The Other One | Hannigram |

Chapter 5

 
Holding the dark coat with one arm, Hannibal extended his other free hand for Will to shake. His smug grin remained on his face. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Graham,” his hoarse voice lulled the omega. 
 
A gentleman, Will thought. He took the rougher hand in his, his eyes never swaying eye contact with the alpha. “Will is just fine,” he settled, taking back his hand as soon as possible. 
 
“Dr. Lecter is a psychiatrist.” Jack affirmed, expecting to receive a sour faced Will. 
 
Will didn’t care for therapy and those involved with it such as psychiatrists and therapists. Those people would always be academically curious about his empathy. He was thankful Alana wasn’t that type. He was unsure if the alpha was. 
 
He hoped not. 
 
Once introductions were made, Jack grabbed a file from his desk while Will directed his attention towards the board full of pictures. Jack stated he was able to keep the crime scene as is until they had to remove one of the victims who was alive until the drive to the hospital.
 
As usual, Will didn’t shudder. Jack mentioned there were nine graves for nine people. Fungi was planted on top of all the victims. There were catheters and air tubes suspended in nearby trees found on the crime scene. Everything was as is. The objects found there were used by the psychopath. 
 
Pictures had been snapped and uploaded on TattleCrime.com thanks to infamous tabloid blogger Freddie Lounds. Jack was familiar with the bothersome woman tainting crime scenes and exposing whatever she could on her website. Clearly, Freddie was getting information she wasn’t supposed to get.
 
“Were there any restraints?” Will questioned, eyeballing the photos of each victim.
 
“Just dirt.” Jack confirmed, skimming through the file in his hand. “I was hoping to go visit the crime scene.” 
 
My imagination, Will thought bitterly. He felt his heart stop when he wondered if Hannibal had been made aware of his pure empathy. 
 
“I was thinking that Hannibal and you would head to the crime scene.” Jack began collectedly. He looked up from the file he held. “I must attend court today. I was thinking you’d check out the crime scene and head downstairs to inspect the bodies with the others.” 
 
Jack turned his direction to Hannibal, who had taken a seat and was from time-to-time eyeing Will discreetly. “Hopefully that’s fine with you, doctor?” 
 
“I would be delighted to follow along.” Hannibal answered, sending a smile to Will. 
 
Will couldn’t ignore the friendly maroon eyes staring at him. It seemed like the alpha and he were going to get to know each other.

~ Hannigram ~

Will was the one to volunteer to drive even though Hannibal offered. Will felt more comfortable being in his vehicle and being behind the wheel. The last unmated alpha he knew was quick to settle his heat even though they were complete strangers. 
 
He felt the need to be completely silent during the drive. Jack gave him the address of the location where the crime scene was. It was near Baltimore, so it wasn’t too far. The idea of others watching him use his empathy never sat well with him, but it felt different with Hannibal. 
 
Will didn’t love his ability to sympathize with anyone, but he tolerated it. He knew others would stare and think what they wanted. It was strange, but Will had the feeling that he didn’t want Hannibal to see. As if his opinion of him would ruin him. Why would it though? Why would he care so much about Hannibal’s opinion? 
 
Because he’s different, Hannibal is important. 
 
The voice went off in his head again. It was the omega in him speaking actively this time around now that there was an unmated alpha in their presence. Yet, Will thought it was weird. 
 
Even before when he thought Garret wasn’t so bad, his omega wasn’t begging to mate with the alpha. The one time his omega spoke up was during the heat Garret fulfilled. Afterwards, all the attention was on Abigail and making sure she was safe.
 
“May we address the elephant in the room?” Hannibal’s silky voice cutting through the silence like a knife through butter. The car stopped.
 
Will gulped. “There’s nothing to address when we’re both well aware of the obvious...to us.” 
 
Hannibal’s smug look came back to his face as he stared forward. “You were also hunting the customer service representative.” 
 
Will hadn’t known the woman to the full extent like how Hannibal did. He debated whether to ask about that further, but he kept his mouth shut instead. He didn’t know how to carry on with their conversation. 
 
They were here already at the crime scene location and staying in the car conversing would just be wasting time. He didn’t even know the reason why Hannibal was asked for by Jack. He had been meaning to ask that, but he didn’t want to appear rude. He was just frazzled. If anything, Hannibal’s charming personality was to be liked. 
 
Will opened the door and closed it within seconds as he walked towards the direction where he could see the yellow caution tape. Jack told him the only thing they had removed was the bodies, catheters, and air tubes. It was fine, he had seen the pictures and his imagination was beyond vivid. 
 
Whether he turned to see if Hannibal had followed or not, it didn’t matter. The alpha scent in the air told him enough. 
 
Within seconds, he was crossing the yellow tap and in front of nine shallow graves. Little yellow flags with numbers marked each grave. Will was grateful Hannibal hadn’t made noise, others would since they didn’t understand how he did this. 
 
Will inhaled and exhaled. He closed his eyes shut. 
 
The pendulum swung back and forth. Back and forth. Back and forth. Back and forth. Back and forth. And then it stopped. 
 
Will looked down at the empty grave and then all of sudden one of the male victims, unconscious and pale skinned, was in the grave. Unbeknownst to the man, he would never be conscious again. Will took a shovel nearby and began shoveling nearby dirt onto the man.
 
The man would never know he was dying. Will doesn’t need him to know.  
 
After successfully burying the man in the dirt, Will placed the air tube in his mouth and taped it. Right after, he lifted the man’s left arm from the dirt and applied the catheter. 
 
“This is my design.”
 
Will’s eyes opened and he exhaled heavily. Quickly, he remembered all the mornings Abigail woke up Christmas morning. Unlike some other children, she didn’t jump or shout, she was soft spoken and gently shook him awake. 
 
“Will?” The omega wendigo felt calm by Hannibal’s voice. His recent hostilities he had with the alpha banished into thin air. 
 
Will wheeled around to face Hannibal who was dressed in his dark coat instead of holding it. The alpha’s scent relaxed him too. His eyes met Hannibal’s, their long stare lasting for longer than a few seconds. 
 
“Why is your presence soothing?” Will murmured aloud, too intoxicated by the alpha scent emanating from Hannibal to focus. 
 
Hannibal didn’t hide his grin from the omega. He felt the urge to touch Will, but he felt the affectionate touch wouldn’t be welcomed. He refrained his urge from doing so. 
 
“Why don’t we head back to the car?” Hannibal coaxed the omega wendigo, raising his arm for Will to take. He was relieved when Will placed his arm around Hannibal’s, allowing himself to be led by the alpha. 
 
Unfortunately, the two were too deep into their moment to focus on the sound of a camera clicking.