No... Please

"Haah… haa… haa…" A young man panted heavily, his body twisting and turning as beads of sweat trailed down his forehead. His teeth clenched tightly, and his breaths came in short, ragged gasps. "No… I… no… please… no…" he murmured between gasps, his eyes shut tight as he wrestled with the torment of his dream.

"RYAN! WAKE UP! RYAN!"

"HAAAA!" With a sharp gasp, he bolted upright, his hands instinctively clutching his chest. His wide, disoriented eyes darted around the room until a soft, familiar voice broke through his panic.

"You're okay. It's alright," the voice reassured him. He turned toward it, his gaze landing on a girl with striking blue-green eyes. She cupped his sweat-drenched face gently, her touch grounding him.

"Renay? What—" he began, only to be interrupted as she lunged forward and pulled him into a tight hug.

"What's wrong?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.