A/N Hi! Thanks so much for all the reviews. You guys are the best! It means a lot, especially since I was really toying with whether or not to post this story at all when I finished writing it.

I've loved reading people's ideas on where they think, or hope, the story is going. This story had a really clear direction in my head right from the beginning so it's interesting to see other people's takes on it. And I think a lot of you can tell how much I love writing Pam.

Things start to get exciting now :)

Chapter 7: Escape

The chain was a pain in the ass to sleep with, but I managed to doze for a few restless hours. Part of me would've rather I'd just dealt with the sleep deprivation and give up on sleep entirely. Stupid dreams… But, if I was going to make a break for it I needed as much rest as possible. And to eat.

The sun was well over the glittering Atlantic when breakfast was brought in. It was Missy again, and the almond-eyed brunette regarded me with a scowl, leaving the breakfast tray at the foot of the bed just out of my reach, meaning I had to haul the chain onto my lap and crawl for it.

"Oh, you'll get over it," I said, after a quick dip into her thoughts. I settled against the headboard with the tray in my lap. "If you hadn't been glamoured with such a heavy hand, you would've worked out I was lying."

"You made a fool of me!" she hissed. "Mr. Northman was not pleased."

"Eric? Oh, I bet he wasn't," I smirked, taking a bite of my oatmeal. It was topped with pureed apple and cinnamon.

"You bitch, I told him you were a direct relation to the Pillsbury Doughboy!"

I grabbed my napkin to stop myself spitting my oatmeal all over the bed with laughter. Oh man, I wished so badly I was there to see it. And that was only one of the many lies I'd told her.

"What's your problem, anyway? You got a thing against vampires? You know, they've helped provide a life for us survivors here." She crossed her arms defensively. "We aren't slumming it like some people out there, living off tinned food, struggling through cold winters."

"I wouldn't call living out there slumming it. It's quite nice, actually."

"I bet it's nicer here. And you're lucky it's Eric Northman that's interested in you," she said, sinking down to sit at the bottom of the bed. "Some of the other vampires are just…" Her face screwed in disgust as she thought of a sallow-faced vampire with pockmarked skin and a deadened stare. I shivered.

"Seems like they get the better deal out of it, don't you think? Blood on tap and you guys do all the hard work around here," I said.

"They got the power going, fixed all the sanitation and water problems. They protect us from intruders, other nastier vampires. It's more than fair."

"And what happens if you decide to leave? Or if a vampire has decided you're no longer worth the trouble of keeping you here?"

"That doesn't happen." Her defensive stance shifted, her eyes darting away from me.

"Oh, I'm sure you've just never heard about it."

She stood and walked to the door, ready to be done with the conversation. It was that same cult member style of avoidance and denial. Everything was perfect here as long as you didn't think about the horrific parts.

"Before you go, would you mind telling me what Pam and Eric said when you reported to them?" I shouldn't be curious. I had no reason to be, but a piece of me was just dying to know.

"I don't know, I can't really remember. I guess they didn't really say anything," she said. Her mind was blank with glamour. But I caught a little something at the edges of her empty thoughts. I wondered if it was just a matter of how I worded my question.

"You said Eric was angry. How else did he react? Did you see anything?"

"He was pissed." She shrugged, reaching for the door handle. "He got mad at me and then sent me away. Not much else to say, really."

Her mind opened up to me like a magnolia blooming. I slipped right in, picking through what she saw. Eric was frustrated, his fist coming down hard on a workbench inside a dimly lit garden shed. Pam was watching him with thinly disguised glee and he'd snapped something angrily at her. But where there should have been the memory of words and conversation, there were none. It was like watching a silent movie. He'd probably commanded Missy to forget everything she'd heard. Silly vampire. He didn't realize I could still see it.

I couldn't imagine what Gran would think of me at that moment, but I got a wicked thrill at seeing how much I'd riled him up.

"I'm sorry for the trouble I caused, Missy." I made sure to catch her eyes and smile sympathetically. "You're probably right about having it good here. It's just a lot for me to take in, that's all. You know, you're the first human I've talked to since arriving. I'd never even met a vampire before I came here."

"It's alright. I know how overwhelming it can be." She smiled back, her thoughts softening towards me slightly as she thought back to her own arrival at the compound. "Vampires are temperamental at the best of times. But you'll like it here, I promise."

"You think?"

"Oh, definitely. And letting them feed from you isn't that bad either." She leaned forward through the doorway to whisper loudly, "especially if they're into you."

"I'll have to take you on your word for that." I raised my brows to convey my shock, though I witnessed exactly what she meant yesterday in the minds of others during my mental wanderings. She gave me a knowing look, no doubt recounting some of her more enjoyable encounters, but I decided in that moment it was just better if I kept my mental shields up. Some things just couldn't be unseen.

"Maybe once things have settled we can hang out at the beach or something?" I asked. "It looks incredible out there."

"I'd like that; sounds fun. And wait till you see the swimming pools." Her pleased tone reflected her thoughts. She believed she had succeeded in warming me up to living here among vampires, she secretly hoped that Eric would be pleased with her. She moved to shut the door behind her.

"Missy, if it's not too much trouble, would you mind leaving the door open? I don't think I could bear being cooped in here all day with the door shut. It'd be so nice to just see a little glimpse of ocean from my bed with it open…"

I held my breath. Had I been laying it on too thick? She looked uncertain, glancing at her hand on the door's handle and then out to the balcony windows.

"It's not like I'm going anywhere!" I lifted my wrist and jangled the chain. She laughed and agreed, leaving the door, and my path to freedom, wide open.

I wolfed down breakfast after she left and headed straight to the en suite bathroom attached to my room. Once I managed to awkwardly navigate the toilet and use the basin to wash my hands and brush my teeth, I spent a minute examining myself in the mirror. I barely recognized myself, but not at all in the way I was expecting.

Yesterday, I still didn't feel one hundred per cent and so while I knew I didn't look crash hot, I also didn't take the time to really examine myself too closely. But today? I looked like the best possible version of myself. My blonde hair was shiny and smooth, my tan even and strong, in fact, my complexion appeared almost flawless with barely a pore visible. My blue eyes popped with color, and even my teeth were whiter. I gently prodded my face, lifting my top lip to examine my teeth. It was Eric's blood. It was like some sort of magic beauty elixir.

Alright, no more distractions, I told my reflection. It was go time.

I retrieved my items tucked inside the toilet roll holder. First item was a fake credit card that contained lock picking tools (it sat nice and flat in a pocket), second was a small pocket utility knife, and the last item, a pen light.

I laid the items on the counter beside the basin. I lifted my cuffed wrist and examined it under the vanity light. Unfortunately, the regular lock pick wouldn't suffice for handcuffs, but lucky for me, almost every type of handcuff was the same stock standard variety of Smith & Wesson, and I was in just the right place to pick it.

I pulled open the drawer of the vanity, the one Pam had retrieved my toothbrush from. What I needed was already waiting for me. From the back of the drawer, I withdrew a small container. Bobby pins – for blonde hair no less. I chose a pin and sat down on the tiled floor.

I pulled apart the prongs, then used my teeth to remove the plastic nib at the end of the straight side. I poked the end into the lock, bending it just so with counter pressure. I needed to shape it in just the right way to use it as a phony key. I removed it from the barrel of the lock and lifted the pin to assess the end.

I was fairly certain I did a passable job of shaping it. While I had experience with picking plenty of different locks, I'd only read about how to pick handcuffs. I knew it was pretty easy to do, provided you had a little time and patience.

I inserted the pin into the lock shaft and turned clockwise, disengaging the double lock, and then reinserted the pin again feeling for the internal lip of the locking mechanism. This was the fiddly bit. I held my breath and closed my eyes, feeling for that sweet spot. The pin slipped under the lip and I lifted it, turning it counter-clockwise. It took a few tries but sure enough, the cuff slipped loose and fell off.

I let out a whoop and jumped up.

I ran to the closet and picked out a pair of gray tweed high-waisted shorts (not even remotely my style, but the only thing with pockets) and pulled on a nude colored cami to wear under a long sleeved sheer blouse in deep purple. There wasn't a sneaker in sight, but out of the collection of shoes Pam had provided for me, there was a pair of suede lace-up oxfords in black. They would do.

I changed quickly, pocketing my items and reapplied deodorant. I would've loved one last shower, but my time for relaxation was behind me. I paused in the doorway as I left the bedroom and looked back. I chewed my bottom lip, a little idea percolating.

I went back to the closet and grabbed a great armful of clothes and used them to fashion a Sookie-shaped lump under the blankets. I tucked the chained cuff under there too. It was terrible, there was no way they'd actually fall for it, but that was the point. One last screw you.

I found a pen and pad beside the cordless phone in the sitting room and scrawled a quick note, 'So long and thanks for all the blood'. I left it beside the lump of blanket and clothing that made up my 'head'. I made sure to lock the bedroom door behind me.

The key had disappeared from the balcony door lock, but I rectified that situation quickly with my tools. Yet another simple twist locking mechanism. My bedroom door was the same. Hilarious really, since breaking into the suite door was close to impossible from the hallway. It seemed like a huge oversight. Although admittedly, Pam and Eric's light-tight rooms had the same fortified doors as the entry to the suite. It was all the protection they probably needed from humans and weres during daylight hours.

The old pre-plague Sookie hadn't the foggiest idea on lock picking or navigating unknown buildings, but like many things in the new world, it had suddenly become a vital skill. In some places, breaking glass windows and letting yourself through was often the most direct route, but as I'd discovered first hand climbing that shoddy fence, climbing was risky.

The things that killed you in a post-civilization world were the risks you took. Falls, cutting an artery, failing to treat infections in time – that sort of thing. Being able to unlock a door and let yourself in, thus avoiding the mess and risk, was the most sensible and safest option.

On top of that, if you're looking for a safe place to stay a night or two, the ability to enter a home and not leave a tell-tale hole in the window and trail of broken glass afforded you a degree of safety. Then there were some places, like hospitals and police stations, which held valuable items but were next to impossible to break into without picking locks.

After scanning the grounds in front and out on the beach with my mind, I dragged a dining chair out onto the balcony and pulled myself up onto the roof. It wasn't too steep, but I moved carefully, keenly aware of the three storey drop. Keeping low, I scrabbled easily up the side, stopping halfway. I pulled away several of the roofing tiles and, using my knife, cautiously cut through the insulation, wary of any wiring that may be lurking underneath.

I dropped into the roof cavity and pulled the tiles back into place as best as I could. I felt guilty about creating any extra work for the humans residing in the mansion. I put away my knife and pulled out the pen light, and began navigating my way across the vast roof space, stepping as quietly as I could.

The vampire blood was making every effort so much easier. I could feel it in the lightness of my step, the ease in hoisting myself up onto the roof, and even in my ability to focus. It wasn't just fast healing, shiny hair and improved complexion; it was an improvement in almost all departments. Except sleep, I thought with a burst of annoyance.

The top floor must have housed most of the vampires, as I came across over a dozen inert voids at rest below me while walking along the beams, but there were also a couple of human minds occupied with daily tasks.

I finally found the ceiling hatch to the third floor and dropped down into a walk-in linen closet. I waited a few moments, replacing the hatch and feeling for the minds on the lower floors trying to make sense of the building's layout just by how they moved around. I located a stairwell in the corner of the upper floor, someone was walking down them, their shift in elevation registering.

I straightened my clothes, brushing off the dust, and moved quickly down the corridor to the stairs. I paused at the stairs and gave myself a pep talk before going down, I had to act completely cool and pray that I didn't bump into Missy or anyone else that might realize I'd broken free of my restraints. Down on the second floor, there were more humans, but other than the odd curious look, I walked through unnoticed, keeping my chin up and confidence in my step.

I took the steps two at a time down the large sweeping marble staircase to the first floor where I'd seen the vampire Queen on the first night, and then walked through a side entrance and past a large laundry to outside, where a collection of swimming pools spanned an area almost as large as the mansion itself. Missy was right about the pools. The swimming area looked like a tropical paradise, it even included a faux-lagoon and enormous slide. It was impressive. Like a luxury resort.

Once I was past all the pools, I slowed my pace, making it look like I was exploring the grounds while keeping a tight track on the few humans that were swimming and lounging, as well as the weres that were stationed loosely around the property. So far I'd avoided them. I reached the hedge that divided the mansion's property from the next one and snuck through.

I paused in the safety of the darkness within the hedge and took a minute to collect myself. Adrenaline and hot tingling anxiety were pumping right through to my fingers and toes. I pushed my way through the hedge, getting scratched up in the process and stepped into the yard of the neighboring property. I quickly ran across the open grass and ducked across the road into the next hedge.

It wasn't busy outside, but I detected minds around me, vampire voids at rest and humans inside homes. My brain skipped across all the minds within mental-viewing vicinity, listening to them on a repeating round, making sure I wasn't at risk of being spotted. It was dizzying but I had to cover myself.

I made my way through another two neighboring yards and finally found the huge brick dividing fence that I'd been stopped at on my first night on the island. It wasn't as high as I remembered, so again, I pilfered a chair from the closest house, this time an outdoor one, and used it to climb over. I lowered myself down the other side, far enough away from the guards at the gate that I wouldn't be noticed. I listened in on their minds. There were no discernible thoughts, other than fuzzy feelings of boredom and a mild interest in something they were discussing. I caught a flash of an image. Ah. Football.

I continued on through my quick and quiet hedge-bashing path from yard to yard, my brain working on overdrive scanning for anyone near me. I was half expecting to hear that were-guard on the bullhorn telling me to stop and put my hands up. I finally made it to the mansion where I stored my backup transport. I could've kissed that hedge, my things were exactly where I left them. Solar powered electric bicycle. A black backpack filled with urban survival items.

I put on the pack and lightly jogged the bike from yard to yard until I made it as far as the bridge that connected the island to the mainland. I broke into a run. I hopped on the bike mid-stride and pedaled hell for leather, my feelings of elation taking to the wind and flying like a great white egret circling high above the bayou. I was healthy. I was free.

A/N: High five if you caught the Hitchhiker's Guide reference in Sookie's tongue-in-cheek note.
Sorry, no Eric this chapter. Be patient! Another chapter will be posted tomorrow and then there will be a break for a couple days. I'm going on vacation.