Elizabeth dreamed of classical music, the cool breeze of the Potomac against her face, and the smell of antiseptic. With all three clashing horribly in her mind, the young woman opened her eyes slowly to find herself staring of the ceiling of her work space. With the buzzing light shining softly into the darkness of her room, Elizabeth realized that the heart monitor beeping was not a patient but her own. Swallowing the small amount of saliva she could produce, Elizabeth attempted to sit up but only moved a millimeter before noticing her arms, legs, chest, and head were bound to the gurney.
Fear flooded her as she started to struggle at the binds. She did not the feeling of being confined in the manner, and started to twist her arms to loosen the straps on her wrist before she noticed a ruffled sound of papers at the opposite side of the room. Within the darkness, he spoke.
"Hold on Ms. Kerr".
Though she could not lift her head, she heard the figure slowly stand, placed his sheets of paper on a table before approaching her binded body. With a sudden click of the light switch behind her, Dr. Lecter's face looked down on Elizabeth with a soft smile.
"Nurse Rose was quite determined to keep you for at least eight hours, but I feel you have gone well over that requested time."
Elizabeth felt a rush of multiple emotions as her eyes widened in a mixture of embarrassment and horror. Not even capable of expressing what was coursing through her mind, the doctor began to remove the restraints from across her body.
As he leaned close, she could smell the cologne he had on during the seminar, but without the stained lab coat, she could only see the dark long sleeves over formed arms. Once all of the straps had been removed from her body, Dr. Lecter stood at the foot of her bed looking over a steel clipboard as Elizabeth sat slowly up to rub her wrists. It was then she noticed the IV in her arm. It was an irritating feeling as it moved as she accidentally ran her fingers over it but the heart monitor did not spike. The mans eyes flickered from the chart to the monitor before resting on the womans chart.
Not wanting to get caught at staring at the doctor, Elizabeth's eyes looked around the room. As she chewed her lip and looked at the room as a patient for the first time, she eyed the plastic pitcher of water with plastic wrapped cups on the movable table. Starting to shift a little to make sure she had With cracked lips and an irritated throat, she could see a pitcher of water and plastic wrapped cup on the movable table near the and went to get it herself before the doctor moved for her.
"Please, let me."
With her records sitting next to her side as the doctor went to pour her some water, she indistinctly picked up the clipboard and read the information.
Elizabeth Wright Kerr - Age 28 - Blood AB N.
Dehydration - lack of nutrition - Signs of assault: bruises on eyes, arms, small fracture on bridge of nose...
A frown fell upon the chart as the doctor returned to her bed side before removing the chart from her fingers and holding the cup of cool water and straw in front of her. Taking a few sips as the man leaned against her wheeled bed, Elizabeth looked to the doctor in wonder.
"Doctor Lecter… why are you here?" Elizabeth asked bluntly. Since she was an only child and her parents were decreased, the last time she was in this position, it was her
that stayed and signed her out. Realizing how blunt her question was she began to rush her words faster.
"I mean I am grateful for your presence, but since we have no relation, professional or personal, why are you here?"
The doctor smiled softly showing straight white teeth as he jotted a few notes in Elizabeth's chart before standing next to her side.
"Well, while Professor Topher was going to stay here and since I wanted to talk to you in general, I suggested that I stayed. Plus, I have oodles of time on my hands and Professor Topher had a class yesterday morning and evening."
Elizabeth felt her mouth slack a little. She had been out for over a day and half. It was the first time her heart monitor jumped but the man continued talking.
"Professor Topher has notified your other professors of your absence. You have not missed a single day since you have been here for almost eight years. Now… reason why I wanted to talk to you…"
Elizabeth looked to the man a little nervous at this attention but stayed silent as he spoke.
"Professor Topher recommended you out of all of his students. With your previous employment history, not the diners but with your late parents, you have what I am looking for in an assistant."
"An assistant?"
Once again Elizabeth was gifted with a smile.
"Yes. I am looking for an assistant to help me with my practice. The FBI have been asking for my assistance but sometimes, even a man like me need assistance."
Elizabeth sat silent holding her plastic cup. This was definitely not in her seen future but something itched at her.
"Why does my employment history come into this Dr. Lecter?"
Another smile, one that made her feel a little flush.
"Hannibal, please. Well, before I indulge you Ms. Kerr, why did you leave your previous employment?"
Elizabeth stared into her cup, watching her heartbeat pulse through the water before looking to the man with a soft smile.
"Elizabeth or Liz, please. I left my precious steady and successful employment because I… " she hesitated to take of sip of water.
"I was having trouble seeing the clients as clients I worked on… I kept seeing my parents on the tables. Every funeral was my parents. Within two weeks we had over 14 clients through. Some times two in a day… and all I saw was my parents. It was a mental tick I was having trouble getting rid of. I sometimes see it if I go volunteer in the morgue… but since I did well with helping so many that came to the business evolving around grief, I felt I needed to move on. Go past mortuary science and open arms to helping others with ticks… ticks like mine."
She watched the mans lip twitch, just once that was barely visible.
"Everyone has ticks Elizabeth. Some, more than others. But before I indulge you the proposition I have offered and why I think you would be a wonderful candidate, would you like to have dinner?"
Elizabeth was caught off guard but quickly looked to the man that smiled softly.
"I avoid the hospital and foul food at all cost and since I am in charge of your well being, I think it is time to get you some proper food. I shall go get you discharged and arrange your transportation to your home. I will pick you up in two hours. Gives you enough time to freshen up and dress."
Before she could utter a word, the man was striding away from her to put on a pea coat that was resting on the chair he was sitting on when she woke up. While she felt her mouth slacking she finally grabbed .
"Hannibal. Um, I… where and what will be an appropriate attire?"
Approaching the bed he took her hand into his. Deep maroon eyes looking into her as his lips curled into a smirk.
"Comfortable my dear. No need to get formal after what you have gone through. Don't fret on where. All will be pleasant."
While her mind did not register that Hannibal was holding her hand, as she watched him lift her hand and kiss the top with a soft squeeze.
"See you soon," as her hand was left levitating in the air and the man was turned and out the room, Elizabeth was left wondering…
Does he know where I even live?