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A new string of murders spreads across Virginia. Will sighs when he gets the call, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he begins to rise and get dressed. The first body is found near Bristol, brutalized with no indication of a killer other than the fact that four more bodies had popped up in the state with the exact same cause of death. Each body had been beaten within an inch of death, only to be stabbed more than a few times with what appeared to be hunting knives or even a machete. As Will began to let his imagination wander into that of the killer’s, he was surprised to find none of the usual anger or sexual pleasure most killers experienced while killing. Instead he felt .. joy. Like the killer only did this out of curiosity or boredom. The feeling of letting the machete plunge into the man several times was enjoyable for the killer, like it was all fun and games.
Breaking out of that particular fantasy was rough. Will could still feel the leftover excitement the killer felt as the blood splattered over his face and hands. The next body was closer to Roanoke, as though the killer was traveling towards the top of the state in between kills. This body was in roughly the same shape as the last, with the same brutalization and machete wounds. ‘Who kills with a machete? Better yet, how has no one seen this person walking around with a damn machete?’ Will ponders. He lets himself slip into the killer’s mind once again. This time, he feels the telltale anger most killer’s have when performing the murders. However, it feels more like offense than anything. This person was killed because they were rude? More accurately, they were killed out of boredom with the excuse of rudeness. Will lets the image slip out of his mind once again.
The third body is found in Charlottesville, near a popular cafe’s alleyway. When Will slips into the mind of the killer this time, he is overcome by a feeling of boredom once again, but this time is different. There is also a hint of distinct annoyance, as though this murder was more of an inconvenience than any of the others. The joy of the previous killings is gone, replaced with the static feeling of near professionalism. First, the neck of the victim is snapped. Then, the killer stabs them cleanly through the heart and lungs, as an act of making sure the victim is dead. After this, the killer just leaves. No overkill stabbing or brutalization. Just a quick, clean kill so they could move on with their day. Will wonders for the rest of the day how this person can kill so easily with no motive behind it.
The fourth and final body is up near Reston, close to the border between Virginia and Maryland. Now Will is positive that the killer is moving through the state with a purpose, although he has yet to figure out what the purpose is. He expresses as much to Jack.
“They’ve obviously been traveling through the state, seemingly to Maryland. The only thing I can’t figure out is why. I mean, most of the kills have been out of pure boredom, like the killer finds it fun, but they also can do it quickly, near professionally.”
“So you think the unsub is just killing at random?” Jack asks, giving Will a scrutinizing look.
“I think the unsub is killing for a reason, just not a common one. He doesn’t feel anger when he kills, only annoyance at most. He can also kill them quickly but chooses to brutalize them when he can. He finds excuses to kill them, almost like he has someone to explain to.” Will replies, letting his mind wander back to how the unsub had killed the last victim, as though it was merely a formality to kill them. Exhaling roughly. He pops an Advil and sets off towards his car. His appointment with Hanibal was coming up in a few days. Maybe the Doctor would have some ideas.
—-------------------
Evan wakes up in an alley. His head pounds and there are scratches across his arms, his knuckles bruised. He even thinks he might spot some blood splatters on his jeans.
“Fuck,” he mumbles, moving to sit slumped against the brick wall behind him. “Fucking Habit.” He wipes some dirt off the cheek that had been pressed into the ground, grimacing at how his knuckles throb. He knew Habit didn’t feel pain like he did, but he couldn’t have even wrapped them? Evan pulls his phone from his pocket, noticing the low battery immediately. He curses again before checking the date. He pauses once he does, eyes skimming across the number multiple times. Two weeks. Habit had taken control for two whole weeks. The next thing he does is check his map. Habit has taken control before only to land him in an entirely different city. This time Evan freezes in his shock.
“Baltimore??” He exclaims. Pulling himself up from against the wall, he steps out onto the sidewalk. Suddenly memories flood his mind. Habit deciding to take a trip to Baltimore, the people he killed along the way, and a slip of paper he stuffed into his pocket. Fishing it out, he looks over the chicken scratch with the name “Dr. Hannibal Lector” followed by an address. Evan looks up the name only to find a detailed description of the famed psychiatrist with glowing reviews. ‘Either Habit is suggesting I get therapy or this guy is important.’ Evan thinks humorlessly. He types the address into his GPS and begins to walk. As he goes he feels the shaft of his machete and knife against his back, feeling relieved despite himself.
—-------------------
Will drags himself through the door to Hannibal’s office, feeling the intense pounding of a headache pulse through his temples. He pops another Advil and starts wandering around the room, a habit he indulges in every time he has a session with Hannibal. It’s better than having to sit there and make eye contact for an hour.
“You seem tense, Will. Did something happen during your last case?” Hannibal inquires from his chair, his eyes following Will around the room.
“Current case.” Will answers, pulling a book from a bookshelf and letting his gaze skim over the diagrams inside. “This killer… it’s almost like they don’t have a reason for their kills. Hell, he even finds excuses to kill, like he has someone to answer to. He can be quick and clean with his kills but instead chooses to brutalize them before and after they’ve died. Not to mention they’ve been traveling through Virginia to get to Maryland.” Hannibal hums, letting Will ponder what he has said before continuing.
“Is it possible he could be working with a partner? It would explain needing to answer to someone.” The psychiatrist offers, watching as Will considers it. Then, Will shakes his head.
“No. It would explain it but the M.O. is the same for every kill. If he had a partner, there would be two different M.O.’s, one for each killer. This has to be one person.” Hannibal goes to offer another possibility but is interrupted by a knock on the door. He debates ignoring it but Will’s gaze fastens on the door and the person outside only knocks louder. Exhaling softly, Hannibal stands from his chair and opens the door. Outside stands a disheveled man wearing ripped jeans and a shirt with what he thinks is a video game character. The man appears in his early twenties. Covering short dark hair is a cap with the name of a band, maybe? Curiously enough, Hannibal smells a faint scent of blood on the man and spots a few flecks of it across his pants. Still, Hannibal is too busy to pursue his curiosity at the moment.
“Can I help you?” Hannibal questions, noticing hesitancy flicker over the man’s face, although it is gone in the same moment.
“You’re Dr. Hannibal Lector, right? I really need to speak with you,” the man pauses, his eyes darting to Will behind him and back to Hannibal. “In private.”
Distaste rolls through Hannibal at the rudeness of the statement, but as always he remains professional.
“I’m afraid you’ll have to wait. I’m currently doing a session with another patient.” As Hannibal goes to shut the door, the man pushes back open.
“Wait! Please, it is really important. Only you can help me.” Hannibal feels Will eye the man and debate stepping in but Hannibal intervenes first.
“We can speak out in the hall.” He gestures the man out and follows. Shutting the door behind him, Hannibal observes the man again. Nothing sticks out to the untrained eye but he notices that the man exhibits nervous behavior. The man exhales heavily before speaking.
“Name’s Evan Myers. I woke up in an alley about thirty minutes away. A slip of paper was in my pocket with your name and address.” Hannibal raises an eyebrow at the confession waiting for the man to continue. “I.. think I might have been the recent murders in Virginia.” The man crosses his arms over his chest and looks away as though he is waiting for Hannibal to freak out and threaten to call the police, even though he decided to tell him. Interesting.
“Curious that you would admit such a thing. What makes you think that I won’t call the police?” Hannibal prods. He notices how Evan shifts uncomfortably with the thinly veiled threat.
“If I wrote your name down, I must’ve known that you wouldn’t report me, even if I don’t remember the reason why.” Hannibal lets the silence drag on as he ponders this.
“Wait out here. I should be able to see you after this appointment. ”Hannibal leaves the young man in the hallway and returns to Will. Will looks at him expectantly as he enters.
“Who was that?” Will asks in a tone that may seem nonchalant but holds undertones of curiosity.
“A new patient. Now, you were saying?” While Will continues brainstorming about the killer, Hannibal debates giving him a nudge in the right direction. He decides to let Will flounder for a bit longer.
—-------------------
Evan enters the room with an observatory sweep over the area. He accepts Dr. Lector’s invitation to sit, although his leg bounces restlessly. He can feel Habit creeping in the back of his mind, curiously watching to see what Evan does now that he’s in the vicinity of the man Habit wanted him to meet. Dr. Lecter sits properly in the chair in front of him, crossing one leg over the other with his hands joined in his lap.
“So Evan, you said you think you were behind the recent murders?” Hannibal begins. Evan winces at the voice of beginning topics, although he guesses it is fair.
“I do,” Evan responds, plucking at the seam of a hole in his jeans. “I mean I have a habit of doing things that… I mean, I have memories of doing things I would never do, but usually there is proof that they happened and that I might have done it.” Habit creeps closer to the forefront of his mind. ‘Don’t take all the credit now!’ Evan feels the phrase whispered into his mind.
“You have memories of doing these things and usually find proof connecting you to the actions. Yet, you only think you did these killings?” Hannibal questions. Avoiding his gaze, Evan focuses on a bookshelf behind the man.
“Yeah. I know it’s weird but this time I don’t really have any proof that I’m behind these. Only that I would have had to travel through Virginia to get to Maryland. I mean, I live in a different state!” Evan huffs and seems to fall more into his thoughts. For a moment, Hannibal watches panic briefly flit across Evan’s face. It’s quickly replaced with confidence unbefitting of the situation.
“Well, well, if it isn’t Dr. Hannibal Lector,” Evan says, leaning back in his chair with a confidence he didn’t possess moments ago. “Nice work on those copycat kills.”
Hannibal feels the air shift between them. Something has obviously changed in Evan within seconds. Hannibal locks onto his posture. It’s that of a predator’s, which is a huge contrast to the uncertainty of the man moments ago. Hannibal feels his curiosity peak.
“You’re acting as if we haven’t met before.” Hannibal observes. “Are you quite alright Evan?” The man scoffs and leans forward to rest his elbows on his knees.
“I’m nothing like that loser. Name’s Habit. Big fan of your work, Dr. Lecter.” ‘Habit’ says the last bit with an intonation of something close to sarcasm. How rude. “Although, I will say you put far too much effort to disguise your work and cover your tracks. It’s nice to be known for your work, wouldn’t you agree?”
“I am known for my work. Just the ones I want them to see.” Hannibal watches as Habit chuckles, leaning back again. “You’re quite the legend, Mr. Habit. I’ve heard some of your previous works. Quite interesting to meet you in person. I take it you were behind the killings?”
“Of course! I couldn’t just let myself be bored on the trip up here. After all, how else would I be sure my pawn is still strong?” Hannibal boasts. “I mean, how could I kill the famous Chesapeake Ripper without my boy in tip-top shape?”
The air shifts dangerously as Habit says this. Said man (creature?) grins sharply at the change and how Hannibal assesses him. Then after a moment he barks out a rough laugh.
“Ha! You are way too fun to fuck with. Nah, it’s too much trouble to kill ya. Plus, I happen to like this jacket. No sense in getting blood on it ‘less I have to.” Habit watches the other man relax ever so slightly from his tensed position, having been ready to fight if Habit initiated one. In the back of his mind, Evan tries to claw his way back into control, panic oozing from his thoughts. Habit groans, muttering “party pooper,” before allowing his control to slip.
“See you soon, Dr. Lecter,” Habit croons as he slips to the back of Evan’s mind. Evan jolts back into control letting the silence linger for a second.
“So.” He starts, mind still reeling. “I guess you’ve met Habit now.” Hannibal eyes him with curiosity that's barely hidden behind his calm facade.
“Quite an interesting partner you have. Rarely has anyone been so brazen in threatening me.” Hannibal comments, as though he is not at all concerned about what just transpired. Evan groans in annoyance.
“Yeah, well, Habit’s never been good at being subtle. Doubt he even knows the meaning of the word.” Evan says into the hands he scrubs over his face.
‘Tell you what Mr. Myers. Why don’t you return for a session in a few days. We can talk more about your situation then.” Hannibal suggests, leaning casually back in his chair.
“Yeah. Yeah, all right,” Evan sighs, standing from his chair and heading towards the door. However, he hesitates just before opening it.. “...You won’t, like, hunt me down for threatening you, will you? Rumors talk a lot about how distasteful you find rudeness.”
Exhaling an amused noise, Hannibal says “No. It would be counterproductive, after all. Habit would just return in a different body.”
Evan nods thoughtfully and exits the room. Hannibal sits in science for a few minutes as he considers the situation. Maybe now it would be acceptable to give Will that hint. It would be so interesting to see how he responds to a feral creature such as Habit. Hannibal savors the thought, pondering how to make the interaction happen.