Chapter Text
Will tried to focus on the radio but all he could discern was the sound of the rumbling engine. Every so often a keyword they spoke over the station would seep into his ear.
This can’t be real.. Will closed his hand on the wheel tighter, his knuckles whitened around the grip.
He let out an anxious groan before turning the radio up higher, forcing himself to listen. To make it real.
The radio screeched. The connection was shoddy, but the words were still able to make out. “Well John,” An older man’s voice peaked the mic as he spoke, “now we’re still not exactly sure what the hell’s going on, but we have heard a few stories.”
The man cleared his throat, “Most common one I’ve heard is the dead is rising.”
Another voice laughed, “So what? You saying this is some biblical apocalypse?”
The older man cut him off mid chuckle, “Now, now. I said no such thing! We all know about the deadly disease that has been breaking out globally, you following?”
“Uh huh,” The man sighed sarcastically.
“There’s no cure for that shit! If you get it you’re dead, just like rabies!,” he paused, “But.. they’re coming back.. From the dead!”
The man began to chuckle again, “Now that’s where I’m not following. You hear how stupid you sound, Arthur?”
The older man huffed, “This ain’t no joke, John! Goddamnit I’ve seen videos! No pulse, no breathing! And after a while they just.. pop back up!”
Will scoffed, flipping off the radio. This disease has got everyone in a panic. The main reason is how fast it moves. Started off somewhere in Europe and now it’s already making it’s way to North America.
Once he heard how serious it was first thing he thought to do was drive over to Baltimore. He planned to bring Hannibal Lecter back to the FBI headquarters, just to be safe. He doesn’t know why this was his first thought. Really, it should have been an after thought.
When he kissed Alana Bloom as well, first thing he thought to do was go see Hannibal. Maybe it’s because he’s his psychiatrist, maybe it’s because he’s his friend. Or maybe, it’s because Hannibal is the only one who can understand him. He can read Will if he lets him. An uncomfortable adjustment at first but Will is beginning for find a strange comfort in knowing someone can assume his point of view. It makes him feel less insane.
Will swallowed down the feeling. Don’t think, just drive. He hushed himself internally.
His phone buzzed in the passenger seat, the road was clear so he averted his gaze to the phone for a second. When he looked up a tall man, staggering towards the headlights emerged in his view. He was waving his arms for Will to pull over.
Will slammed the breaks but the inertia of the car was unstoppable. The man got launched across the road.
“Oh my God, oh my God,” Will panicked though bared teeth.
He quickly hopped out of the car and sprinted over to the man. It looked like died from head trauma. Dead before the rest of his body hit the floor.
Will rose a shaky hand to his neck, just to make sure. Through his trembling fingers he couldn’t capture a pulse. He whined as he took out his phone and dialed 911.
He hummed anxiously to the tones of the unanswered call. After a few tones an automated message played.
You have reached a number that has been disconnected or is no longer in service.
Will’s breath began to pick up rapidly, “What the hell? This is 911! You can’t- how can it get disconnected!?”
A soft moan emerged from behind him. Low and groggy, sounded more like an animal than a man. Not even that, he couldn’t quite place that sound.
Will took careful steps to the man’s side. He slowly leaned down and put an ear to his chest.
Urrggh
Will couldn’t hear a heartbeat. He had no pulse either. But.. the man still groaned. “The hell..?”
Suddenly the man latched onto Wills wrist and jerked him around. He attempted to clamp his teeth into Will.
Will hardly let out a scream as he tried to pull away. He threw punches, kicks, but this man was hardly human. All he did was move the hinges in his jaw like he hadn’t eaten in years. Like Will was a warm plate of dinner.
The man overpowered him, pinning him against the ground. Will had to turn his cheek to avoid him from biting his face. With one ferocious push, Will hurled him to the ground and scurried to his feet.
He quickly shut the car door behind him—within a second the man was there clawing at the window.
That was the first time Will got to look at his eyes. Really look. And it wasn’t a pretty sight in the slightest. Foggy, jaundiced, horrific. But the best word to describe them was just dead. They pierced through his soul like he was looking right past his face into his head. Not in an analysis type way, just with hunger.
Will turned his attention back to the road, “I’m sorry!” he called out the ‘man’ before taking off.
He flipped back on the radio. This time he would pay attention to every word. What the hell is going on?
**
Will swiftly jogged up the stairs to Hannibal Lecter’s front door. He frantically knocked, with each bang on the sturdy oak door, he pictured that man with the dead eyes banging on his window.
He wasn’t able to retain much he leaned from the radio, let alone believe it. But from what he understood, this is no disease. This is something much much worse.
Hannibal swung open the door, harboring a look of annoyance, swiftly tucking it away as soon as he saw it was Will at his door. Not quick enough for Will to catch.
“Doctor Lecter,” Will breathed, he hadn’t realized he was out of breath before speaking. He looked desperate. Maybe he was.
Hannibal flashed a confused smile, it faded just as soon as it formed, “Will, I wasn’t expecting you. Especially not at this hour.”
Will looked him up and down. Even when he’s not expecting company he looked as if he’s waiting for someone to bust in and inspect his outfit. He was in a off-white dress shirt with a pair of dark grey dress pants. In contrast to Will’s ragged flannel shirt, layered with a pale green cargo jacket. It’s hard to believe anyone could actually relax dressed in Hannibal’s attire.
Will swallowed his words, “I need to get you out of here..” He spoke his thoughts out loud. He said it a lot more intimately than he had meant to, Hannibal was slightly taken back.
Hannibal cocked his head slightly, “What’s the occasion?”
Will tapped his foot impatiently, “Have you not been keeping up with the news? This whole virus thing is getting real out of hand.”
Hannibal motioned for Will to step inside, “I’m aware a lot of people are dying,” Hannibal closed the door behind Will.
Will interjected, “But are you aware they’re coming back?”
Hannibal met his eyes with a look of pure confusion.
Will scoffed, “Yeah.. they get infected, they die, then they come back to life. Try to.. eat.. the living.”
He dipped his head, he knew how crazy this sounded coming out of his mouth. Before he could continue he felt a cold palm on his forehead.
“Will, you may be having an episode. I want you to—”
Will jerked away from his touch, “No, Goddamnit! You’re not listening to me. You think I’m just making this up? Turn on the news!”
Hannibal sighed as he turned to the hallway, “Come with me,” He looked back to Will without stopping.
Hannibal flipped though the channels working hard to show no concern on his face.
Each channel was filled with static and screams. Each and every one. It wasn’t a question anymore, it wasn’t a story, these we’re not people. They were shells of people, revived and hungry. Attacking aimlessly. Hannibal coved the gape in his mouth with his hand.
For a moment, Will though about extending a hand for comfort. Just to lay on his shoulder, for stability. He decided against it. Initiating physical contact was never something he was good at.
Most broadcasting services were down—nothing but white noise. The ones that we’re still running showed horribly graphic images.
“Will,” Hannibal looked up to him, “Would you please grab my tablet for me? Over there on the coffee table.” He pointed.
Will nodded.
Hannibal flipped though last minute uploaded articles, they had a radio station playing in the background. Every device still up and running was blasting about this outbreak.
Will was auditory overwhelmed. He couldn’t focus on just one of the signals when they we’re all echoing in his skull. Hannibal looked back to Will. It was very obvious in his facial expression that he was completely shaken up.
Hannibal quickly flipped off the television and motioned for Will to sit next to him. Will shook his head, “No, no. Turn t-that back on. W-we—” he tripped and stumbled over his words.
Hannibal moved over on the sofa, “We will listen to the radio first. Sit with me. Focus,” He stated calmly.
After a moment of hesitation, Will sat beside him. Leaving a world of room between them—he was sat on the very edge.
Hannibal turned his attention back to the radio (setting his tablet aside); Will did the same. Finding it much easier to focus with the television off.
It was playing some kind of podcast. This time they we’re taking this much more seriously. “— People call them by all sorts of different names, doesn’t matter what you call ‘em. They’re dangerous, and not human,” A woman with a slight country accent spoke firmly.
She let out a sigh before speaking again, “You people are wondering.. where are you supposed to be evacuating to? Well I’ll tell you what, moving countries ain’t gonna do you any good,” the sound of a paper flipping before she inhaled to speak again, “There is military bases spread about, I will read them out now.”
As she read through the list, Will could feel eyes on him. But Hannibal wasn’t looking. Different eyes.
As he looked to Hannibal, he didn’t look back, but he knew he could feel it too.
Hannibal stood up lightly grazing his knee with the back of his hand as he stood. While the touch was uncomfortable, Will knew it had purpose. He was asking, ‘Do you feel the eyes too?’. Will looked up to Hannibal and nodded slowly before standing up beside him.
Hannibal made eye contact with Will, “The closest safe zone to us would be in Boston. We should begin packing.”
Hannibal stepped closer and laid a hand on Will’s shoulder, “Head upstairs, and get your things,” He smiled.
Will tilted his head with a smile. He turned his back to Hannibal. Obviously he didn’t keep personal items at Hannibal’s house. What ever assailant was lurking about would hear and see they we’re separated and take that as an opportunity to attack.
Will grinded his teeth, Damnit. Left my gun in the car. Will scampered around like an animal scavenging for a weapon. He settled on a statue, light to swing but hits heavy.
Crash! Will quickly sprinted after the sound of broken glass erupted from the room Hannibal was in.
Hannibal and another man tumbled around the floor. The man threw aimless, borderline desperate punches; Hannibal swung his with precision. The man let out a sort of war cry (more like a squeal) as he tacked Hannibal.
Will took action, hastily but quietly making his way behind him and slamming the statue against the back of his head.
Will’s breaths fell heavier than Hannibal’s as if he was the one who had just been attacked.
The man on the floor groaned reaching for his head, half conscious. Hannibal lifted himself up with a light grunt, “Well then, I will get my stuff together. I wasn’t acting when I said the nearest safe zone is in Boston.”
Will drew his eyebrows together, “We.. are going together?” Stupid question. He came here to get Hannibal in the first place, just not for a six hour drive. Perhaps now that he’s certain the world is ending, he thought Hannibal would choose a better battle buddy.
Hannibal’s expression softened, “Unless you don’t wish to—”
“No,” Will interjected a bit too quickly, “I mean no, yes I want to. Sorry.”
His mind looked like it visibly stopped in it’s tracks, “But.. Abigail. We can’t leave her in that hospital.”
Hannibal nodded, “Correct. The Hospital is close. We will head there immediately.”
After he had packed, Hannibal rushed down the stairs, where Will was waiting at the end.
“I already called Port Haven Psychiatric Facility, they didn’t answer,” Will buried his face in his hands, “Oh god, what if those things already took it over! Like in the news!” His voice muffled.
Hannibal stood close to Will but didn’t reach out to touch him, knowing it would just make him more uncomfortable. “Will, it’s already a busy establishment on it’s own. During an emergency, do you think they are able to take unimportant calls?”
Will was hardly calmed by Hannibal’s words, but for some odd reason just the sound of his voice was enough to pull him out of his panicked state.
Will exhaled shakily, “Sorry,” he shoved his hands back into his pockets.
Hannibal turned towards the hall, “Come on,” he spoke quickly as he made his way towards the door. Will trailed behind.
Locking the front door was pointless, but Hannibal did it anyway. Even though he might not be returning to his home for quite a while. He rushed down the steps behind Will as made his way to his car. Will stopped. Hannibal could smell the sarcasm bubbling up already.
Will scoffed, “You weren’t planning on taking The Bentley were you?”
Hannibal internally rolled his eyes as he turned his head back to Will, “Why yes,” He stated simply.
Will snatched the bag out of Hannibal’s hand, “Why, no. My car has more room. And that thing is too..”
“Too what?” Hannibal frowned.
Will shrugged jamming his hand into his front pants pocket for the keys, “Too everything. We don’t need to draw attention to ourselves while people are out looting.”
Hannibal sighed, his scowl looked more like a pout, “Will..” he almost whined.
Will raised an eyebrow. Who knew the end of the world could turn Hannibal Lecter into a toddler. “Get in my car, Doctor Lecter.”
Slam! Will tossed Hannibal’s bag into the back of the car. He wondered briefly if it’s just filled with a bunch of three piece suits. Is that his end of the world necessities? Wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest.
“After we get Abigail,” Will slipped the keys into the ignition, “We are getting my dogs. Then going to Boston.”
Hannibal placed his hands in his lap, “That’s an hour out of the way, Will. That extends our trip by another two. Probably more with all of the panic.”
Will nodded, keeping his eyes on the rear view mirror as he backed out of the driveway, “I know. This is important to me; they are important to me. Like family.”
Hannibal watched the side mirror, “Okay, then. It’s settled. Abigail, then your dogs, then Boston.”
Will suppressed a smile. It felt good to be understood, even if what he’s asking might seem unreasonable to most, Hannibal understands this is important to him. He whispered a quiet gratitude to Hannibal before locking in his focus on driving.