The Guily Ones

One Down, One To Go...

Quickly, I ran to my car. 

For a brief moment, I was incredibly grateful to Eric for not being able to resist meddling in my affairs - without the full tank that he apparently also left me, I probably wouldn't have made it to Sookie's house. 

"Buckle up!" I called to Sam as a command. Irritated, I turned to my passenger seat when I didn't hear a click or reluctant hum. 

Sam wasn't in the car. 

"Sam?" Actually, he was nowhere to be found. "Seriously?Men!" First, they talk big, and then they tuck tail. 

My tires screeched as I was still trying to shift gears. As fast as my little Toyota could manage over the broken streets, I sped to Sookie's. Just in time, it seemed. A scream tore through the air as I came to a stop with gravel spraying underneath me. 

"Sookie!" 

As fast as my feet could carry me, I ran in the direction from which I thought I had heard the screams. 

What you're doing here is unnecessary and stupid!, the voice inside my head scolded me. You have no idea how to help her. No weapons, no support... 

But I could fight, I just had to get close enough to the two of them, and then I could - 

Zap. 

Everything around me was dark. Stuffy. Tight. Panic set in as I tried to open my eyes, but they were too heavy. I couldn't even lift my arms. But then again, I didn't really want to. It was cold. So cold. And yet cozy. I could just sleep. Wait, didn't I have something important to do? Whatever, I'd deal with that later... Let my sluggish thoughts drift away... 

"Ash!" 

Oh, someone was calling me. How nice. Hello to you too! 

"ASHLEY!"

Phew. That was getting a bit too loud now. Besides, I don't like being called Ashley. Ash was much nicer. Suited me better. 

"I think we're late!" 

Someone was crying. I always feel uncomfortable when someone cries. Please stop... 

"We aren't!" 

Oh God, what was he doing here again? Could vampires be reported for stalking? 

"Give her your blood!" 

"Oh, Miss Stackhouse! You and your demands... Well, why should I do that? Humans live, humans die. My blood, on the other hand, is sacred." The conversation was weird. I didn't quite understand what it was about. I just couldn't concentrate. "Eric, PLEASE! What do you want from me to help her?" 

Sookie, no! I wanted to open my eyes and knock the girl unconscious to stop her from talking, but I was just too exhausted. Through the fog, I was pretty sure I had Sookie and Eric in front of me, negotiating some kind of devilish contract, but I was too tired to confirm it. Everything around me and within me spun again, turning from black to white. I felt like I was caught in an unyielding whirlpool, pulling me further and further underwater. And struggling against it was exhausting. They'll take care of me, I could just let myself drift... 

"Be mine!" 

"No, I'm Bill's!" 

Eric growled before continuing disinterestedly. "Too bad then..."

 Even though I was too tired, this sound brought me back to the surface a little bit. It was threatening and yet somehow comforting, even though the content of his words would probably have bad consequences for me. My befuddled brain focused more on the vibrations of his voice, which was like the hum of a car engine... I used to fall asleep immediately when my parents drove the long way down to Georgia to my grandma's house. Even when my parents were arguing...