AN: Hi all. Thank you to all my loyal readers and the new ones of you out there too. I never thought that I would reach the point of 100,000 words when I started this piece and to chapter 40 to boot. In reaching this milestone I want to say that I am nowhere near finished. I am so grateful to everyone that has reviewed, or put this story on alert. Now that my semester is in full swing again classes and homework will be my priority, however I will try to update at least every two weeks if not sooner. So don't get mad at me if I am not posting. I do sadly have a life outside of fan fiction that will need my attention most of the time. Enough of my tearful ramblings enjoy the chapter. As always read, review and enjoy.

Disclaimer: This is a fan fiction so I only get the loving and sometimes not so loving reviews of my readers. Also I do not condone or encourage underage or excessive drinking.

Warning: There is a violent scene at the end of the chapter.

Chapter 40

On Saturday the haunted house closed at 7 pm. The girls and I booked it out of there so we could go get changed. We were just finishing our make-up and hair when Gran came into the living room. "Girls have fun tonight but don't drink too much. I know what goes on at these parties so just be careful and if you do drink call I will come and get you. Remember that you are going with hunter tomorrow trick-or-treating so don't stay out too late." Gran said as she helped me with the last flower for my hair. I had curled it and wove silk flowers into it.

"We will call if we need a ride. I don't plan on drinking I just want to have some fun. I will get back before morning." I answered giving Gran a hug.

"Speaking of rides I think I hear ours." Amelia said picking up her hat. Amelia had asked Tray to give us a ride. Holly and I followed Amelia out the door saying our goodbyes to Gran as we went. Tray had dressed up as one of the green army men from Toy Story. He had even painted his face and hands in a shiny bright green. Holly and I hopped in the back of the car she had to help me fit my wings in. Amelia got in front with Tray. As we approached Preston's father's house the lane was parked up on both sides with tones of cars. Tray drove us up to the front of the house to let us out so that we would not have to walk too far. It was a modest sized farm house with lots of land behind. Some of the guys from the basketball team were standing around on the front lawn with various containers of alcohol. I spotted Preston and Remy in the middle. They were both dressed as gangsters from the 1920's. Preston smiled and waved us over as Tray let us out so he could go park. Amelia was going with him to no doubt make out in his car or more. Holly linked arms with me and we made our way over to the guys.

"I am glad you came. You look stunning Sookie." Preston said as he pulled me into a hug in greeting.

"Thanks you look pretty keen yourself." I blushed at his complement.

"Well thank you kindly miss." He smiled and tipped his hat at me. "Can I get you girls something to drink? We have a little bit of everything alcoholic and not. The blue coolers have pop and water, the green have beer and other bottled stuff but don't drink out of the red drink dispenser it has jungle juice with sloe gin in it. I don't want you two getting sick." He explained steering us in the direction of the back yard. I shuttered remembering the time that Jason and the guys had stolen some from Alcide's dad. Mr. Herveaux had a friend that was a moonshiner that made some of the strongest sprits in the south. They had puked so much that when Gran found them they were dehydrated with red-violet stains all over their clothes. She made them strip down and burned the clothes cause she knew she could not get the stains out. The sad thing was they had only each had a few swigs from the bottle before they started retching.

"Thanks for the warning. I'll have some water I don't really want to drink." I said as my blush deepened.

"I would love a coke if you have some." Holly piped in.

"I'll be right back ladies don't go anywhere." Preston shouted over his shoulder as he took off to retrieve our drinks. I looked around the back yard and saw several people that I had seen at the haunted house dressed in new less bloody costumes. There were ghosts, monsters, witches, sexy just about anything and random movie characters. There was a makeshift dance floor in the middle of the yard with music blaring out of speakers that I could not find. Tara, Lafayette and some other dance team members were shaking it to the beat. Tara was done up like a nurse and Lafayette was in drag. He made a very pretty but slightly hairy girl. Tara waved at us but went back to dancing. I noticed that Jason and a few other guys were standing at the back of the property passing around a jar of clear liquid. I could only guess at its contents. I also saw Arlene and Debbie with their click making their way to us. Arlene had a pair of devil horns perch on top of her head and wearing a glittery blue dress. Debbie had a furry hood with ears and was wearing a skimpy brown outfit that had a long tail hanging off the back. Daphne and Tanya were both dressed as pin up girls. Daphne in a black poke-a-dot number had her hair pulled back in a finger wave. Tanya looked like a sailor in a white dress with navy blue piping. Her hair was up in a French twist with a small lopsided sailor hat. Preston returned handing us our drinks in red Solo cups just as they stopped in front of us.

"If I had known that you invited everyone I don't think we would have come." Debbie sneered at Preston.

"See as how I know I did not invite you girls I could care less." Preston replied putting a protective arm around my waist. "And I suggest that you be nice to the people that I did before I throw you out."

"Come on girls I think that we need to leave this party's cool factor seems to be flat lining." Arlene hissed. As they were walking past us Debbie made a move to spill her drink on me but tripped over her ridiculously high heels and dumped it down her front. She shrieked as we all started laughing. Even her friends were trying their hardest not to. She threw what was left of her drink on the ground and stomped off with the cackling trio following behind her.

"Now that we've gotten rid of the crashers would you like to dance?" Preston leaned down and whispered in my ear. I nodded in agreement as he ushered me to the dance floor. Holly followed dragging Hoyt along with her from out of nowhere. I spotted a ruffled, slightly green Amelia reaper with Tray on her heals. We danced for a while when someone tapped on Preston's shoulder to cut in. It was John. He was dressed gladiator.

"You look amazing Sookie." He smiled sadly down at me as the music changed to a slow song.

"Thanks you look great too." I mumbled as we turned.

"How have you been recently? I haven't gotten to talk to you much." He asked pulling me closer.

"I am doing well. I have been real busy with everything. On Monday orchestra is doing our fall tour thing. I have been practicing a lot for that. The haunted house has been going good too and I am almost done with driver's ed. I can't wait till I can drive on my own. How have you been?" I countered as swayed in time to the beat.

"Good but I ah… miss you." He answered bashfully.

"I miss getting to spend time with you too but you know how I feel about this." I replied pulling away.

"Just finish that dance with me. I won't talk about that any more. Please!" He beseeched me.

"Ok." We finished the song. He was reluctant to let me go when it was over. I made my way over to one of the clusters of coolers to find something to drink. I plucked a bottle of water from icy slush. I was taking a sip when a guy I did not recognize approached me. He had a on a mask that obscured the top half of his face that had a long beak that protruded off the front. He looked like an over grown crow dressed all in black.

"You aren't going to drink that are you? You so need something stronger." He slurred offering me his cup. His breath could have burned a hole in the coolers. He was obviously drunk.

"No thanks." I said side stepping him. He did not take my rejection of his offer well and made to grab me. He clutched onto my arm jerking me back to him. I screamed for all I was worth. There was a fight going on near the other end of the property. Two guys were going at it and a large crowed had formed around them cheering so my screams were swallowed up by the noise.

"I wasn't done with you yet." He breathed heavily on my neck. He maneuvered me into the wooded area near the property kicking and screaming the whole way. Putting his hand over my mouth to stifle my screams I soon realized that he was not as drunk as I thought him to be. He pulled me further into the woods away from the party. I was panicking and trying to think how I could get away from this monster. Once I could no longer hear sounds from the party he tossed me on the ground. My head made a sickening thud as it bounced. I became dizzy. He stood there for a minute looming over me with the creepiest smirk. "I am going to enjoy this. Your brother destroyed my sister so I am going to return the favor." He leered unbuttoning his jeans. I renewed my screams as he went for his boxers. I tried to scramble away but he was on me as soon as I flipped over and started crawling. "Shut up will you I don't need an audience for this." He bellowed flipping me over and slamming me into the ground again. He ripped at my skirt and underwear. I knead him as hard as I could and I stretched out my arms feeling a stick just out of reach. I clawed at his face and knead him again this time he reared back in pain. I tried to inch closer to the stick while he was momentarily distracted. If I could just get my hands on it then I could maybe use it to get him off me. He noticed my movement and knocked the stick away. He clasped his hands around my neck and started to squeeze. As what seemed to be my last hope rolled away. I heard movement and someone shouting my name.

"HELP ME!" I screamed as I started to black out. My attacker leapt up and tried to run off. He stumbled over his pants and fell to the ground. My vision blurred.

"Sookie!" I heard just as everything went black.