The Eyes of a Lamb

The Lambs

Clarice stood shivering along with the girls, her body temperature dropping rapidly as she tried to give all her warmth to Jessica and Sage. They stood in the middle of the pit, knowing that if they sat they would just get colder.

"What happens now?" Jessica said looking up to Clarice.

"I'm thinking" Clarice said " You still believe I'll get us out of here?"

"Yes" Sage said quietly.

"Yes" Jessica said.

Blind faith. That's what was going on here. The knowing that there was no way to get out, and their only hope was latched on tight to Clarice. If she didn't get them out, they were dead. Clarice tried to go over to the stone wall, tried to see if there was some way to climb out. The stones were slick as her hands tried to hoist on, and she slipped several times. Exhausted she sloshed over to the girls and took a few breaths to steady herself.

Then she heard it. The shots of gunfire above her.

Clarice quickly looked up and heard rapid moving above her, hearing the footsteps and the cry of Will for her name.

"I'M HERE!" Clarice shrieked as the girls came close to her "WILL! WE ARE DOWN HERE!"

But she wasn't heard as the movements because sparse and suddenly she didn't hear anything anymore.

"Oh god" Clarice whispered "Will..."

The sounding of the door opening almost stopped Clarice's heart and then the soft sound of "Clarice" came from above.

"Hannibal" Clarice called out and she saw his head move over the edge above her.

"Are you alright?" Hannibal asked.

"We need to get out" Clarice said "I can't keep them warm for much longer."

"Let me get the rope" Hannibal said and quickly disappeared.

Clarice could feel her heart stabilizing, knowing they were saved. A rope was strung up over a pulley and dropped down for Clarice to catch.

"Let the girls go first" Clarice said tying the rope firmly around Jessica and Sage.

"Ready?" Hannibal called out.

"Tell him you are ready" Clarice said smiling at the two.

"Ready!" Jessica called out as the rope began pulling upwards. Clarice felt ecstasy roll through her as she saw the girls hoisted to safety, knowing Hannibal would protect them.

"I am going to lead the girls upstairs to Will" Hannibal called out as the girls poked their heads over the pit.

"Where's Jame?" Clarice asked.

"He disappeared out back" Hannibal said reassuringly "The FBI is on their way."

"Just keep them safe" Clarice said.

"I promise" Hannibal said and lead the girls upstairs. Clarice waited patiently, hearing Will's voice calmly speak to Hannibal and the moving of feet above her.

Then Hannibal returned, his eyes making sure Clarice was still where he left her.

"Are you ready Ms. Starling?" Hannibal said lowering the rope.

"More than you can imagine" Clarice said grabbing the rope and looping it around her as she held on tight. She heard Hannibal's grunts as he lifted her up, the light above her coming closer the more she ascended upwards.

And then finally, Hannibal came into view, his eyes intense as the rope was firmly in his hands. But there was someone behind Hannibal, and Clarice screamed out before the piece of wood went flying into Hannibal's skull.

Clarice felt the rope slip and her body start to fall, her hands desperately reaching out and grabbing the side of the pit before the rope went hurdling down to the bottom. Her arms struggled to pull up, the pounds of struggling above her as she heard Hannibal's muffled cry for her.

She clawed her way up, her arm firmly over the edge of the pit as she pulled up to see Jame and Hannibal struggling on the ground, Jame's hand reaching out desperately for the gun that lay stranded on the floor while he kept a knife firmly near Hannibal's throat as Hannibal held the blade in his hands. Hannibal saw Clarice climb out of the pit, and for a moment his guard was down, the relief washing over him like water before a punch knocked him back.

"Hannibal!" Clarice screamed as she scrambled down onto the safety of the floor before hurrying over and grabbing the gun.

"Get off of him!" Clarice shrieked at Jame. Hannibal maneuvered out of Jame's grasp a slit of the knife grazing his cheek before he came beside Clarice, her arm and gun directly pointed at Jame's chest.

"It always had to be you Clary" Jame said with desperation "Always."

"Clarice do not listen to him" Hannibal said "Let's take him upstairs and make sure he never hurts another person again."

"I am making sure" Clarice said as tears came to her eyes "I'm going to make sure he never sees the light of day again, just like he told me down there. I'm going to make sure he knows what it's like to beg for your life."

"Go ahead then Clary" Jame said "Take me in. I'll be in luxury while you'll still be nothing but a cheap whore in-"

"STOP CALLING ME CLARY!" Clarice screamed as tears went down her eyes "You are not my father! You killed him remember!"

Jame stopped and looked at Clarice, seeing her as she was for the first time, a woman, a fire walking woman who had come out of hell without a scratch.

"And now I'm going to end this" Clarice said.

"Put it down Clarice" Hannibal said "Do not let him make you into the monster he is" as his hand reached over to hers on the gun, lowering it down.

Clarice felt her arm weaken, her body shaking as her eyes remained on Jame. Then Jame whipped the knife in his hand and threw it at Hannibal.

"NO!" Clarice screamed out as she poured gunfire into Jame, his body dropping like lead. The knife had missed Hannibal though, merely cutting through his arm as Clarice whipped around ready to catch him.

"I'm alright" he said catching Clarice in his arms "I'm alright Clarice."

Clarice started to cry, holding on to Hannibal tightly as she sobbed into his chest "Is he dead?" she said.

"Yes" Hannibal said holding her "Jame Gumb can harm no one else."

"Then it's over" Clarice sighed "It's over."