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Edvard Munch
1895

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FREDERIC Chilton had a pretty comfortable life between these 3 years when Hannibal Lecter was arrested. He wrote books, he made success, money, and a considerably well-known name.

Ignoring the scars from the past, especially the one caused by Miriam Lass in his face, which was quickly covered with makeup, he found himself "the man", and the Tooth Fairy case would only help him increase that status...well, that's what he thought.

Frederic Chilton had some luck during those 3 years...but no one can deny his true unfortunate and fucked up nature.

And that fortune would come back at the moment she bumped into that sweet woman in the hallways of that institution.

It was a light brush, a small bump on his shoulder. He could have just ignored her, or maybe she could have just mumbled a silenced apology and walked away. But none of them tried to be conventional.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" Alice Mallory frowned her eyebrows at the doctor's sight as he turned around.

His cheeks became rosed and heated at the woman's sight, she seemed just as stunning as the first time he caught a glimpse of her years before at Hannibal's party, maybe even prettier now. He immediately recognized her, Hannibal Lecter's ex-lover, Will Graham's now wife, how could he not recognize her?

"It-It's nothing.."He gave a small smile towards her, his whole body trembled in nervousness. "Pardon me if it appears...intrusive, but...have we met before?" He just threw his worst pickup line that he saw on Google.

Alice squinted her eyes a bit to remember, then opened her mouth in a gasp. "Oh my God, you're Doctor Frederic Chilton!" She looked at him amused.

Chilton didn't know her real motive for recognizing him, and immediately awaited praises or a fan declaration of some sort. "Yes, yes I am, are you a fan-"

"I'm Alice Graham, you were one of the suspect's in my sister's and my best friend's murder" She spilled out the facts and stood her hand towards him.

His smile dropped as he looked at her hand standing in the air and heard her motive. "Oh..." He cleared his throat and tried to fix his posture. "Mrs.Graham, Agent Graham's wife I suppose." He smiled and she nodded, Chilton delicately grabbed her hand and instead of shaking it, dropped a soft, fast kiss on the back of her hand, making the woman blush instantly. "I've heard so much about you, it is an honor to finally meet you personally."

"Heard about me?" She smirked. "Well my reputation's not very good, you see."

"Well, from what you've just said, mine isn't either." The two chuckled. "But one thing is certain." He made a suspenseful pause. "You're just as breathtaking as the rumors say."

"Oh, wow." She giggled and tried to tap cover her mouth embarrassed. "Now you're just trying to flatter me."

"No, it is true. Well, both the affirmations." He tilted his head to the side with a charming grin. "If it doesn't bother you...may I ask what are you doing in this institution at noon?" He questioned curious. "I suppose it can not be a very pleasing location to visit, trust me, I've worked here." He chuckled.

"I'm just looking for my husband, he came to chat with Dr.Bloom."

"I see." He nodded. "Would you like any help to search for him? I know this place like the palm of my hand" He leaned and winked in a flirty mannerism.

Well, he was indeed charming, but Alice wasn't one to fall so easily. Especially when she had already a duel inside her heart. She definitely didn't want another problematic man after her either.

"I'm fine, thanks." She nodded. Chilton kept his posture while he processed the message of being rejected. "Will's probably gonna be here soon and- oh, there you are." Alice opened a bright smile at her husband's sight across the hallway.

Will's expression though...well, it wasn't so pleased. And it would be an euphemism to say that Will Graham wasn't jealous over any silly little thing. Hannibal and he could be very similar in this ridiculous aspect.

"I was looking for you." Alice smiled softly as her husband approached them.

'Looks like you've already made some friends in the meantime." He replied in a serious, almost mocking tone as he glanced at Chilton.

"Mr. Graham." Chilton only nodded while greeting him.

"Dr.Chilton," Will responded then turned to his wife. "Let's go, Ali."

"Sure." She smiled, then turned to the doctor. "Goodbye, Dr. Chilton, it was a pleasure to meet you."

"I could say the same about you," Chilton said confidently. "And just call me Frederic, please."

Will held the urge to punch that man's face...oh no, he deserved much more than a punch. he would get what he deserve.

But for now, he'd just have to play polite and leave with his wife.

▫️

"I am a best-selling author." Frederic Chilton bragged to the doctor, grinding his teeth in frustration. "The journals only still publish your writing for the freak value of your byline." He said bitterly. "The attention given to you is dwindling since you have been overshadowed by another creature." He mocked, but Hannibal couldn't care less about his opinion. "That book is writing itself. I think I'll call it The Dragon Slayer." Hannibal contained his urge to roll his eyes at the comment. "All I need is the ending."

The ending, of course. Hannibal was stopping Chilton from finally obtaining the truth about the Red Dragon and finalizing his writing to gain profit on another maniac again.

"Fate has a habit of not letting us choose our own endings, Frederick." Hannibal let it out softly.

Chilton shook his head, pointing to the man inside the glass cage. "This is the ending fate has chosen for you." He continued with disdain. "Your teeth will go
and your strength. Nobody will be afraid
of you anymore." He said with a smile. "After Dr. Bloom's reign, you will be out in the ward. The young ones will push you around and use you for sex. All you'll get to read is what you write on the wall." He ridicularized him, but Lecter remained neutral. "You've lost everything, Hannibal. The status, the luxury....the girl." The doctor's eyes suddenly shifted to the man. "I saw her today, you know? Your ex." Chilton smirked. "Mrs.Graham...she is even more stunning, I guess maternity does make women prettier." Hannibal clenched his jaw. "Will must be having fun, he didn't lose time, did he? Neither did she, I mean, barely a month after you were arrested-"

"Did Will see you with her?" Hannibal suddenly interrupted him.

"Yes. Why?"

Hannibal finally opened a devilish smile, something in it was rather scary, almost Machiavellian. Chilton should fear it. "Be careful with the fate you bring upon you."

Chilton thought about his words for a moment, paralyzed, wondering what he meant. But then again, tried to appear convinced and strong. "I'm just going to leave an extra copy" He passed his book through the cell's compartment before leaving.

"Thank you, Frederic," Hannibal replied for  pure manners as he watched the man leave. Lecter stared at the book cover and chuckled "A goodbye gift, I see."

▫️

"What is she doing here?"

"I've missed you too."

Alice Graham rolled her eyes at the redheaded acquaitance at Alana Bloom's office. They were reunited Chilton, Jack and Will as well, all of them in order to orchestrate a plan to catch the Red Dragon.

"Unfortunetely we need her." Alana explained calmly.

"Yes, and why are you being so aggressive? Did you change after your european trip?" Freddie Lounds mocked as she crossed her legs elegantly at the armchair.

Alice clenched her jaw trying not to make a scene. "You wrote about me. Do you have any idea of what I've been through after I came back? Of how many reporters came to talk with 'the cannibal's wife'?"

"It's been 3 years, I thought you'd be over it now."

"You are selfish, Freddie. I was wrong about you, you're a selfish reporter who only cares about yourself and how much you're profiting in a story." Alice spoke through her teeth.

People were exchanging tense glances in the room, the argument seemed indeed serious.

"If you're joking...I think it's time to stop now." Freddie said a bit embarrassed by the intimidating eyes and Alice's tone. "I like the new hairstyle by the way-"

"Stop acting as if we're friends." She cut her off. The redheaded widened her eyes at the comment. "You're dead to me." She then walked toward Jack at the corner of the room and pretended to ignore the journalist's presence.

For a solid minute, Freddie was in awe. Her expression cold as stone but also surprised, she never expected to feel that way, there...void inside her when she suddenly cut bonds with Alice. Were they really friends? Did she really mean anything to her at all?

Well, if they were, she had managed to lose the only friend she had now. And it would be a lie to deny that she didn't feel somehow...frustrated with the situation, but she wouldn't show it.

Freddie lifted up her chin and kept up the cynical smile again.

"She's here because we need someone who is less concerned about the truth than the best story. So, Dr. Chilton, you just lay out your theories. Will will aggravate them for the record.

"You're making statements no investigator would ever make and no straight newspaper would credit." Freddie retorted grumpy, still unwillingly to help.

"You're not a straight newspaper. You sell T-shirts that say, The Tooth Fairy is a One-Night Stand." Will retorted through his teeth.

I can get you one, if you like." She teaswd then glanced. "Maybe one for Dr.Lecter too, I believe he would like it hence he is so engaged in those maniac crimes." She smirked as Alice avoided her eyes  "i wonder if he is a small or a medium size...Small I bet. They aren't selling so well since you started calling him
The Dragon."

"Ms.Lounds please-"

"M...actually..." Alice said embarrassed, her cheeks beconing a bright tone of red, all the eyes ij the room turned to her. "Hannibal wears medium size....he has...um...a quite large chest..." She gesticulated a large shape with her hands while staring at the floor, a complete mess.

Freddie held a laugh as the whole grump turned awkwardly silent. Will's reactions was the most priceless of course, as he cleared his throat and procceded with the plan.

Chilton established his theories and Will put insults into his speech to aggravate the situation. Alice didn't really care nuch about what they spoke, since she was more busy avoiding Chilton's conceited attitude where he bragged about himself and sometimes glanced at her in flirty mannerisms. Freddie on the other hand was busy taking notes, while Jack and Alana watched attentive to the outcome of that situation.

"Will, I think we need a key shot of you here in your Washington hideaway." Jack suggested to set the bait for the dragon.

"I'd love something of you in a bathrobe sitting at a desk, poring over this artist's conception of the Fairy." Freddie mocked Will Graham. This time Alice couldn't help but laugh. "I knew you'd like that one." Freddie gave a tiny smile at her successful joke.

"I'll stand by the window." Wilo simply put serious and walked towards the window. "And make sure you can see the fountain and the Capitol dome. Tge Red Dragon will needs to be able to find this place, if he wants to." He recommended.

While Will was setting up for his photograph, Chilton had other plans...by that means trying to make his way to Alice Mallory...again. He carefully sat by her sofa by her side, and she tried her best not to make a face. He was beibg very insistent, that was true.

"I've heard that you are a very prodigious artist, Mrs. Graham, or Alice? May I call you Alice?" He asked.

"Um...sure." She said a bit shy.

"Great. Alice, it'd a beautiful name if I may say..."She only muttered a polite thanks "Do you give painting classes by any chance? I've always had curiosity for learning how to do it, but I never had the time or opportunity to."

"Um...I'm afraid to say I don't teach...I don't really have any sort of technique on it. It's just something I do."

"Born talented I see." He winked with a chuckle. "You see, you get even nore interesting the more I talk to you, Alice." Chilton continued, Alice became more and mroe uncomfortable. "Oh, can I have your phone num-"

"Frederick, would you like to be in the photograph?" Will's voice suddenly interrupted the chat.

Chilton hesited for a moment, but his narcissism spoke louder. "One for the dust jacket." He said before getting up and joining the agent.

Alice didn't understand her husband's attitude, but she had a bad feeling aboyt that action, specially about the serious and cold expression followed by a sinister shimmer in his eyes when he glanced back at her. Something familiar that she despised.

That same possessive glance Hannibal used to give her.

And when Will put his hamd on Chilton's shoulder for the picture, she could be certain of it: something bad was about to happen.

▫️

"Wait! Alice! Hey!" Freddie Lounds walked fastly through the hallway attempting to follow her. She had to grab her wrist to make the woman turn around and face her. 

"What do you want now?" She sighed tired.

Freddie clenched her jaw at her "Are you really that mad about what I wrote?"

Alice crossed her arms. "No I'm happy about it, can't you see?"She mocked. "Just leave me alone. "She started to walk away."

"I'm sorry." The redheaded's voice suddenly broke the silence, Alice stopped on her feet. "I... didn't think it would affect you." The brunette turned around to face her. "I just...did it."

"You just thought about yourself."

"That's all I've done my whole life. "Her expression became a bit sad, maybe vulnerable, and Alice surprised herself at such a confession. "This business I'm in...you gotta be a bitch to survive." She titled her head. "That's how I'm still here."

Alice was silent to her words maybe she didn't know how to respond to them, even if she wanted to, it was no use to stay mad at Freddie for too long. "Why Etta Place?" Alice said with a funny smile.

As she saw her reaction, Freddie sighed in relief. It was weird how, in that whole wide world, two different people became so close. From everybody she hated, Alice was indeed her favorite person. The one she wouldn't tell out loud, but always consider as a friend.

"Besides the fact you both lived a criminal love triangle, she is a girl power figure of her century." She joked and Alice shaked her head laughing. "Gotta say I'm surprised with the final choice though. Will Graham?"

Alice shrugged his shoulders. "That's how it should've been from the start, isn't it?"

"Is it what you think it should be or what you want it to be?"

The question silenced the artist, it was deeper, bothering, and much more unquiet than she realized. And that silence just summed up her fears that perhaps she wasn't being sure of anything at all. Her issues weren't crystal clear, they were blurred, dirty and mix with morals or fears.

"Are you going to use what I say in some blog?"

"Whatever you tell me from now on will remain private unless you wish to publish it." Freddie suddenly promises. "You should be grateful, only you and my cat have that privilege." Alice chuckled. "I don't know if it's just my journalistic sense but...why do I feel that you are so...blue? Like, blue and monotone now that you are living this new life?"

"I'm fine."

"I know liars damn well." She curved her lips. "And you...you are one." She caught her. "It's messing with your head, isn't it? This whole drama."

Alice only sighed and looked at the ground. It seemed like she was about to cry. "You're not...um..."Freddie suggested awkwardly. "Damnit." She sighed and took a handkerchief from her blazer giving it to her, as Alice drown herself into tears. The artist tried to rely on her shoulders. "No. Space." She only said and tapped her back. Deep down, she couldn't help but feel deeply sorry for that woman. "The choice's still yours. It's not what they want or what you should do, it's your life." Alice looked deeply into her eyes and took in her words. "Now stop crying and let's get a drink."

▫️

"I thought you didn't wish to see me again" His voice teased her silhouette as she entered the room again. "Does your husband know that you are visitting me?"

"You are loving this, don't you? " Alice squinted her eyes as she looked at him through the glass.

Hannibal smirked, admiring her figure for a solid second, even his gaze gave her chills. "Oh, he doesn't know." He licked his lips in an irresistible mannerism. "Any luck with the dragon?"

"You tell me." She took looked around, trying not to pay too much attention to his figure. Still the same medium sized chest, she noticed. "He seems to hold great admiration for you."

"Perphaps. He is a troubled boy." Hannibal only established as he analyzed her instead. "How's your family?" She gave him a deadly glance. "No questions, I understand...it was just for curiosity."

Alice looked away, that curiosity of his agonized her more and more. Why did she gi there? Why did she have to face him? Hr was a cruel, inhuman son of a bitch that would never leave her alone...but did she really want to be left alone though?

"Still, why did you come here for then?" He set his hands behinnd his back and asked calmly. "There must be a reason."

Alice hesited to speak. Reason? What reason?

"Just...needed to assure myself of where you are." She spoke coldly. "That you won't hurt anyone while here."

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

He grinned lightly, perphaps not giving her answer much credit.

"Then why it doesn't look like it?" He looked at her with interest. "It's strange. You don't smell like that nasty aftershave today. Neither he smells like your perfume."

She furrowed her eyebrows. "What do you mean?"

"Troubles in paradise, Mrs.Graham?" He teased as she stepped forward. That's it, that's wgat he wanted, closure, tension. "What's the matter? Did you two fight?"

"That's none of your bussiness."

"We didn't use to go to bed angry, remember?" He smirked maliciously. "Otherwise, we'd always make up easily."

"Before I knew you were a psycho."

"As if he is any different." He rolled his eyes. "I wonder if you are at least..." His hazel eyes scanned her figure slowly, in a tempting creeping mannerism "...satisfied."

"I am. Definetely." She assured more in a provocative than a sincere speech. Her eyes darting back, unable to look away from his.

"That is great." He said softly. "But if he is really enough..." He eaned very close to the glass and whispered, blurring the invisible barrier between them. "...you wouldn't seek for me, would you?" Her whole body shivered.

"You are imagining things."

He chuckled softly. "Me? Or are you?" He purred. "Maybe you fantasize about it, when you go to sleep, or when you are awake...when you look into his eyes or feel his embrace...you realize: it's not the same." She continued there, paralyzed, eyes locked. "You've noticed it, didn't you?" Her breath escaped for a second. "He would never be enough for you."

"You know nothing of what is enough for me." She hissed.

"I know you crave more than this happy play pretend." He tempted her. "You crave the adrenaline, the risk and the adventure through your veins...someone that makes your heartbeat increase, to make the air inside your lungs fade away."  The room slowly gained some temperature between them. "To cross your limits and destroy any pattern, rule or fear." He continued softly. "He could never give you that." His hand slowly touched the glass. "He could never give you what I gave you, and we both know that."

"That's not true, Will...he-"

"Could he kiss you the way I did?" He muttered almost as a sweet melody that led her to his private hell. "A kiss to make you forget everything surrounding us, to vibrate your soul, to make you wish for more..." His hand touched the glass as he watched Alice more and more vulnerable. "And we could never predict what would come after, since what we had was always new and exciting...from the touches...the sensation..." If she closed her eyes she coukd almost picture herseld in his arms again.  "... to the praises, the promises...."He continued. "Starting slowly, take our own time until we couldn't stay still anymore, until you'd ask for more, until I..."He sighed "...until I'd want everything of you." Her whole body shivered. "And I'd let you do it...to fulfill all your darkest desires, and I'd adore you, every single spot, claim each trace and pattern to prove how much I need you..." He whispered in a trembking breath. "You know I've always needed you, only you."

Alice's voice trembled in an automatical reply "I know."

"If this glass weren't between us..."He smirked and shaked his head in a teasing manner. "Oh, Alice...the things we could do..."He chuckled in a velvet tone that made her mouth water. "And now tell me..." He leaned forward again. "Is he still enough?"

Alice couldn't speak. Her voice simply failed. And she realized. She couldn't say it. She couldn't answer his question because she would probably betray he4self. Because she was easily seduced into that speech. Because, as she looked at those poisonous eyes and at his outstanding and intimading stance, the memories made her legs tremble.

"I...I should go now".  She turned to leave, the hands trembling, breathing fastly attempting to keep in control of herself.

"Lissy." He said at least when she was about to pass through the door. "Don't pretend to be someone you aren't....deep down we both know it." She turned to look at that devilish smile and shimmering eyes that showed his true burning desire for her. "You've never been a good girl."

▫️

Frederic Chilton was kidnapped and tortured by the dragon. The news were delivered to Hannibal Lecter's hands through a letter and a small souvenir from his admiror.

"Where is the other one?" Jack lifted a silver tray with one of Chilton's lips that were forcefully removed from the owner by the Dragon and gifted to the inmate.

Lecter glanced delicately at the content at the rray, almost as if he looked at a snack. "This one can provide you the same as the other one can." He replied with an innocent tone.

Alice glanced at her ex lover and had the worst realization. "Bloody hell, Hannibal. You fucking ate it." She sighed heavily as the team rolled their eyes and the cannibal chuckled softly.

"I'm sorry, Jack." Hannibal turned to the serious agent. "The tragedy of what's happened to Frederick has put me in an excellent humour."

"Humour" Alice sniffed and shaked her head. "So you'll justify it on what? A silly goofy mood?"

"You used to like my silly goofy mood." He mocked with a smirk.

Alice's cheeks blushed. "Not the cannibal goofy mood!"

"Which was a shame." He sighed.

The conversation was interrupted by Jack clearing loudly his throat. The couple immediatly shut down, and then the group procceded speaking about the alarming situation.

"Dr. Chilton disappeared yesterday, under armed escort." Jack explained further.

"You pretended to burn Freddie Lounds in a wheelchain to flush me out." Hannibal recalled. "What were you pretending
to do with Frederick Chilton?"

"He profiled the Dragon for Freddie Lounds." Alice said softly.

"We wanted to enrage him." Alana justified their actions.

"Congratulations." Hannibal teased. "You publicly discredited Dr. Chilton." He turned to Dr.Bloom. "By refuting him, you orchestrated his end by proxy." It was possible to notice the guilt shimmering in her eyes. "You orchestrated his end, Alana. You saw the hole and let him roll right into it...That's professional discourtesy." The three became silent again, and Hannibal instead, took the opportunity to care about only subject that actually mattered to him. "About the video he sent along..."He suddenly said, glancing at Jack and then at  Alice. She knew that glance, the pure love refkected in his eyes, the protectuon he craved to provide her. He didn't want to expose her to the gore and the torture Chilton suffered. And in just that glance, Jack could agree with him. "Don't let her see it."

▫️

"Where are you going?" She carefully watched as he buttoned up his shirt and directed himself towards the door, the hair was still a messy cloud of curls, and the socks were still somewhere lost underneath the bed.

"They found him. Chilton." Will Graham got up and searched for his socks.

Alice's body shivered at tye subject. Whatever happened to Chilton must've been something horrifying...something no one dared to tell her. And the fact that she was prohibited to see the video only aggravated her curiosity.

"Is he okay?" She asked.

Will kneeled on the ground and tried to put his arm underneath the bed, thr fingers touchibg the cold surface, blindly searching for the missing socks.

"Why do you ask?"

Alice furrowed her eyebrows at the suggestion. "Because he was kidnapped?" She said as if the sentence was obvious. "Why wouldn't I ask?"

"You don't even...wait, I think I found it..."He strugged to reach it. "....got it" he sighed and got up from the ground. "As I was saying, you don't even know him."

"Does it matter?"

"Why would you care for someone like him?" He said in a bit defensive tone.

She blinked twice. That tone, that stance, the words...they were too familiar...and dangerous.

"Are you jealous of Dr.Chilton?" She suddenly said it.

Will remained silent for a moment, he onky put the shoes on and took a moment to reply. "Do I any reason to be?" That was the last straw. Alice got uo from the bed promptly, putting on her dress and heading torwards the door. She grabbed Will's phone at once and walked down the hallway, he quickly followed her. "Hey! Hey, Ali! What are you doing?!"

"I'm going to visit Chilton myself before you talk more shit about me." She snapped back.

"Visits are open just for officers-"

She suddenly stopped on her tracks and looked at him. "My patience is ending, Will. I have a bad feeling, a real bad feeling about what happened to Chilton. So if you don't want my suspicions to grow further, you'll visit him with me, understood?"

Will Graham looked intensely into his wife's eyes, and without ant choice, tossed her the car keys.

▫️

It took a moment for Jack to talk with Will and authorize Alice's entrance. The older agent perphaps thought that his presnece could lighten up the morbid atmosphere and maybe, just maybe, make Chilton less miserable in his current state.

But the reality was different, and when Alice stepped into that room with the two agents, Chilton's eyes reflected true horror and fear.

"Frederick, it's Will Graham. I'm sorry this happened to you." He said with no emotions at all.

Chilton's situation almost made Alice jump. His skin was no longer there, it was completely burned, bleeding, the muscles exposed into a dark carcass after an injury. The face has no expressions, it barely moved, while a lipless mouth exposed white teeth, the only part of him that resembked his previous aspect, hence even his hair was gone by the fire.

"You set ne uh...."Chilton mumbled with a hidden rage. "You knew it....you set ne uh....You tut your hand on ne in the ticture, like a tet...."

"Can you understand what he's saying?" Jack asked.

"He said..."Alice hesited at the words. "You set me up. You knew it. You put your hand on me in the picture, like a pet." The realization made her paralyze.

The suspicious feeling she had, had finally came to concretization. It was Will's fault.

"You..."Chilton's words suddenly came out and the team turned to the woman. She just then realized that the man was talking to her. "It....your...fault....stay....away..."He mumbled.

"Alice, I think you should leave now." Will took the lead.

"Wait." Alice tried to stay and listen.

"Your...fault....!" Chilton now growled, his rage became even more intense. "Han....ibal...gra...ham....you are...the same...."He almost choked on his words. "It's....your....fault...!" He repeated it over and over. "Maniac....bi..tch...."

"Enough." Jack pondered this time. "Will, take her, we can talk woith him later." The partner nodded at his attitude.

"YOUR....FAULT...!"Chilton's words turned into screams almost ripping off the remaining muscles that cocered his skeleton. He tried to shake his body,  and began compulsing."...YOU...DE...DE...DESERVE....EACH...OTHER...!"

Before Alice could say anything, Will embraced her and dragged her out of the room,the two distancing themselves as the nurses hushed to caln the patient whose screams could be heard far away from the hallway.

▫️

"You keep saying you won't meet me again, yet comes back and torture us over and over." His voice reverbered through the glass cage he was stuck in.

"Is this torture to you?" Her voice was shy at first, the posture vulnerable.

His eys delicately lingered to her in such a soft and sincere way that made their hearts vibrate as one. "Is it to you?"

None of them could reply.

"Something troubles you." He recognized it just by hearing to her voice. "Would you like to share your thoughts with me? Even as...how do they say? As machiavellian as I am."

Alice sat by the glass next to him and glanced at the ceiling for a moment, he did the same, sitting at the other side of the glass.

"Has Will ever killed someone?" She suddebly said.

But her question didn't surprise him. He knew it eventuallt reach her: the doubt.

"You mean Edgar Mallory?" He suggested.

"My father...was a collateral effect...I don't think Will actually meant to kill him...he doesn't know Edgar's dead."

Hanmibal nodded in response. "So you believe he has killed more."

"I only asked about it. I'm not sure."

"But you doubt it."

She sighed and ran her hands through her face. "Do you know it or not?"

"He never killed by his own choice, as far as I know." Hannibal established it. "Not yet....but I believe you know that already"

Yes, Alice knew. And the fact that the man she had married finally revealed his true layers he attempted to hide terrified her even more. She wasn't scared of him, but actually scared of herself.

She was a black hole attracting death to her. She couldn't escaoe that endless sick scyle of loving the darkness.

"I believe...he was responsible to what happened to Chilton." She whispered.

Hannibal gave a light smile as if he approved Will's gesture in silence.

"And what do you think about it?"

"It feels like the world I know is starting to corrupt itself."

"The reality you carefully crafted to protect yourseld in these 3 years is broken now, Alice." Hannibal softly said to her as she face dthe grey wall, wondering where did it all go wrong. "None of us will be the same after this."

"No...we won't." She murmured as she glanced at him for a momemt, specially into those sparkling, familiar half sweet and half dangerous eyes.

He contemplated the woman he adored for a moment, if only he could pass through that barrier and hug her, kneel before her and confess his live with all the air inside his lungs, if only...

"You look at me as if you want to say something" He muttered as they both relied their heads on the wall. "Is there anything you wish to reveal to me, Lissy?"

The nickname made her tremble. It was happening again, that intimacy, the secrets they shared, the love they vowed over and over again...

"What do you draw now that you are stuck in here?" She changed the subject, looking over his desk afrom afar.

He has a small painful smile on his lips. "My one and only inspiration." The words made her eyes fill with tears. His posture was so tender, so surrending. "What do you paint now that you have a perfect life?"

The words were stuck in her throat and came out in a sore cough. "I can't paint anymore."

He looked at her with a bit of sadness. "That is too bad." He lamented. "Have you ever finished that last portrait I've seen? Do you remember it?"

She opened her mouth to say something but failed. Hannibal didn't insist. Alice not painting represented a stage of full sadness, he knew her too well.

"Does your daughter fancy art too?" He whispered softly.

"She likes to draw." She responded in weak tone. "Why?"

Alice didn't move, her mins was elsewhere, confused into the past while hannibal moced inside his cell, until the moment he paased something through the compartment at the wall.

Her eyes flickered at the object as she got uo and watched a pencil case full of tools.

"What is this?" She looked at him.

"Some of the materials I gathered for my sketches over the years...some are not even fabricated anymore...you may call it vintage, as they say, but they are surely the best when necessary to make imagination come into planned lines on paper." Hannibal explained as Alice held the small leather pencil case on her hands abd her eyes fell onto the yellow sheet paper underneath it. "They will have a better use with someone with a more vivid imagination, as your child." He said softly. She couldn't believe in his words. "Maybe she can inspire you and you can create masterpieces together again."

Alice was about to look at the sketch at the sheet of paper when he interrupted her.

"You should look for your family now." He said in a steady tone as she glanced at him, eyes full of tears, trying to keep a serious expression. "It was great speaking to you, Mrs.Graham. Please send your daughter my regards.

She nodded softly, swallowing the tears. "I can say the same about you...Dr.Lecter. Thank you."

Aloce painfully turned around and walked away, as Hannibal's eyes shattered at each step she took.

The last thing he wished to see was her crying over the sketch she visualized at that instant: two figures sitting across each other in a therapy room. Familiar figures who held deep feelings for one another.

The piece was titled: And I'd do it all over again, for you.