____

Anna Ancher
1891
____

BURY a friend. Try to wake up. An endless hell. Unforgiven mind. Merciless lies. Bewitching promises.

Hands intertwined underneath a greyscale sky in the middle of a torrent rain. Black umbrellas gathered around mixed with muffled whimpers of pain. Solid stone expressions facing an open tomb about to be closed.

Katia Rojas was an innocent woman.

Family members who cried their hearts out expecting to wake up from that nightmare, throwing themselves above the wodden surface of the cold casket.

A loving sister, aunt and friend. Specially the last one.

Whispers and prayers, tears already dry and marked cheeks with bloodshot eyes.

A confident, a protector.

Even the youth mourned for the one who left the living that day, trying to contain the tears running down her face, Isabel Rojas tried her best to keep it together, just as her aunt would desire.

Her protector behavior cost her life.

A mother hugged her child, trying to disguise that she was the one who needed comfort.

A brave woman willing to protect her friend, and yet served as the mean to make her protegieé even more attached to the threat she fought against.

Groans and screams from a brother once so alive and joyful, now surrended to the pain and torture of loosing someone he loved so deeply.

Katia Rojas death wasn't an accident. It was planned, intended. After all, she was an obstacle.

It took some time until other relatives could take António Rojas from the casket he hugged so tight, believing that his sister was still alive inside there, breathing.

She was alone. Working as the strong woman she was, providing comfort to her family. But instead, turned into a victim on her way home.

Holding the man who cried in yellings, they slowly let down the casket into the grave. Another step towards the no returning act of mourning.

Walked on her feet, didn't have enough money to afford a car. And, I surprised her within the shadows, attacked her, wrapping my arms around her body.

Flowers, roses to be exact, all lined up to show respect and a last tribute to the woman they admired.

Even on her last moments she tried to fight, but the grip onto her body was stronger. All she could do, was take a glimpse of her attacker moments before her life flashed in front of her shaken pupils.

Friends and relatives gathered around, letting roses fall into the grave, slowly touching the casket, forming up a pile of red petals above. Lovely, if not tragic.

The menace she couldn't contain. Her only regret in a jubilant life. And the way my name sounded from her lips was lamentable.

Alice Mallory almost couldn't let go of the rose in her hands. Needing to receive the comforting touch from the last remaining ally by her side. Watching as the plant fell in slow motion, along with the memories of her friend printed all over her mind. She had cried so much that now achieved that silent, paralyzed state, almost unable to move.

Katia knew the situation was much bigger than her. But was unaware how she would be used as the means to incriminate another person, such as DNA planting and setting her dead body on someone else's house.

Neutral, perfectly faked sad expression. An oscar winning acting. The view of her tombstone couldn't be more delightful to him.

Whoever killed Katia Rojas despised her.

The rose slipped through his fingers delicately, as he watched the object reach the woodden surface finally, as the crying continued in the background.

The cut on the throat so she could die at once. The tongue removed so she couldn't speak.

She talked too much.

A nosy snitch.

Hannibal Lecter returned to his loved one, letting her cry on his chest as he hugged her tight, watching as they buried her friend little by little, consumed by the soil she'd rot in, like all of us will someday.

A wolf in sheep's clothing killing and faking empathy to maintain my prey close.

The priest announced the last words,  as the doctor held her close, whispering soft comforting words in her ear until it was over.

Katia Rojas found the Chesapeake Ripper.

And I'm still alive, on a killing spree.

May she serve as a lesson so no one stands in my way.

This is my design.

Alice Mallory barely had water inside her body anymore, the after funeral gathering was filled with "I'm sorry for your loss" or "She is in a better place now", and that just made her even more overwhelmed.

"I know it is a stupid question, but how are you feeling?" Hannibal whispered as they walked around the graveyard next to the other guests, his hand delicately intertwined with hers, inspiring that cold air and silence of the death.

She smiled softly, appreciating his concern. "As if another part of me was buried with her."

That's when they spotted the Rojas family, inconsolable, mourning. Isabel was with a friend, the face dropped on the ground, but António...the poor António didn't have more strentgh to speak, only letting thin hoarse lines out from his mouth while groaning into his sobs. His wife, Celia, was the strongest one. Even suffering the loss, her tears were dry, the eyes still a bit red, but the face serious, she knew someone needed to keep going, to help them stand up, Katia used to do that and now she would be that pillar.

"Alice." The silent woman talked.

"Celia..I...I-"

Before Alice could say something, she was involved into a tight hug. "We know it's not your fault." Celia had no idea how much those words meant to her. Alice trembled holding back thetears. "Katia would've done all of this you wanting it or not, she is...she was like that." Celia Rojas cupped Alice's soft cheeks and stared lovingly into her eyes. "Please don't blame yourself."

It was like she could read her expression perfectly, and Alice Mallory let out a heavy exhaled breath, almost in relief that she understood her. "How are things going now...without her?" Alice asked delicately. Celia clenched her jaw.

"I don't think António is ready to go back to work. We will receive Katia's security savings but still..." she shaked her head. "I will work cleaning some houses, we'll find a way. Don't worry about it."

"Mrs.Rojas." Hannibal Lecter shaked her head. "My condolences, but I couldn't help but feel devastated when Alice told me the situation." He took a horizontal page of paper from his suit's pocket and discretely landed on Celia's hand. "Please, I hope you don't find it inappropriate, but it breaks me to see a family struggling after a beloved one's loss."

The new matriarch glanced at the paper on her hands, specially at the amount of zeros written by the right side. Her eyes widened, almost letting out an audible gasp as she turned to the man and his fiancé. "I-I can't-"

"Please, I insist, Katia was a close friend to Alice, I wish I could help more." He held the woman's hand when she was about to return the playment check.

Celia's eyes filled with tears, but at that moment, had to swallow her pride and accept the offer. With Katia gone, things would be certainly harder, and that check could help them for a long time.

"Thank you...I don't even know what to say..."She whispered still a bit schocked as he let her hands go. "You are such good people." She smiled briefly at her sister's murderer. "No matter what, you two are family here. Come visit us, anytime."

"Of course, Celia." Alice spoke calmly, then took a recipient from her purse. "Hannibal also prepared this for you.

"I imagined you were hungry, without time to properly cook." He justified.

"Oh my...well, yes, you're right, since we received the news...Isabel and Antonio couldn't eat properly. I tried to convince them but..."

"Grief turns people into only shallow surfaces of ourselves." Hannibal replied, Celia nodded.

"Thank you for this." She opened and contemplated the high gastronomy meal inside. "May I ask what is this? Looks like rich people's food." She gave a half smile.

"Khorak e Zaban" Hannibal replied. "I hope it provides you some comfort in this difficult time."

"It certainly will, thank you both." She tried to hug the two at once and then smiled at them. "Alice." She turned to the woman, staring intensely into her eyes. "Katia would wish for you to move on with your life, please, don't let death stop you again, my friend."

The artist nodded a bit shy as Celia said goodbye to reunite with her family. Hannibal took Alice's arm in his and they walked away, two graceful figures dressed in black, as they led to another part of the graveyard.

"Do you think this will be good to you?" He asked once again.

"I just want to say hi to her." Alice muttered. "Maybe it can give me some strentgh now." She stopped at the gravestone next to her. It was a small, simple gravestone which held a huge legacy of who was there. "Hello Bree."

The grey stone faced her with the writtings "beloved sister and teacher, you will never  be forgotten". Now recalling it, Alice barely knew how she had strentgh to prepare the preparatives for her funeral.

The last tine she went there was in an episode when she lost her mind. Can't remember perfectly, only that it was a rainy dark night, filled with storms and wind, brushing away her sanity as she digged up the grave in an attempt to save someone who couldn't be saved anymore.

Now she was there. One year later, with another loss, but now with someone to stand there by her side.

"Sorry for not visitting...but I guess you're  not lonely anymore now, are you? Katia is meeting you in heaven, if she hasn't met you alredy.'" She smiled bitterly. "I just know there will be plenty of laughing and parties." She sighed heavily, gesturing so Hannibal could come closer, holding his hand. "This is Hannibal, my future husband. He's been helping me since you've been gone." She glanced at her lover.

He knew how much that meant to Alice. Even if Bree Mallory couldn't speak or show how disappointed and angry she was by her sister's choice, Hannibal would still be kind and please his lover.

"Hello, Ms.Mallory. it's a pleasure to finally meet you." He spole softly as Alice almost cried her heart out. All she wanted was to have the people she loved by her side. "Alice told me much about you. I hope you're doing well wherever you are now." He whispered, intertwining his fingers with Alice's. "Please do not worry. I'll make sure to take care of Alice with my own life until the rest of my days."

She squeezed his hand and looked at the grave, expecting for Bree to just pop off and say it was all a joke. But it wasn't. The grey sky turned even darker. Without Hannibal, she would be alone. In that world, Alice felt lucky to have him there. Even if he didn't have the opportunity to meet her sister, that felt as a an introduction, a respectful one, and he admired him for that. But God, she would have loved for Bree to meet him, would have love to her teasing about them together, or make her embarrassed by telling Alice's college stories, and even cry when she'd announce her engagement. Would've died to have her there, with her at the grand wedding day.

But that would never be possible.

"Thank you for everything Bree." She finally said, ready to say goodbye to her past. A deep breath entered her lungs when she looked at the grave, almost as if she stared into Bree's eyes once again. "Your murderer will pay for his crimes, now you can rest in peace." A tear rolled down her flushed cheek, her hand rest above the geavestone. "Goodbye, my dear sister."

▫️

Two guests and two hosts with different stances and opinions about each other. A large fish previously captured by Will Graham and Jack Crawford was being served at the large table, meticulously prepared by Hannibal Lecter as he joined the head chair at the end, with his fiancé by his side.

The silence was almost unbearable, and the only sound that reappeared was when Hannibal announced the meal "Truite saumonée au bleu." Jack Crawford exchanged glances with Will Graham by his side. Luckily they wouldn't taste human meat that day. "With vegetables and broth, served with a hollandaise sauce on the side." Hannibal finished explaining as he  helped Alice served herself with the vegetarian option he prepared just for her. "Beautiful fish, Will." He tried to be nice.

"It was my turn to provide the meat." He spoke clearly, exchanging looks with Jack.

"More flavorful and firm than farmed specimens. I find the trout to be a very Nietzscheian fish. Trials of his wild existence find their way into the flavor of the flesh." The doctor conitnued as he poured some sauce into hia guests dishes. "I hope 'providing the meat' doesn't mean you still harbor doubts about what I serve at my table."

Alice Mallory looked at them above the edge of her glass. She was silent, behaving as Hannibal wished. But inside, she couldn't help but feel uneasy, holding back the urge to talk back to protect him.

"No doubts, Dr. Lecter." Jack Crawford replied, feeling Alice's mortal glance at him. "Only the, uh... wounds we dealt each other until we got to the truth."

Hannibal got back to his seat, the expression calm, as he set his hand above Alice's at the table, trying to tranquilize her. Will Graham tried to avoid staring at the scene. "Which is why we need to move past apologies and forgiveness." Lecter spoke, gazing for a moment towards his fiancé. "Chilton has many victims besides the dead. We will absorb this experience. It will change us...Well, we are all Nietzscheian fish in that regard."

"Makes us tastier." Will commented in a bitter tone while cutting part of his meat. Alice made a loud noise with her silverware irritated in response, the agent almost jumped from his seat startled by her reaction. Hannibal Lecter had a smile, containing the strong urge not to laugh at the two.

"None of our actions were personal." Jack retorted.

"Will tried to have Hannibal killed. Isn't that personal?" Alice finally let it out. The agent didn't reply.

"He thought I was a killer." Hannibal delivered gentle little taps on her hand. "The greatest crime now would be to walk away from what we've shared and suffered. In many ways, we need each other. We are the only ones who will know what this feels like."

Alice decided to remain quiet, letting the quietness of the room consume the guests with the exception of the silverware being used.

But Hannibal wouldn't do that. "I know the scars are still open, attempting to wound...But there is something I must tell you both." He said, as the two agents looked at him. "We had our disagreements, but I do believe you both are the closest people I kindly consider as my friends."

"Hannibal" Alice tried to stop him.

"With that being said, you're also aware that I've proposed to Alice." He continued, ignoring her attempts to stop that speech. "I'd like to ask you then-"

"I don't agree with this." Alice said serious.

"If you'd like to-"

"Hannibal, please."

"Be my best men at our wedding."

Jack Crawford couldn't hide his surprise, leaning back at bit, lifting his eyebrows. Will Graham hid what he truly felt. Despised the idea. Hated the fact of seeing Alice marrying another man, felt bitterly jealous and possessive, and worse, being there to testimony that event as a close friend of the groom. And that groom being Hannibal. That made him want to die.

And the groom was aware of that.

"Wow...I...don't even know what to say..."Jack mumbled, a bit shocked.

"Is your wedding coming so soon?" Will asked, taking a furious bite of the fish's flash, with a daring glance at Alice, who made a face in response.

"We're still setting a date, but we'd rather not delay ourselves." He squeezed his tense fiancé's hand, staring sweetly at her. "After all, when something feels right, why postpone it?"

"Perphaps because you're not just thinking about the feeling, but the other person's well being." Will Graham spoke directely towards her, without even trying to hide what he felt.

Alice felt her breath stop. The dark walls blinded her for a moment.

"But if that's the case, then yes, I would be honored, my friends." Will gave the fakest of the smiles torwards them.

That gesture made her tremble. She was aware of what Will felt, but that act, so direcetely and in front of Hannibal, in a passive agressive display of jealousy...it was too much.

"I'm sorry, I don't feel so well." She got up from the kitchen, delivering a gentle kiss at Hannibal's forehead. "I will rest a bit in bed, okay?"

"Are you sure?" He asked, noticing the sudden change in that atmosphere. "Should I check upon you for any symptons?"

"No, I'll be fine, just a headache." She caressed his soft dark brown strands. "Please, excuse me."

The three men watched her walk away. Will and Hannibal taking longer, as Jack continued to eat, trying to avoid the tension he accidentally got into.

The host turned to the guest, aware of Will's intentions with his future wife, but keeping a pleasing, attractive smile while formulating a plan in his head. "This fish is delicious. Isn't it?"

▫️

"Our guests are gone." He announced, loosing the tie around his neck as he entered the room, finding his lover at the bed, eyes facing blankly the wall. "Are you feeling better?"

"No." Alice answered, frustrated with that storm that formed inside her soul. She wanted to cry, wanted to scream.

Hannibal took off the coat of his suit and approached her, sitting on the bed, pulling her body close. "Lissy, what is happening?"

Her big fragile doe eyes broke him. He just wanted her to be happy by his side again. Why did they have to fall apart like this all the time now? Why did she cry so much? All he did was to keep her. To love her. And yet, it still didn't seem enough.

"It's so much, Hanni..." She said, already with her sight blurred by the tears. "Katia us dead, Colin is ignoring me, and now Will is back..."

"What about Will?"

"I can't even breathe." She whimpered exhausted. "I can't trust him, and yet you bring him around, as if nothing happened."

Hannibal lowered himself, lying at the mattress to stay at her sight's height, playing with her hair strands that grew longer and longer by each time.

"Is it just because of me, love?" He questioned softly, watching as her epression changed. "Or do you..."

"I what?" She asked, widening her eyes.

"Do you...feel something about Will Graham?"

Her lips parted surprised. She felt her heart almost escaping through her throat. She didn't believe she was listening to that. To her boyfriend saying those things. She refused to admit those feelings to herself, even more to him.

"No! No, that is ridiculous." She avoided his touch a bit irritated. "He tried to kill you, and something in his eyes still doesn't convince me he has changed his mind."

"He grows a deep affection torwards you, we know that."

"That means nothing to me." She tried to be cold, but he knew she lied through her teeth.

"Doesn't it?"

"No, it doesn't."

"Farewell, I believe in you." He nodded. No, he didn't believe at all, but knew this subject would only upset her even more. "After all, he is still our friend."

"I don't think that way anymore."

"We will help him recover. Remember? We promised him that." Hannibal stroked lightly her lightly pink cheeks. "I'm sorry you are passing through all of this my darling, I really am." He looked into her eyes. "If there's anything I could do to make you feel better..."

She gave a half smile, unable to resist to his kindness. "Maybe."

"Maybe?" He lifted one of his eyebrows. "What is it?"

She leaned and pouted. He chuckled finding her adorable, touching their lips quickly tenderly, feeling Alice's smile against his mouth. "Do you feel better now?"

"You might have to repeat it a few more times so I can be sure." She joked.

"I have no oppositions against that." He smirked, softly fitting his lips against hers again in a slow, delicious kiss that made him sigh.

"Hanni." She whispered.

"Mhm?"

"Can we always be like this?"

"Like what?"

"Like it's just you and me against the world." She whispered, the statement gave him chills. "...Can you promise me you won't ever get tired of this?"

"I'd never get tired of us, Alice." He replied sure as never before. "And after our marriage, our lives will be only filled with joy. All this pain, all this hurt..." he touched their noses when uniting their foreheads. "I'll make sure to erase it from our lives, my dear Mrs.Lecter."

She smiled brightly giggling. She adored when he called her that so much. "I love you, Mr.Lecter" Alice whispered in a sugary confession. "I love you so much."

"I know." His hands caressed her face softly. "But I love you more." She scrunched her nose.

"No, I  do."

"No, my dear, I do." They both chuckled.

"You're wrong, I do. You see, I've always found you charming since the day I've met you." She tried to win the competition.

"But I was the one who fell for you first." Her heart melted.

"Hannibal." She rest her hand above his chest. "You never told me...when did you fall for me?"

She smiled softly. When? Since that museum? No, she was just a stranger back then. When she first appeared in his office in that yellow dress? Not either. Maybe when she gave him the painting, or at that soccer game. Or when he simply saw her being genuine kind to Abigail Hobbs.

No matter what was the episode. One thing was for sure, she made a mark on him that would never leave.

"At each second but also none at all." He whispered lowly. "There isn't a real timestamp of when you captured me under your spell, Alice Mallory, but I can assure you, that once I did, I could never escape from it." He tasted her lips a bit more, the honey in them sharing with the contact, the tongues meeting hot, slow, passionate. "And I don't want to escape." He whispered in a brief gap between their mouths that caused her shivers in passion.

"I don't want to escape from you either." She whispered completely surrended.

"You don't?"

"Never." She said blinded by the love that wrapped her in a bubble of illusions. He embraced her, pulling Alice close to his chest, swallowing that candy scent that drived him mad.

"Tell me you're mine, then." He whispered warmly at her ear. "Swear it."

"I am yours, Hannibal Lecter." She replied helpless. His heart ached with that sentence. "I will always be yours."

He hugged her tight, involuntairly smilomg as a teen in love, but in this case a possessive, sick teen that only wished to keep his lover close to him until the rest of his days.

He would never find someone like her. And she would never find someone like him. They just fit, aligned as if they were proframmed by higher, supernatural forces in a meticulous, addicting and painful plan.

And that thought made the soulmate concept finally make sense to him.

▫️

"How does it feel consulting again with Jack Crawford and the FBI? Last time, it nearly destroyed you."

"Last time, you nearly destroyed me."

Therapy time. Opposite seats. Lightning from the huge windows of the grey office. Serious stances, different glances. Hannibal was serene, careful. Will was serious, impassive and cold.

"After everything that has happened, Will, you still believe..."

"Stop right there." Graham interrupted him. "You may have to pretend, but I don't."

Hannibal nodded with his head, the hands calmly lied above his lap."No, you don't. Not with me."

"I don't expect you to admit anything. You can't. But I prefer sins of omission to outright lies, Dr. Lecter." He affirmed fiercely. "Don't lie to me."

"Will you return the courtesy?" The doctor questioned back, the agent remained silent he took that as an affirmative answer. Hannibal Lecter adjusted himself at his seat and the dark brown suit he wore. "What do you feel about my fiancé?"

They exchanged quiet stares with an unspoken argument tangling into the electrifying air's energy.

"Why would you like to know, doctor?" Will replied, watching as Hannibal feies to keep her composure. "Am I threatning your little perfect paradise?"

He wouldn't admit that to him. "It is a simple question, I expect you to answer it." He avoided Will's challenges. "A kind reminder that I accepted you back as my friend, as my patient. But that does not apply to what you feel towards Alice."

"Even if you did, that's not something for you to control, is it?" He looked into his hazel eyes "And something tells me you're already unable to keep it under your power." Hannibal wouldn't loose his temper. Even if his blood boiled inside. "You know what I feel about her. What we both feel about her." Will Graham spoke convicted.

"Yet she doesn't correspond to your feelings."

"Doesn't she?" He smirked for a moment. Hannibal paralyzed. "Well, maybe not now."

"Maybe never."

"Never is a strong word. For example, I used to say I'd never have therapy with you again, but here we are."

"Why have you resumed your therapy?"

"Can't just talk to any psychiatrist about what's kicking round my head."

Hannibal stared intensely at his long gone eyes. "Do you fantasize about killing me?"

Will Graham didn't hesitate "Yes."

"Tell me. How would you do it?"

"With my hands."

Hannibal nodded slowly. "Then we haven't moved past apologies and forgiveness, have we? "

"We've moved past a lot of things. I discovered a truth about myself when I tried to have you killed."

"That doing bad things to bad people makes you feel good?"

"Yes."

A creepy pause echoed between them.

"I need to know if you're going to try to kill me again, Will." The doctor spoke softly. "We both know that my life does not concern only to me anymore." Their thoughts drifted away to a smiling yet fragile brunette.

"I don't want to kill you anymore, Dr. Lecter." Will shaked his head softly in a sour tone. "Not now that I finally find you interesting."

▫️

The sound of the red shining heels echoed through the white aisles filled with strangers. Coughs and sneezes. Followed by machines beeping and sometimes a mother crying for her child.

Hospitals didn't bother so much as that one. No, it wasn't because of the rude secretaries or the conceited doctors with their chins highly lifted towards the sky.

It wasn't about the smell that mixed with the medicine and clean product, the same smell that wasn't on him, but imprited on her mind. But the presence she despised, yet approached near the bed at the center, filled with wires and beeps of machines that kept that living demon alive.

And those blue to green eyes that matched hers stared deeply, sunk into her soul, helpless, ungrateful, and unforgiven.

She calmly sat at the armchair by his side, resting the bag by her side, as her legs crossed elegantly, probably catching her lover's habits, showing the shiny shoes at the man that lied on the bed in that sweet revenge.

A smile of pure evil filled Alice Mallory's lips "Hello, father."