Welcome my friends to Bloom's Demise! Enjoy!
LH
BLOOM'S DOOM
Doctor Allen Bloom, along with a very large share of the national television viewing audience sat down at eight p.m. eastern standard time to watch the documentary, Inside the Mind of a Madman: Doctor Alan Bloom vs. Doctor Hannibal Lecter. It was being shown on a national cable network as the material was far too graphic for standard broadcast networks.
The documentary team had been scrambling since the meeting with Bashandi and Hannibal in order to review, edit and include the footage from the meeting in the film. Before the film began a very long disclaimer and viewer warning was flashed on the screen explaining the content would be inappropriate for young viewers and those with delicate sensibilities. Extreme viewer discretion was advised.
Clarice prepared to the watch the presentation in the company of Ardelia and Logan. Thankfully, Hannibal had convinced Clarice of his ability to transcend the pain of the treatments and she had seen a good deal of the raw footage on the internet therefore she was prepared for the graphic nature of the content. As a precaution, Hannibal insisted if she watched the presentation she do so with friends in the event her emotions generate medical complications.
Logan was absolutely ecstatic. So excited was he about the event he ordered pizza, purchased snacks, picked up his favorite micro-brew and set up his own massive buffet on the coffee table in the living room. He wanted to invite Lloyd and Barney but Ardelia put a stop to the idea not wanting a carnival atmosphere. She worried Clarice might become emotional and didn't want her friend surrounded if she began to feel vulnerable or cry.
Logan understood and although he would watch with Ardelia and Clarice alone, he had prepared for the event as if preparing to watch a championship football game.
Sitting in the center of the couch he carefully balanced a beer in one hand and a paper plate, bowing from the weight of several slices of pizza, in the other. Logan unceremoniously dropped one of his sandaled feet onto the end of the table and crossed the other over it.
Putting down the beer he picked up the remote and aimed it, turning on the television just as he allowed the tip of his pizza slice to dip onto his tongue. After testing the heat of the cheesy triangle, he chomped at it and ripped off a large hunk. The food rolled around his mouth as he spoke, "This will be absolutely epic! There is no way Bloom's career survives this shit!"
"I'm surprised Hannibal survived this shit!" Ardelia commented as she stared at Logan's horrific table manners. "Seriously, do you expect us to eat here with you chewing like a cow with your mouth hanging open and food falling out all over the place?"
Logan made no apologies, "Just enjoying my food, that's all! You don't like it. Don't look!"
Ardelia moved to sit beside Logan on the couch. As she passed, Ardelia shoved Logan's feet off the coffee table. "Boy, get those big, dirty ass feet of yours off the table!"
Logan was unfazed as he sat up and grabbed another slice, "Hey, you know what they say about dudes with big feet!"
"Yeah, they wear big shoes." Ardelia replied sarcastically. "Not to mention you wear a size 10. That's just average."
"Hey, what can I say? Anyway, it's not the size of the boat that counts it's the motion in the ocean!"
Logan sat up and continued eating without missing a beat. As he pulled the pizza from the box he allowed the mozzarella to slough off his slice like an avalanche slipping off a cliff. It plopped with a splat onto the table.
Ardelia grabbed a napkin and moved to clean the mess but before she could accomplish her task, Logan reached down, pinched the cheese, held it high above his head and allowed it to drop into his mouth much like a trainer would feed a seal.
Horrified, Ardelia slapped him lightly, "Jesus, Logan! Your home training is seriously lacking. If I didn't know how lovely your parents are I'd swear to god you were raised in a barn!"
"Nope, I was raised in a house on the beach. Guess it was a lot like a barn though…tracked lots of sand inside so it's kind of the same. Mom vacuumed a lot!"
"Why am I not surprised?" Ardelia commented as she snuggled up against him on the couch. She shifted her attention to Clarice. "Hey girl, you okay?"
Clarice downplayed her quiet concern, "Yeah, no worries Dee…I'm good."
Without the presence of Hannibal, Clarice was forced to comfort herself by holding her belly to cradle the baby within. She found herself thankful Hannibal recommended she stay the night at the duplex. Logan was an entertaining and welcome distraction.
Ardelia, ever the skeptic, questioned, "Are you sure? This isn't going to be easy for you to watch. That son of a bitch Bloom really pushed the envelope of human decency. I'm sure they didn't even leak the worst of it to the internet."
Clarice nodded an affirmation, "I know he's safe and I know after tonight, there isn't anything Bloom can do to him. He'll be pulled from the case and even if they put another psychiatrist on the case they can't hold him much longer. No… no matter what happens on this film I can handle it. I'm only watching it. H had to live it."
Logan shrugged off Clarice's concern, "Hell, I want to see what he did to Hannibal. It just makes him even more epic in my book! They haven't made the cage that can hold that dude and they haven't found a man who can break him. Hannibal Lecter is a fucking god!"
Clarice played off the excitement understanding how much Logan looked up to her husband.
"He's just a man, Logan, but he's my man and I'm sick to death that all the assholes of the world keep lining up to try and take him from me."
Understanding that her words were poor comfort but feeling the need to say something, Ardelia offered, "Knowing your husband he's probably been screwing with Bloom as much as Bloom has been screwing with him. Unless he gagged Hannibal the entire time that man will probably never be the same."
Ardelia had no way of knowing how close to reality that statement had been.
Clarice laughed. "It's true…H can get more done with a whisper than most men can with a scream."
"Damn straight!" Logan added as he pulled Ardelia close and tossed back a beer.
Suddenly, a hush fell across the room as the documentary began. Clarice held her breath and braced herself for what she was about to see.
While the world watched the documented treatment of Hannibal Lecter, the man himself rested on his bunk and enjoyed his first moments of real solitude in two weeks. With the documentary complete and the film crew gone, the camera had been removed from his cell. For the first time in two weeks, he was alone in his cell though his thoughts were far from that place.
Not wishing to view the documentary with an audience as had been suggested by the production company Hannibal graciously declined to view it at all.
Instead, he chose to stroll along the streets of Florence with Clarice on his arm. He decided they would spend the night in a suite at the Relais Santa Croce as the food was exceptional and he believed Clarice would enjoy the frescoed ceilings. He closed his eyes and imagined a warm, sunny day with Clarice's arms around him as they walked. He could feel his hand resting on the small of her back. He could feel her muscles flex as her hips swayed from side to side. He took a deep breath, the inhalation calling the memory of Clarice's personal scent to him.
Clarice…you are perfection.
Doctor Alan Bloom was enjoying the presentation immensely as he had no qualms about any of the procedures being shown. He was, in fact, quite proud of his ingenuity though it did not seem to dawn on him that he hadn't gotten answers to even one of the questions put to Hannibal during these sessions. This was a fact not lost on the viewing public.
As suggested to him by Hannibal as the coin rolled over his knuckles, the ability to continually initiate pain was itself the only true goal. The questions proffered were merely an excuse by which he could continue to administer the negative reinforcement. In his almost trance-like state of semi-awareness Bloom considered the torment of Hannibal Lecter a direct barometer of his elevated status.
Therefore, during the portion of the documentary when the journalist asked him pointed questions about the possible need to provide some form of palliative care for Hannibal, Bloom's callous disregard was met by the whole of the viewership, save Bloom himself, with absolute horror.
Clarice was curious about one thing and hoped it would be the focus of one of the show's segments. She waited with anticipation when as the clips began to roll of Mariyah being interviewed. There was one question she wanted answered and hoped the reporter wanted the answer as well.
The view on the television was of Mariyah, still sitting at the conference table, though now in the seat previously held by Hannibal. The reporter leaned forward and began to question, "Mariyah, you seemed to be quite excited to see Hannibal."
Mariyah considered the familiarity insulting and corrected, "Doctor Lecter. I was quite excited to see Doctor Lecter, yes."
"He asked you if you completed a task he suggested. Would you care to explain what that task was?"
"It's…it's difficult to describe…I can read you the email if you like. I think Doctor Lecter's words would explain it far better than I can."
Mariyah reached into her bag, unfolded a piece of paper and began to read:
Dear Mariyah,
I hope this note finds you well and with your feet firmly set on the road to recovery.
I have a task for you that I believe will help you to heal. I have sent a package to you. It will arrive within the week. It is a small length of the rope used to restrain you. Your blood is on the rope.
You are familiar no doubt with your ancestors and their burial rituals. The practice of mummification is what is of interest to us here. As I am certain you are aware, canopic jars were utilized. Purchase a canopic jar, might I suggest Qebekh-sennuef, the one of the four sons of Horus who guarded the intestines as intestinal fortitude is the trait of any survivor. If you are unfamiliar, the animal head depicted on the lid of the jar will be that of a falcon.
When the rope arrives I bid you to rinse your blood from the rope. Watch carefully as your life's fluid, that sticky crimson serum, swirls and circles in a tiny whirlpool and disappears down the drain. As the blood lessens and the water clears, bid the fleeting fluid to carry all of your fears and anxiety with it.
Next, soak the rope in an aromatic substance or spice, and wrap it in a piece of white linen. Carry the jar and the wrapped linen parcel with you to a remote place. This should be a place with which you are familiar but one that offers privacy as well.
The next bit may seem silly but it is very important you trust me as it may prove life-changing.
Wailing in grief is also a custom of your people. Look down into the depths of that jar and cry out all your hurt and misery into that darkness. Cry out to the bottom all of your pain and your sorrow and when you have emptied the anguish of your soul into that vessel, place the parcel within, seal the jar, and bury it were you can never be burdened by its contents again.
Know that you are ever on my mind and always in my heart. If I should one day be blessed with a daughter I pray she has the same courage and grace to face the troubles of life that you have shown.
My best to you and to your family,
Hannibal Lecter, M.D.
The camera moved for a close-up as Mariyah folded the paper and placed it in her purse.
The reporter leaned in, "And did it help you? Was he right?"
Mariyah, tears of relief spilling over her eyelids. She made no attempt to hide her emotions.
"That was the first night since this happened I didn't wake up in a cold sweat not remembering where I was. I love Doctor Lecter. He made me feel safe. He gave me my life back. He gave me my smile. With his help and through his friendship I found peace. I want to help him find peace as well. I want to see him holding his baby. I want to see him smile."
"Jesus…Jesus…" Clarice stared at the television with her mouth agape, stunned at how simple, yet how profound the task Hannibal set forth had been and how elegant and dignified the young lady was as she spoke of her situation.
Ardelia whispered quietly, "Wow…Clarice…wow."
Logan, being Logan, shook his head and blurted out, "That was some deep shit people…that was some really deep shit!"
The film continued to reveal Bloom's mishandling of the case and the staff at the prison attempting to find ways to ease Hannibal's discomfort. Hannibal himself could not be interviewed as his case was pending in the court.
Clarice watched all of the physical torment Hannibal endured, all of the mental abuse displayed without reacting. She was prepared for that. She had hardened herself, honed her edges to absorb the cut.
What she did not expect, nor could she handle was a close-up of Hannibal just before lights out the night before the documentary aired. He was told the cameras were going to be removed in the morning and was there anything he wanted to say to his wife.
Hannibal looked into the camera and stretched his hand toward the lens as if reaching out to touch Clarice. He spoke in a low, husky tone, his voice rich with emotion, "Goodnight, my Love…I'll be home soon."
He then rolled onto his left side away from the camera and all of the lights were shut off. He was asleep…Alone. This was the moment, in all of this, when Clarice could truly see her husband's pain. She broke down and began to sob uncontrollably.
Bloom, arrogant to the last, was irritated by the sentimental moment and used the break to get up and go to the bathroom. He missed the part of the documentary that provided vital information as to how the following day would go.
The reporter stood to give her final thoughts.
"Inside the Mind of a Madman: Doctor Alan Bloom vs. Doctor Hannibal Lecter seemed on the surface to be an interesting insight into what does and does not constitute sanity. All involved believed we would be frightened by Hannibal Lecter. Terrified to be in his presence, several longtime crew members withdrew from the project and replacements had to be called in.
Doctor Alan Bloom, again, on the surface, seemed a thought- provoking and sensitive man. He seemed to care only about the welfare of the Lecter's child. Again we are speaking about appearances, not reality.
What we found during our two week shoot is that Doctor Hannibal Lecter is a well-mannered, well-adjusted individual with a bit of a problem. His problem was not a debilitating mental illness, or the burden of insanity. No, his only problem was Doctor Alan Bloom. A man so bent on the destruction of Hannibal Lecter and the dissolution of his family that he sought to do physical and emotional harm to achieve that goal.
This film became less about exploring the mind of a serial killer and more a living document recording the downward spiral of a once well-respected individual, Doctor Alan Bloom.
Inside the mind of a madman achieved its goal, although the madman wasn't who we expected. It wasn't Hannibal Lecter, who for all intents and purposes seemed to be saner than most people affiliated with this production. The madman it seems is Doctor Alan Bloom.
THE MOMENT OF TRUTH: Defending honor
Bloom didn't turn on the television before leaving his home the following morning. He was too excited to be meeting again with the president. Bloom truly believed the footage offered fully exonerated him. He was preparing himself, not for the apology he was to make to Hannibal Lecter. No, he was preparing for the apology he believed the president would be making to him.
He believed he had forced Hannibal Lecter into submission. He believed the entire world would genuflect before him. He imagined he might help to raise the child. And perhaps Clarice…
If I am able to delve so deeply into the mind of Hannibal Lecter after only two weeks, imagine what I will be able to achieve if given his nine consecutive life sentences with which to work. Hannibal would be at my mercy. Oh, if Fred were here to see this! I almost hope he doesn't have time to kill himself. When he attempts it perhaps I will stop him. They will consider me a hero and Hannibal a danger. He will be transferred to my care and will be my most celebrated trophy. He will be my crowning achievement and I will receive what I so richly deserve.
Bloom finished readying for the day as he talked himself into a wonderful stupor of self-importance, continuing to fantasize as he dressed in his best suit for the day's events.
Who knows…maybe the Nobel Prize? Accolades will be cast upon me like crowns of laurel but I must appear to remain humble as it would be unseemly, at least initially, to be a braggart. No I will allow others to discuss my greatness. I have only to sit back and enjoy.
Clarice showered and readied to put on her go-to black dress.
Sure…you had two suits in your garment bag and I wore my only nice dress yesterday. Great planning H…usually you are more on top of things than that. You should know better than to leave me to my own devices when I'm this upset.
Still wrapped in a towel on her half of the duplex there was a knock on her bedroom door.
"Hey, Clarice…something was just delivered here for you. It's got a note attached."
Clarice opened the door to find Ardelia standing in the hallway with a garment bag holding a note in Hannibal's impeccable copperplate.
"That man makes every other guy alive look like crap." Ardelia commented as she handed Clarice the items.
Clarice accepted the bag with a smile. "I told you…He's one of a kind, Dee."
"We'll be ready to leave in half an hour so do you think you can put on your pretty new whatever and meet us downstairs by then?"
"Sure…I'll be ready."
Clarice opened the small note.
Clarice,
We have come to the end of the ordeal. Enjoy the dress and please bring my good luck charm.
Do smile, my Love. We sleep together tonight.
Ever yours,
H
Clarice opened the bag to reveal a deep teal dress. She expected the color remembering the second suit in Hannibal's garment bag was a deep steel grey double breasted suit with a deep teal tie. An elegant silver necklace hung from the hanger. Within the envelope along with the note was the item he requested she bring along.
So this is your lucky charm? Okay. It comes with me. I hope you know what you're doing H. If this all goes to hell it could get really ugly, really fast!
Clarice, Ardelia, and Logan arrived at the prison an hour before the press conference was to begin. Clarice requested to see Hannibal before the meeting but it had been disallowed due to security concerns. With the president soon to arrive, they didn't want the additional worry of moving Hannibal Lecter form his cell before the officials were in place.
The car arrived for Bloom at eleven forty-five. The driver had watched the documentary and was mumbling to himself the entire ride to Bloom's home. He was not pleased to have to deal with a man whose mental health, he believed was severely compromised. He accepted the assignment on the condition he be allowed to drive the limo that was outfitted with a glass panel dividing the driver's section of the car from the passenger's area.
Bloom finished the note Hannibal instructed, placed it within the bag along with a set of scalpels he was told to include. The doctor waited impatiently at his front door for the car to arrive looking down the street in both directions hoping his neighbors might see him being picked up.
It was a cold March day, windy, and as such the neighborhood was quiet. He had no idea how many of his neighbors were watching the live news feeds covering the press conference. He had no idea the medical board had announced an investigation. His world was coming down around him and he was oblivious to his fall from grace.
He was unaware the president had watched the documentary and was now intending to fully distance himself from the situation. The avalanche of public opinion was hurtling down the mountainside and Bloom was clueless at its base. Bloom was not only being thrown under the proverbial bus, it was being parked on his back.
The driver exited his vehicle with the distinct purpose of going to the door and escorting Bloom to his car. Much to the driver's surprise, Bloom, excited at the prospect of the apology he assumed he would be receiving, came bounding down the stairs to the car swinging his medical bag beside him.
Bloom enjoyed the ride to the prison, imagining watching Hannibal's innards wax across the prison floor.
The president arrived with his entourage minutes after Bloom. Doctor Alan Bloom was being escorted through the security checkpoint as the president arrived.
The guard searching Bloom's medical bag looked away, distracted by the arrival of the president. He dumped the contents, ran his hands over the inside and while looking at the president, lifted the blood pressure cuff and squeezed it, not feeling the knife, dropped the cuff into the medical bag he moved for the next objects.
Suddenly one of the supervisors noticed something and interrupted.
"Hey, Davis, What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"What?"
"You can't send that in with him!"
"What?"
The supervisor rolled his eyes and grabbed the bag. He looked within and spotted the contents. He then looked onto the table, grabbed several clamps and placed them within the bag.
"The clamps are okay but this can't go in the bag."
The supervisor picked up several scalpels. "You can't have something like this in the room with the president."
"Yeah, but that's medical stuff." Officer Davis defended.
"You can't send something that can be used offensively into a room with the president."
The supervisor confiscated the scalpels and sent the bag, Harpy included, in with Bloom.
Well, Hannibal, the game is afoot, so to speak. You would have done well not to challenge me. Your wife will see you dripping in blood!
Bloom had no idea how prophetic his thoughts would prove to be.
Hannibal was informed the judge ordered his immediate release based on the bias of Doctor Bloom, the evaluation of Doctor Danielson and the input of the surgeon general.
Hannibal was told his wife had been informed as well. The officer removed Hannibal from the cell and allowed him to walk freely to the shower. Hannibal showered without benefit of an audience and was allowed to dress in privacy. Just before being escorted to the press conference Hannibal heard a knock at the door. He opened it to see Logan.
"Hello, my friend. I was told I wouldn't be allowed visitors. Clarice requested a visit but it was disallowed."
"I'm here in an official capacity. They were sending a bunch of jack-booted thugs from the secret service to escort you but I asked if I could come up and get you myself. Clarice sends her love and this."
Logan flipped the coin used to hypnotize Bloom to Hannibal who caught it mid-air.
"See said it's for good luck."
"It is indeed, thank you."
Logan opened the door widely and held it open for Hannibal to exit. "Now let's go watch that bastard Bloom crash and burn!"
"Nothing would give me greater pleasure, I assure you."
Hannibal, Logan by his side, entered the press conference. There was a large table in the center of the prison's intake area. It was the largest section of the prison that was secured and offered a variety of options for the secret service to move the president in and out safely.
Hannibal scanned the area quickly assessing the direction the president would be leaving, in the event a weapon was produced. He also evaluated the seating and memorized with a glance the order in which each of the participants would be sitting. Hannibal was prepared.
Bloom entered and held his medical bag up, wagging it in Hannibal's direction in order to signal he had been successful. He yelled across to Hannibal, his voice dripping arrogance, "Hey, Lecter…how's your blood pressure?"
Hannibal smiled a wicked smile. "Perhaps before this is over you would like to test me?"
"It will be my pleasure, Hannibal…my pleasure."
The president entered in the company of Anwar Bashandi. Mariyah followed closely behind. Chairs were lined up in a semi-circle surrounding a podium that was outfitted with a bouquet of microphones.
On the left of the podium sat the president and the Egyptian prime minister with Mariyah and Clarice seated at the end of the row. Clarice spent her time holding Mariyah's hand and talking to the young lady. Mariyah was curious about Hannibal and was busying Clarice with questions.
The right side of the podium was seated Doctor Bloom, Doctor Danielson, the surgeon general and Hannibal. Not that the president didn't trust Lecter, but he felt it best if Bloom and Hannibal were not in close proximity and he felt safest in the presence of Bloom. He might have made another choice had he known Bloom's tenuous state of mind.
The president spoke and thanked Egyptian Prime Minister Bashandi and his daughter Mariyah for their assistance in the case of Hannibal Lecter. He also thanked the surgeon general and Doctor Danielson for their efforts to evaluate the material Doctor Bloom generated.
Bloom heard only the following: BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, Hannibal Lecter, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH!
He didn't pay attention until his ear caught the final segment of the speech and clued Bloom to his situation.
"And in closing, I am sure everyone in the room saw the presentation last night. Everyone, with the exception of Doctor Hannibal Lecter, I am told.
Doctor Lecter, I don't blame you for not wanting to view the film. May I offer my apologies for what you were forced to endure under the guise of medical treatment. Please know that there will be a series of investigations and may I say I am impressed not only with your grace under extreme duress, but also the restraint you exhibited.
You will be released following this press conference and will be escorted to your home, a fully exonerated man to begin your healing. Doctor Alan Bloom would like to make a statement that I will assume will contain a very overdue apology. Doctor Bloom, if you please."
Bloom reached into his bag, unrolled the blood pressure cuff from within, tore off the bubble wrap, and palmed the Harpy. He then arrogantly took the podium.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to thank the president for his somewhat pathetic promise of support, and the Egyptian prime minister for his sycophantic concern, however misplaced it was. It has been judged by minds nowhere near as experienced as mine, that Doctor Hannibal Lecter does not pose a serious risk to the general public. As such he will be immediately unleashed…excuse me, released to the general public. While I don't agree with this assessment, I'm bound by it and will defer to my semi-learned and easily manipulated colleagues. While I don't feel bound to apologize to Hannibal Lecter, I will apologize to his wife for any pain this process caused her."
Bloom left the podium and walked toward Clarice, the Harpy resting in his hand. Clarice leaned over and sought to make eye contact with her husband.
Hannibal stood.
His mind tumbled as he sensed not fear from Bloom, but aggression. Hannibal felt a sudden rush of panic and quickly moved forward, obviously agitated.
The president became hyper-vigilant as Hannibal moved closer causing the secret serviceman assigned to the president to move in Hannibal's direction in the event he needed to intercept.
Stay back young man, I don't wish to harm…
In his periphery Hannibal had already spotted the man and would not chance he might halt him from reaching Clarice. He slowly moved away from the agent and positioned himself in front of the podium certain to be in full view of the cameras.
"What's going on here?" the president questioned.
Hannibal held a hand up and waved for the president to move back. "I am not certain of Doctor Bloom's intention toward my wife. I would move away were I you, Mr. President."
"What do you mean Bloom's intention? Lecter what's happening?" the president persisted.
"I think Bloom means to harm my wife. It would be best if you were not here."
Hannibal redirected his attention to Bloom cautious to keep his voice was very calm, "Doctor Bloom, please do not approach my wife as she is pregnant and I am extremely protective of her. Please focus your attention on me…your quarrel is not with Clarice."
Bloom walked behind Clarice. She did not shift her attention to Bloom but looked at Hannibal, her eyes filled with questions.
Bloom answered with a pompous flair, "Yes, Hannibal my quarrel is with you, as you alone have taken everything from me…"
Doctor Alan Bloom opened the Harpy and held it low behind Clarice keeping it shielded from everyone save Hannibal. "…now before I die I intend to take everything from you as well."
Hannibal's adrenalin surged at the sight of the knife so close to Clarice. His mind flooded with images. Colors swirled within his mind as flashes of blood red and pools of molten rage boiled within. He breathed deeply, his lungs the bellows fanning the red-hot anger within.
Hannibal's pulse raced as he remembered the dream he had not long ago…Nico cutting Clarice and tearing the child from her womb. He could feel his anguish at that moment, watching the light leave her eyes. He could hear the crack of the bones as Nico killed his child. Though it was but a dream, he could not imagine reliving that moment.
I will kill you here…in front of everyone…in front of the cameras, I will rip the life from you before you will harm my Love.
"I will not allow you to harm her." Hannibal asserted.
Bloom laughed, "You cannot stop me."
As Bloom wrapped his left arm across her throat and reached across her belly, he pressed the hooked tip of the blade into her flesh. A small bead of blood began to form.
Hannibal was intensely focused on Bloom as his hypersensitive senses began to process the overwhelming flood of stimuli. He struggled to filter out the unnecessary input as his nostril's flared.
Clarice's blood.
Clarice felt the pinch of the Harpy's claw, "H…I feel pain…H?"
Seeking to calm, Hannibal's voice and demeanor remained passive. "You are fine, Clarice…I have everything in hand."
Hannibal quickly pulled the coin from his pocket held it in front of Bloom to garner his attention.
Bloom's eyes flashed interest as Hannibal began to roll the shining silver across his knuckles.
"Do you trust me, Clarice?" Hannibal questioned as he stared at Bloom to keep his focus.
Clarice understood what Hannibal was doing and nodded her approval, "More than anything, H."
Hannibal watched Bloom's respirations and began to match the patterns of his speech with Bloom's inhalations and exhalations. His voice was very low, soothing even.
"Alan, you do not want Clarice to die. You do not want my child to die. You meant to protect them. Protect them now. Leave Clarice…Come…kill me, Alan."
Hannibal halted the coin, held it on its edge between his thumb and index finger obverse side facing Bloom and extended it in full view of the beleaguered forensic psychiatrist.
Bloom followed suit, extending the Harpy in exactly the same manner finally revealing it to all assembled.
Someone in the audience spotted the knife and screamed, "Bloom's got a weapon! He's got a weapon."
Suddenly, the secret service members scrambled, grabbed the president, the prime minister and Mariyah, rushing them quickly from the room. Mariyah screamed Hannibal's name as she was dragged away.
Cameras flashed as Hannibal moved very slowly, cautiously, ever closer to Bloom as he began rolling the coin over each of his knuckles, passing the coin under his palm with his thumb over and over again.
Bloom's attention fixated on the coin, though he did not lessen his grip on Clarice.
The small contingency of secret service members attending to the president and the Bashandi's were now safely transporting the group from the area and back to the white house. As this was a prison there were no guns allowed, only mace cannons. Several correctional officers aimed their mace but were concerned about endangering Clarice. None wanted to be the man who fired and caused the child to be killed within her.
Bloom stood his ground wearing his hypnotic courage like armor, unafraid.
"I wonder Hannibal, when you first received the news your wife was with child did you expect her to die on the same day your baby was born? Not that the child will live much longer than his mother. Wouldn't a C-section with the point of your Harpy be an appropriate way to bring your pathetic progeny into the world? Though it is doubtful the fruit of your poisoned loins will survive with only the hardened cement floor to catch him as he spills from your wife's rancid womb."
"Let Clarice go, Allen and you may yet survive to live with your shame," Hannibal warned as he continued to slowly walk forward.
Bloom seemed not to notice how much distance Hannibal had closed as his eyes continued to follow the coin. "I will let her go when her legs give way. I assume that will be the moment your filial flesh slips from her bloodied body," Bloom taunted as he watched the coin continually pass over and under Hannibal's hand.
Suddenly Hannibal palmed the coin. Bloom's eyebrows knitted together in displeasure.
Hannibal watched the muscles in Bloom's arms to attempt to predict when he should move. He very slowly inched forward. The tip of the blade pierced a bit more.
Clarice flinched not only from the pain, but from fear for their child, "H…H…the baby…Our baby!"
Hannibal's heart pounded within his chest thumping his terror as the organ punched against his sternum, "Give me the blade Allen and on my honor I will slit my throat in front of you. Let Clarice go and I promise you that I will pour my life out into your hands."
Knowing Hannibal did not lie and would absolutely do what he promised if Bloom relented, Clarice called out in fear, "No, H…No!"
Allen Bloom tightened his grip on Clarice's throat crushing the words within.
"She will die before you, Hannibal. It will make your last moments on this earth very, very painful."
Hannibal closed in further and now believed he was within striking distance. His mind was performing the permutations to confirm his prediction as he spoke.
"I am begging you, Allen. If you will not allow me to kill myself to save my wife, I beg you to kill me in her stead. I again offer you my life if you leave my wife and child as they are innocent of this."
Bloom thrashed in anger, twisting Clarice as he stomped his foot in rage, "No! I will see you suffer as I suffer!"
Bloom's muscles flexed on the right side signaling to Hannibal that Bloom was about to draw the blade across Clarice's stomach. Hannibal took the coin and flipped it toward Bloom.
For a brief instant, Bloom's eyes and his attention followed the coin. In that moment, Hannibal acted.
He dove toward Clarice, grabbed her from Bloom's arms, wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to the ground. Hannibal fell onto his back with a thug, the wind being forced from his lungs with Clarice cradled protectively in his arms. Hannibal rolled over with his arms and legs forming a protective cage around Clarice. He lifted her quickly, turned and set her down.
"Move away from me Clarice. I will be far more capable of handling this if I do not have to worry about your safety. Go to Logan."
The moment Clarice reached Logan he called out, "I got her Hannibal. Now kick his pussy ass!"
Hannibal faced Bloom.
Bloom held the Harpy above his head and charged Hannibal.
Stepping quickly to the side, Hannibal reached for Bloom's hand attempting, at least for the cameras, to disarm Bloom. Doctor Alan Bloom swiped the blade at Hannibal, slashing the side of his throat and opening a bloody wound. Though the cut was no more than superficial, the bleeding was significant. Hannibal spun into Bloom's body and grabbed his arm, controlled the wrist and turned with Bloom.
Now that Clarice was no longer in danger, several correctional officers moved in. Hannibal could hear their footsteps and quickly assessed the situation from the stimuli he was able to gather. He could smell the slight leakage of pepper spray as the safety releases were being shifted to arm the mace delivery canisters.
Hannibal listened intently as he attempted to discern which officer would launch the attack first. He judged the officer just over his left shoulder was closest to firing. The split second Hannibal picked up the scent of the fluid ejecting from the canister he spun toward the spray, protecting Bloom and allowing himself to receive the full brunt of the chemical attack face-first.
Holding Bloom's arm, the Harpy still bundled tightly Bloom's fist, Hannibal twisted in pain. He was choking and gagging for the cameras as he directed Bloom's arm. Hannibal wretched, timing the spasm as the tip of the blade pierced Bloom's abdomen. Hannibal tugged at the elbow as he spun toward the cameras, the Harpy now tearing into the flesh. Bloom doubled over as the Harpy was dragged through his own flesh, by his own hand. He screamed in agony as Hannibal, turning with the doomed psychiatrist as if still attempting to spin away from the pepper spray, guided Bloom's arm, aiding him in the fully forced performance of the seppuku.
The cut roared open as Bloom's entrails slowly blossomed and cascaded from the opening. Anyone witnessing the event would not perceive Hannibal's assistance in the assault as he was blinded, choking for air, obviously distressed and fully involved in his own pain. It appeared to all present as if the cut was fully self-inflicted.
Hannibal whiplashed his head as if in a desperate attempt to rid his eyes of the burning chemicals. He then tucked his face alongside Bloom's neck as if wiping his eyes on the man's suit jacket.
Hannibal hissed his vengeance as he clutched Bloom's arms whispering in the terrified man's ear, "You should not have harmed Clarice…Est sularis oth mithas…My honor is my Life! You have no honor, Alan. Soon you will have no life."
Hannibal leaned forward as if wincing in pain from the spray attack. He began to cough as if the spray was affecting his breathing. The pressure Hannibal surreptitiously forced against Bloom's elbow caused the Harpy to be forced home. As Bloom doubled over attempting to squirm from the blade, Hannibal continued to whisper poison into the man's ear.
"Now, you will die like a pig on a slaughter house floor, squealing in your own blood and excrement."
Wild eyed, Bloom howled in agony as his innards continued to spill out from the incision. Hannibal released Bloom and twisted away from Bloom as the mortally wounded man attempted to scoop his intestines from the cement floor and gather them back into his open abdominal cavity. Within seconds the blood loss was too great to overcome. Bloom tipped forward and toppled, very slowly, facedown onto his own organs.
Though Hannibal could not see, he could smell the intestines and knew Bloom was very near death.
"Clarice? I can't see…Clarice," Hannibal called out.
Bloom's body weight caused the lower bowels to burst and excrement to flow.
Bloom's death had indeed provided Hannibal with the pleasure he hoped it might. The man was now dead, the Harpy still clutched within his very cold hand, very dead hand.
Logan was incredulous, "Hannibal, Oh my god, Dude, you missed it! The crazy bastard just went all samurai and killed himself. He really is a gutless bastard now! You should see it."
"Clarice…is she well?" Hannibal questioned for the assemblage, standing, eyes crushed closed with tears flowing down his cheeks as his lachrymal ducts attempted to flush the offending fluid. He was dripping in Bloom's blood.
"She wants to come to you but I'm holding her. Can I let her go?"
"Yes, please, Logan…with water…I need Clarice…my eyes."
Clarice rushed to Hannibal holding several water bottles. She spoke softly, "I'm going to use some bottled water to flush the pepper spray from your eyes, H. Hold still. It will be okay…we are going to be okay."
Logan was laughing as he moved around Bloom's body, "Hannibal get those eyes cleared you've gotta see this it's fucking poetic. Hey Clarice…Remember what you said about the assholes of the world trying to take Hannibal from you? Check it out! Now there's one less asshole in the world and just like an asshole, this one's covered in his own shit!"
Hannibal stood very quietly as Clarice poured the water over his face. The runoff began to rinse the blood from his suit as well. Knowing her husband was a creature of habit, Clarice reached into Hannibal's inside pocket to find the crisp white handkerchief she knew would be placed. She used it to clean Hannibal's eyes.
"I'm sorry to say that bastard bled all over you, H. I think this suit is beyond salvage."
His face now cleaned, Hannibal rested his head on Clarice's shoulder burying his face alongside her neck, "One suit is a small price to pay for peace, Clarice."
Logan walked up to Hannibal, "Dude…Holy shit! Are you kidding me? That was unreal…un-fucking-real!"
Logan's eye caught sight of the coin hydroplaning atop an ever increasing puddle of blood.
"That was one hell of a good luck charm! Hey can I have it?"
Hannibal flashed a smile, "Of course, my friend. I'll have no need of it now."
Logan held the coin out toward Clarice on his flattened palm, "Do you mind hitting this with the water. It's bleeding like that son of a bitch. LOL!"
Clarice rinsed the blood from the coin.
Logan dried it on the side of his leg. He then began to flip it in the air over and over again with a wide smile on his face.
"That was epic…absolutely fucking epic!"
I hope you enjoyed the chapter my friends!
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Until the next chapter my friends!
LH