As Jerry drove through the darkness, interspersed with flashes of streetlamps, I lay my head back against the seat and closed my eyes.  The purr of the van's engine, coupled with the warmth in the van and the lethargic feeling that occurs when huge amounts of adrenaline disperse within the body, put me to sleep.

     Her laugh echoed through the trees as I chased her.  I could have caught her easily, but the chase was more fun.  She darted from tree to tree, agiley leaping over small shrubs and fallen branches as I ran behind her lithe form.  "You'll never catch me," she called over her shoulder, "I'm quick as a hummingbird."

     "What's the prize for catching you?" I called back.

     She stopped and spun around, forty feet ahead, and held up her hand in a "stop" gesture.  Her knees bent, ready to run again if I didn't stop, but I did.  Panting, I watched her, loving the sight of her.

     She lowered her head, eyes giving me that coy look that always melted my heart and said, "You'll get what you've always wanted."  She smiled, turned and took off like a rabbit.

     Realization of the promise took a few seconds, enough time to give her another ten yards lead.  The thought of "getting what I've always wanted" could only be one thing.  I ran, this time determined to end the chase and claim my prize.

     Jerry hit a pot hole, jarring me out of my dream.  "Sorry," he muttered.  I simply grunted, settled myself back into the seat and closed my eyes.  The hum of the engine and the wind blowing past the vehicle quickly lulled me back to sleep and the dream came again.

     The tent was warm, Julie's body warmer.  Silky smooth skin, breasts shiny with perspiration, she hugged me tightly as I thrust a final time and came within the protective custody of the prophylactic.  Her thighs tightened around my waist as she, too, reached orgasm.  A minute later, basking in the afterglow of our first time making love, she turned her head and caught my eyes with hers.  "I love you so much, Michael.  Promise me that you'll never leave me."

     "I promise, my love.  I will never, ever leave you," I whispered.

     The slight squeel of the brakes and Jerry's voice brought me back to reality.  "We're home, Mike.  Come on, let's pop a couple of brews and celebrate." 

      I was relieved that Jerry had taken me out of the dream when he did.  What followed the love making was nothing but terror, horror and death.  I knew because I'd lived through it and Julie hadn't.  I knew because I'd had this same dream every night since Julie died.  As I stepped from the van, flashes of the dream continued to whirl through my weary mind. 

     Our tent was yanked up, as if it were nothing but a napkin, and tossed to the side.  Rough, cold hands grabbed my neck and threw me fifteen feet into a tree where I lost consciousness.  I came to with Julie's scream ringing through my entire body.  Through a haze of tears and a foggy head, I saw her on the ground, the bare buttocks of a man bouncing between her legs.  Another stood to the side, watching while buttoning his own trousers.  In a fit of rage I charged the one on top of Julie and tackled him, throwing us both to the side of her.

     The strength of this man was unbelievable.  He regained his feet so fast that I almost didn't see it.  He reached down, grabbed me by the neck and held me up, feet dangling two feet from the ground.  He pulled me close.  His breath stank of rot, something dead.  I will never forget his whispered words or his gold colored eyes glaring at me in hatred.  "It's not your turn," he said and tossed me aside.

     As I landed hard on my rump, I saw the true horror of this devastating attack.  The second man had pulled Julie to her feet and bent her backwards.  He'd leaned over her and was sucking her neck.  I could hear the slurping, sucking noise.  I saw blood - shinning black in the moonlight - drip from the sides of his mouth to run across the pale white of her neck.  Vampires!  The word sprung into my mind as I regained my feet, intent on continuing my attack.  Before, I could take two running steps, however, the monster dropped Julie to the ground.  Two more steps and they smiled at me.  One more step and I heard, "Another time, Loverboy," and they vanished.

     Now, I know that they didn't vanish; rather, their speed is such that it appears to the human eye as such.  I've spent everyday since that horrible night, planning my revenge and praying for "another time."