away in the snaking corridors of his memory palace.
Looking up, he saw the young woman standing in front of him, fingertips resting on the back of the chair opposite his own, eyes focused on the back wall, unseeing yet open.
"Do what you like, Dr. Chilton has decided it's as much your cell now as mine." His voice was cold and emotionless.
He watched her as she stayed exactly still, seemingly unperturbed by his stand-offish manner then she turned and, fingertips outstretched like a moths antenna, sat back in her corner but facing him.
"I assure you I gain no pleasure from being here." Her voice was calm yet bitter.
"That is not my concern" He replied shortly, idly shading a part of his elaborate sketch.
Minutes passed in silence and he watched her, waiting. He could smell her bitter anger and saw her getting increasingly agitated and awkward under scrutiny she must feel. Slipping her hand in her pocket, she pulled something form it and held it tight in her left palm, thumb stroking jerkily.
Silently moving closer to her, he knelt about four feet away, watching. Her head snapped up and nostrils flared slightly, locating him and his closer proximity.
"What have you got in your hand?" He asked slowly.
Locking her fist closer to her body she turned to face out onto the corridor, still stroking something in her closed fist.
"What have you got in your hand?" More menacing now, demanding a reply.
As she turned her head towards him, he could smell anger again on her, so strong it seemed to taint the air between them. Her face was impassive now.
"Nothing of interest." Short and elusive, irritating the doctor.
Reaching forward, breaching her personal space to no end, he grabbed her wrist in a fierce grip and twisted her round to face him. She went limp in his grasp, face fathomless.
"Open your hand." He said softly.
Her fingers unclasped and the limp form of a dead mouse fell to the stone floor with a soft thud.
He looked at it levelly then turned his gaze back to her.
"Where did you get this?"
"When I was waiting at the top of this corridor for them to sedate you." Her voice was cool, her stance aloof.
"You brought a dead mouse with you."
She reached to the floor and felt for the mouse but he covered it with his own hand.
"Give it back" she hissed, anger welling up, stiffening her stance.
"Of course" She could hear the malicious humour in his voice but refused to let him rile her.
She felt his hand move and reached for the mouse but it wasn't there. She heard him stood and just as she was about to follow the warm body of her mouse fell back into her lap from where he was standing.
Authors Note: I realise this is a little confusing at the moment but all will become clear in the following chapters. Thank-you to everyone who has reviewed so far, your comments are really helpful! 3 you all!
CAPPONI