The Blood-stained Deer

Chapter 15: To hide a body and the aftermath

For a while nothing could be heard. Abigail and I looked to each other and she knelt down by me, getting blood all over her hands. I panicked, and she calmed me down as much as she could, advising me to go wash my hands. I did as I was told and came back. I didn't know what else to do, as I still had blood everywhere else except my hands. I went in search of Hannibal. He seemed he would understand...hopefully. I walked up the stairs and heard a commotion. Just as I was coming up the stairs, I heard my name being called by Alana. I gulped, but as I looked up I caught Hannibal's eyes. He could see my desperate plea for help. A moment later, when I reached the top of the stairs, Alana was unconscious, and Hannibal was kneeling over her. "show me what happened." He said. I gulped and nodded. Once we were downstairs another silence came down. "I was in the bathroom and...and." I started.

"He was attacking me, and she fought him off of me. He had the knife and was about to stab her when she stabbed him..." Abigail finished. Hannibal looked over at Abigail and me and seemed to get the picture. I sighed. "What do I do?" I asked, more to myself as I buried my face in my hands. "If you do nothing, they will see this, and pin you and Abigail to your father's crimes. And say you helped him." Hannibal explained which made my heart race even more than it already was. "Or...I can help you, if you ask me to. To great risk to my career and my life. You have a choice." He said. But he knew what I would choose. I would ask for his help. "You can tell them you were defending yourself when you killed this man, or we can hide the body." And that is what we did. After hiding the body, Hannibal drove me and Abigail to the hotel.

There, I did not have a great sleep, but, Hannibal did coddle me until I fell asleep. I have to admit the comfort was well appreciated. The next morning, I was woken up by Abigail gently, alerting me to the fact we were heading back to Baltimore. I instantly packed and readied myself for traveling.