• The Man in The Cage •

Chapter 11

   I was getting way too lightheaded. And yes, I did pass out from the blood loss. Last thing I remembered was Hannibal carrying me through the exhibits, probably to escape through a back entrance I wasn't able to find in time.

  Drops of my blood left a trail, I was afraid people would think of me dead and not search for me. Hannibal was smart enough to do something like that. So if he did it would come to no surprise for anyone.

  When I awoke I was greeted by darkness. I was blindfolded. Wait... nevermind, it was one of those eye masks for sleeping. I pulled it off and was greeted by an exquisite room. I took a quick scan of the area, finding myself looking at Lecter, who sat in a chair in a corner of the fine room.

He did not startle me, after being kidnapped I don't think being startled from his presence outside of those bars could be possible anymore. I glared at him, wondering what would happen next. Death? Torture? Something sick and twisted?

"Do I really have to be the third of your kills?" I included the guard that was stationed near his cage and the impaled one.

"What compels you to think I'll kill you yet?" His calm demeanor was unsettling.

"The very fact that you said yet leads me to believe that my end is near."

"You are not someone I'm after at the moment," he stood up, "after I finish off with them your fate will be decided."

"So it's simply a matter of waiting," my head dropped, I assumed this would happen as soon as Hannibal had me in his possession. There was no escaping this.

Hannibal walked to the side of the bed, where I was nearest, and used his hand to push my chin up. This way I had to look at him.

"You have a purpose here," he started, "I can assure you."

My fearful eyes looked into ones that could be calming like the sea, under different circumstances.

"And what purpose do I serve?" I glared at him once again, "am I some toy to torture when bored? A lure?"

"Far from that, my dear," he grinned, "I need an accomplice for where I'm going. Something to take the attention off of me."

"You want me to pretend to be your wife or something..." It was a statement, I need not ask for what I was to become. For I already knew.

"Clever girl," he said before giving me a peck
on my head.

   He let go of me and I let my head drop once again.

"How are your ankles feeling?"

I had almost forgotten about them. I looked down at my ankles to find them individually bandaged. I could feel the pain slowly returning, but not as bad as it was when it first happened.

"Better..." I grazed my hand over them, I could see blood had already began to surface and stain.

I must've touched a deep cut because I flinched in pain. This better heal quickly.

"Weren't there other ways of kidnapping someone without making it difficult for them to move?" I asked.

"If I had done it any other way you would have ran," he stated, "this way you'll be unable to run until it is time for us to leave. I was also curious as to how that invention worked."

"And where are you taking me?"