Understanding A Killer

Freeze

Dr. Hannibal Lecter agreed to meet Will at the construction site. He looked down at his watch that showed 4:17PM. Will was exactly 2 minutes late.

Will's car finally pulled up, and he was thrilled to see the curly man whose eyes radiated innocence. An innocence that could so easily turn into something much more exciting. He saw infinite potential, extended to lenghts he'd never seen before. Since meeting Will Graham, Hannibal's days had become filled with excitement and intense longing he hadn't felt in a long time. Which side will he show him today, he wondered.

As Will got out, a smile crept on Hannibal's face, but beside him, there was another plaything. A pretty, innocent, young little thing walked beside Will as they were chattering. She changed, grew up, got prettier, and her eyes sparkled with unfamiliar purpose. Hannibal could never forget a face. Much less this girl's face. Could this day get any better for Hannibal?

As they drew closer, he could barely contain his excitement. "Hello, Will. And who may this young lady be?" -He extended his right hand to greet her

"Eliana Holt. I'm a trainee, and Mr. Graham is my mentor. Nice to meet you!" - She extended her hand back, being met with a cold touch.

"Hannibal Lecter. Should I introduce myself as Will's psychiatrist or an unpaid helper on this case?" - He smirked, glacing over to Will.

"Dr. Lecter has been a great help on this case. I have already briefed Eliana on our relationship." - Will explained. "She will be observing and learning today."

"As she should. We need new promising talents in dealing with these kinds of murders."

"Your words are flattering, Dr. Lecter. But don't speak so highly of me before I've gotten the chance to prove myself." - Eliana replied.

"I wish you luck, Miss Holt. If you should find yourself in a position where you need psychological help, my doors are wide open. Be aware of the consequences this job can bring."

"Oh, thank you. I will keep that in mind."

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Will looked through files, searching for a needle in a haystack. Only he understood what he was looking for and how he was going to find it. Eliana observed his focused expression with admiration, thinking just how great of a criminal profiler he was. She thought of herself highly in that aspect, but seeing Will Graham work up close made her realize how much she was lacking.

"Garett Jacob Hobbs. What can you tell me about him?" - Will asked the company's boss. "He would have a daughter, 18 or 19. Brown hair, pale skin. Plain, but pretty."

"I don't know much about my employee's personal lives." - She replied confusedly.

"What made you think it's him?" - Hannibal asked.

"He didn't write an adress on his resignation letter."

"That's... The only reason?" - Eliana couldn't hold back the amazement.

"Among other things, it sticks out." - Will was convinced and nobody in the room could even grasp the reason. "Let's go talk to Garett Jacob Hobbs."

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The car approached an isolated house surrounded by woods that gave off a serene feeling. Eliana imagined a happy family of three spending summer afternoons in the garden. Will got out of the car first, warning Eliana: "Stay behind me. Don't do anything rash."

Eliana nodded and followed, Hannibal being the last to get out. There was no proof that Hobbs was a killer. It should've been just a standard investigation.

As they neared the house, horrifying screams could be heard from the inside. They fastened their pace as a woman covered in blood ran off to the porch. Unbelievable horrors could be seen in her eyes as she fell down, desperately trying to press on her sliced artery. Blood gashed out, splashing their clothes and covering the floor.

Will kneeled down without a word, putting both hands on her neck in a desperate attempt to try stopping the bleeding. It was pointless, as the cut was too deep, and Mrs. Hobbs died on the spot. Eliana shook with fear but managed to call for reinforcements.

More screams were coming from inside the house, and they both decided quietly there was no saving Mrs. Hobbs, and they should instead focus on the daughter that was still breathing. Eliana stood behind Will, as he instructed, shakingly taking her gun from the holster. Hobbs held his daughter tight, a knife around her neck, as he wispered something to her ear. The girl pleaded to live." Please, please."

Hobbs had both Will's and Eliana's guns pointing to him, but the desire to kill his 'golden ticket' overpowered any desire to live. He wasn't gonna let her go. Eliana was a great shot, at the top of her class, and she now had almost a perfect shot at Hobbs. She could save this girl.

She gripped the trigger with sweaty hands, preparing to take her first kill. To kill a killer. Instead, she froze.

I can't do it.

Why can't I do it?

Please, just pull the trigger, Eliana!

Before she could, she heard shots coming from Will's gun instead, just as Hobbs slit his daughter's neck. Her ears echoed as the shots fired, so many of them she stopped counting. Will apparently wasn't a great shot, but it was more than that, it's like he couldn't stop. Hobbs fell to the ground, looked straight at Will, muttering the word "See?"

Will shook as he tried to save the pale girl. She bled so quickly it seemed as if she didn't have any blood left in her small body. Eliana's ears still rang and it was hard to process the sight in front of her. She fell on her knees beside Will, taking her jacket off so she could stop the bleeding more efficiently. That's when Dr. Lecter finally appeared and took the matter in his hands. Thank God, he is a medical doctor, Eliana thought.

Will looked at his bloodied hands, his whole body shaking violently. He couldn't process the thought of having just killed someone. Was it guilt, fear, or something entirely different? A completely new feeling awoke in Will's heart, and Eliana felt it intensely as if it was her own feeling. Sometimes she wished she didn't have this talent. As the severity of the situation sunk in, she could only blame herself.

I did something bad.

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Author's note: So it's a slow start. We are finally getting to the real plot.