Chapter 2: Their Truth

Will moaned, the throbbing in his head was brutal. He tried to move his hands and realized he couldn't. He tried to stand and realized he couldn't. When he finally opened his eyes, he noted that he must be in a basement. There were no windows, only a single light bulb illuminated the room. He was handcuffed to a chair. His ankles were also cuffed as well. It took a while for his vision to fully come back to him.

He began chucking, a low laugh, "I fucking knew it." His voice croaked from his dry throat, "I fucking knew it! You bitch!"

He tried breaking free but to no avail. He heard footsteps shuffling toward him and he tried to turn his head to see what shadowy figure was approaching him.

Clarice Starling came into view. Graham glanced down and noticed that her leg had been bandaged up. She wasn't applying much weight to it, but she seemed to be getting around.

Clarice came around holding a metal folding chair. She placed it across from Graham and sat down.

Will smirked, "Guess I was right huh Agent Starling?"

Something about Clarice's demeanor had changed ever so slightly from before, the same calmness was still there, but something more lurked just beneath the surface.

"That is Ex Special Agent Starling. Or you can just call me Clarice if you prefer, it is simpler I believe."

"Why don't you cut the bullshit, Clarice." He almost spat out her name. The sarcasm practically dripping from his voice.

Clarice sighed, "You want the truth? Well Will, I feel as if you deserve it. I mean you made it this far. Fine, let me stroke that ego of yours for a moment."

"You sound like him now. What is he doing? Drugging you?"

"No. I just kept my thoughts at bay because that is the way I was trained. Not to have an opinion, always respect superiors, and do the job. I started learning to speak up more. I wished I had done so earlier. Maybe some of my previous cases would have led to fewer deaths had I chosen to do so."

"Touching point, but I still feel like you are dancing around answers."

Clarice dipped her head to look at the ground then brought her eyes back to meet Graham's, "The truth. You were right about a few points Will. We never lost touch. After the night on the Chesapeake, I sought him out. Turns out he was doing the same. Our path's crossed again a week after the events on Chesapeake. I wasn't sure what to feel at the time, but given how the FBI had treated me, I knew something deep down had changed. He was right, about a lot of things. Some things were harder to swallow than others. For example, my life did become easier without Paul Krendler around."

"A week after huh? That is much sooner than even I had anticipated. So he still visited you even during surveillance?"

"I was in the hospital for a full day while they treated my wounds, checked me with a rape kit, and brought me back to headquarters for questioning. They checked my home and raided everything they thought pertained to evidence. When I finally got home and settled from the whole mess, he was here. He had flown out of state for about 3 days, but truthfully he wanted the FBI to see him flying out. He sent them on a wild goose chase. He booked a series of flights that would inevitably lead to Paris, but what they didn't know was he never caught the last flight. Instead he switched up identities and came right back here."

"A very Lecter thing to do I suppose."

Clarice smiled, "Simple, yet efficient. As for the FBI surveillance, he had waited til shift change one night. Apparently, an agent was running 15 minutes behind. That's all it took. Although, what they don't know is that Doctor Lecter caused him to run behind his schedule. A little fender bender incident he paid off some teenagers to make. Nothing major, just a little hiccup to the routine. After that Dr. Lecter was in, he practically never left after."

Will raised an eyebrow, "He has been with you this whole time?"

"Well, almost, after surveillance was finished...he was able to sneak back in and out as he pleased. He began making preparations for our new life and identities."

Will laughed, "I suppose you two had it all figured out. But given that the night of the Chesapeake left him a little bloodied. I am surprised he made the attempt to contact you again so soon. Wasn't he concerned that you would turn him in right away?"

Clarice smiled, "No. No, actually he came prepared for one event or another however the circumstances were to transpire. When I saw him here, it did frighten me. I wasn't sure if he was coming back to finish me off for good or not. To be honest, I don't think he knew what to expect either. That part excited him."

Will shook his head, "Crazy bastard still to this day. He just loves fucking people's lives over. I guess you liked that though, didn't you Starling? So what? He drug you next? Smooth talk you? Possibly a combination of the above? Let me know when I am close."

Clarice shook her head, "Wrong on all counts Graham. Sorry. The night he came I had a gun drawn and at the ready because I heard noise downstairs. He surprised me and caught me off guard. We went back and forth for control of the gun. I managed to push him off of me and he hit the kitchen table with his arm that had been injured. It was bloodied and a mess. He was in pain, and he told me something. He said, 'Clarice, if I wanted you dead...I could have done so already. If you wanted me dead, you could have done so already. I think you should know by now I won't hurt you.'"

Will gave a sideways glance, "How would you know he wouldn't hurt you?"

"That is a story pertaining to Chesapeake. He had the option of taking my hand or his and he chose his."

"What?" Graham showed the first signs of shock.

"You see Will. I lied on the FBI report about what happened. They didn't know about his hand. I never told them. That is what attracted him back to me. He wanted to know why. He wanted to know why I would withhold information that could have easily lead to him being captured."

"Why didn't you tell them? With an injury like that he couldn't have gone far."

"He asked me the same question that night. So I will give you the same response I gave him. Because I spent my life dedicated to my job. I have been shot, stabbed, and hung out to dry and blamed for the shortcomings of others. The night I rescued him, I did have every intention of turning him in...or so I thought. I couldn't see him die like that. I couldn't do it. I thought all those years of failed raids, failed attempts...if I could save him. Maybe I could feel like I was making some damn difference. Then, I finally corner him. The authorities are on their way and I have him cornered. His only chance of survival was to hurt me. And he couldn't do it. I pondered over that during my interrogation. I relived that moment over and over again. And when I saw him again that night in my house with the bloody bandages around his arm... something in me broke. I ran to him. And that is about as much as I am willing to say on the matter."

Will shook his head in disbelief, "You sound insane Starling. That's insane. I knew you were off the deep end, but that is the biggest load of bullshit I have ever heard. You sound like some kind of nut with a crush."

Clarice smiled, "I didn't expect you to understand. My reasons are my own. The only reason I told you that story was because I feel like you earned it Will. After all, you almost did get away with it. Almost. But you really should have taken my warning. Had you just left. You wouldn't be here right now."

Will tensed his hands, "So tonight was the night you were planning to escape?"

"Yes. It has taken much preparation to get to this point. And I must say...you did throw quite a wrench in the plan. So does anyone else know you were here or why you were here?"

"Like I would ever tell a psychotic bitch like you."

At that, a hand came out of the darkness from behind Starling and gently laid on her shoulder. Will jumped at the sight.

"My apologies, my Love, that is about all I am willing to take on the matter. We tried your method. I would rather use mine instead."

Clarice reached up and gently placed her hand on top, "I understand. I will be upstairs if you need me. I need to finish preparing."

The hand gently helped her up from the chair and they both disappeared into the darkness. He heard the stairs and the opening and closing of the door. He heard one set of footsteps descend the stairs again. Coming into view was none other than Dr. Lecter. He was poised in all black. He sat in the chair Claricd had sat in earlier and crossed his left leg over top of the right. Graham noticed he still had both hands, but one was bandaged up tightly.

Will frowned, " The man of the hour finally makes his grand appearance. Done having Clarice do all the work for you?"

Hannibal tsked, "Will, you are already a dead man, make no mistake about that...however...please do not forget that I am a Doctor. If I wanted to make you suffer and make this last, I can."

"Threats now Doctor?"

"No...not a threat. A promise to you. I can also visit dear Molly and your young son. How old is he now? Is he in high school yet?"

Graham shouted, "Don't you dare talk about her or mention my son ever again you bastard!"

Hannibal stared Will down, "Then I would advise you not to speak of my Clarice and I will not speak of what is yours. Do I make myself clear? Now then, who did you tell about tonight?"

"No one."

"That is a lie. Will, I thought you were better than this. But if you are lying. I wonder if it was Molly or your son you told."

Will tried to raise his arms. The force of the action causing the handcuffs to cut into his wrists, "I am not lying, don't hurt them!"

Hannibal stood and approached Will, he knelt down in front of him and pulled out his harpy. He struck Will in the lower leg with it and Will screamed.

"That is the same place you shot Clarice." Hannibal withdrew the Harpy and the blood began pouring from the wound.

Will was panting from the pain, "I am telling you the truth."

Hannibal looked directly into Will's eyes. That gaze that so many had met before the end of their life, "Alright Will...I believe you. But!" Hannibal clapped his hands together as if to punctuate his next statement, "You have made Clarice bleed tonight. You have said such vulgar things to her. If you do not wish for your dear family to get hurt. You will tell me everything you know. And after... I will take a pound of flesh for every drop of blood that Clarice has spilled tonight because of you. She tried to warn you. But you didn't listen. You will listen to me though Will. We are going to make this experience last. A pound of flesh from you for every drop of her blood. Nothing more."

A/N: Reviews are always appreciated! Thank you!