The Silence is Over [Silence of the Lambs]

One

Clarice

Blinding light fills my vision and I blink to make my eyes adjust. They do, but my vision is still a bit foggy.

I can hear her...calling to me.

I draw my gun, clicking the safety back automatically, ready for anything.

My heart is pounding in my chest at what feels like a million beats per minute, and I'm surprised he hasn't found me yet because of the sound.

I lick my lips and take a silent breath to calm my nerves.

I had a feeling about this place, but I had no idea that my worst nightmare would come true.

I hear a noise behind me, and I whip around, my gun in front, visibly shaking, but no one is there.

"Help me!" she cries,

"he's crazy!"

I move closer to the cries, and I walk into a wide-open room with stone floors and walls. It reeks in here...almost like-

No. No, don't think.

"FBI! Show yourself!" I call, my voice faltering a little.

"Down here..P-Please save me! Help!" the woman's voice breaks as she sobbs.

I look all around me. I don't see her.

Wait.

There, at the edge of the room. I walk closer, being cautious as I walk, looking in each corner to make sure He doesn't sneak up on me. I come upon a ring or stones, like a mini wall, about two feet tall.

My heart plummets as I realize what this is.

Oh God.

I look over the edge of the wall, turning my flashlight on as I do, and about fifteen feet down, in a dark hole, is Catherine. Her clothes are dirty and torn, her pantlegs ripped up past her upper thighs. Although the report said she weighed about 150 pounds when she was taken, she is possibly half that now, and I can see her ribs as I point my flashlight over her. One eye is bloody and swollen, and there is a small white dog at her feet, whimpering as it lays.

"Hello, Clarice," a vile, chilling voice says, right behind me.

My heart takes a nosedive and I let out a combination of a gasp and a strangled scream as I shoot up from my bed, eyes wide open.

"Gahh!"

In one motion, I grab my gun, laying on the nightstand right beside me, and click the safety off, pointing it at nothing.

A dream.

Just. A. Dream.

But why did it feel so real?

Because it really happened.

But that was over a year ago, shouldn't my brain have moved on from that now?

I sigh and toss my gun on the other side of the bed.

I massage my temples and rub my eyes.

Get a grip, Starling.

I run a hand through my hair, slick with sweat, and glance at the clock.

5:54 am

Great. Might as well get up, I guess.

I grab a random outfit and head to the shower, turning the water on.

I strip and step in, letting the warm water wash over me.

My mind is spinning, and somehow it ends up on the dream over and over again.

Don't.

I angrily scrub my hair with shampoo.

I'm the good guy, the cop. I got the bad guy, but why do I suffer from it?

I ponder this as I rinse my hair.

I can still see his face. The humor as I start to figure it out, and the dead look in his eye after I shot--

No.

I turn the water on cold, and it blasts the thoughts from my head, as well as a shiver across my body. Agitated, I give it up and turn the water off, looking as the water slowly goes down the drain, just like dad's blood when mama wrung out his hat on that fateful day.

Quit it!

I snap out of it, shaking myself.

God Starling, no wonder you can't go to sleep. Your mind won't shut off for anything.

I step out of the shower, dress, wring out my hair, and put it into a soggy bun. I glance at the clock and decide I have time for a run before work.

I grab my bag and keys, locking the door on the way out. Double-check that I lock it, and make my way down the stairs of my apartment. Looking to make sure I'm not being followed.

I walk out onto the street, the city already busy despite the early hour, and look back. I have to now. It still haunts me, although I'm not willing to admit it.

- - -

Hi there! I hope you're enjoying my book so far! This is based on The Silence of the Lambs movie, and it's like a sequel. There will be multiple perspectives that this is written through, but not so many that it gets confusing. What do you think so far? Feel free to chat with me in the comment box, or through DM!

Thanks!

xoxo, EK