Tara didn't know what had been done to Sookie to make her so afraid and she didn't need to, knowing she was scared enough to run was all she needed to know for her to want to protect her friend, when Andy came in from work that night around two he was irritated he didn't want his wife involved in whatever it was that Sookie Stackhouse had gotten herself into. Andy knew how much Tara cared for her friend and if she heard from anyone else it would be trouble for him "Tara Hunny wake up" he said sitting on the side of the bed, it usually took a tornado to wake her but she knew if Andy was waking her at this time of night something must be wrong.
Andy sat staring at her unsure of how to tell her and the look on his face made her stomach turn "where is he?" she asked before he could find the words, they both knew the he she was talking about and when Andy told her he was in Bon Temps Tara grabbed the phone immediately.
"Sookie he's here he's in town" she didn't hear a sound on the other end of the line but she knew Sookie was there "Andy was driving home tonight and when he drove past Merlots he saw him getting out of a black truck" again she only heard silence "what do you want me to do Sook?"
Tara had been Sookie's best friend her whole life and she never hesitated to put her neck on the line for her but she couldn't ask anyone to get involved this time, she knew there was no hiding behind anyone anymore and she was tired of running, "Tara I love you for the offer but I don't want you to do anything." Sookie thought about what he was capable of and then she thought of Tara being hurt trying to help her and she felt queasy, Tara started to protest to argue with her but there was no use Sookie wouldn't see her friend get hurt for her not by anyone especially him.
"Listen to me Tara you have no idea what he is capable of so you just stay away from him you understand me" Tara was never one to take orders but she could read the anger and fear in her friends voice so she agreed to keep her distance. "if you need me I am here Sook promise me you will be safe" Sookie hung up the phone she didn't want to lie to her friend and she wasn't going to wait on the line for Tara to start asking questions, there was no way she could make that promise to Tara no matter how much she wanted to because he is dangerous and she did the one thing he said he would never let he do she left.
Sookie needed a plan she spent most of her adult life running and now she wanted to have a life one that didn't include him chasing her all over the world, she told herself that she needed to be stronger than she ever was before and finally stand up to him. She laid in bed for the rest of the night unable to sleep she talked a good game about standing her ground and not running but every cell in her body was telling her to pack a bag and go, she thought about all the reasons she should stay her brother Tara and Eric were more than enough to make her stay but they were also reasons to go.
She knew he could use them to get to her he was ruthless and evil and wouldn't bat an eye at the thought of hurting them, this wasn't the first time he found her but in the past she dropped everything and ran. It was about a years after she poisoned him and ran with every penny he had in the condo, she made her way to Arkansas and found a tiny one bedroom apartment above a bar where she applied for a waitressing job. Sookie hadn't worked a day since she was married but she waitressed in the evenings at Ben's Diner all through high school, she enjoyed working and earning her own money and it was a good way for her to feel like herself again.
Six months in she was feeling great working nights at the bar and spending day's with a man she met named Mile's, he was a nice quiet man and they enjoyed each other's company but most of all he didn't ask questions about her quirky ways. Sookie used a different alias every time she moved but in Arkansas she went by the name Beth Evans hoping the everyday name would help her blend in making it harder to find her but somehow he did, It was three in the morning and Sookie was walking up the back stairs to her apartment feeling disappointed again she hadn't seen miles in a few days and now it was starting to get to her.
When he didn't show up for their date at the beginning of the week Sookie didn't think much of it but after calling him all week and not getting an answer she was starting to wonder what she had done to chase him away. She asked around work earlier that night and surprisingly no one had seen him in a while and when his friend came in asking about him too she really started to worry. It wasn't like him to miss a date or just disappear even though she had only know him for six months she knew it was out of character, Sookie pushed the key into the door and turned the knob home sweet home she thought as she walked into her tiny apartment.
She went about her nightly routine grabbing a bite to eat and jumping into the shower, everything seemed fine in her little world as she combed through her hair and pulled on her grans flannel night gown that she wore when she was home sick. Sookie climbed into bed and closed her eyes trying not to think about Miles and hoping the sun wouldn't creep through the windows for another couple of hours, she was drifting off to sleep when the bed shift beside her she didn't have time to panic or think with his hands already around her throat and her eyes feeling heavy.
Sookie felt the burning in her chest as she gasped for air but it was no use her eyes blurred and everything went black, she knew who choked her she could smell his cologne in the air as he pulled the flannel night gown over her head and ripped her underwear form her body. It didn't take long for him to climb on top of her and push himself inside causing pain to rip through her like fire and bringing her back from the darkness, Sookie screamed digging her nails into his arms and begging him to stop but his size and rage over powered her making her feel small and weak under him as he shoved himself inside of her over and over.
There was nothing she could do no words she could say and no tears that would stop him he was angry with her for leaving and he knew just how to show her he was the boss, finally finished and rolling off of her without saying a word he looked down at her and smiled pleased with the pain he caused her and she knew he wasn't going to let her go again. Sookie could feel the blood and semen pooling on the bed under her but she knew better than to move or say a word she knew not to give him any reason to hurt her more, she laid stiff afraid to look at him as he curled himself around her body and fell asleep with her in his grip.
Three days of rape and beatings left her curled up on the bed bloody and bruised while he was deciding what to do with her, she lay there praying that someone would notice she was missing and on the third day a knock at the door gave her hope. Sookie had always been on time to work and hadn't missed a day since she started so she figured this was someone from down stairs coming to look for her, his body tensed as he paced the floor shooting her a look that told her not to make a sound she couldn't remember ever seeing him panic like this before and that's when she realized he never planned on her ever leaving the apartment again.
Tears filled her eyes he was going to kill her and some stranger she worked with for the last six months would find her body beaten and bloody, Sookie panicked she didn't want to die not like this so far away from home and everyone that she loved with an ID that said she was Beth Evans. Another knock drew his attention to the door and Sookie jumped into action, using every bit of fear to push herself from the bed she jumped up and flew into the bathroom screaming for help as she ran.
With the door slammed shut and locked behind her she threw the bathroom window open and screamed into the streets for help terrified that any second he would break through the door and end her life, she blamed herself for this she was carless and comfortable knowing all along he would come for her. Scared and huddled in a corner she prayed he was gone and help was on its way some had to have heard her screams, It was about a half an hour later when the police officer knocked on the bathroom door calling out a name that wasn't hers, "is he gone" she whispered through the door and why the officer assured her he was she crawled to the door and pulled it open.
Sookie hadn't looked in the mirror so she had no clue how bad things really were it wasn't until the officer walked into the bathroom and the look on his face told her all she needed to know, the tall slender man called for a stretcher over his shoulder and knelt down beside her telling her everything was all right. She wanted to tell him it wasn't and that the person responsible would hunt her until she was dead but she didn't, Sookie knew better than to stay in the hospital that night he would look for her there so she waited for the first chance to run and she took it without looking back.
By the time the sun came up Sookie was settled on staying and she knew that meant being honest with the people she loved, they needed to know what she was up against and why she refused to let them help, she dragged herself into the kitchen and made some coffee before she reached for the phone. Her plan was to have everyone over to the house for diner so she could just explain things to everyone at once, Tara told her she and Andy would be there at six and asked if they could bring anything while Jason was game for anything where he was getting to eat a home cooked meal.
Bill agreed to join them though he sounded a little upset that it was a group diner that she was cancelling their date for and not a romantic evening at home with him, her list was almost finished she had saved Eric for last figuring she owed him an apology for the way she acted after their kiss. She picked up the phone taking a deep breath before dialing it was hard for her to admit the truth about how she felt about him and following it with I'm being stalked only made it worse, she dialed his number and waited for him to answer but he never did the phone rang several times before a voicemail service picked up and she flipped the phone shut afraid to leave a message.
Sookie was sure that when she freaked out yesterday on their date that he lost interest but she at least hoped they could be friends, she dialed his number several times throughout the morning and each time his voice mail picked up she flipped her phone shut. Time was running out it was noon already and she still needed to go to the grocery store a buy something for dinner, Sookie headed for the store feeling a little excited about dinner the last time everyone had gathered at her house was when Gran threw her and Jason a graduation party in the backyard.
Sookie walked into the Stop and Save hoping to find what she needed for dinner, she strolled through the isle grabbing a few things as she went before she headed to the meat counter. She was standing with her head down browsing the different meats when I familiar voice spoke over her shoulder, "how about a Roast" he said and every hair on her body stood up. Run her gut told her but her brain told her to stay calm "Hello Alcide I heard you were in town" she said turning to look him in the face, "you always made a good roast" he said smiling as he looked up and down at her five foot frame.
Sookie felt her skin crawl as his eyes wondered over her body "Steak it is" she said turning away from him hoping he wouldn't see the fear building in her eyes, "you look great Sookie really much better than the last time I saw you" he chuckled as he finished the sentence. Her stomach started to turn she picked she bent down and picked up a ten pack of steaks and turned to walk away "have a nice life Alcide" Sookie kept her eyes straight ahead, she made it the end of the isle feeling triumphant when a single sentence brought her to her knees "See You At Home Sweet Heart."