Rose part 1

Clarice Starling stirred in her sleep. What happened? Oh no, did I get caught? I don’t think so. It must be this damned cold. She slowly opened her eyes, letting them adjust to the dark room she was now in. There was a small table lamp to the left of her. She rose slowly, still feeling a tad bit light-headed. She approached the little table, there was a small card-like slip of paper and a beautiful bouquet of red and white roses. She picked up the card, it had a nice sent to it she noted. She read,

I hope the medicine I have given you is taking its course and working properly. I advise you to take a bath and change into more suitable clothing, that is, when your feeling up to it. Do you like the flowers? I thought they added a nice touch to your flushed cheeks. Your very beautiful when you sleep, Clarice. Because you are not feeling well, I being the doctor, will be taking care of you. As long as time will permit me too.
Hannibal Lecter

She did what the letter instructed her to do, of course. While she lie in the bath, she thought about Lecter. It would be the first time she had seen him since his escape from Baltimore. Even though she had established he wouldn’t kill her, she couldn’t help but wonder what he had in store for her. She got out of her bath and walked over to the dresser. She realized that she was still in the abandoned house, which was a slight relief on her part, though she still had no idea what was about to happen. She opened one of the doors to the dresser. The only things in it were a few dresses, of course. She picked out a strapless dress. It was long and had a little train dragging in the back. There was a diamond shaped cut out at the breast plate, and it was a dark navy blue colored dress. It felt silky smooth on her skin. She hadn’t even realized it but, she was feeling a lot better. Her head felt slightly heavy, but she wasn’t coughing or in any pain.

She opened the wooden door, being sure not to make too much noise. She peered over the stairs. There sat Dr. Lecter in an armchair situated in the middle of what appeared to be a living room. “Good Evening, Clarice.” How had he noticed her? She didn’t really think about it to long, for she was already making her way down the stairs towards him.

He had placed a chair next to his for Starling to sit. She gracefully walked past him and sat in the chair. “Are you feeling better?” She could tell by the tone of his voice he already knew the answer to the question. “Yes.” She wouldn’t make eye contact with him. Too many thoughts were spinning around in her head. Lecter realized she was consumed in thought. “Clarice, that dress is a wonderful choice. It suits you well.” She looked up. His voice bringing her back to reality, their eyes finally meeting.

Starling felt her face getting hot. She couldn’t figure out why, she was feeling better so it couldn’t have been the fever. Lecter moved closer to her. Placing his hands on either sides of her cheeks. “You’re the true essence of a rose, Clarice.” He smiled, a thing that may frighten others. Much to Starling’s surprise he stood up and walked off to another room. Why didn’t he kiss me? All of the thoughts she tried so desperately to get out of her head came flooding back in. She stood, looking in the direction he had walked off in. She sped her pace up as she walked down a long hallway. Her train dragging ever so lightly behind her as she listened to her heels click on the wood floor. She came into a room with a large glass window. “Dr. Lecter I-“ she paused. What exactly was she doing? She had no idea herself, but decided she had came to far to back down now. He turned his attention away from the window to look at her. She could feel his eyes wandering all over her. Her face felt hot again. Lecter extended one of his hands out to her. Starling grasped it and let him guide her over to the window. He was very close to her, she could feel his breath on her neck, sending chills all over her body. His right hand was lightly placed on her right shoulder, while he held her left hand in his left. “Isn’t it beautiful?” He purred into her ear. She looked out the large window. The entire house was surrounded by rose bushes. Her mouth dropped. They were the exact roses she had found placed in her room not to long ago. But that would mean…. Starling realized something. Lecter had to have picked the roses himself. The very idea of his hands bleeding or being hurt from thorns tore her heart apart. She could never understand why, but from the first day she had met him, every time he was treated indifferently it broke her heart. She knew he felt the same towards her because of the way he acted towards Miggs.

She turned her face from the window to look at his. For a mere second their eyes made contact, but Clarice took her gaze away from his eyes and placed her attention on his hands. They were badly beaten and slightly red from the blood stains. A single tear rolled down her cheek. She took his hands into her own and kissed them. “Dr. Lecter….You didn’t have to-“ he put a finger up to her lips. “Dear Clarice, I am the thorns that protect the beautiful rose from harm. It was my pleasure.” He smiled again. Her heart melted away. He was smiling at her, no one else, but her. More tears filled her eyes. She had never been loved by anyone other then family. Lecter let out a little chuckle. “Well, if your crying it would seem that I am failing my job.” He cupped her cheek and kissed her. The warmth of his lips on hers was like nothing she could have imagined.

This is the story of the thorn and the rose.