A/N

Hello again!

It took me much time to even write a short story now. Things have been so hectic lately. I barely able to chew my food well! Lol

Anyway, I hope any of you still remember this story.

Here we go!

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Chapter 6

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"Lightning?"

Lightning snapped her eyes open. Her heart was pounding in her chest. Her hand reached automatically for the shotgun hidden under the bed. Muscle and brain commanded her to aim the gun to anyone who just mentioned her name.

"D-don't shoot!" Hope raised both arms to ears level.

"Hope?" Lightning lowered her shotgun, and sighed. "What's up?"

Hope looked at the square table near the lockers. "Fang just came. She brought breakfast. I thought that it would be better to wake you up before the food gets cold."

Lightning left the bed and walked over to the table with Hope. There were two bowls of mashed potatoes with bacon bits and two glasses of milk. A nutritious breakfast, and obviously, much better than chocolate bars. In fact, this was the most tempting food Lightning had ever seen for a week in Eden.

The girl sat at the table, and ate the food. It tasted warm, thick, and savory. It was a combination of sweet and salty. As if heaven had been transformed into this food and was shoved to her mouth. Her tongue couldn't stop dancing with each mouthful of food. Lightning picked up the bowl and gobbled the rest greedily. She was too hungry to think of table manners now.

"Uh, Lightning? You're starving, aren't you?"

Lightning continued to clear the bowl's content. When no drop left, she slammed the bowl to the table, then grabbed a glass of milk. In one gulp, a full glass of milk had depleted.

"Ha ha." Hope giggled. "You want more? You can eat my share."

Lightning glanced at Hope. The boy just stood there looking at her in amazement. Lightning shook her head. "No. You've got to eat too."

Hope sat next to her, and pulled his bowl. "Hmm. Must be tasty!"

Lightning's eyes couldn't escape from the boy as he finished his food. He was sweet, like Serah. He was innocent, like Serah. Lightning could almost see an illusion of Serah sat there, replacing Hope.

Serah...

"Hey, Hope," she called.

Hope wiped his lips as he finished the last drop of milk. "Hm?"

"About yesterday," said Lightning quietly. "I'm sorry."

"Why?" Hope tilted his head. "It wasn't your fault. No one should be blamed here. Zombies, riots, the city, SANCTUM, and ... Mom."

"Hope." Lightning looked straight into the boy's green irises. "Your mom..."

"She's gone," Hope replied quickly. "Mom ... was killed in our escape."

Lightning widened her eyes. It was the second time Hope told her about his mom, though the first was almost a blur.

Hope stared at his empty bowl reverently as if in prayer. "Before the outbreak, our life was peaceful. I even went to school normally and my dad went to work. But then the riot happened. School was closed, and everything was in chaos! We lost contact with dad and he never came home since then. Mom and I hid for a couple of days at home, and then they came. These people ... they were all fully armed. They attacked us at a sudden!"

Lightning swallowed hard.

Hope's eyes were covered by clear liquid. "We fled to the city, and it turned out, the city was full of zombies. There wasn't any human left, and it made us frustrated. Then, Mom said, we needed to go to Eden Hall because she was sure dad was there. Mom was sure, Dad could help us. Dad always had a way. But, Mom ... Mom..."

"It's enough," Lightning laid one hand on the boy's frail shoulder. "You don't need to continue, Hope."

"She died, Lightning." Despite her warning, the boy still continued. He sobbed and used both hands to cover his face. "Mom protected me from those zombies, and she ... she..."

"Shhs," Lightning shushed as she rubbed circles on Hope's back. "Don't cry now, okay? You have to be strong."

Hope raised his head and looked at Lightning with wet eyes. "Yeah, that's why I want to be stronger and braver."

"You'll be just that. I'm sure of it."

"When I knew that you were going to Eden Hall," the silver haired boy continued, "I wanted to follow you. I thought, with a friend, I wouldn't be too scared."

"We'll go there. Together," said Lightning. "I promise."

Hope wiped the tears from his face. "Yeah. Please promise me, that you won't leave me alone."

"I will not abandon you," said Lightning. Suddenly, as if driven by some sort of mystical power, she wrapped her arms around Hope. So close and tight, she could feel the boy's trembling body under her skin and his scented silver hair under her nose. "And I promise, I'll keep you save."

As what I should do to Serah.

"Lightning, I..." Hope stuttered. "Me too. At least, I'll try it, Lightning."

Lightning let go of the boy, and smiled. "Call me Light."

Hope's face was tinged red, but the boy nodded firmly. "Okay, Light!"

Lightning's smile expanded. For a moment, she was able to forget the horror of Serah's death in her head.

Serah...

She pulled a folding knife from the holster on her left thigh. The knife's blue handle was carved with decorative foreign letters. Serah gave her the knife as a gift for her twenty first birthday a month ago. Lightning cherished the knife, though she never used it. She always brought the knife with her as a good luck charm. She handed the knife to Hope.

"Huh?" Hope looked at the knife wide-eyed.

"For you. It's a good luck charm," said Lightning.

"Are you sure? I mean, it looks expensive and all."

Lightning shook the knife in her hand. "Take it."

"Okay." Hope finally took the knife and held it tightly to his chest. "Thank you, Light!"

Lightning rubbed the top of his head, smiled and felt warmth flowing through her chest.

"Oh, wow, wow! How touching I almost cry!"

The once warm atmosphere suddenly dropped. Lightning turned quickly from Hope to the doorway, glowering.

"Fang," she hissed as if it was her nemesis' name.

Fang moved to the side of the door frame. "Cid wanted to see you. He's waiting at the main hall."

"Why didn't just use the phone?" asked Hope as he shoved the knife into his blue side pouch.

"Oh, yes! Wonder why, huh?" Fang put a finger on her chin mockingly. Then she glared at Hope. "Because he thought you went back to sleep or were eaten zombies or the likes for you two haven't left this damned room for eternity! And he asked me to check you out, and I thought I told you to wake your partner, have breakfast, and head straight to the main hall at once! Weren't you listening to me, kiddo?!"

"Um, sorry," mumbled Hope. "Kinda forgot that…."

Lightning left her chair. "Hope, let's go see Cid!" Then, she directed her eyes at Fang. "Lead the way, Fang!"

Fang rolled her eyes and walked out of the door. Lightning and Hope hurried after her. A few steps after they left the room, Fang suddenly stopped and turned to Lightning.

"You!" she shouted, squinting at the shorter by a centimeter girl. "Did you just call Cid with 'Cid'?"

Lightning shrugged. "That's his name, right?"

"I mean, since when did you call him Cid? Thought I told you the rule." Fang raised both hands to shoulder height.

"Well, it was last night," said Lightning as she folded her arms. She glanced at Hope who shook his head quizzically.

Fang's green eyes were as wide as an egg. "Last night?! The hell have you two done?"

"What do you mean?"

"You and Cid. Why—ah, forget it!" Fang turned again, and walked quickly.

"What's up with her?" Hope tugged at the hem of Lightning's white coat.

Lightning responded by shrugging her shoulders. Then, they ran to catch up with Fang.

Cid Raines was truly waiting for them at the main hall. Today, he looked as immaculate as yesterday. His eyes were lit up, and the smile on his lips was stunning. Lightning had to cover her mouth with the back of her hand to hide a smile that was almost visible.

"Morning!" greeted Cid. "You look fresh! Have you had breakfast?"

"Yup!" Hope answered. "Thanks for the food."

Fang ran to Cid's side, and took his arm. "Hey, get on with it!"

Cid tried to pry Fang's hands away, but failed. Finally, still with Fang dangling at his side, Cid said, "To minimize suspicion among us, perhaps, you want to ask me one or two things?"

"This outbreak, where did it come from?"

All eyes were on Hope in an instant. The boy shrunk immediately.

"Uh, sorry," he said.

"No need to apologize. Let me answer the question," said Cid. "This outbreak, as what I know, was brought by a young woman."

"A young woman?" Lightning looked at her side. "What did she do?"

Cid pushed Fang away from him, and continued, "All I know is, she got the virus from SANCTUM's most renowned researcher. The virus called N.O.R.A.."

At the mention of the name N.O.R.A., Hope flinched.

"N.O.R.A.?" He glanced at Lightning, Cid, and Fang alternately. "That name..."

"Yes, N.O.R.A.. Prof. Estheim used his wife's name as the name of his deadly creation." Cid shook his head in disbelief.

"No. That can't be…," Hope whispered.

"So, what about the virus and that girl?" It was Lightning who asked this time.

Cid cleared his throat, and then, "This girl spread N.O.R.A. throughout the city, and in less than a month, the entire population was infected."

Lightning swallowed. "So, she is the cause of all this?"

In her head, a ghostly image of Serah appeared. She was laughing, smiling, and calling her. Lightning remembered her little sister's sea blue eyes sparkled whenever she looked at them, also the girl's energetic and cheerful demeanor.

Serah was Lightning's life. Lightning used to think, what would her life be without Serah?

And then, the Serah in her head was transformed into the zombie she killed last night—blood flowing from every hole on her face, completely white eyes, and rotten teeth.

"But why?" Hope asked timidly.

"That, I don't know," said Cid sadly.

"It could be," Fang said, "because she worked for that mad scientist Bartholomew Estheim to destroy the whole city!"

"I doubt Prof. Estheim would do it." Cid shook his head. "He is an honorable man who loves Eden as much as everyone else does. He must had his reasosn."

"Yes, you say so, because he is the role model of all SANCTUM scientists," said Fang accusingly. "But no one knows what exactly is in the head of that crazy old man. He, who claims to love this city, could be the cause of its destruction."

"My dad isn't like that!"

Lightning shooed away all the dark memories of Serah's death, and turned to Hope. She wanted to talk, but all the emotions bubbling in her chest and head tightened her voice.

"Your dad?" Cid blinked, then clapped his hands. "Oh, I remember now! You're Prof. Estheim's son. No wonder you seemed somewhat familiar when I first saw you, Hope. You and Mrs. Estheim accompanied Prof. Estheim while attending SANCTUM's anniversary a few months ago, right? "

Hope's hands were clenched firmly on his sides. "Yes. That's right. And I'm sure, my dad would never do such a thing to destroy the city!"

"Hey, kid." Fang approached Hope with a hand on her hip, and held up a finger to Hope's forehead. "Tell your dad, he's crazy. Why would he create a deadly virus, and then told his subordinate to spread the virus to the city? Did he want to kill his family, too?"

So, besides the girl, Hope's father was the mastermind behind this catastrophe? Lightning gritted her teeth. Right after she promised to protect Hope, this was what came next? No way could she keep her promise after knowing that the boy's father played a role in Serah's death.

"My dad wouldn't do such a thing!" Hope insisted. His crystal green eyes flashed with hatred at Fang. "My dad ... wouldn't create a virus that could destroy the city!" The boy turned to Lightning, and tugged at her hand. "Light, let's go to Eden Hall! My dad is there. I know it! He must be able to explain everything!"

"Hey, shorty, do you want to die?" Fang snapped. "There are zombies out there!"

"But we have to go!" Hope denied. "My dad is there! Mom also told me to get there!"

Her mind was blurred. She looked at Hope, and Fang, and Cid. She still couldn't find her voice, still possessed by disappointment and doubt.

"Cid, I think you should tell them about that girl, too," said Fang as she turned to Cid. "You said, you don't want any secrets among us."

"Oh, right." Cid cleared his throat. "This girl, whom we guess was Prof. Estheim's subordinate, is called Farron."

Lightning's eyes doubled in size. Her heart nearly stopped working.

"She was a student at Eden University," said Cid. "Serah Farron."

Serah Farron.

Serah Farron.

Serah. Farron.

Serah Farron, her sweet and innocent little sister. Serah Farron who held the key to Lightning's sanity and life. Serah Farron who spread and destroyed Eden City.

"You're kidding," hissed Lightning, trying to stop the repetition of Serah's name in her foggy mind. Then she laughed nervously. "Very funny."

"We don't know how Farron spread the virus, but she succeeded," Cid added. "Members of SANCTUM military have been dispatched to subdue Farron. However, until now Farron hasn't—"

"SHUT UP!"

All eyes were on Lightning in an instant.

Lightning felt her head scorched with anger. Blood was boiling under her skin, creating a bright red hue. It felt as if smoke would come out of her ears and nose. She growled, clutching her aching chest. "SERAH WOULD NEVER DO THAT!"

"Wait!" Fang stretched a hand in front of Cid who was about to speak again. "You know this Serah Farron girl?"

Lightning didn't answer. She turned around. And ran away.

"Hey!" shrieked Fang. "Where are you going? You crazy bitch!"

"Light!" Hope screamed, then Lightning heard his light footsteps behind her. "I'm coming too!"

Lightning ignored them all. She kept running, leaving the main hall of the police station, and slammed the door behind her.