In the Hobbs neighbourhood, police cars had already arrived before our heroes, placing orange cones to prevent any cars from coming and generally keeping people and reporters away. The police officers, expecting them started to remove the said cones, allowing Hannibal to drive into the Hobbs driveway unobstructed, quickly reforming behind Hannibal's rental car to keep everyone else away.
They all exit the car and just like Jack had instructed, Abigail was escorted by the two Doctors and Rana. As they made their way towards the house, the reporters started to shout questions at Abigail, while being held back by police officers.
"Abigail. Did you know you were a cannibal?"
"Abigail. Anything to say to the families of your father's victims?"
"Abigail. Did your father feed you those girls?"
Suddenly, they are pushed to the side by Marissa's mother. Immediately noticing her, Hannibal moved first. Like a paternal shield, he eased Abigail towards Rana. The two of them locked eyes for merely a few seconds but it was more than enough for them to communicate.
The female FBI agent placed her hand on the girl's shoulders and guided her straight into the house. She used her body to shield Abigail from the reporters and the mother of the latest victim, who Hannibal had gone to prevent from reaching them.
He barred her path, gripping her arms, his hands soft but firm.
"Why come back? Why did you come back here? Why did you come back?" she asked, loud enough that the girl to hear her.
Abigail couldn't find her word or look away from Marissa's Mother that so so wracked with grief, she could barely stand.
"Come on, Abigail," Rana said with a comforting tone, guiding the child further away just as Freddie stepped out of the shadows near the garage.
"Abigail!" the noisy reporter shouted.
Rana let out a silent growl, moving so her body almost fully shielded the 19-year-old girl from the woman. Her free hand went to her gun, placed there to make her point. "You're on the wrong side of the police line."
Hannibal appeared by Rana's side, not fully liking seeing the reporter again. Both stood in front of the girl, their body language similar and not hiding they were protecting that girl from anyone and anything. Alana was not that far behind from joining, although she noticed the duo were already quick enough to cover Abigail.
The woman was not backing down, however. "This is my tale to tell. I've been covering the Minnesota Shrike long before you got involved" Rana looked to a nearby police officer, who understood and moved quickly towards Freddie. She grabbed her by the elbow, ushering her away from the Hobbs House and Abigail. "I want to help you tell your story. You need me now more than ever. "
Abigail, who had seen and heard everything, turned to Rana. "I want to talk to her"
"No, you don't." Both Alana and Rana said at the same time. However, their answers did not seem to please the girl.
"Inside, Abigail" Rana eventually said, her tone a little stricter.
To Alana's surprise, Abigail did as she was instructed. It was clear that she wanted to argue but she didn't and obeyed. Usually, the 19-year-old girl did not truly listen to someone unless she had something to earn. She had been filled in by Hannibal and Jack, and Abigail had started to listen to Rana faintly more than she did with others.
She studied the female agent faintly, not truly having any close contact with her other than a cup of coffee here and there during cases they ended up working together. Yet, she never had the said woman to be someone good with kids or earn the trust of one, let alone someone as old as Abigail.
She had to search it more and observe, although a part of her deep down did feel little jealousy. She was the girl's doctor, but she had trouble working with Abigail or truly earning her trust. Rana, on the other hand, seemed to have an easier time with it.
Inside the house, Abigail sat on the couch and was crying quietly, emotionally exhausted from the horrors of the day. She hugged a hand-made pillow that embroidered across the surface, had the image of a deer walking across a plane, trimmed in the pelt. She clutched it to her stomach, needing something to hold. Then it dawned on her.
Abigail's hands gnarled as she began pulling at the fabric of the pillow, digging her fingernails into it. The pillow began to rip at the seams and Abigail tore it open. She began to shake as she removed the pillow's stuffing. Contrary to the usual pillow stuffing, this one was filled with wads and wads of human hair.
Her heartbeat pounded in her ears, filling her head with a rhythmic, oppressive tone. She began to tremble and reeled from this horror.
Suddenly, she felt a small breeze through her hair and froze. She looked up, and see the sliding glass doors were now Open and Infront of her stood none other than Nicholas Boyle.
"I'm not going to hurt you. I got to talk to someone. I didn't kill that girl. I swear I didn't." he said, trying to make her listen. The girl instinctively went still before she bolted. She attempted to run but Nick was faster. He grabbed and spun her around before forcing her against the wall, one hand over her mouth to prevent her from screaming. "I didn't..." Nick stopped talking and stiffened, eyes going wide.
Abigail had plunged a kitchen knife into him at his sternum and just like her father showed her, she pulled it down, gutting him in one horrible motion. His eyes turn glassy as life is quick to leave his body, never stopped staring at the girl with the bloody knife, whose eyes were a bright yellow as her breathing and heart had increased.
The media circus was becoming too much and the adult trio had to work extensively to ensure they stayed away. At the same time, Rana was busy talking with the police officers about the perimeter and for any suspicious movements that they might witness if they hadn't already. However, she came to a halt while talking as she picked up a scent.
She excused herself and turned to head towards the house, eyes locking with Hannibal. Both seemed to have detected something odd, which quickly confirmed their inner theories as the familiar smell of blood reached them. Rana was the first to move quickly into the house, one hand resting on her gun and ready to use it.
Hannibal watched her and followed suit, with Alana having also noticed and had decided to join; to ensure everything is fine.
Rana entered first, walking deeper into the house and following the scent close to the kitchen. "Abigail?" she called the girl's name and heard an increased heartbeat as she approached.
She came to a halt when a bloodied Abigail walked up to the stairs, shell-shocked. Bright yellow eyes were wide, looking at her with fear and shock, lips parted and chest heaving faintly as she had trouble controlling her heartbeat and her breathing.
"Abigail...what..." Alana's voice reached her ears before there was another strong sound.
WHAM!
Rana quickly turned, seeing a knocked-out Alana in Hannibal's arms, who gently laid her on the ground. "Hannibal..." she called but was interrupted by the doctor.
"She saw, there was no other way," he said, as she quickly realised what he meant, yet it still did not feel right to her. Her hand was still on her gun, her face showing she did not like what she had just seen...partially seen. He realised it and yet he remained calm, his voice as stable and soothing as ever. "She is alright. She is not hurt"
Before Rana could say or do more, the sound of something collapsing was heard. The duo immediately turned to find Abigail sitting on the floor, bloody hands held in front of her chest as she found it harder to breathe, body shaking.
Rana moved fast, deciding to leave Alana and gently kneeling in front of the scared girl. She knew why she was reacting that way and she could see, the girl was in slight internal pain from her heart beating so fast. She held her hands, right beneath the blood and tried to talk to her.
"Abigail, breathe. Okay, I want you, to breathe" she said, as Hannibal bent one knee by her side, watching with interest but fully in silence. The girl could not focus on her breathing at all, yellow eyes looking at them with fear. Rana took a deep breath, closing her eyes. When she opened them again, her irises had turned bright red. "Breathe, Abigail. Breathe" she said, her voice stable and passively commanding.
The girl locked eyes with her and slowly, her breathing started to return to normal. Her shaking stopped and it took less than a minute for Abigail to regain control of herself. Once now calmer, the yellow in her eyes disappeared the same way it had appeared.
It was Hannibal, who spoke next, after having watched everything. "Show us what happened"
Hannibal and Rana cautiously entered the room, with Abigail close behind them. They quickly found the disembowelled corpse of Nick Boyle slumped in the room. The 19-year-old girl didn't weep, she didn't appear victimized and broken... not anymore. After Rana calmed her down, she simply stared inscrutably.
Rana walked closer to the body, careful to avoid the blood and leaned forward slightly, observing the body. She wasn't even sure what to say or how to justify it, let alone what to do next.
At the same time, Hannibal squatted beside Abigail, putting a steady hand on her shoulder as if to rouse her out of deep sleep. His voice was gentle and fatherly. "Abigail... "
The girl started at her bloody hands, terrified. "He was going to kill me. "
Her words made Rana turn her attention to the girl, as Hannibal continued "Was he? This isn't self-defence, Abigail. You butchered him.
"I didn't..."
He looked at Rana, who quickly thought and bit the inside of her cheek for a moment. She took another breath. "They will see what she did and they will see her as an accessory to the crimes of her father."
Abigail started to panic slowly. "I wasn't."
Hannibal kept his hand on her shoulder, giving a reassuring grip. "We can help you if you ask us to. At great risk to my career and my life and Rana's too. You have a choice. You can tell them you were defending yourself when you gutted this man... or we can hide the body"
This made Rana look at Hannibal with disbelief. "We can't hide a body, its obstruction of justice," she said, not truly believing what she had heard. Hannibal stood up and motioned for her to step out of the room. Rana followed him but it was clear that she was not agreeing with him. "Are you crazy? We have to tell the truth" she said, her voice lowered so they would not be overheard by Abigail and yet her tone said it all.
Hannibal, however, was already a step ahead of her. "It was a suggestion, agent Stones. You said it yourself, this doesn't look like she defended herself" Rana opened her mouth to argue but he continued talking. "You already know Jack is suspecting her. Do you truly think he will believe this was self-defence?"
This made Rana remain silent and look at Abigail once again, who was busy staring at the dead body. She was suddenly at a very dangerous crossroads. She didn't know what to choose, especially now that Abigail proved to be just like her. Things complicated so much in a such little amount of time.
"She just changed...she might expose it if she is put under pressure.." she muttered to herself, but he heard her loud and clear.
"Under pressure like Jack interrogating her about the incident" he commented, making her swallow the lump forming in her throat.
Hannibal was so right, in so many things now. She hated that he was right and she hated that she did not have many options left. She wanted to argue and do it the right way...but something inside of her was shouting, fighting back...She kept looking at the young girl, remembering all the hate she had already gotten because of her father... the scared look in her eyes when she saw her best friend dead...those yellow eyes looking for help as she didn't understand what was happening...
Rana closed her own eyes, feeling her chest aching and her breathing becoming harder with each passing second. Her stomach turned, her heart beating echoing loudly in her ears. This was a tough case and suddenly, she felt so but so conflicted...then...
A hand was placed on her shoulder. A gentle warm hand pulled her out of all those thoughts and worries. She found a sudden calmness, the grip on her being firm and reassuring but also caring. She opened her eyes and looked at the owner, seeing Hannibal staring down at her. But his eyes were not judging her nor hating her.
There was this comfort in them, a strong presence. His eyes did all the talking at that moment, giving her what she needed more without having to say a single word or do anything more. Their faces had come closer and she got lost in his eyes before she passed her tongue faintly above her dry lips.
"Okay. You two hide the body, do not tell me anything more about it. I do not want to know where you hid it or what you did with it." Her words made her want to scoff. She was still an accomplish just by knowing and if the truth ever got out, it wouldn't make much of a difference. However, right now it tricked her mind to ease the guilt...of going against what she had sworn to follow and what to do in her life.
Hannibal seemed pleased with her answer, expecting nothing more from her. This was more than enough and he hid well his satisfaction. This was turning out perfectly, for both females now were pushed to a point where they had no other choice but to trust him. Trust him with a secret, that could easily be used against them if they ever chose to betray him.
It was also a victory for him. The righteous FBI agent Rana Stones, just made a decision thanks to his influence. A decision going against her principles. It showed him that he could still have an effect on her, influence her and that's what he wanted...this was just the start of everything.
Not that long after, Alana was sitting in the back of an Ambulance with the side of her head bandaged. Will sat on the bench across from her, while Jack and Rana stood outside the doors.
"I don't remember anything. Maybe a blur out of the corner of my eye, then a big, fat cut to black" Akaba confessed, making Rana mentally leave a sigh of relief that she didn't remember Abigail's eyes.
However, she was still stiff and quiet, after deciding to agree to what Hannibal suggested and then lying to Jack and everyone else right in their face. It wasn't just a small lie, it was a big one. Pretty much anything she said was untrue and she hated it. She had covered before, during incidents with her kind but never to that degree.
Jack explained to her. "Nicholas Boyle attacked Abigail. You. Struck Lecter across the back of the head with a fireplace poker."
This made Alana blink in confusion. "Where was Rana? Where is Abigail?"
The female agent spoke next. "Abigail is with Dr Lecter; he took her back to the hotel. I was scouting around the house when I heard a noise inside. I came in, found you unconscious and Dr Lecter injured, with a terrified Abigail. The backdoor was open and I rushed out, trying to chase him but lost him in the darkness in the woods... had to return to ensure all of you were okay and call for backup" she said, nothing on her indicating that she was lying.
She spoke without missing a beat, like a good, recited poem but with enough emotion to make it believable as a report coming from her. Even Jack believed her and Will, who was a little sceptical, did not comment anything for he did not feel like questioning her.
Jack gave a nod. "Abigail had managed to scratch him and the blood on her hands matches the tissue we pulled from Marissa Schuur's mouth."
"But he got away?"
Will reassured her. "He won't go to a hospital. He knows he'll get caught if he does."
Jack added next. "We'll get him one way or another"
This made Alana lift an eyebrow. "What's one way?"
"We'll find his body, bled out. He already lost a lot of blood"
Both Will and Rana were frustrated, the primer showing it more and after he sort of demanded him, Jack allowed him to return home. Then, he turned to his former protégé as they had moved away from the ambulance.
"I am sorry, Jack. I screwed this up" she said, shoulders tense and having a genuinely tired look in her eyes.
All that internal fight had taken a toll on her, the overthinking did not help or that dream that took away her peaceful night. Jack had noticed and he let out a sigh of his own, pushing his frustration to the side.
"You are tired, go get some proper rest, Rana. You also return home" she looked at him, opening her mouth to protest but he lifted his hand to silence her. "I know you, Rana. You always do more than your best. Go get some rest and leave me a report tomorrow about it all"
Those words felt like stab wounds right in her heart. Jack trusted her with almost his life during missions, and he trusted her with what she did or said. She had proven herself to him through time and failures and obstacles...and now she threatened to ruin it all.
She felt the need to confess at that moment, always looking up to the man that had saved her life more than once and had given her the chance she deserved. But she couldn't...for it was things beyond his comprehension and she knew, she could never tell him.
It was why Wolfskin preferred to stay together if they ever got the chance...for sometimes, their lives could be so lonely with the secrets they are forced to hide. She had found her way, her little pack among the FBI, in a way, but it was not enough, and it was now clearer than ever.
She merely gave a few nods with her head, not saying anything more and keeping her thoughts to herself once again.
It has been a full day since the incident at the Hobbs House and everyone had returned to their homes. Almost everyone, since was still in the special Hospital where she could be safe and Hannibal had chosen to return to his office.
It was late at night, and he was working quietly at his desk in his darkened space. He scribbled in Will's patient notebook, adding to observations. Next to him was another notebook, with Rana's name on it and had its little observation, things he noticed and learnt and observed during their time together.
Suddenly, there was a creek from the balcony above him but he didn't move and simply lifted his pen from the page. "Hello, Abigail."
The young girl was standing in the second-floor library, not sure how he heard her or knew it was her. A part of her knew but she had so many questions about that part. Eventually, she mastered the courage to ask. "How did you know it was me?"
"Hospital called. You climbed over the wall. Where else were you to go? Home is no longer an option." He said casually as he stood up and headed towards the stairs that led to the second-floor library. "Come down from there."
Abigail obliged and did as she was told. He offered his hand and she took it as she balanced and stepped off the steps before her feet touched the floor. "I don't want to go to sleep." She confessed.
"You can't anticipate your dreams, can't block them, can't repress them. "
"I didn't honour any part of him. So it's just murder, isn't it?"
The conversation continued, with Hannibal never taking his eyes off her and using his words and his tone to talk to her. He answered her questions in ways that she subconsciously would understand and see it the way he did, accept what took place and erase any thoughts of guilt or betraying him from her mind.
Eventually, Abigail started to see clearer of him and of what he wanted. She was not afraid to state it but he did not deny it there. Eventually, she had to speak about that one question she had in her mind ever since first they met.
"You're the one who called the house. You talked to my dad before... What did you say to him?"
Hannibal was unphased and kept his composure as if he had not just been accused and passively exposed. "A simple conversation, ascertaining if he was home for an interview. Then why not tell the truth?"
"They think who called the house was a serial killer. Just like my dad. Are you like him?" she eventually asked, and he knew what she meant.
"I'm nothing like your father. I am more and better" he said, eyes glowing a deep red. Abigail could not control her own, which turned back to that yellow she has sicked on her reflection on the balcony door when Nicholas attacked her. She knew those eyes...her dad had the same and he had promised her that one day she would too. However, time had passed and she had started to forget that promise...until that fateful night...now everything felt different and she wished he was here to guide her. "I will keep your secret, both of them," he said after a long pause
The girl felt relieved and immediately safer with him, especially after he said those words. She could feel it and even hear it, that he was telling the truth and that he would not betray her. He trusted her and in return, she trusted him. "And I'll keep yours. " she said with a faint smile, somehow not filling that alone anymore. And yet, as she stared into his red orbs she could not help but think of one more person, sharing the same. One more person that was as active in her life lately, as Hannibal. "What about Rana?"
Hannibal smirked, placing both hands on her shoulders. "She will keep our secret too, for we keep hers. You can trust her, Abigail...she might work for the FBI, but in the end, she will always protect her kind, protect us"
His words sounded so confident and truthful, that Abigail immediately believed them. Deep down, she was glad to hear it for she had started to appreciate the woman's company more, especially after going as far as to lie and not do her job for her sake and her freedom.
How did Hannibal know for sure? He didn't but he had already formed quite the picture for the female Alpha. That picture was more than enough for now and he aimed, to work more on her and ensure she continued down that new path that he had personally formed for her, one path that eventually led to him and there was no way of ever truly escaping.
And just as the two of them stared into one another, having just silently made a lifelong pack...their latest talk subject was sleeping in her house...far away from where they were. Only that her sleep was not a peaceful one.
Rana turned in her sleep, her breathing irregular as once again her nights were filled with odd dreams and that mysterious black wolf that seemed to have come even closer than last time. She didn't know who it was or what she truly meant, but she could feel her own body fighting her mind whenever he appeared in her dreams... having no idea of what dangers would follow with him.
