Chapter one

Valerie opened her eyes and shut it almost immediately. The sun was blinding, especially as it reflected on the rocks scattered around her. She held one hand up to block the rays and felt how sore her body was. How sore and how naked. She covered up with her hands by instinct and rose to her feet as swiftly as she possibly could. Thankfully the sun was just rising or she would have roasted on the stones. She couldn't remember anything from the night before. All she knew was that she had to start moving and keep moving, so she did. She walked and walked. All around her were trees for miles but she kept waking and soon, in the distance she could see a tiny cabin. She hurried down. Her lithe figure helping a lot with the jumping and skipping from one rock to another when she got to a stream like side. By the time she got to the cabin she was breathless and sweaty but luckily her efforts were not void as she could see clothes hung on the side of the cabin. She put them on and continued to move. She still didn't remember anything aside from the fact that she stepped out for a stroll and blanked out.

Valerie Hugh lived with her best friend Nathaniel Von Richardson whom she and everyone else called Nate. He was her best friend right from highschool and even then in their 20s. The fact that she didn't go to college and he did didn't prove a hindrance to their friendship as they managed to keep the bond alive. While they were comfortable and completely free like brother and sister around each other, Valerie couldn't exactly say she enjoyed being a refuge in his house. She knew he understood and she was glad but that didn't take any of the unease away. Even as she walked back, trying to find her way through the now thick forest and back to his mansion, all she could think about was how much of a disturbance this little disappearing act of hers which she didn't know how or when she did would cost Nate. He was always sweet and kind but she was starting to feel like she was taking advantage of it and she knew that if she said anything he'd only reply "It's no disturbance, you know I'd do anything for you" she really did know, that was the problem. Valerie could see the road just a few steps ahead. She knew she would have to hitchhike and she wasn't looking forward to it. The first car on the road stopped. She peered in the passenger side window and saw the most handsome face peering at her as well. he looked a bit young and way too good looking to be picking up hitchhikers. In other words, he looked too good to be true and that was what she concluded that he was. She stood up straight and looked away so he'd know she wasn't interested but he didn't seem to get the hint because just then, he half screamed.

"Where you going?" To which she replied "I'm not." he laughed. It was a small laugh, almost just a chuckle. She thought it was the most melodious laughter she had ever heard. His voice wasn't so bad as well.

"Look Mister…" She started saying when he cut her off.

"Hey look, I know what you're about to say." She peered down at him again, reluctantly.

"It's a wicked world and I could be a serial killer for all you know. Single man driving along a road this lonely, at this ungodly hour of the morning, no obvious goods transportation, no companion, kind of suspicious don't you think? But I can assure you I'm not a serial killer and I'm not trying to harm you. I'm just a guy who missed his flight and now has to drive. Look at this road, not a single car has gone by since I parked. I don't know if you know this but we're at least an hour away from any proper civilization and that's by car so I might be your only option and I realize how suspicious that sounds but it's actually quite true and I'm really just trying to help." He took a deep breath after he was done and she smiled very slightly.

"Actually…" She began "I was going to say, I don't know what a pretty thing like you is doing driving around these parts but if I'm getting in a black car with tinted wind shields, I'm going to have to see some I.D and if that's too much you can just drive away now." He looked a bit offended, almost insulted even. He opened his wallet, brought out his driver's license and handed it to her. She looked at it for a moment, then two, then looked back at him.

"Are you sure this is real?" She smiled a full real smile. "Just get in." He said and they both laughed slightly. He started the car, revved the engine and turned to her. "You think I'm pretty?"

"Just drive" she said loudly and they both started laughing. Only then, sitted comfortably and feeling the most safe she'd ever felt with this stranger than with her foster parents and best friend, did she finally get a good look at his face, the structure of his jawline, the shape of his nose, the slight crinkle of his eyes at the side and the soft tilt of his lips when he smiled. He looked older than she'd first thought he was. She was wrong. He was not pretty. Not handsome, not goodlooking. Of course he was all those things and more but in that moment, the one word she could use to describe him was beautiful. He was beautiful in the most manly, muscular and ethereal way. Just absolutely beautiful.