A/N: This is a shorter chapter I know, but it's because this story is fixing to pick up the pace FAST! So please read up, tell me what you all think thus far. We have finally made it to Chapter 20, Part III. There are going to be some major story developments. I appreciate everyone's input good or bad. The next chapter I will be releasing very soon because I am already in the process of writing it. So please stay tuned and get ready.
Chapter 20
Part III : Thus Begins a Brave New World
Hannibal exited the building with Clarice in hand. They both got in the vehicle and began there drive to the nearest airport. Hannibal had insisted on driving so that Clarice may get some rest. She sat next to him in the car staring out the window. The low rumble of the vehicle was the only sound to be heard between the two.
"Clarice… I know you were feeling sick earlier. Are you alright now?"
"Yes. I am fine." She continued to gaze out the window.
"We will get her back you know that right? If that is what you are concerned about, I will put your mind to ease now and…"
"That's not what I am concerned about. I mean it is, but…." Silence again.
"You can tell me anything Clarice."
She turned to look at him, "We are obviously walking right into a trap. He will have men covering that place. What makes you so sure that we can pull this off?"
Hannibal smiled, "Because I have the FBI's top shooter with me covering my back. That is how I am so certain. Alone, you are correct, this would be rather dangerous."
Clarice returned the smile but it was faint. Then her thoughts drifted back to the baby.
"Hannibal….I have something important to tell you…."
Hannibal glanced over, their eyes meet one another, "What is it?"
"I…" a pause as they continued to look at one another, "I…."
Her mind screamed at her: DON'T TELL HIM YET! HE NEEDS TO FOCUS HE CAN'T BE DISTRACTED. If he is distracted and too concerned with me, he could be killed.
"I was thinking that maybe, we should stop off somewhere so that I can pick up a few more guns. I don't think he will bring the entire FBI with him, but I know he has a team. If he is planning an ambush, I need to be better equipped if I am going to cover you."
Hannibal thought about her words for a moment, "I will entrust that task to you. Whatever you may need, I trust you."
She closed her eyes and sighed.
"But Clarice…"
Her eyes shot back open, "Yes?"
"When all this is over, will you tell me what it was you were truly thinking in that moment?"
She smirked, "Nothing gets passed you, huh?"
He turned and winked at her and she began laughing.
"Everything will be fine my dear."
Back in the Florida Keys, Will was making preparations for Hannibal and Clarice's arrival. He walked into the room where he kept Ardelia handcuffed to a chair.
He approached her smiling, "Well Miss Mapp…it would seem you have proven useful, despite all the lies in the beginning."
"Go fuck yourself Will."
He crossed his arms, "Now, now…that is no way to be talking to me since I am the one that holds your life in my hands."
"Then just kill me already. I would rather be dead than see Clarice with that thing."
"So I am a little confused by that statement. You claim that you are disgusted by the thoughts of them together yet you assisted her. Seems a little contradictory if you ask me. Care to elaborate?"
Ardelia shook her head, "It's called being a friend Will, something I don't think you understand. Sure I didn't agree with her decision, but she was going to leave with or without my input. I would rather see her off than put a bullet through her skull in the name of the FBI. An organization that has fucked her over more times than I can count."
"How noble. But no Miss Mapp, I am not going to kill you. Despite what you may think of me, I do not wish you dead. You were merely a tool to get this whole plan into motion."
Will moved to stand behind Ardelia, "Did you know that your boss Clint Pearsall knows you are here?"
Ardelia's breathing faltered for a moment, "What?"
"Well you see, I had to make all the necessary precautions. But if it makes you feel a little better no one else in the FBI is in on this. Guess you and Starling both got fucked over."
Ardelia lowered her head, "Why?"
Will got very close to her ear and whispered, "Because he must die Ardelia. By any means necessary. But hey, I am a nice guy. I don't want you dead Ardelia. I want you to come out of this alive, but I had to do what I had to do to bring them here."
He walked back in front of Ardelia to face her, "Before Starling, Lecter had no weaknesses. Want to know how I caught him the first time? By a fucking fluke. He was leaving to go get my jacket to walk me out and I was being nosy in his place and found a recipe book that revealed everything. So when the newspapers tried to drum me up as some hero, a brilliant mind, it was a little hard to digest. Because I knew the truth and so did Lecter. But he never said otherwise. Now that he has Clarice, well not that she has many ties either, but she has more than Lecter. I knew I could get to him through her. It was just that simple."
Ardelia spat at his face and Will wiped it away with his sleeve, "I deserve that I know."
"You disgust me. Get out of my sight." Ardelia barked.
Will smiled and turned to walk out the door. Waiting for him just outside was Lady Murasaki.
"Are you ready for what is to come Will?"
Will stood right in front of her glaring at her, "You better not be getting cold feet after everything I have went through to make sure this happens."
"I am not Will. But you do understand that not everyone is going to make it out alive right? Have you come to terms with all of it?"
"I understand that I will most likely die when the time comes, but you said it yourself. He has to he stopped and we will be the ones to stop him. But tell me something, he is your nephew after all, do you not feel the tiniest ounce of regret anywhere for the decisions you have made?"
A single tear began rolling down her porcelain skin, "My Hannibal, my dear nephew, my sweet boy…died a long time ago in that snow. What has taken his place, is nothing more than a monster."