Valerie didn't remember falling asleep, though really she didn't remember much from the last twenty-four hours. Her mind felt like it was full of lead and her skin itched. She rolled over onto her side, her stomach heaving in protest and before she was really aware of what was going on, she threw up all over the ground.

Someone laughed.

Valerie pushed herself upwards, onto her feet, and saw him. He was leaning against a tree. His ashen hair framed his face, which might have looked charming on someone else, but on this guy, it looked horrifying. His face looked gaunt and sickly, his eyes sunken.

"You're awake," the man said.

Valerie swallowed hard, sickened by the thought that this man had been here watching her while she was unconscious.

"Obviously not," she said. "This is a dream."

He tipped his head to the side, looking very amused. "Is that so."

Valerie nodded, hesitantly because his intent, amused stare had her questioning her statement already. "I must be," she said, "because I'm in a forest with a half-naked man."

She covered her face, thinking how horrified her mother would be if she knew her daughter was dreaming about being alone with some random shirtless man. She'd probably have a conniption or a heart attack, maybe both. Valerie lowered her hands, nearly yelping when she found the man standing directly in front of her--she hadn't even heard him move! 

"This isn't a dream," he said, his voice so assured and calm that the doubt filled her mind again.

"Of course you would say that," she said, trying to convince herself more so than him, "in my dream."

The man's lips peeled back from his teeth in a gristly grin and Valerie nearly died from fear on the spot when she saw his mouth was full of sharp teeth. She couldn't stop staring, even when he stopped smiling and she couldn't see those teeth any more; she just continued to watch his mouth.

"If you're dreaming," the man said, "then it doesn't matter what I do to you, yes?"

Finally, Valerie tore her gaze from his mouth and made eye contact with him. "What do you mean?" she asked, trying to sound brave but ultimately failing.

He smirked and then quickly closed the small remaining distance between them. He hit her body with enough force to drive her backwards until her back slammed against a tree, the bark digging painfully into her skin. She bit back a scream at the agony that flared through her back and then stiffened when the man pressed his body right up against hers, pinning her hands above her head.

Her thoughts stuttered as she tried hard not to think about the position she was in, but her face flamed red and hot as the man smiled down at her.

"Let go," she said.

"Stop me." His grip on her wrists tightened and she winced.

"I can't."

"Why?"

Valerie ground her teeth together. What kind of sick game was he playing?

"Because you're clearly stronger than me," she spat out.

His mouth was right next to her ear when he chuckled, and his breath tickled. "But this is a dream, isn't it? You desperately want that to be true, don't you?"

Valerie glared straight ahead, refusing to answer. If it was a dream, then it didn't matter what she did--eventually she would wake up. If it wasn't a dream... She closed her eyes, feeling sick.

The man released her, and she dropped to the ground, hitting her knees hard. She grit her teeth at the pain and looked up at him, trembling. If this really wasn't a dream, she was in trouble. This guy was obviously out of his mind, walking around in a forest without a shirt on and then assaulting strangers. What the hell was he thinking?

Valerie nearly yelped when she found the man suddenly kneeling in front of her, a satisfied smirk on his face. He took her chin in his hand, forcing her to look at him.

"Finding you was a stroke of luck," he said. "I was afraid we would have to do without this year, but I think you'll do."

He ran his fingers through her hair, and she stiffened, trying hard not to throw up.

The man got to his feet and held a hand out towards her.

"Let's make haste," he said. "Tonight the wolves will sing."

Yeah. He was definitely crazy, but unfortunately for Valerie, she knew that resisting wasn't going to help her, so she took his hand and let him pull her to her feet. He looped an arm around her waist, grinning manically and then he guided her deeper into the forest.