I do not own anything related to Hannibal, either thru television, or written books. Everything belongs to Thomas Harris and Bryan Fuller. I do own all the created characters. I do not own any songs, or literature mentioned. They are included to enhance the written words. Please read, review, and enjoy!
Hannibal is a gritty, provocative, seductive, murderous bloody show. My chapters contain scenes of violence, sex, drugs, language, triggers, traumas and sometimes hard to stomach scenes. I will give warnings at the beginning of chapters.
This story is rated M.
Chapter Fifteen
Song(s): Daydreaming (NXworries)
1 North Clinton Street, Baltimore, Maryland…
2:14am
Rubbing her dry eyes, Oliveah strained her ears as she picked up solid silence in the house. Rising from her desk chair, she lowered the lid of her laptop and moved to the window. Moving aside her curtain, she spied no traffic on the snowy street as she tucked her shawl tighter around her shoulders to ward off the cold seeping in through the cracks in the wooden windowpane.
"Cup of tea," she muttered as she left her bedroom and padded down the hallway towards the dark staircase. Flipping the light on in the kitchen, she was glad to find the kettle already full and flipped the button before moving to the cupboard.
She had initially gone to bed just after ten, but her mind had been racing nonstop over the past week.
And now?
She couldn't sleep.
Hearing the rolling water coming to a boil, Oliveah ripped open an apple cinnamon tea packet and drowned it in the scalding water. Closing her eyes, the smell of the tea flooded her senses as she remembered back to the last meal Dr. Lecter had prepared only days ago in his kitchen…
Rack of venison with heirloom apples, roasted chestnuts, and cipolinni; washed down with a glass of Ruffino Chianti.
"God, how have I not gained twenty pounds?" she wondered as she took a small sip of the steaming liquid before switching off the kitchen light. Heading back into her bedroom, she firmly closed the door before taking a seat once more at her desk.
Will's trial was to start next month, earlier than planned, but according to Dr. Bloom this was a good thing due to all the negative press and public outcry for William Graham's blood and his neck in a noose…
"We will present the Automatism defense to Will's lawyer. There is no question that his mind was not and is still not affected by the inflammation in his brain. The fact that he can't tell us anything about Abigail Hobbs and her whereabouts is a major factor."
Lifting the lid to the laptop, she closed her browser and was about to power off when a single word flew into her mind front and center.
Cannibal
Feeling the cold resting in her bare shoulders, Oliveah pulled the shawl up around her ears and moved her tea to the chair that rested in place of a bedside table. Grabbing her laptop, she pulled out the power cord and settled into bed with only the light from her search engine illuminating the small drafty room.
Bring up her search browser, her fingers hoovered over the keys before she quickly typed in the word Cannibal.
About 19,700,000 results
Swallowing the lump in her throat, Oliveah sat her back against the cold wall and read the screen in front of her.
Cannibalism is the act or practice of humans eating the flesh or internal organs of other human beings. A person who practices cannibalism is called a cannibal.
Moving her eyes down the page, she caught a list of popular questions and felt her hands go cold.
Are there still cannibals in the world today?
What disease do you get from eating human flesh?
How do you eat people?
Clearing her browser history, she closed the tab with a quick breath before opening a fresh tab typing in the one website she swore she would never visit willingly, and as the red lettering appeared on the screen, she felt the distaste and rage growing in her mouth instantly.
The bold red lettering of the headings caught her attention as she clicked on random articles. Spying a list that spanned three webpages, Oliveah moved to the search bar and typed in Chesapeake Ripper, waiting nearly a full minute before hitting enter.
In the Minnesota Shrike's Nest: Exclusive Photos
It Takes One to Know One
Another Shrike in the Nest?
How the Ripper Rips: An Exclusive Interview
Moving the arrow over the article heading, Oliveah clicked and watched as the screen popped up with a picture of Abel Gideon, dressed in a dark green jumpsuit, framed behind the metal bars of his cell. Staring at the picture, she felt her mind re-arranging the shape of the face and the features to a more elongated nose, dark burgundy eyes with more pronounced cheek bones and pillow lips.
How would Hannibal Lecter appear behind bars? She wondered as her eyes landed on the article's first paragraph…
"His name is Dr. Abel Gideon. And strong evidence has surfaced that he's far more than a mild-mannered surgeon who cruelly murdered his wife. Maybe, just maybe, Gideon is the most sought-after serial killer at large. A killer who has eluded the FBI for years and has baffled their most "gifted" profilers. That serial killer? None other than the "Chesapeake Ripper."
Closing her eyes, she remembered back to Will's lecture at the Academy and the projected image of De Ketham's "Wound Man" as a comparison diagram to show the Ripper's strength, brutality, and theatrics. The sheer work and dedication to the victim that had laid in the workshop impaled by his tools had struck her initially as heartless before giving further consideration to aesthetics.
"Presentation for death as well as for cooking" she whispered before slamming down the lid of her laptop. She could take no more as she laid it on the floor as the darkness of her bedroom made her inch down and draw the comforter up.
"What the hell happened to you Hannibal?"
…
Dr. Bedelia Du Maurier's Residence, 1107 Bryn Mawr Road, Baltimore, MD…
Leaning his back against the soft chair, Hannibal Lecter picked up the scent of Bedelia's perfume as her light steps entered the sitting room from behind him.
"I'm afraid, I only have white wine" she spoke softly, leaning in close enough to pick up on the subtle scent of his aftershave.
Taking a sip, he trained his eyes on his fellow Doctor as she took the seat across from him.
"Hannibal, I want to ask you about Oliveah Adler."
Hearing Oliveah's name, Hannibal cradled his glass and focused his eyes.
"What about her?"
Moistening her red lips, Bedelia swallowed hard as she tasted her words.
"What… is she to you?"
"Jealousy does not become you Bedelia" he growled, setting his glass aside without taking a sip.
Shutting her mouth quick, the blond woman nodded her head and rose to her feet. Collecting her glass before pausing beside Hannibal's chair, she finished the contents of her glass with a sneer.
"I, am not jealous."
Holding out his untouched glass, he felt the tips of Bedelia's fingernails as she avoided his dark eyes.
"You have mentioned this young woman in all our sessions since the beginning of October. She is neither your colleague, nor a friend, nor…a companion. She has a name, but you have not given her a label. Are you afraid you will get tired of her being your plaything or she will get tired of you in time."
Hearing Bedelia's low tone, Hannibal Lecter rose to his feet and buttoned up his blazer.
"Perhaps, an introduction is in order Bedelia" he spoke, adjusting the cuffs of his jacket as Bedelia nodded her head once more, allowing a generous amount of space for the Doctor to pass by her.
"You, Jack Crawford, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have pushed Will Graham clear over the edge and now he is accused of more than one murder. Your fascination with him has led you to collect another young and impressionable mind Hannibal in the guise of a young student," Bedelia continued as Lecter turned to face her.
"When the time comes, will you offer to help her as you did me?"
…
Milton D Eisenhower Library, Johns Hopkins University…
3 days later
Laying her pen down between the pages of her lined notebook, Oliveah shrugged her shoulders before rolling them forward to get the blood flowing and to ease out the aches. She had been camped out in her favorite cubicle at the campus library and had been pouring herself over The Mind of Primitive Man by Boas for the last hour when the hunger pains in her stomach became too much to ignore.
Exiting out of the cubicle, she closed the door and made sure to lock in her belongings as she felt for her wallet in her jeans pocket.
"An actual meal or just coffee?" she muttered to herself as she passed through the security gate and meandered around her fellow students in the hallways. Spying the Levering Café to her left, Oliveah took her place in line behind a short blond girl and removed the five one dollar bills that made up the cash in her wallet.
"I'll have a large black coffee and a small tomato soup to go please" she requested, handing over her money and watching the staff behind the counter messily slosh the soup into a cup before slamming a plastic lid down on top. Grabbing her food, Oliveah turned around and found herself in clear view of the one woman she hated in all of Baltimore Maryland.
Slowly making her way towards a seated Freddie Lounds, Oliveah debated whether to pretend tripping to conceal the pleasure of hurling her soup into the woman's lap, but as the crowd of students began to thicken, she thought better.
"Hello Oliveah, I'm glad to find you here" Freddie smiled as she crossed her legs and sat aside her notebook and pen.
"There is absolutely no reason why you would be here" Oliveah spat as Lounds smiled wider.
"On the contrary Oliveah, there is much to learn from observing the student body. A couple of your fellow classmates have told me that sometimes you work so hard and for so long, so driven, that you get terrible hunger pains."
Watching Freddie's lips turn from a smile into a know-it-all grin, Oliveah clenched her teeth together to the point that she thought they would crack.
"You…have been talking to my classmates?"
Closing her mouth, Lounds patted two fingers against her notebook.
"Without the voice of Abigail Hobbs behind her book, I will have to write it myself; with or without the consent of all the players" she added lowly as a group of students took up residence at the round table to their immediate right.
"You are stalking me and I am going to call the police" Oliveah growled as Freddie allowed a bored expression to cross her face.
"Please, I am not trespassing nor have I approached you in a private capacity. I'm sure you can count on one hand the number of people in this very area of whom are not registered students of the University."
Feeling the anger growing in her chest, Oliveah felt the heat radiating through the styrofoam cup and bowl in her hands.
"You think the police are going to buy your coincidence garbage when you are sitting right here in front of me with a notebook?"
Raising her eyes onto Oliveah's face, Lounds reached over and open the notebook to an empty page.
"Ms. Adler, you approached me this afternoon."
You are a bitch Freddie Lounds
Letting out a long breath, Oliveah stared hard into Freddie's eyes before turning around and melting into the crowd behind her, tossing her soup into the trash before the coffee.
She couldn't get back into her research with what had just happened so fresh in her mind. And there was no way she could stomach any sort of food or drink with the red headed woman's sly grin seared in her mind.
Returning to her cubicle, she made no attempt to be quiet as she stuffed everything into her backpack.
I don't want to go home. Andrew won't speak to me, Tyler is neutral on everything that's happened.
The only person I have is Dr. Lecter
The only person I can talk to is Hannibal Lecter
Shoving her keys into her coat pocket, Oliveah took out her knit hat and slammed it down on her head.
But what is he to me?
Why would he continue to be involved with me? A lonely, poor college student probably half his age, drowning in debt…the man could seriously have any woman of his choosing.
Taking a quick seat at the desk, she pulled out her mobile and stared at the dark screen.
"I don't even know how old you are Hannibal, your favorite movie, your favorite color…"
Continuing to stare at the screen of her mobile, Oliveah felt her hands begging to shake slightly as she closed her eyes.
I know nothing about the man that I am sleeping with
Feeling her throat suddenly going dry, she let the phone thump onto the desk.
All I know…is who he really is
The Chesapeake Ripper
Scrolling through her contacts, she landed on Lecter's office number before realizing that she didn't even have his home telephone number.
Keeping me at arm's length for public appearance?
Hitting the call button, Oliveah brought the phone up to her ear and counted the rings.
"Dr. Hannibal Lecter speaking"
Hearing the man's accented voice on the other end, Oliveah cleared her throat.
"Hello Dr. Lecter."
"Miss. Adler, a welcoming voice after a long afternoon of patients" he spoke, as Oliveah felt her shoulders ease.
"Dr. Lecter, I was wondering if you had time to see me this afternoon?"
"My final appointment for the evening cancelled this morning. Please, come by."
…
Dr. Hannibal Lecter's Office, 687 Bayshore Ave-Suite 200, Baltimore, Maryland…
Scratching at the back of her hand, Oliveah raised her eyes and spanned across the endless bookshelves that sat back against the walls of the second floor.
No doubt books collected from all over the world she thought just as Hannibal entered with a single glass of white wine. Allowing her to take it from his hand, he unbuttoned his suit jacket and took a seat in the chair across from her.
Setting her glass on the side table, Oliveah folded her hands in her lap and brought her eyes up onto the doctor's face.
God those eyes…
"I was at Hopkins working on some research for my thesis when I spied Freddie Lounds seated at a table, watching me."
Listening to her words, Hannibal crossed his legs and rested his hand flat on the arm of his chair.
He is irritated
"I confronted her, and she told me she is going ahead with Abigail's book but with special chapters focused on those who were close to her" Oliveah spoke, taking up her glass once more.
"You already knew that was her plan" Hannibal spoke as Oliveah nodded her head.
"She keeps following me, but she claims it's legal and that she has never harassed me privately. I remember all my "run ins" with her, I remember the first words she spoke to me in Abigail's driveway…"
"You know Oliveah, you do have nice dark brown hair, shoulder length, and the color of your skin is unblemished and fair. I'd say if Garret Jacob Hobbs hadn't been shot eight times in cold blood by the very unstable and sickly minded Will Graham, you might've wanted to be very careful and not lurk around city streets or train stations alone."
Keeping silent, Hannibal cleared his throat before rising to his feet and moving to his desk.
I remember her words to you as well Oliveah in the dark driveway
Training her eyes on his back, she watched as he opened one of the desk drawers and pulled out a thin silver ipad. Turning the device on, he slowly walked over to Oliveah's side while dragging his finger across the screen.
"Perhaps, you should read this" he spoke, handing the device over with a calm hand.
Focusing her eyes on the writing in front of her, Oliveah noticed the Tattle Crime red heading as the title of the article made her face pale.
The Guardians of Abigail Hobbs: Oliveah Adler
"What the hell is this?"
Turning her eyes up onto Hannibal's face, Oliveah saw the curiosity in his eyes as he nodded his head in silent permission for her to continue reading.
Gripping the tablet hard, her eyes fell onto the printed words as she began to read…
Growing up in the slums of Toronto with unstable parents, it doesn't take a psychologist to make the connection that Abigail Hobbs would find solace and guidance in a female figure that had experienced her own tragedies.
Drugs, Bullies, Violent Tendencies, Law Enforcement. All a part of this woman's life which continues and grows in the company of one William Graham.
Finishing the article, Oliveah felt a strong hand resting on her shoulder as she quickly rose to her feet.
"Please take this" she whispered, handing the tablet to Hannibal as she roughly brushed past his arm.
He had read the article not once but twice. The information related to events from her childhood and adolescence had been nothing new to him as she had disclosed all of this to him from the very chair she sat. It was the analytics and the conclusions from Lounds's perspective that spoke volumes.
Volumes that thousands of strangers would read.
Who are you Oliveah Adler?
Balling her fists against her sides as she began to pace around the spacious office, Oliveah felt the blood rushing to her face as a million thoughts screamed through her mind.
"She must have bought my file from someone. Police reports, Children's Aid, she must have…I was a minor…how could she?" she babbled to herself as Hannibal tucked the ipad back into the desk drawer before turning back around.
"I debated whether or not to show you, though I am sure you would have discovered this on your own" Hannibal spoke as Oliveah turned to face him from the wooden ladder near the window.
"As a psychiatrist to a patient?"
Pursing his lips, the doctor shoved his hands into his pants pockets as he came to stand in front of his desk.
"As a friend to a friend."
So, we are just friends then Hannibal?
Cocking her head slightly, Oliveah took a deep breath as her mind started to race.
"You showed me, because you were curious for my reaction like some…damn science experiment" she breathed as Hannibal took a firm step towards her.
"Yes, I wanted to see your true reaction Oliveah" he purred as he watched the young woman move to stand behind his desk. Laying a hand out flat on the surface of his desk, he watched as she took a seat in his expensive leather chair.
"I want to kill her."
Hearing her whisper, Hannibal came to stand directly in front of his desk as he stared down at her lowered eyes.
"I cannot hear you Oliveah" he spoke as the young woman suddenly sprang to her feet. Grabbing the brass letter opener that rested on top of a stack of hardcover books, Oliveah slammed it down hard into the wood before bringing it up again to strike.
Watching the violent scene unfolding in front of him, Hannibal felt his lips spreading into a pleasing smile as Oliveah brought the letter opener down with a final stab causing it to break off and slice cleanly into her palm.
"SHIT!"
Hearing her cry, Hannibal watched as she slumped down in his chair cradling her bloody hand against her chest. Moving to the large hutch that rested against the wall, he pulled open a single door and withdrew his black medical bag. Setting it on the edge of the desk, Hannibal came to stand beside her as she refused to meet his eyes.
"I'm so sorry about your desk, Jesus, I…"
"You have nothing to apologize for Oliveah" he spoke as he took out a needle and thread. "Give me your hand."
Laying her hand on the desk surface, she watched as Hannibal started to get to work by stitching her up.
"Just let it bleed" she whispered as Lecter sneered.
"You've already carved into my desk" he spoke, pushing the needle through her skin. "Your blood does not match the carpet."
Wincing at the sharp pain as it shot up through her arm, Oliveah turned her head and focused her eyes on the open door of the hutch.
"Are you still licensed as a Medical Doctor?" she questioned, hoping his words would distract her from the feeling of the needle stabbing through her skin. He didn't offer to numb her hand as he had her arm months ago.
He wanted her to feel everything this time.
"Yes."
So much for distraction
Watching the final stitch, Oliveah pulled her hand back just as Hannibal strongly gripped her wrist.
"Your blood," he whispered, taking out a clean handkerchief from his pocket to press in her palm just as she flexed her fingers. Noticing the blood on the inside of her pinky, she held it out towards him and sat perfectly still as he stared at her.
Slipping his hand under hers, he held her fingers up as he bent low. Slipping her finger into his mouth, he tasted the salty blood before releasing her hand.
She knew that he would not be able to resist in tasting her.
"Did I react well?"
Hearing her question, Hannibal traced a finger along the deep gouge in his desk before bringing his eyes to rest on Oliveah's face.
"Better than I could imagine," he whispered, leaning down to capture her lips. Tasting the slight lingering rust of blood on Hannibal's tongue, Oliveah rose to her feet and felt his strong hands pulling her against him as he swung her to sit on the edge of his desk. Feeling his hand resting against the side of her throat, she couldn't help but groan against Hannibal's lips just as a loud knock sounded on the closed office door.
Freezing, Oliveah threw her eyes over her shoulder as she felt Hannibal's breath against her ear.
"I am not expecting any patients this evening," he whispered, allowing his hands to fall off her arms as he adjusted his tie.
"Should I leave out the other door?" she questioned, turning back around as Hannibal narrowed his eyes.
"Certainly not."
Holding her breath, Oliveah watched as the Doctor confidently walked to the office door and twisted the lock.
"Alana…"
"Hannibal, I need to speak with you about Will's…"
Halting in her steps, Alana Bloom froze with her fingers on the buttons of her coat as she stared open mouthed at Oliveah who sat in Hannibal's chair behind his desk.
"Oliveah? What are you doing here?"
Slowly moving her injured hand down into her lap, Oliveah remained silent as Bloom turned her eyes onto Hannibal.
"Hannibal, what is she doing here?
...
Please read, review, and enjoy!