VIII
Serah woke with a start.
That same nightmare...
She looked at the clock on her bedside table; a little past midnight.
She couldn't go back to sleep, not by herself. Chances were Lightning was still awake, so if she were to just ask politely...
Serah smiled. She hadn't slept in the same bed as Lightning since she was five, when both her parents were alive. Lightning was eight at the time.
Serah snapped back to the present and hopped clumsily out of bed, staggering out her door.
She hadn't realised how tired she actually was, but it was no use going to sleep in her own room, she'd only just wake up again.
She was about to cross the hallway to Lightning's room, but she almost jumped when she heard her voice. "What're you doing?" Lightning asked.
Serah stiffly turned around.
"Uhh... I could ask you the same thing..."
Lightning grunted.
She was sitting in front of the television, hugging her knees to her chest. "Insomniac" she sighed, pointing to herself.
Serah copied her. "Nightmares..."
The older of the two smiled with concern and patted the ground next to her. Serah complied, sitting close to her.
"Same one as before?" Lightning breathed, crossing her arms.
Serah rested her head on Lightning's shoulder. "Yeah, it's really weird; like it keeps coming back to haunt me."
"Nothing's going to haunt you with me around" Lightning assured her.
Serah smiled and snaked her arms around one of her older sister's.
"Yeah..." She slowly closed her eyes, drifting easily into slumber.
Lightning swallowed. Soon, she'd have to start looking for a job. Her inheritance wasn't enough to keep them going until she was eighteen. But she'd always have time for Serah; job or no job, school or no school.
She turned her attention to the sleeping girl on her shoulder. She exhaled. As silently as she could manage, Lightning carried her to her room.
After placing her on the bed, she leaned back in a chair nearby and closed her eyes.
It was all lying on her shoulder. Her future, Serah's future... She frowned.
"C-Claire..."
Her eyes shot open, and relaxed when she realised Serah was mumbling in her sleep.
"I'm here, Serah" she breathed.
I'll always be here.