The Fair and the Innocent

"Women and children first", Hannibal said, "because they taste the most tender."

"Um", the young Psychiatrist on the other side of the table stuttered, taken aback. "How's that?...I mean, come again?...I mean-"

"You want me to repeat myself?" The inmate smirked, flicking his reptile-like tongue onto his pale lips before withdrawing it back into the caverns of his mouth. He closed his eyes and tilted his head back, his hands cupping the back of his head like a cradle. "When given the option, I always select women over children and children over men because the fairer sex and the innocent taste better...The children actually taste best, but I'm not a monster." He suddenly lowered his head and stared right into the Doctor's eyes.

The Doctor gulped, sweat breaking out on his forehead. He thought he was prepared, but he felt woefully inadequate for the task ahead. He reached up and ran a hand over his dark brown hair before clearing his throat. "You're not a monster?" It was all he could think to say.

Hannibal grinned, giving his best impression of a crocodile, and nodded. "No. I am not. Some may say that I am, but that is only an opinion and an inaccurate one, at that."

"Then...then...what are you?"

"I...am a connoisseur." The young man straightened the collar of his orange jumpsuit, then continued, his beady brown eyes never leaving the Doctor's face. "A lover of delicacies. A professor of the palate." He stopped and took in the other young man's face. It was probably a nice face in most instances, but now it was exceptionally pale and the blue eyes were wide with fear. His thin lips were dry, but Hannibal was certain a dollop of butter would vastly improve them. He smiled at the thought and took up where he left off.

"Tell me something, Doctor...Did you know that merlot goes excellent with vagina?"

"Va...va..."

"Gi...na." He pronounced the syllables slow and deliberate for the Doctor. "Nothing goes better with vagina than a nice goblet of merlot...Have you ever eaten a vagina, Dr...?"

"Dr. Erickson." He nearly choked on the words. Suddenly, the room seemed to get smaller. He'd never been claustraphobic before, but now he felt as though the four walls were closing in on him. He put his right thumb to his left wrist and felt for his pulse. It was fast. He had to get out of here. He stumbled out of the chair and, as he knocked on the door for the guard, he heard Hannibal behind him.

"Don't forget...Women and children, Dr...Women and children. First."