Lightning walked into her sister's room in the hospital. Serah was covered up in the white blanket the hospital had placed on her bed, turned to where her back was facing the door. She closed the door, and walked over to her sister.
"Serah." she said when she got close enough. Her voice was shaky. Her sister stayed in the same position. "Serah." she repeated, louder, making her shakiness more evident. Serah turned over and looked at her sister, smiling when she saw her. If only she knew what Lightning had done. Lightning pulled up one of the chairs, and sat down, her eyes locked on her sister the whole time.
"What's the matter?" her sister asked, turning over to face her. She noticed that her eyes were red, and her cheeks had dried tear trails on them.
"Nothing, Serah." she said. Lightning grabbed Serah's hand, and held it tightly. "I just wanted to come see you."
"But your crying." she said. Lightning wiped at her eyes with her free hand.
"It's nothing." she said. Lightning was both happy and sad at that moment. Happy that her plan had worked. Her urges to harm her sister were gone, for the moment. But sad, for it had all been in vain. "Listen, Serah." she started. Her throat was closing on her, as she felt her eyes watering up again. "I love you. And I'd never hurt you, not for anything in the world." she lied. Who was she kidding? She was the reason Serah had ended up in here in the first place.
"Claire, you're scaring me." Serah said. Lightning couldn't take it any longer. She had to get this over with. She pulled her sister close, and caught her in a close embrace.
"Serah, I love you." she said, letting her tears flow out. "So much."
"Claire, what's-"
"Nothing!" she exclaimed. The outburst shocked both of them. Serah had just asked a question, she was just concerned for her sister, and Lightning had yelled at her for it. Her grip on Serah's shoulder had tightened.
"Claire, your hurting me." she said. Her nails dug deep into the flesh of her shoulder, breaking skin through the fabric. Lightning started to shake, but not from tears.
"No!" she thought to herself. "That was supposed to save her. No!" she let go of her sister, and then pushed her away.
"No!" she shouted. She was failing. She dragged her nails down her face as the tears raced down her cheeks. Her little sister looked at her, going crazy in the middle of the room. She was afraid of her, now. "It didn't work!" she cried. She sank down to her knees, and then covered her face with her hands. She heard footsteps approaching her, so she shot up and backed away. Serah was standing there by the bed, fear and concern in her eyes.
"Claire, I-" she started as she approached her sister. Lightning backed away.
"Serah, stay away from me!" Lightning exclaimed. "Just keep away from me!" she shouted, as she backed toward the door.
"But-"
"No buts!" Lightning shouted. She opened the door, and ran out of the hospital. When she got into the car, she slammed her head down onto the side of the wheel, and let herself cry. It seemed like nothing could save her baby sister. Nothing could ever go back to normal. Killing Snow had only had a very temporary effect on her state of mind.
But then, she got an idea. One that would curve her urges, and one that would keep her from going away forever. She started the car up, and then drove away from the hospital, to her home.
