Sookie knew she had to think fast but wondered could she trust the teen age boy sitting at the kitchen table, seconds later she was still standing frozen on the back porch. Could it be this simple could Eric be that close and oh god the blood he's hurt, dozens of thoughts raced through her mind as she ran toward the shed 'fuck Alcide' she thought if Eric is this close and she could help him then that's what she was going to do. She darted across the yard her legs feeling like noodles as she tried to control the tremors that ran through her body, Sookie's hand clenched the metal handle to the shed and froze again "what if he's dead" she said to herself not sure if she could handle seeing Eric's dead body.
"There's no time" she whispered as she pulled the door open squeezing her eyes shut afraid of what she might see, Sookie took a deep breath opening one eye and then the other no dead body but that also meant no Eric. She felt her chest tighten in disappointment she should have known better Alcide wasn't stupid enough to keep Eric where she could find him so easily, she looked around the shed see no visible reason for Bill to be in her shed but she was sure it had something to do with Eric. Sookie had to figure out where Eric was and fast because the red on Bills hands was blood and it was fresh which meant whatever he was doing he was close, Sookie took her time examining the shed picking up each gardening tool and piece of junk that was stored in the ancient shed and looking for blood but found nothing.
"Bills house, he has to be at Bills house" she said having her own personal ah ha moment standing in the dusty metal shack talking to herself, Sookie left the shed convinced Eric was nowhere inside and trying to figure out a way to get inside and search Bill's house. Closing the door behind her Sookie heard the gravel crunching under the weight of Alcide's truck as it came up the driveway, her heart pounded hard enough to make her ribs ache as she took off running up the stairs to the porch. "He's home" she said looking wide eyed at Earl who was still sitting at the table looking down at his food as if he hadn't noticed her running to the shed like a mad woman, the young boy gripped a small kitchen knife in his hand as he looked up at her and then over to the door his father was walking through.
Sookie watched anger wash over Earl's face as he scooped up another fork full of eggs and shoved them into his mouth, the knob turned and their eyes locked as the boy motioned for her to sit before he quietly sat the knife on the table between them. Sookie knew then that there was no love between the young boy and his father and if there ever was Alcide had probably beaten it out of him like he had her long ago, "So what's for breakfast I'm starving" Alcide said rubbing his stomach as he sat in the chair between Sookie and Earl. The silence was thick and awkward as Sookie hopped from her chair and grabbed a plate from the cabinet behind him and started scooping eggs onto the plate, Sookie couldn't help but pause behind him and wonder if she broke the glass dish over his head would it be enough to kill him.
Quickly she pushed that thought from her mind looking over at Earl who was still keeping his head down careful not to look at Sookie or Alcide and she knew that if it didn't kill him she wouldn't be the only one to pay for it, grabbing a few sausage links and tossing them on the plate she nervously sat it in front of him being sure not to spill any of it on him or let her fingers touch the food on the plate. These were both lessons she had learned years ago and now she would have to remember them and fast if she was going find Eric and get out of here, "So how did you sleep" Alcide said smiling at her like they were June and Ward Cleaver .Sookie didn't respond to his comment instead she sat quietly in the seat next to him and continued eating her breakfast in silence hoping that it was enough to keep him from losing his cool "come on now were a family so let's act like one damn it."
Alcide slammed his hands down on the table to emphasize his words, "fine I slept fine, how did you sleep?" Sookie's voice was close to shrieking and the sarcasm in her voice came across hard and heavy like a weighted blow to his face she knew she would probably pay for it but what did he expect asking such an ignorant question. "I'm sorry" Alcide spoke softly taking her hand in his "I'm sorry I really am I know I said I was going to be nice and I wouldn't hurt you but I'm scared you're going to leave me." Sookie looked at him astonished by his reply it was nothing like what she was expecting but she knew better than to take him serious "ok Alcide" she said jerking her hand away from him, "beating and torturing someone is no way to keep them around" she tried to seem taken back by his words playing along with his mind game pushing her chair back from the table and walking out the back door.
There was no way in hell she would stay with him no way even if he changed even if he was nicer she just couldn't love him after everything he had done to her and the fact that he would actually think she would ever trust him that was just beyond belief, Sookie knew what she had to do though she had to play along just long enough to find Eric and get the hell out of dodge. She hated that she didn't just call the cops that first night when Alcide showed up at Eric's and took him knowing what Alcide was capable of. When she made it home and found him there she could have called for help then but finding out that Bill who had always been a good friend to her was helping him left her feeling like she couldn't trust anyone, Sookie wasn't sure where she could turn now that she was stuck in this situation again.
Even dear sheriff Andy who had seen the incident in the restaurant between her, Eric and Alcide and told his wife her best friend Tara about it was suspect after he showed up later that night and acted like he didn't believe Alcide could have been responsible for trashing her house, there were few friends she trusted before all of this and now there were even less. Sookie thought about calling Jason or even just telling Tara the truth but she couldn't handle the thought of them getting hurt trying to help her if she told them, she was her only hope and now all she had to do was suck it up and go along with Alcide's little mind games and try not to kill him until she found Eric.
Eric's P.O.V
Eric lay unconscious tied to a chair on the damp dirt floor Bill had finally had his fill of pounding on him and climbed up the ladder, it was then that Eric opened his eyes catching a glimpse of the light that showed through the hole above him before the trap door was slammed shut again. He could hear more movement above him and then the shed doors slammed shut sealing him in again "Bill what are you doing in my shed," she's still alive he thought to himself as he scooted closer to the ladder and tried to scream through the gag that clung to his blood covered mouth "Soookieee" he tried to scream but his voice was too weak for even him to hear.
A few minutes later he could hear more movement above him making his heart pound in his chest, was Bill coming back to finish him or maybe Alcide was showing up to take a turn "there's no time." Her voice was like a light in the dark room she was so close he just needed to make a noise something to let her know he was there right under her feet, Eric scooted his body a little closer to the ladder using his head to knock on the wooden step hoping to be heard. Eric flinched from the pain but continued to knock until he realized his efforts were being voided by the sounds of metal clinking and moving around above him, Eric screamed again in a last effort to get her attention but again his voice was weak and came out in a whisper.
There is no hope he thought as he laid his head dropped onto the cold damp floor, Sookie was standing right above him and he didn't have the strength to call out to her or the strength to pound harder on the ladder thanks to the beating Bill had given him earlier. The kick to his head was what had done the most damage, Eric could see Bills boot flying in his direction but he had no way to block or defend himself from the force of impact. He was sure he had passed out from the blow but for how long he had no idea, he was also unsure if Bill had continued to beat him after he passed out but the pain that radiated through his whole body had gotten worse from lying on the cold floor.
"Bills house he has to be at Bills house" the words tore through Eric like a knife she had no idea where he was and though he loved her and was glad to know she was looking for him his hope of being found was fading, Eric listened as Sookie walked from the barn closing the door behind her. His eyes burned with tears as he pictured he finding him and the two of them running off together and living happily ever after, it was what he had wanted for so long even back in high school he would imagine stealing her from Alcide and whisking her away to another world where no one could hurt her.
Sookie sat on the steps of the back porch plotting her next move she had to find a way to get into Bill's house and look for Eric, she was sure he was there but hoped she could find him before it was too late. Sookie watched the sun gleam in the sky making her wish she had gotten a job to keep her busy and out of the house at least then she would have a reason to leave, she had no clue how she was going to get through the day with Alcide and Earl it was made clear at breakfast that they wouldn't be having a fun filled day of family fun with Daddy Dearest.
She pushed herself up from the steps and went inside part of her plan was making Alcide feel secure that she wasn't going anywhere unfortunately that meant spending time with him, she pushed the door open slowly peaking her head in to see who was still in the kitchen. There was no sign of Alcide but the table was clear and Earl was doing the dishes, "what's the plan for today" Sookie said trying to sound peppy as she peeked around the doorway and saw Alcide sitting in a chair in the living room with a beer in one hand and the remote in the other. "Can I help with them" she said stepping toward the young boy her hand reaching for the dish in his hand, "no don't I got it" he snapped moving back from her holding the dish close to him "I do it all the time it's fine" he said in a calmer tone nodding his head toward the living room.
It wasn't clear why the dishes were such a big deal but it was obvious that it was so Sookie backed up from the sink with her hands in the air as if someone was pointing a gun at her chest, it was clear she wasn't needed and she really wasn't use to having nothing to do so she turned slowly walking into the bedroom leaving the door wide open and throwing herself on the bed. Her body still ached from the night before but it was the boredom that was killing her since she had been back most of her day had been spent cleaning to pass the time but with Earl taking over and scrubbing every inch of her house it left her with nothing to do but think.
Sookie rolled onto her stomach staring out the window at the path that lead to Bills house and she found herself wondering if Alcide would notice if she ran down the path and searched Bill's house for Eric, the Compton house was big but thankfully like her house it didn't have a basement or crawl spaces like some of the other houses in town. She could easily search the house but it was the old buildings around the house that would be a challenge. The barn was a good place to hide someone she thought to herself not hearing the door to the bedroom close behind her; Sookie was so distracted with her thoughts of saving Eric that Alcide was able to catch her off guard. He wrapped his arms around her waist quickly flipping her onto her back, "you're beautiful" he said eyeing her up like a present he had been waiting forever to open.
"I want to make love to you all day long" the passion in his eyes di nothing for her and his words made Sookie's skin crawl, Sookie managed not to show him her reaction as she concentrated on disappearing into a safe place deep inside herself somewhere where her and Eric were together and there was no Alcide. Her heart pounded in her chest as he ran his hands up and down her body taking his time to caress every bruise and bump he had put there, she wanted to scream to push him off of her and run but when she thought of Eric and the blood on Bill's hands she knew she had to stay.
Alcide pulled his shirt off over his head slowly and she knew what was coming the sight of him naked turned her stomach and when he pulled her clothes off too she reminded herself to take her pill before bed that night, he laid on top of her pressing his skin against hers and she closed her eyes and pictured Eric standing over her as Alcide kissed her softly. "Open your eyes" Alcide barked hovering inches form her face as he pushed his way between her thighs, Sookie smiled up at him as she opened her eyes. Looking through as if he were invisible she stared at the space behind him picturing Eric again as he told her he loved her again and again, her body was stiff and ridged under him though Alcide didn't seem to notice as long as her eyes were open and she gave him his way.