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Jakub Schikaneder
1910
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"IS THIS what you are looking for, miss?" The distorted voice behind Bree Mallory on the phone continued.

"Who are you?" Alice questioned.

"Is this what you are looking for, miss?" The voice repeated.

"Why did you take her from me?"

"Is this what you are looking for, miss?"

"I needed her here now" She whimpered. "She'd help me know what I should do..."

"Is this what you are looking for miss?"

"Why did you kill her?"

"Is this what you are looking for miss?"

"Who are you?" A beg surrended into a whisper.

"It's me." The voice suddenly assumed another one. "Alice, it's me." They became one, unified, identical. "Alice."

"Ahhhh!!" Her body twitched as her eyes suddenly opened reveling a white illuminated room, as her body curved above the blue sheets involving her body, gasping recovering air and letting the sweat drop from her face.

"Alice, darling." The voice that was unified revealed its' face.

"Hannibal...?" She mumbled, trying to recover her senses. "You...where...I..." she barely could speak.

"You fainted at the party. You are at the hospital." He explained slowly the situation. His clothes were the same, he probably stayed there the whole night, she assumed. "Did you have a nightmare?"

Her head still spinned with the voice. Maybe listening to Hannibal's voice just when she woke up made her assume they were the same, she realized that idea was absurd.

He approached more closer, still sitting on the bed, and put his hand above her chest, just where he could feel he heartbeat, while positioning her hand above his. "Shh...it's alright..." it was like a serene mantra invading her senses. "You see? I'm here, with you...we are alive...it was just a dream..." She suddenly  forgot about everything else. There was just Hannibal and his heartbeat. "I'm here..."

When she looked into his hazel eyes all the anger, the frustration and doubt disappeared for a second. At that moment, in front of her, was the caring, loving and gentle Hannibal, the man she fell in love with, the man she trusted in.

"I'm sorry..." she whispered. His gaze softned at her sight, Hannibal couldn't stay mad at her even if he tried hard to. "For what I've said....I...was so upset..."

"I shouldn't have done what I did. It was my mistake, people were hurt, and I understand your reasons now." He interrupted, knowing exactly what she wanted to hear, but deep inside he wasn't sorry at all. "I am sorry, Lissy. I know how much Colin means to you."

"And I know you had the best intentions..." She sighed. "You are not a bad person, I...I know you aren't." She spoke, completely blinded by love. "I shouldn't let people's opinions get into my head."

"It's alright, darling. What matters is that you're safe now." He caressed her cheek softly with his hand. "And that I'm here for you."

"So you're not angry at me?"

He chuckled, his smile was irresistble. "Alice, you can hurt me, insult me, even attempt to kill me." He shaked his head. "And yet I'll still be ridiculously and madly in love to crawl back to you."

"Aw, Hanni..." She frowned her eyebrows and smiled complety touched by his words, which now she wouldn't realize how risky they were. "Come closer...."

He grinned and came closer to her face, now just inches apart, their eyes sinking as their breaths mixed. Her hands cupped his cheeks, touching his smooth, warm skin against hers. "I don't care about what anyone else says...you're all I need." She whispered against his lips, as he closed the gap betweem them into a passionate and slow delicate kiss.

Her hands were caressing his cheeks as he felt her touch lead him to heaven, transforming both their breaths into a trembling and desireful one. It was sweet, it was spicy, it was-

"Doctor Lecter...?" It was Jack Crawford.

Their lips parted in a loud wet noise, that made Alice want to bury her face in the pillow beneath her head. They both attempted to appear appropriate, normal, even though their cheeks were flushed and heated, the hearts beating, the blood pulsing with speed.

"Agent Crawford. What a surprise." Hannibal cleared his throat, adjusting the messy hair strands where Alice wandered her hands through.

"Indeed..." He tried to forget what he just saw. "Um, Miss Mallory, are you feeling better?" Jack asked.

"Yes." She coldly replied, reminding that herself that she argued with him at the party. "Thank you."

"Good to know." He nodded, directing himself to the doctor. "I'd like to speak with you, privately."

Hannibal shaked his head and held his lover's hand. "Whatever you need to say, Agent Crawford, I'd prefer not to keep any secrets from my fiancé."

Jack blinked twice at the title. Fiancé? The situation was worse than he expected. Well, he had no other choice. "Gideon took a fall down a stairwell last night. Was hospitalized. Security guard standing watch was killed in what looks to be another Chesapeake Ripper murder. Now Gideon is nowhere to be found."

"He escaped?"

"We know he didn't walk out of the
hospital. His back was broken. Someone took him. Someone he knew." They exchanged tense stares. "Where were you last night?"

"Are you fucking serious?!" Alice retorted pissed off.

"Alice, darling, please don't curse." Hannibal mentioned softly.

"Sorry." She replied obedient.

"I believe the answer is very obvious, Jack. I was here."

"All night?" The agent asked unconvinced.

"Yes."

"What were you expecting? For Hannibal to just let me in the hospital and sneak in the middle of the night to kill a man?" Alice answered angry. "He barely slept, spent the whole night here, at that armchair by the corner waiting for me to wake up." Of course Alice didn't know what really happened, she assumed what in fact happened, indirectely lying to protect her lover.

When in fact, Hannibal Lecter did leave the hospital to fulfill his cannibalistic and maniac purposes, kidnapping and serving Gideon his own leg for dinner.

"That's what happened." Hannibal agreed.

"So? Do you have enough proof? Or do you stil want to keep accusing an innocent?" Alice almost growled at him from the hospital's bed.

"I'm not accusing him of anything. Only asking his whereabouts." Jack defensively replied.

"That's not all you were asking" Hannibal complained smoothly without any offenses.

Jack audibly sighed. There was nothing else he could say. Even Hannibal's clothes were the same from last night (as if he just didn't change them again to prove an alibi), the man had spent the whole night worrying about his girlfriend. There was nothing else to prove neither to say. Hannibal wasn't the ripper and Jack wouldn't be able to tell it otherwise. Not even the exam in the FBI could prove the meat at the party was human's.

"Well, that is all I needed to ask." He concluded the matter. "Sorry for the inconvenience. Doctor Lecter, Miss Mallory. Hope you get better soon."

And with those words, both Jack and Alice once again fell into Hannibal's well planned web of lies.

But for how long would they be stuck on it?

▫️

"Why are you here?"

"You know why."

"Stay out of this."

"I think it's too late for that."

Will Graham spot the hispanic woman sitting across him, her commanding amber eyes fiercely staring back, the mouth just a straight red painted line.

"What have you done?" Will asked, fearing that this woman could risk everything.

"What have you done?" Katia Rojas snapped back. "When Hannibal was attacked, it was you, wasn't it?"

She was wise, fast, and knew too much. Cared too much.

"How do you know that?"

"I'm Alice's best friend, don't you remember?"

"Did she tell you it was me?"

"No, but the timing was awfully right, specially after you said you'd deal with this in the last time I came here." She explained. Will had to admit, she was attentive, and that could be extremely dangerous.

Katia Rojas didn't back off, her posture was still rigid, determined in order to know the truth. She has always been like that, protective, brave, and in some way, ignorant to the threats that surrounded her.

"Why did you try to kill him?" She insisted.

The silence fell heavily just as Will's curly hair strands in front of his eyes, covering the conflict, the storm contained in them. "I'm warning you to stay out of this while you can." He said in a low, almost scary tone. But that didn't made her give up.

In competitions of resilliance, Katia would always win first place.

"This man, he is dangerous, isn't he? Then why do you let Alice next to him?" She questioned again, Will reamained silent, staring at the table. "Say something." She started to become annoyed. "My friend might be falling in some sort of trap and you're here, quiet." She leaned foward, trying to make him stare back at her, as if her eyes could force him to speak. "She is marrying him, do you know that? Alice might marry this man, and you won't do anything about it?" She spoke showing her teeth offensively.

Even with the chains, with all gathered strentgh, Will Graham slammed his fists on the metal surface abruptely. "She doesn't want my help!" He yelled. The guards almost entered the room but Katia affirmed them that he situation was under control. "I...am trying..." He whispered, breathless and weak.

That's when Katia realized: he was also a victim. And staring into that man's eyes, she could realize that he could never be Bree's killer, he was someone who cared, protected her friend. Someone who cared more about her safety than his own in prison.

"He put you in here." She realized. Will looked at her a bit amused by her guess. "He framed you."

Will exhaled heavily, seeing it was no use denying her the fact, nodding with his head.

Katia set her arms on the table, holding the man's hands carefully, his fingers were extremely cold, trembling, as he looked into her eyes defenseless. "I need to help my friend. But I need you to tell me what is happening. If you care about Alice, let me help you." She established softly. "But with no murder, no more deaths. Only justice."

"Do you believe in real justice?"

"I believe in God's justice."

"God can kill."

"That is his job, not mine." She shaked her head. "If he rots in jail by my own hands or pay for his crimes, then I will be glad to do it. Consequences such as death, are a bonus." Will half smiled by her affirmation, but she only said that because she didn't know who really was Hannibal Lecter. If she did, her opinion would be otherwise.

Will looked down for a moment, thinking wisely if he should trust that woman with such informations, after all, he'd be released soon from jail to wait for further investigations. Should he really include Katia Rojas into that madness?

"There is a woman, she was just found, a previous victim that the Chesapeake Ripper kept alive. Her name is Miriam Lass." He confessed a light information expecting not to put her in danger "She might recognize the killer, both her and Alice are the only people that know his voice. She needs to meet this woman." He leaned forward tense, glancing at the walls, almost as if they were being watched, in whispers "You need to make Alice meet her. Hannibal will try to impede it from happening."

"Why would he do that? Isn't this ripper the suspect of Bree's murder? Why would the doctor be interested in that?" Katia questioned confused, and Will's silence could confirm much more than what she thought about. The world went silent for a second. Her breath suspended. "Are you saying....no...." Katia Rojas never felt so betrayeld, surprised and hurt in her whole life. Her eyes widened, the throat became dry, everything spinned and her heart stopped on her chest "He...he killed Bree...?"

"Shh. Lower. We are being heard." Will whispered, fearing that the woman would solve all the mystery in seconds. "If you want to help, encourage Alice to talk to Miriam. But don't do anything else, Katia." He warned her, pointing in her direction. "Whoever challenges the Chesapeake Ripper doesn't return to tell the story."

"Except this Miriam Lass." She guessed. "Why?"

"She's a trick card." Will Graham emapthized once again with the killer, relying his back on the chair, the gaze lost into murder and unsolved clues."A well played one."

▫️

Jack Crawford had put both Hannibal Lecter and Miriam Lass at the same room just so she could recognize him as the ripper. But his plan failed since the traumatized and mentally manipulated victim refused to tell the truth, even if she immediatly recognized his voice as her raptor.

Now released from jail, Will went with Jack to the crime scene, and still instructed him that Miriam was being influenced by her mental state. Which left his superior still suspicious about what to do without any proof.

He was heading back home, clueless of the two guests already there.

The dogs lied on her feet, as Alana Bloom prepared a warm cup of tea, watching as Alice Mallory sighed, immersing herself into the soft, almost faded smell of Will that was stuck in his furniture and the clothes locked on the wardrobe.

She was invited by the doctor to go there, help take the dogs to the vet, and, after coming back home, decided to take some time with her and chat.

The thing is that Alana Bloom is an observer, and she noticed how Alice felt at that party, how she lost her color and became speechless, especially after Hannibal's announcement.

"Here, careful, it's hot." Alana handled her one of the mugs as she sat by at the chair across her at the small wooden dining table.

"Thank you." Alice replied in almost a whisper and took a sip, as Alana watched carefully for any sort of entrance in her mind where she could approach her.

The doctor looked around, taking a deep breath. "The dogs really like you." She commented.

Alice smiled briefly. "I've always loved animals."

"Are you sure you don't want to take care of one while Will's away? I know I suggested you this before, but that little guy..." She pointed with her head to the mixed breed brown dog with white tail.

"Winston." She recalled the name Will told her. "He didn't take his absence so well, right?"

"He keeps wandering around looking for him." Alana said with a bit of sadness. "He misses him." The doctor glanced at Alice Mallory, her eyes fileld with tears, almost breaking down as she stared at the animal. "And he is not alone in that."

Alice shaked her head, taking a deep breath, trying to contain any signs of sadness. "Yeah, all the dogs miss him." She nodded.

"Alice." Alana said, taking her hand on hers, warmly holding it. Her light blue eyes staring back at the woman. "It's okay to miss him too."

A small gap formed her lips, Alice shaked her head immediatly denying the fact. "I don't, I-"

"You are upset, I understand. All of us are. But that doesn't mean-"

"He tried to kill Hannibal, Alana." Alice retorted. "I...I sometimes catch myself trying to understand, trying to find reason, but there's none. It's just plain murder." The doctor could observe how helpless she was, crumbling down at each word.

"I know it can seem...cruel, but you must understand, Alice, he is sick, Will needs help, and most of all, someone who cares about him." She made a pause so she could understand. "He needs you."

The dogs hurried outside, all at once in a fast group shaking their tails with excitement. Alana and Alice exchanged confused glances. The doctor walked first outside to verify what happened, Alice Mallory came a bit behind, crossing her arms to protect herself from the freezing snow, watching as the dogs surrounded a dark blue dressed figure, with an incandescent smile that made her loose balance for a moment. The snow fell delicately in slow motion when their eyes met once again.

Will Graham.

And just his sight haunted her mind, body and her soul. No matter how much time would pass she'd always remember how much she cared, how much she loved that man. But also couldn't forget how much she cried, and also hated him for what he did.

Her lips parted almost frozen, and Will felt his heart collapse, his whole body warm up just by seeing her again. She might hate him now, but he could never. Alice Mallory after all was his sanity, his sky, his ground and the air that he breathed.

Seeing her again cured any scars inside that asylum and blew life inside his body again.

"Alice..." He muttered and the sound of her name from his lips brought ber back to reality. She disn't reply, instead, walked away fastly, wrapping the purple scarf around her neck and telling Alana goodbye as she headed towards the scooter. "Alice, wait!" He hushed after her but she was faster, speeding into the bike and disappearing into the horizon. "Damnit." He cursed while running his hands through his face.

"She's angry." Alana commented.

"Yeah, no shit." He interjected. Then realized he was slightly rude. "Sorry, I'm just..."

"I understand." She nodded slowly and touched his shoulder. "Good to see you, Will."

"Thanks...and thanks for taking care of them." He pointed to the dogs he loved so much.

"Alice passed by a few times to help too. She really wanted to take Winston home but..."

"Hannibal wouldn't let her." He replied and Alana could feel the anger in his voice.

"Will, you need to stop this." She tried to put some sense into his mind. "Hannibal is a good man, he truly loves her." Will turned back to pet his dogs, squating on the snow to reach them.  "What they've done to you, don't excuse what you did. And Alice won't forgive you so easily." He focused on his pets once again. "You won't try to hurt him again, will you?" He glanced at her. "Is he safe?"

His creepy and silent lack of response gave her shivers.

He got up from the ground, guiding the dogs back inside his home. "He's dangerous, Alana." Will assured her."I suggest you to stay away as much as possible. You and Alice." He warned, and with that sentence, turned his back and entered his home, leaving her mind filled with doubts.

▫️

"Hello, my love." His low voice brushed against her hair. "How are you doing?"

Alice was silent, after all, she had just seen Will Graham, and that wouldn't ease her mind so fastly. Her brush worked skillfully on the canvas, with colors between a dark blue and violet.

"Fine." She answered shortly.

He set his briefcase aside and watched over her shoulder. "Working in your painting?" She nodded. "It's really creating shape now." She remained silent. "Is that a lake?"

"Yes."

"And who is that next to her?" He asked subtly.

"Someone."

"Someone." He repeated observing the male figure with curly hair strands, the figures were dark, with a huge moon behind them, it wasn't finished, so he couldn't see properly what they were doing "I see." He glanced at her, eho was so quiet and focused. "Are you hungry?"

"No, thanks."

"...Need some help?"

"I'm good."

He felt pushed aside, just standing pathetically by her side as she painted light blue edges in the canvas.

"Hannibal." She suddenly turned to him. He felt his heart stop.

"Yes, darling?" He answered promptly.

"Could you please step away? You're blocking the light."

"Oh..." He muttered disappointed, stepping a bit aside. "Better?"

"A bit more, please."

He distanced himself a bit more, feeling as if she grabbed his heart and squeezed it in her hands. "And...now?"

"Why don't you go to the living room? I'll take some more time in here."

She pratically exiled him from her room. Hannibal blinked twice not believing in her words.

"...Alright." He said a bit surprised walking towards the door. "If you need me, just call me." She didn't reply. He opened the door and felt crushed to leave.

Something happened.

And his paradise was threatned.

▫️

"Miss Rojas." He greeted the woman in the doorstep at the other day. "I wasn't aware of your visit."

"It's a surprise! Just wanted to check up on Alice." Katia tried to keep up politeness and a smile on her face, but inside she was anxious and feared that well dressed man in a beige suit.

"She is in her room, painting." Hannibal responded. Actually Alice was there since she arrived yestersay, refusing to eat or do anything else. Even locked the door. He was extremely worried.

"May I enter to see her?"

"I doubt she will receive you tho. She seems to be on a very focused artistical process."

"It'll be fast, just need to..." Katia searched for something inside her purse. "Give her this new pair of earrings." She showed the small pair of golden accessories she found inside her wardrobe just to use as an excuse.

"I can deliver to her if you'd like." Hannibal standed his hand torwards the woman.

"That's very kind, but I'd really like to speak to her." They exchanged suspicious cold glances. "You know, women issues."

Hannibal clenched his jaw keeping up a neutral expression, analyzing the woman in his front door. "Of course. Just follow the stairs at the end of the hallway."

"Thank you."

She didn't waste any time, just walked fastly, almost jumping the staircase steps to reach the room, knocking on the door multiple times. "Alice, mi amiga, it's me, Katia." She announced. "Open the door."

Took some minutes but finally the sound of a key being turned revealed Alice Mallory opening the door. Black circles around her eyes, an almost dead stance.

"What happened to you? Did you sleep?"

"I was painting." Hannibal Lecter's tired girlfriend replied. "What happened?"

"Let me come in first."

"But I'm-"

"You can continue later, now let me in."

Alice sighed but let her enter and locked the door after Katia insisted for her to do so.

The wavy haired woman widened her eyes at the painting she had. "Wow...Alice..." A wide smile formed her lips "...this is beautiful!"

The painter softened her expression a bit. "Do you think so?"

"It's one of your bests yet." Katia watched the realistic traces of the two nude figure that only showed the bodies until their collarbones, water immersed the rest, and they hugged each other, the man lifting a bit more the woman in the air. Something in his eyes was full of admiration, as the moon behind lightned them both beautifully into the blue to purple gradient in the sky. "It's sweet but also spicy." She chuckled, Alice grinned.

"Thanks, Katia...I just....felt inspired by a memory."

"Yeah, I see it..." She observed the bearded man with fluffy curly hair strands and the girl with short bob cut smiling at him. "Did you see him?" Katia turned to her. "Will Graham?"

"How did you guess?" Alice's jaw dropped.

"You paint portraits too well my friend." She chuckled. "And I heard he was released from that nut house."

Alice sighed. She did paint Will. Oh my God, she spent the whole night focusing on painting that core memory she had back in college with him. What would Hannibal think? An instant guilt feeling took over her chest.

"I saw him by accident." She spoke still horrified about the beautiful canvas she painted.

"And what did he say?"

"I walked away before he could."

"Ay, Alice..." Katia tilted her head.

"I don't want to see him again, Katia."

"Okay, forget Will, I came to tell you something more important." She approached closer to her friend. "Listen carefully, okay?"

"Okay..."

"There is this woman, Miriam Lass. She was an FBI agent and a victim of the Chesapeake Ripper. But appearently she wasn't killed. They found her, alive."

"How do you know all of that?" Alice widened her eyes at the information.

"I...have a cousin who works there. Anyway, just hear it: she knows who the ripper is."

Alice suspended her breath.

"The same person who might've killed Bree."

"Yes. And it isn't Will Graham." She affirmed. "Alice, this changes everything."

"Katia..." The painter ran her hands through her hair, already stained by the many inks previously used.

Katia calmed her friend, held her ahoulders and looked fiercely into her green to blue eyes. "Alice you need to speak with this woman."

"Why?"

"With your help you can both catch this guy." Katia said clearly. "You can bring Bree justice."

Bring Bree justice. That's what Alice dreamed for almost a year and a half. She thought about that every single day, and even without being ghosted by her sister's illusion, she was tempted to find the truth.

"But Katia...Hannibal he...he said it's not good for me to keep involving myself into-"

"Fuck him." She let it go, Alice gasped. "I mean...sorry...I meant...Ali, this is important to you. To your family. No matter how upsetting it is, the worse has already passed. Now it isn't just revenge, it is a payment you own to Bree, to yourself, so you can move on, mi amiga!" She frowned her eyebrows. "You can end this nightmare. And if he truly loves you, he will support you."

"He loves me." Alice reaffirmed convicted.

"Then what are you waiting for? Go talk to this woman!"

"I...what if-"

"Don't overthink about it, just go with it Alice. Promise me you'll try."

She glanced into her friend's eyes, an aching anxious feeling inside her chest, but also a sparkle of hope lightned up inside. "I..."

A sound clicked, and trembled. Their eyes turned to the door. The handle moving, as if someone tried to enter. Katia fely her heart speed as Alice walked towards the door and unlocked, revealing the haunting figure that smiled at them but with hostile sight.

"I'm sorry, didn't mean to interrupt you both." He said politely. "Miss Rojas, you are not a vegetarian as well, are you? Would you like to join us for dinner?"

Some bad feeling took over her stomach, and Katia thankfully was one to trust blindly her instincts. "Sorry, I gotta go take Isabel somewhere. I was about to leave as well." She walked torwards her friend and delivered a gentle kiss on her cheek. "Take care, Ali."

"You too, Katia."

"Thanks for letting me in, Hannibal." She nodded. "I'll find my way out."

And, excusing his politeness, Katia Rojas rushed, attempting to hide from the evil eyes that watched her leave.

"Alice, darling, your clothes..." He observed the colorful mess she was and the black circles around her eyes. "Still working on the painting?" She nodded shy. "Must be incredible by how much effort you put into it...may I see it?"

She quickly shaked her head, anxious, nervous. "I-...it isn't done." She lied. "I'd prefer if you didn't see it now."

He could feel her tone shake a little, and knew she lied deep inside. "No problem, when you feel ready to show me, I'll be here." He said calmly, even though he ached to see what she was hiding. "Are you coming downstairs to have dinner?"

"I..."

He carefully cuppped her cheeks. "My love, you need to eat. I am worried about you." He muttered, touching his forehead against hers. "What happened?" He whispered softly. "Are you upset with me?"

"No! No, my god...I..." She assured fastly. "It's not about you..no, Hanni..."

"What happened then?"

"I..."

He kissed warmingly her forehead, his lips tickling yet comforting. "You know you can tell me anything, darling."

Alice Mallory stared into those hazel eyes. The same eyes she'd always confess herself to. She never lied to them. Never hided from them.

But telling that the storm inside her was because of Will Graham was something she wasn't willimg to reveal.

"I'm fine. Just focused on my patings, that's all." That statement made him rage inside. He knew she lied. And she chose to lie to him. He wasn't just sad, he was frustated. "Go ahead, I'll just take a bath."

He still tried to charm her, kissing softly her cheek, leading a trail of warmness down her neck. "Need some help?" He purred.

"I...I'm just taking a bath this time." She gently pushed him away, watching as he felt surprised by her response, yet appeared to be normal.

"Alright...I'll be waiting for you downstairs."

Hannibal Lecter left her room, but didn't leave his suspicions of what could've possibly happened.

And one or another he would find out.

And fix it.

▫️

Will Graham managed to convince Jack Crawford to let Miriam Lass speak with Alice Mallory. Even acknowledging that his friend wasn't in good terms with his superior, Jack realized that this might be a good clue, or just deteriorate the situation.

Either way, they'd have to take the risk. Including Alice Mallory, who lied to her fiancé alledging that she would visit her friend Katia.

He knew that she was upset because of Colin's abruptal arguement and his departure without notice back to Stanford with his girlfriend, so he expected that meeting to be some sort of comfort to her. Well, that was Alice Mallory thought he felt about.

Deep inside, Hannibal knew what lied underneath the surface, and no matter how much she'd run, he'd always be one step ahead.

With a deep breath and courage gathered inside her lungs, Alice Mallory entered the building and was greeted by Jack Crawford.

"Miss Malory." The agent became formal again with her. It felt like all the bond they built was destroyed. An awkward atmosphered filled them, avoiding glances. He didn't hate her, instead, felt bad, even if Hannibal wasn't the killer, he observed that the doctor managed to isolate and control that girl, like she was under some magical spell. "Glad to receive you, this might be very important to our investigation."

"I hope the same." She had tied up her hair, which manage to grow up more during the time she started living with Hamnibal, and wore something calm, grey, discrete, also a gift from her lover. It was almost as if he shaped her by his own wishes. A perfect doll. "This...victim...I heard she was an agent?"

"She was training at the time. One of my best people here." It was visible his affection towards the girl, his previous discipule. "But in a mission of her own to find out about the ripper, she disappeared. Recently, the killer reappeared, and even displayed her arm in a crime scene for us with calls and pranks. Nothing that really led us to him though."

"What about now? Do you think you can catch him?"

"It is a theory. Follow me." Jack indicated as they walked through the busy hallways of the special hospital for agents where the woman was settled. The white walls with inner peace surrounded them, within that conflicting mysterious subject. "You see, Miram spent 2 years locked in a basement in a secluded far away from any life sign. We thought she was dead. But her condition..." He failed to speak. "Her mind is not the same, and that may affect her to remember what happened."

"She can't remember him?"

"In flashes, yes, but also no." He explained as they made a turn. "There were some sort of psychological manipulation used."

Alice widened her eyes. "Psychological? You mean-"

"Someone with the abilities to do some. Maybe a professional in the field."

The words made her unquiet. Of course she didn't expect Hannibal to be the killer, that wouldn't even pass through her mind. But that would lead up to suspicions of others about him. If he hasn't already been interrogated already about the subject, she theorized. She knew that Will wouldn't rest until he blamed Hannibal for this madness.

They stopped in front of a door. Before opening, Jack turned to her. "I know...that when your sister died, I wasn't the most comforting person." He avoided her eyes. "And after seeing Miriam...I am aware of that now. I could've been more considerate, and maybe, if my team really put effort, we could've had a better clue of where the killer is." Jack took a deep breath while facing Alice. "You might not appreciate my company anymore, Miss Mallory. And I understand your reasons. But I need to request you: whatever you face, or hear, don't barrow your mind and try to think outside the box."

"What do you mean?"

"At this point..." he turned the handle in a  subtle movement. "...anyone can become a prime suspect." He opened the door. "Good luck."