The room was empty, save for two murmuring figures standing next to a large stainless-steel counter. Will recognized Hannibal immediately, the man’s elegant hands straightening the collar of the bigger man before him. Will crept low, adrenaline spiking as he moved closer to the pair. He grabbed a knife from the counter, testing its weight.
Hannibal and his companion still ignored him. Will began to feel again like an afterthought, like a part of Hannibal’s game — something to chuck in the lion’s den for the cats to toy with between meals.
This time, when the blade flashed, Hannibal kept it low. His companion was still facing him, clearly unaware.
He wiggled the blade back and forth at Will’s eye level, waving at Will. The crazy son of a bitch was taunting him. Will stood and saw Hannibal tilt his head and smile at him.
Will felt fury fill his chest again. Not at the idea of murder — but that Hannibal clearly didn’t take him seriously. This time, he would.
“Dr. Lecter what are y-” Hannibal’s conversation companion sounded confused. Hannibal raised the blade and Will charged. He swung his knife around the man before him, aiming for Hannibal’s arm. He’d drive it into the meat of Hannibal’s bicep, force him to drop the blade — then they could make out until the police came.
Will shook his head at the idea that had invaded his very clear plan and that moment of distraction was enough for Hannibal, who grabbed the man before him, spun him around, and held him in the path of Will’s blade. Will didn’t realize anything had gone wrong until he saw blood trickling out of Cordell’s mouth.
Stepping back, Will stared in horror at his knife, which was buried to the hilt in the man’s chest.
“Right between the ribs,” Hannibal craned around Cordell’s shoulder to look at the wound. “You punctured the heart on the first stab.”
He looked up at Will, smiling, letting Cordell drop to the ground. The blade, still gripped firm in Will’s right hand, slithered out of the man as the body collapsed in a heap. “You are an impressive boy.”
Will blinked, the whirring in his mind settling down to a dull roar. “Why are you killing Mason’s friends?”
“Technically,” Hannibal’s smile grew. Will felt a surge of…something. It certainly wasn’t arousal. “you’re killing Mason’s friends.”