Disclaimer: I do not only any of these characters, I'm only borrowing them for a while.
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"All good things to those who wait, where have I heard that before". Clarice thought as she got into Jack's car. Well a lot of things had changed since Dr. Lecter had said that last and Clarice was quite happy about how things had turned out, to be perfectly honest. When she had first realized that her feelings for Dr. Lecter had surpassed what was "appropriate" she had scoffed and chalked it up to nothing more than stupid naive infatuation. Over the years she had buried her true feelings. But now, knowing that he had felt the same way, and that now she would be leaving with him, was almost too much to grasp. For the first time in many years she felt...free.
"What are you thinking?" Dr. Lecter asked as he got in the car and started it.
"What, can't you read minds?" Clarice asked, smiling.
"No, contrary to popular belief, I can not read minds." responded Dr. Lecter as he fluidly moved the car through the streets.
"Well since you admitted it finally, I'll tell you. I was just thinking how much things have changed in the last twenty four hours."
"Are you having second thoughts, Clarice?" he asked in a somber tone.
"No, it's just...different, in a good way of course though."
"I'm glad to hear that, Clarice. Now get some rest, we won't reach our destination for quite some time. And I doubt you got much sleep last night, considering the location."
"Yea...that Mason was...quite the decorator." Clarice admitted, recalling the gruesome pictures on the ceiling."
"Well don't them trouble you anymore. Rest..."
Clarice found herself falling into a deep sleep, the steady rhythm of the car quickly putting her at ease.
Dr. Lecter smiled slightly at the sleeping form of Clarice before turning his attention back to road as he turned onto the interstate highway.
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As Ardelia was waking up, a thousand thoughts ran through her mind. "What happened, where's Clarice, wait, why should I care, she fucking strangled me! And where's that stupid ass Dr. Lecter, it's all his fault that Clarice is acting so strangely lately!"
Ardelia blinked a couple of times before her vision returned to normal. It was a welcome relief to be able to breath freely again, but her throat was still sore and ached. She started to stand up but her cuffed hand stopped her. She gasped as she looked down at Crawford. His head was lying in a pool of blood, looking like a demonic halo of sorts. She started crawling backwards, trying to get away from the frightening body but her cuffed hand kept dragging Crawford's body after her. The heavy weight of his leg making her wrist feel as if it were about to crack.
She started searching her pockets frantically for a spare handcuff key. Coming up empty, she started looking around, for anything that might help her free herself. Just as she was about to really start to freak out Crawford started to stir.
"Sir, are you alright?"
"Mapp?" Crawford groaned reaching up to brush the blood from his eyes.
"Yes, can you get up?"
"arghh, I think so" Jack replied slowly.
"O.k. well I need you to help try to move so we can make it to the phone in the living room."
It was a slow process with Jack crawling slowly over the floor, leaving a thin trail of blood after him. Ardelia had to bend over as she walked, following Jack's dragging ankle. Finally they were able to make it over to the phone where Ardelia quickly called an ambulance.
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O.k. so this it's sorta of a short chapter so I'll get right to writing the next one as soon as possible...Review please, hope you're liking the direction of the story, thank you!