Chapter 3: A special spot

Serah slowly opened her eyes, feeling dizzy and confused, a big hand gently caressed her cheek. With one hand she rubbed her forehead and sat up: „What… where am I?"

Snow smiled slightly: „Are you alright? You just collapsed…" She blinked and then directly looked at his face. She saw worry, however not as much as she saw in the young man's face, the man from her… dream. Yes, a dream. That's how she might call it. What else should it have been?

Maybe she was just a little ill: „Snow… I… yes, I'm alright. You know what, just leave the mirror there. I don't mind" Snow pulled her into a close embrace: „That's my girl! Want some coffee now?" Serah nodded briefly and took Snow's hand to get up.

She stared at her cup of coffee in the kitchen. It was a small cup, beautiful though. It was one of these with a lot of ornamentation, colored creme to bright orange and delicate pink. It reminded her of the sunset.

Oh, how she loved watching the sun set at the beach. When she thought about it, she realized that there hadn't been a single rainy day since she came back to New Bodhum.

Sighing Serah turned her head into Snow's direction: „Snow... have you seen Lightning today?" Snow nodded and put his cup down: „Sure. She has left before you woke. Don't know where she went." Serah took another sip of her coffee and then answered: „I'm sure, she will be back soon, she doesn't like long trips…"

Snow just nodded and then stood up from his chair: „I have to leave you for some hours now, darling… I'm helping Gadot and Maqui rebuild a bridge."

Serah stood up, too: „Shall I come with you?"

Snow shook his head: „No, no! It's not a big deal, I promise. Just stay here, Serah"

One moment she thought of protest, but Snow wouldn't lie to her, he would be back, in the evening. So she walked over to him and mildly kissed him: „I will wait for you with dinner."

When Snow was gone, Serah grabbed a book and sat herself down under a tree. The sun and the heat made her sleepy and soon she dreamed away.

When she woke again, the clouds were covered in lavender and salmon. Serah yawned and rose sluggishly. She walked closer to the ocean, attracted by the sound of the waves. It was so beautiful, so untouchable. For her the sunset was breathtaking. It was getting dark, after the last faint rays of the sun touched the sea.

Torn by the moment Serah quickly paced back to the house. It was already after eight, Snow had to be back already. He had left about ten hours ago.

But when Serah stormed into the house, it was all dark and still. Snow, Gadot and Maqui still weren't home, Lightning was still out too. Lebreau and Yuj had traveled to Archylte Steppe a few months ago. The very first time since her journey Serah was alone.

She gritted her teeth and slumped against the wall. Her journey… She couldn't remember most of that. She just knew, that she had visited a lot of places and she had learned how to fight monsters. But she couldn't remember a single person she met, a single conversation or any detail.

Snow told her, she had been so tired, maybe she forgot about those things. Because she couldn't explain it to herself any different she just believed in Snow's words.

Serah decided to get some more air, she swiftly got up and grabbed her jacket. It was already night, so she was afraid of catching a cold.

She strolled along the beach away from New Bodhum. She climbed over the fence, which was there to keep monsters away from the people, but there were just a few small ones. Snow started a project so a few weeks ago an even bigger one has been built farther away. Now the area where anyone could be safe was a lot bigger. Finally people were able to see uncharted parts of the region.

Serah although had been there before, it was the day she had started her journey. She couldn't remember how it had started, but it had been a short walk from New Bodhum. Something unbelievable had happened.

Without really knowing where she wandered or why she did it, she continued walking with her head bowed like in a prayer. It was getting cold, so Serah was glad, she had her jacket with her. The further she left New Bodhum behind the cloudier the sky seemed to be. Or was it the nearer she got to… something?

Like in a trance she kept on going and suddenly stopped at a small cliff, a few feet away from the sea.

There was a crater in the earth, like a big hole. Nothing was inside, just the hole in the ground. Carefully Serah climbed down in the dirt and looked around. She felt like she was in the middle of nowhere. Bewildered she stepped in the middle of the pit. What did cause that thing?

Unexpectedly a voice appeared in Serah's head. It was the voice of the young man from her dream.

It's like a portal. Lightning is in a place called Valhalla. She's waiting on the other side.

In shock Serah staggered back. What was happening to her? Lightning was just at work or elsewhere, but not in whatever place Valhalla should be!

An image flashed before her eyes. It was that girl… her and that boy. They were holding up a shiny thing. And then they started ascending and they vanished.

It felt kind of real to Serah, so true, so familiar…

She had to get away from there. She started running and climbed, more stumbled out of the crater. Serah cut her knees, but stood up right away and ran faster and faster. But the voices didn't stop.

What is that? An arm?!

Look out!

Yeah, and not looking to shake hands, I'm guessing…

Noel!

Serah started to cry at her own voice screaming a name, Noel.

She fell over and landed hard on the ground again, but she didn't care, she just wanted to get away, as quickly as possible. Instantly she stood up again and ran, gasping for air.

And then something happend: She felt a cold drop of water touching her forehead, and then another one and one more. It was raining! And Serah couldn't stop crying.

When she reached the first border she was exhausted and collapsed into the wet grass. Struggling for air, the rain drenched her hair and clothes.

Serah whipped her tears away with her palm and dragged herself back to the house. Lightning struck at the beach directly in front of her and a moment later a deafening thunder rang out.

Serah closed the door behind her, she was scared! A soft voice tried to comfort her: „Serah? What is wrong?" Serah looked up and in front of her stood her sister.

Lightning held out a towel and on her lips… that narrow smile, the same one as Snow, as Yuj and everyone else put on around her…

Author's note:

Hey guys! Thank's for reading this, maybe leave a short review. Only takes a few secs and it means the world to me! :)