'Vengeance is mine; I will repay'

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

HER BURNING HEART

The Story of Lilia Derevko by JetNoir

Note: Last chapter was a bit of an experiment, with the domestic abuse, and the pseudo-24 format. This is more in line with the other chapters, and is quite an important section – as you are about to find out. Contains violent and gory scenes.

CHAPTER FOUR: First Blood

In memories, we are beyond the fluidic present. With time, in our desperate search for the truth, sometimes, something's may inadvertently get lost.

In the memory of a human life, it is completely impossible to memorize everything…but some stories are less easily forgotten…and some dreams are worth more than others.

I think that many people, both in this savage world of terrorism and murder…and some who read this account – forget that Lilia was first and foremost a victim. I don't believe she chose the life she led. I don't think she could have. She suffered. The world paid the price for her many betrayals. Not that I'm justifying her actions. However.

Most people believe serial-murderers to be the embodiment of all that is evil. That is probably true. Most people believe serial-murderer to be psychopathic, viscous, cruel, monsters. Again, that is probably true. Take Dr Hannibal 'the Cannibal' Lecter for example. We all know how that turned out.

In the present day, our fluidic space of time, Lilia could be sadistic…but what might be viewed as sadism, might be ritual: drummed into her skull when she was but seven. Yet when she first killed, it was hardly intentional. Then again…maybe she shouldn't have been carrying that knife.

No matter what the consequences, Lilia Derevko, would forever lose her innocence at the age of ten years old.

sometime in 1985

St. Petersburg

They say you never forget the first man you kill.

Man. That's an exaggeration.

It was almost dark, when Lilia left the city's vast library. It had become her favourite haunt, learning more secrets with each passing day. She studied with a passion and vigour, planning for the future, all the while longing to escape the dreary life she was forever locked in. She barely spoke to her parents now, and she much preferred it. When she didn't have her nose in a book, all that occupied her time was school, and avoiding her parents. Lilia didn't have friends. She didn't need them.

Her father barely noticed. If it were today, someone would tell him he was drinking himself to an early death. No one cared.

Her mother was more concerned however. Anna Derevko tried desperately to get her studious and introverted daughter to spend some time with children her own age. But the children barely understood Lilia, so far ahead she was; and they all bored her.

As Lilia was walking, she deftly pulled her warm coat closer around her. It was cold, and juggling a large pile of borrowed books, with cold hand isn't easy. Her mind was set on an experiment she had been planning. Dissection. The books preferred one specific method…yet she had some ideas on how to improve it.

These thoughts were not on what lay ahead, and she walked home automatically, as if on autopilot.

She didn't notice the cliché. Darkened alley. Large ugly man. Seriously.

"Where you going, brat?" the man snarled, snatching her arm, making Lilia drop all her books, "don't struggle…and I'll be real gentle. Scream, and I'll slit your bloody throat." He pulled her to the corner, holding the knife to her throat; "This'll only take a minute."

Lilia realised he wasn't going to rob her.

She didn't want to stay to find out quite what he had planned. Remaining perfectly calm, she slowly slid out a concealed knife, sharp, and moderately long. Twisting out form under the man's grip, she ducked the savage sweep of the man's blade, and lashed out, striking from one side of his belly to the other. A thick slit opened in the man's shirt, which was mirrored rapidly by his opening flesh. Intestines slid out in a warm and gushy mess, falling to the floor. The man groaned in pain, as his free hand slid over the red and yellow tubes.

"You little-!" We never would find out what the man said next, as Lilia leaped up, and plunged the knife deep into his heart. A steady trickle of blood swept out, avoiding Miss Derevko, and landing neatly in the intestines accumulated on the floor. Lilia felt a slight rush of excitement…a thrill from the adrenalin at having defeated the enemy…and then remembering what he was about to do – tried to think of the worst punishment she could imagine.

With the knife, she reached out and grabbed the clean hand (the other was covered in entrails) and holding the little finger out, cut it clean off.

If you know what the Revenant did with the fingers, I'm sure you will guess what happens next. For those who aren't as intimately acquainted with her ways – it's probably better you don't know.

Lilia giggled slightly; "I'm a soul-eater. Your soul is mine!"

Cleaning her knife, she slid it into her concealed pocket, and checking she had no blood on her…for she had been nimble enough to avoid it all, she picked up the fallen books, and carried walking home.

--

They found the body three days later. Although it was a quiet back street, many people must have walked there. Perhaps they didn't notice the gore…or the smell. Perhaps they thought it was a drunk. Or maybe they thought that it was none of their business, and as they walked on, ignored the death that surrounded them. I prefer the latter theory.

However, police couldn't find the killer, after a short search. They never dreamed a ten-year old girl was responsible. The cold war was drawing to a close. They had more important things on their mind.

It was finally marked unsolved, and filed away in the vast archive…never connected to the 'Revenant' case.

They say you never forget the first man you kill.

Hardly a man.

Scum.

Note: Personally I was always rubbish at Biology…much better at Physics. I would have preferred Lilia to have been a Physicist, but I didn't think that was quite as strong a subject, if you're going to become a Forensic Detective! On that note, again hoped you enjoyed it, and please review (and please tell me your opinion on the intro, then into events…again, I'm trying different things! Also the gore. Do you want more? Less? Please let me know!)

Disclaimer: Hannibal is copyright to Thomas Harris; and the story, plus original characters to me. This story has been written on the understanding that you may read it and print it out; but you may not pass it off as your own, hire it out, or sell it for money. You also may not put it on your own or any other web page without my express written permission. Thankyou!

JetNoir