OOM: The Confrontation

[patterns_bloom]

Heart pounding, Alana fumbles for the lock once she's inside Hannibal's office. X is with her, so she's not afraid as she could have been. She draws a careful breath, and then turns and fires at the door with her gun. She peeks through the bullet hole. Hannibal passes by, making her jump, and she fires again.

"I've found more bullets!" she snarls savagely, intending to bring this bastard down, intending to live despite knowing that another her has already failed once.

She faces down the door, backing away from it while holding her gun high and steady, ready for anything. She flicks her gaze to X. "Should we charge him? I'm following your lead."

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[patterns_bloom]

The motion takes Alana by surprise, so she's slow to stand. "Abigail!" Alana says, trying to follow her. "Wait!"

[unshattered]

Abigail doesn't wait. She jumps down the stairs, not pausing even long enough for one glance back before she throws herself through the front door, out into the rain.

Maybe she's steps out in time to see a taxi pull up in front of the house. But this still doesn't stop her. She only keeps running, disappearing into the night.

[patterns_bloom]

Alana can't keep up with Abigail at a dead run, and she can't leave Jack behind, either. She catches herself on the doorway, gasping, and leans against the trim to catch her breath. The panic of the evening catches up with her, and she sinks to her knees, sobbing.

It's there that Will finds her. She quickly informs him of the night's events, leaving out everything to do with Abigail. Will is stunned. Alana leaves him to deal with the police--who finally arrive--and enters the pantry to help Jack.

She gives her statements to the police, saying that Dr. Lecter escaped after being shot and fighting Jack, trying to explain the blood. Will and Jack vouch for her, and a massive manhunt for Dr. Lecter plays out over the morning news. Alana ignores that entirely.

Hannibal dies. Alana survives. She tells herself that she is not going to feel the slightest bit guilty.

And she doesn't.