Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, I am only borrowing them for entertainment purposes.
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Clarice acted without really thinking. She picked up a heavy, rotting tree branch , lifted it over her shoulder and smashed it into the trunk of an upright tree. The action created a loud, sickening thud which reverberated through the forest. The officer's heads moved in unison towards the sound.
Clarice smiled, seeing the group move away from the area where Hannibal was standing. However, her plan might have worked too well because now the group of officers were running quickly through the forest, right to her. But at least Dr. Lecter had a clear path to her car, and with one last look at him she turned and headed in the direction Dr. Lecter had pointed out. Unfortunately, Clarice wasn't able to run flat out because of the many trees and fallen branches. The officers were gaining on her, and her chest had started to constrict.
Luckily though, Clarice was no stranger to strenuous activity. She willed herself to keep moving forward, and she was happy to notice the officers falling behind a little. She saw a light ahead and increased her pace. She had made it to the clearing. And there in the center was an old oak tree swaying in the night breeze. Clarice quickly sprinted to it, fearing that at any moment the officers might appear. Clarice swiftly surveyed the tree, looking for any sign of a door. But the tree looked like just what it was...a tree.
Then Clarice remembered Hannibal mentioning pulling on the lowest branch. And then she saw it, a low branch sticking out of the trunk at about four feet off the ground. She grabbed the branch and pulled with all her might. A low creaking sound met her ears as she pulled open the door hidden by the bark of the trunk. She rushed inside and pulled the door quickly closed again from an inside handle. Just as she did she heard the approaching officers.
She stood, silently behind the door. Listening as hard as she could, while praying that they wouldn't be able to hear her heart pounding.
"Where the hell did she go?!" One of the officers barked. Then he continued...
"You, Anderson and Donnelly, follow the opposite path out of the clearing. Thomson and Cartly, double back, she might be hiding somewhere back there. Go now, I want them found!" Clarice gave an inaudible sigh, they had not found Hannibal. She heard the officers running off in opposite directions, and finally it was silent once more. She turned away from the door and gingerly felt the walls around her. The floor gave way to steps and Clarice cautiously followed them. The room was pitch black. Luckily though, Clarice felt a light switch on the side of the wall and eagerly flipped it on. And what Clarice saw made her think that perhaps Hannibal had been to lenient in his punishment of Mason Verger...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hope you enjoyed this chapter. I plan to write a longer chapter soon., and as always reviews are appreciated. And a Special thanks to my previous reviewers!!