House and Hall [located: USA]

[Hannibal Casry]

He smiled slightly as her hands gently pushed his long, now messy hair out of his face. The light flickered a bit and lit the room. It was very dim, but at least he could now see Kate, one of the most gorgeous girls ever. He could swear that light was timed. Just when he needed it to the thing dimmed out and left them in blackness. Just as the two of them calmed down it flickered back on just enough so they could see who they were looking at. Hannibal's eyes wandered slightly as he thought about the scars that could now be seen on his body.

He looked at her gorgeous features with his deep brown eyes and gently stroked her face with his hand. "You're so beautiful." he said with a small smile. His breathing was almost back to normal so he could speak much clearer now. He wasn't taking in short choppy breaths anymore which was always a good thing.

[Kate Payne]

Kate watched him, she said nothing. She just watched him, following his eyes as they wandered then her eyes fell to his chest seeing his deep scars. Nothing she showed would have told him anything. Kate reframed from asking the question he most likely heard a lot, what happened. Kate looked back up to him eyes and gave him a sweet smile then gave him a kiss… reaching with her other hand resting it at the base of his neck while the other one clung to his face.

Kate had seen the look on Hannibal’s face when she saw his chest. Kate said in a soft and gentle tone Your still beautiful to me.

[Hannibal Casry]

A very faint smile crossed his features as she smiled sweetly and kissed him. One hand remained on his face while the other was settled at the base of his neck. She said nothing as her eyes followed his and she saw some of the scars that she had felt earlier. That surprised him that she didn't ask what happened because everyone that had ever seen them asked right off the bat. It was usually the first thing out of their mouths, and yet she could look at him at still call him beautiful. "That's amazing Kate. You're one of the only people that can look at me and say that." he said quietly, his eyes falling away from her face as he spoke. Even he thought he looked horrible and gross. The scars were real, unforgettable times that he'd suffered greatly. He'd never felt the same since he was first cut. Never has he felt the same as he used to and he didn't think he ever would. As much as he cleaned himself, as many compliments as he got, nothing would change it back again.

[Kate Payne]

Kate moved her hand to make him look at her. She was unsure of that to say but her eyes would try to reassure him Don’t look away. I will never ask that question I am very sure you’ve heard many times. Those people are just scared to look deeper than skin and scars. Kate gave him a soft smile then she stroked her fingers through his hair.

Kate pulled the blanket over herself offering Hannibal it too, then she rested her head on Hannibal’s shoulder and closed her eyes as if to sleep for a moment.

[Hannibal Casry]

Her hand was gentle, but forceful enough to make Hannibal return his eyes to her instead letting them fall away from her features, as he usually did. He looked at her for a minute before his eyes wandered away again. He listened to her words but still diverted his eyes. That was probably true, but it still didn't change anything for him. Hannibal was one extreme to another. He was either in a very optimistic mood, thinking the world around him was great... Or he was very pessimistic and self-conscious like he was now.

He took the edge of the blanket as she offered it too him and pulled it over himself. A soft sigh escaped his lungs as she leaned her head onto his shoulder and closed her eyes. He gently ran his fingers through her hair and kissed her softly before looking away from her and up at the ceiling. He didn't move so he didn't disturb her. He was comfortable anyway, moving would change that. He swallowed a bit as he looked up and was just quiet. He didn't say anything to her.

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The night had been great, and he'd slept through the night a dreamless sleep. He woke up only an hour after falling asleep and once again laid there awake. He looked around him, not having forgotten where he was and who he was with. He remembered that clearly, but still he'd woken for some reason and just lay their quietly once more. He watched Kate as she sleepy, hoping his sudden wake hadn't disturbed her. He'd kind of woken with a start.

[Kate Payne]

Kate’s eyes remained closed but they flicked quickly under her eye lids.
Kate was half awake but was good at hiding it, motionless Kate listened to his heart beating against his chest and his lungs inhale and exhale. Kate waited until she was very sure that Hannibal had gone back to sleep which was a good amount of time, then kate opened her eyes. Very slowly Kate got up and got dressed checking every few minutes to make sure Hannibal still slept. Kate tip toed over the old desk and grabbed a pen and a peace of paper. Kate started to write as quietly as she could still checking to make sure Hannibal was a sleep.

Dear Hannibal,

By the time you read this I will be half way to where I am going. I know that leaving you while you slept was wrong but if I did not I you would not have let me go. This is something that I have to do. I prey it will not take to long, but If it take longer then expected I swear to you I will come back. If you want you can stay here at the mansion you can; as long as you want. I’ll keep in contact, please wait for me to return.

- Kate

P.S. please forgive me.


Kate quietly walked over the stand next to the bed Kate looked down making sure Hannibal was still sleeping… he was. Kate laid the note gently on the stand laying a peace of type along the top of the note to make sure it did not fall off. Kate slowly tip toed her way over the door Kate slowly turned the door handle opening the door. Kate stepped out and closed it softly, Kate ran down the stairs and back into the back hallway leading to the limo barn. The driver was sitting on the hood of the car.

Take me to the airport now! Kate hissed getting into the car. The driver jumped in and pulled off onto the drive way heading for the airport.

Kate’s eyes looked out the window the whole way there and the whole time her mind kept returning to Hannibal and no matter how much Kate tried she could not push it out of her head.

-20 minutes later-
The limo pulled up to the airport Go back home Kate said getting out and running up to the doors stepping into the building Kate was on her way.

-15 minutes after the airport-
Kate looked back at the glass doors at the front of the airport as if saying goodbye in case she took longer than she wanted. But after a few minutes of standing there Kate turned around and walked onto the plane.

Kate was comfortably sat in a first class seat as the plane took off flying toward the run way… toward Europe…

--

-one week later-

Dear Hannibal,

I can not tell you were I am but I can tell you that I am doing fine. I prey to god that you have forgiven me. I still have not found what I am looking for, sorry I can’t tell you what it is I am looking for either. God I can not explain in words how much I want to hear from you but I can not send an address in fear that you will come for me before I can leave. I am truly sorry if I hurt you, and if you are wondering about what happened the day I left. I did not use you I swear on everything I have. I do not even know if you are ok, were your at or even if you got this. I know this might not do any good but please do not worry about me. Image me in front of you giving you a kiss right now… because I send a kiss just for you with this letter.

- Kate

[Hannibal Casry]

Hannibal didn't stir as she moved away from him. He'd finally fallen into a deeper sleep and he didn't hear her move about the room. His breaths were soft and easy as he lay still for a long while, before turning slightly and wrapping the blankets more around himself. He slept soundly for the rest of the eight hours that his body commanded sleep.

He woke up to find that he was alone. He looked around kind of sadly and seen that Kate's clothes were gone as well. Why didn't she wake him up? She didn't have to let him sleep. He would have been fine. He sat there for a moment, very confused about this whole situation, until he saw the note taped to the stand at the end of the bed. He reached out for it hesitantly and pulled it off. Not this again... he thought, but as his eyes read the note his heart wrenched. He didn't know what she meant when she mentioned that she had something to do, but wouldn't tell him what. He leaned up against the wall, looking at the note. He read it three or four times before he just kind of tossed it away. He didn't like feeling alone and confused and he was definitely feeling that right now. He sighed heavily and looked at the note as it landed on the floor by his jeans. He glared at it, as if he could make it disappear and bring Kate back... but nothing happened. He was still alone and horribly confused.

He got up and pulled his boxers on. A chill ran up his spine as he pulled his jeans on. He wasn't going to stay here in the mansion. No way. Not after being deserted here. He picked the note up and as much as he hated to see it, read it again. He didn't understand and there were no clues in it to help him understand. He pulled his shirt on over his torso and pulled his boots on. He folded the note two times and shoved it in his back pocket. He walked out of the room and down the stairs where he was greeted by one of the butlers. He pushed past him and just held up his hand as the man offered him a ride home. He walked out the front door, closing it behind him. His hands came up to his head and he just walked. He'd figure out his way home eventually...

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He didn't receive her next note she sent him for none of the butlers or maids in the house knew where Hannibal lived... or where he was even at. None of them knew the bar where he'd met Kate and he hadn't given any records to the people at the hospital when he'd gotten Kate there. It was like he was a ghost now.

Finally one of the butlers saw him in a coffee shop one morning and gave him the note. They said it was from Kate and he just let it sit on the table top, just looking at it. His head rested on the top of his coffee and he picked it up in his hand and walked out, carrying the coffee in one hand and the note in the other. He didn't know if he wanted to read it or not. He knew it would say that she wasn't home yet, and that she couldn't tell him where she was because she didn't want him to follow her. It bothered him that he didn't know where she had gone. She just picked up and left without a formal goodbye. Yes he understood her reasons for leaving the way she did, but it hurt. It was like she stabbed him. He decided then that he wasn't going to read the note. He'd keep it, but he wasn't going to read it.

He shoved it in his back pocket and got on his bike. The lime green Kawasaki roared as he put the key in the ignition and just road it down the street. He didn't look at anything or anyone beside the street. He went back to Kate's house. He parked his bike and walked up to the driver as he walked down the drive way. Hannibal grabbed him by the shirt and told the man to tell him where Kate was, but he said he didn't know. Hannibal pushed him away and walked into the house. He told all of them to tell him if they knew anything and it was silent.

[Kate Payne]

For another two long weeks no letters were sent to Hannibal and Kate had not found what she was looking for yet.

Each day Kate though of Hannibal, and of how much she missed him.

After another four days Kate finally sent a letter to Hannibal.

Dear Hannibal,

I am truly sorry I have not written you in almost three weeks. I’m afraid that a month has passed and I only found out that my parents weren’t just killed they were murdered while their hotel was being robbed. That’s all that I have found out so far. The nights here are cold and empty. I miss your eyes and your smile. When thing do not go my way I sit down and think of you. I miss your voice but I am still sorry to tell you that I can not send anything that will help you find me. Like I said in my last letter to you; I do not know if this will reassure you that I’m fine and please do not worry about me.

- Kate

P.S. I’m sending another kiss in this letter to you.

[Hannibal Casry]

His eyes scanned over the second letters he'd received. Yeah he said he wasn't going to read it, but that didn't mean anything when he was worried. He didn't know where she was and he hadn't gotten a letter in a long time. He didn't know if something had happened to her or what, but he worried. Yes, he was angry, but that was only the mask that covered his fears. He used anger to seem like he wasn't afraid, but on the inside he felt hollow and terrified. Hannibal's history was hell and his mind was too creative for his own good. He kept thinking of all the things that could have happened to her since she wrote this letter.

He got the third letter after a very long wait and nearly burst into tears as he read it. He felt so happy to know that she was still alive. The horrors that he'd created could be put to rest finally. He was also saddened because she wasn't coming home yet. she wrote how much of him she missed and his heart ached as he read the letter. He missed her so much. He missed everything about her and wished she'd come back so he could hold her in his arms once more. He longed to feel her holding onto him and to hear her voice tell him how much she missed him and that she'd never do anything like this again.

He laid the letter down next to the other two and hid his face in his arms as tears fell from his dark brown eyes. He missed her so much that his heart literally ached. Pain burned through him as he wished he could find her. the most he knew now was that she was over in Europe where her parents were killed.
He'd been in her house for all this time now and the longer he stayed the emptier his heart felt. It wasn't the same here without her. He got lost to easily and couldn't sleep knowing she was all the way in Europe, not knowing when she'd return. He lay awake for long hours, sometimes going one or two days without sleeping. Heavy black circles showed themselves on his pale features and he wasn't as happy as he usually was. his heart felt empty.

[Kate Payne]

For another month and a half no letters were again sent.
Kate found the people she was looking for. Her rage was too much and she killed them.
After a week of pondering over weather to tell Hannibal what she did Kate finally sent the last letter to him.

Dear Hannibal,

I know you are probably pissed off at me for not writing in almost two month. I am writing you to let you know that I am coming back. I found what I needed to and I got my revenge.

- Kate

--

-six days later –

As the plane landed and unloaded Kate walked off the plane with nothing in her hands. A cab was waiting outside for her.

Kate walked outside and got into the cab giving him the address to her house.

-30 minutes later –

As the cab pulled up the drive way and stopped at the door Kate stepped out of the car, paid the driver then walked into the house, half expecting to be yelled at.

[Hannibal Casry]

Hannibal was almost just as much of a ghost as Kate was. He wasn't in the house that often, nor did he hit the party scene like he usually did. He just kind of slipped between the cracks and vanished from thin air. He got the call from Ruben that another letter had been received and he rode his bike over to read it. The letter said she was coming home. Hannibal was overwhelmed with joy and couldn't believe what he'd read. It scared him a bit that she said she'd gotten her revenge... That's what the other part of Kate meant when she said she didn't want him to worry then... He shuddered slightly and lingered around the house for a few days. Waiting for her arrival.

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He was staring at her through a window from the living room as he watched the cab pull up. She got out of the car and still, he watched her in silence. No emotion changed on his face as he just sat there quietly, looking at her with his deep brown eyes. His face was pale, and the dark circles were easily seen around his eyes from a serious lack of sleep. He watched as she neared the house and came into the door. He beat Ruben to the door and opened it, not letting her in for a second as he just glared at her. "You know how I felt when you left me like that? I was devastated. You said in your letters that you couldn't tell me where you were at and each time you wrote a letter the time got longer and longer before I heard from you. Do you know how that felt? I thought you died over there Kate! Someone could have killed you because you were looking into a murder! Kate you could have gotten hurt and I would have never heard from you again!! Every morning I hoped to god that you were on your way home, but I never got a letter... I couldn't write back to you and tell you how much I missed you. I felt empty Kate... There was nothing that I could do to take my mind off of you. There were tons of night that I didn't even sleep because I couldn't sleep because I was thinking of you. Don't ever do that to me again..." he said. His voice was angry but his eyes told her another story. His eyes held great fear and sadness as he spoke his feelings. His mask of anger was only used to hide his fears once more. He hugged her tightly, never wanting to let go as he cried into her shoulder. He'd been a wreck not knowing where she was and what she was doing. He practically fell apart as he cried on her shoulder.

[Kate Payne]

Kate watched him almost like she was a shell and then Hannibal wrapped her in his arms and cried into her shoulder. Kate held him as they stood there in the door way. Tears filled Kate’s eyes as she realized what she did to him. Kate kissed the side of his face as her own tears flooded her face. I’m sorry… Kate’s words faded. Hannibal was right, but now Kate had a very dark secret that she did not want him to know in fear that it would drive him away. Kate had lost weight during her time away.

Kate lifted Hannibal’s chin to make him look at her. When he did Kate wiped his tears way with her thumb. Please do not cry. Kate’s voice would have told anyone that she did something down right evil and was trying to hide it.

[Hannibal Casry]

Hannibal looked at her rather reluctantly as she used her hand to make him look at her. His eyes were soft as they looked at her but were glossy from crying. She wiped his tears away as he had done for her the few times she's cried on him. Her voice was soft, but it wasn't the same. "What did you do Kate?" he asked quietly as he turned away from her and pulled the letters from his pocket. "What did you do?" he asked again as he looked at her. His eyes still held a loving look to them, letting her knew he could never hate her, butt hey were disappointed as he looked at her. She looked thinner too now that she was back, or maybe it had just been a while since he'd seen her... He knew he was glad that she hadn't gained weight from their little night of passion... Hannibal looked at her with a firm gaze as he waited for an answer.

He didn't get one finally and he pulled the last letter he'd received from the stack. He held it in his hands as he read it allowed.

Dear Hannibal,

I know you are probably pissed off at me for not writing in almost two months. I am writing you to let you know that I am coming back. I found what I needed to and I got my revenge.


- Kate

He looked back up to her then, still with his disappointed eyes. "What did you do?" he asked firmly one more time and waited patiently for an answer. He could think of what she did with that over creative imagination he had, but he wanted her to say it. He wanted her to tell him what she did when she was over in Europe. Sadly, he was expecting her to lie to him. He was expecting her to make up some lie to try and get him off her case... He hoped in the deepest part of his heart that she wouldn't lie to him, but she was different again. She had changed when she went over there and now there was something different about her.

[Kate Payne]

Kate watched him for a few minutes then reluctantly she spoke it was three males. Two were 26 years old and the third male was 16 years… one of the 26 year olds raped my mother then beat her to death while my father was helplessly shot and killed with his own gun by the 16 year old kid. I hunted them down. When I cot them I stabbed the 16 year old in the lungs twice and let his lungs fill with his own blood. I tied up both of the older men. I cut the one’s wrist and let him bleed to death. Then I ripped out the remaining male’s throat… Kate watched Hannibal with a emotionless face as his turned into a scared paler look as she gave him the details. still want to know? Kate asked blankly. Kate knew that Hannibal would be terrified of her from then on. A hint of that dark shadow still lurked in her eyes.

[Hannibal Casry]

He blinked a few times as she finished speaking. That had most definitely been either the most truthful bundle of statements he'd ever heard in his entire life.... Or a sick and twisted lie that made him worry about who this girl was the he'd slept with all that time ago. The darkness lurked in her eyes again and he was quiet for a moment. He forced his eyes to fall away from her then as he set her note back on the table. He shuddered slightly, thinking about what she'd said that she had done to those men... The thought of what they had done to her mother haunted him as well...

Hannibal didn't look back up at Kate as he set himself on the couch. A slightly uneasy laugh escaped his vocals as the silence surrounded him. "I honestly wasn't expecting the truth from you..." he said quietly, trying not to let himself picture those men and what had been done to them. Although her feelings for her parents were strong, that was cruel. Even some of the worst people in the world don't deserve such a horrifying death of pain and torture such as that. Hannibal still couldn't look up at her. He didn't like seeing that evil darkness that lurked in her eyes. It wasn't just a look anymore, it was pure evil. The Kate he'd known wouldn't have done such a thing, but this Kate spoke the truth in a heartless manner in great detail...