Infinite darkness surround him, fear gripped him, he had been here many times before. Her evil laughter echoed from the shadows and it was impossible to distinguish where it was coming from. The bitch was toying with him, that was her way. This was how the dream always was and try as he might, he couldn’t make it stop.

“When will this end?!” Squall yelled in frustration, moving through the pitch blackness that felt thick and inescapable.

“Hello, my Knight,” he heard behind him and spun around to come face to face with Ultimecia. The power she held radiated from her like a wave and he stepped back.

“I’m not your Knight,” Squall said venomously, trying to mask the fear twisting in his stomach.

“You will be soon. Stop foolishly denying it,” she said as her eyes played over him, the look in them making him shudder with revulsion.

“No!” his voice cracked as he backed further away from her. “You’re dead! We killed you!”

“Oh, dear. Do you really think that I was destroyed? I’m much too powerful.” Her lips twisted into a cruel and seductive smile as she drew uncomfortably closer. Squall stood his ground, refusing to show her the terror he was feeling. “You will be mine,” she purred as she walked around him. Her hand touched his bare chest and he flinched from the icy touch with a gasp.

“You’re not real. You’re nothing but a fucking memory,” he sneered, glaring at her with loathing.

“Does this feel like a memory,” she hissed, gripping his hair and digging her nails into his scalp. He clenched his teeth against the pain and tried to push her away as she pressed her body against his own. “You cannot fight the inevitable, do not try,” she warned as he struggled in her surprisingly powerful embrace.

“No!” he growled and struggled harder when he realized she was trying to kiss him. She laughed at his attempt to get free, the sound of it turning his blood cold. “Let go of me, you bitch! he yelled, struggling furiously.

“Squall, it’s me, babe. Wake up,” he faintly heard a sweet voice as he continued to fight. He slowly became aware that he was laying in bed, a cold sweat covering his body as the dream evaporated back into reality. He was still trembling with the aftermath of the nightmare and covered his face to block out Rinoa’s worried expression.

“I’m sorry I woke you,” he sighed, rubbing his eyes tiredly as he sat up.

“It’s okay,” she said softly, brushing a few strands of hair out of his eyes. “Do you want to talk about it this time?”

“No!” he said sharply, then winced when he saw the hurt look on her beautiful face. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to snap at you. I just don’t want to talk about it. I’m already forgetting what it was about anyway,” he lied as he got up from the bed.