The icy coldness of his lips against mine was a violation that ripped through the lingering fog of the nightmare. A strangled cry escaped my throat, a sound of pure revulsion. But the unwelcome contact stirred something deep within, a painful blooming in my chest, as if a caged bird was desperately trying to break free. Then, a wrenching sensation, as if something vital was being torn from me. A raw, agonizing scream echoed in the confined space, a sound that felt like it was being ripped from my very core. Above me, a golden light pulsed, detached, free. My soul. Exposed. Tears streamed down my face as I stared up at Ryusuke, a silent plea for it all to stop. He held it, my very essence, cupped in his hand, a look of dark triumph twisting his handsome features. A wave of nausea washed o

