Chapter 9

A/N: Sorry for the late update, been dredging through days with a lack of creativity juices flowing. Bear with me folks, I'm kicking into third gear soon. Please, enjoy!

A momentary lapse of dreadful silence befell the group as soon as they all realized what Snow had attempted and what Hope had done to prevent it. Their eyes stared dumbfounded at the fragile boy lying still on the ground - only a slight breeze from the wind wafted through his silver hair, but he remained motionless. Lightning looked down at the ground, praying with all her might for Hope to muster up the strength to brush himself up off the dirt and smile his naïve smile once more, but he never budged.

"Ah, Hope!" Vanille cried out first, snapping everyone out of their dazed stupor. She knelt down beside him and turned him over. He was bleeding profusely on his side and appeared unconscious, but not dead. Fang rushed over to Hope's side to heal him with some potions while Vanille used her skills in magic to minimize the bleeding gunshot wound.

Lightning remained frozen in one spot with Serah clinging onto her fearfully as she stared helplessly at Fang and Vanille trying their best to heal Hope. Lightning was still trying to process what the boy she doubted throughout the entire trip had just done for her. He had saved her life. Everyone's attention then turned to Snow with the weapon still in his hands. His eyes were wild and frenzied while looking at Hope's severe injury. Even Gadot and Lebreau backed away from him up towards where Lightning and Serah stood.

Snow stood alone on one side opening and closing his mouth, unable to find any words to say. Serah's eyes locked onto him with a dangerous fire in her eyes. Snow had tried to murder Lightning, and that was the ultimate unforgivable crime he could have attempted. And now Hope was in severe condition because of him. Serah's rage was stirring and boiling inside of her with the thought of losing either Lighting or Hope. She released her grip from Lightning and stomped towards Snow with a look of murderous intent evident on her face. Lightning was still caught up in wishing for Hope's recovery to notice Serah making her way towards Snow.

Serah stood about a foot away from him and only glared up at him without saying a word. Snow looked back down at her with wide eyes and an ashamed grimace on his lips. Serah then jumped on him like a tiger mauling an antelope and started pounding on his head with all her might. "Snow! You! Are! Going! To! Pay! For! This!" With each word, Serah smacked him and punched him in an outlash of fury and showed no signs of letting up. Snow only took each hit without attempting to run or block any of them.

By that point, the rest of the group noticed the beating Serah was giving Snow and Lightning ran over to stop her. She grabbed Serah's waist and pulled her off of Snow, after much effort. "L-let go of me Claire!" Serah shouted, now whacking Snow with a stick she had picked up off the ground. "He tried to kill you!"

Lightning only subdued Serah by hugging her firmly from behind. "I know what he did," Lightning whispered into her ear. "But hurting him won't solve anything. His guilt will be his punishment," she said and looked at Snow crouching in a defeated manner with his face covered in cuts and bruises. His eyes were dulled and glazed over in disbelief at what he had done. Lighting was surprised at her own self-control, for she was the one who usually liked to give Snow the beating he always deserved, but the important thing at the moment was helping Hope.

Serah finally loosened her tensed body and hugged Lighting tightly and internally thanked Hope for saving her sister.

They walked over to Hope and saw that his wound was now somewhat healed, but not entirely. "We have to take him to a hospital," Lightning said and put her hands gingerly under him and lifted him up off the ground as carefully as she could. His eyes remained closed as Lightning carried him towards Gadot's vehicle parked on the side of the building. Fang jogged up to Lightning and whispered, "What about trigger happy idiot over there?" Fang asked and pointed to Snow still crouched down in the same position. Lightning gazed at him silently for a moment and then told Gadot and Lebreau to escort him to the authorities. They didn't disagree with Lightning and did what they were told.

Snow realized what Lebreau and Gadot were trying to do, but didn't fight them off as they walked him over to the other vehicle to escort him to the police station. Serah looked at Snow walking with his head hung low and locked eyes with him for a second. His eyes expressed deep remorse as he looked at her, but Serah turned her eyes from him as soon as she saw the sadness in his eyes - unable to look at him any longer.

Lightning walked over to Serah and placed her hands on her shoulders as she watched Lebreau and Gadot drive away with Snow in the back of the vehicle. Serah turned towards Lightning and looked at her with a sad smile on her face. "I almost lost you…," Serah said quietly and shakily as she grasped the sides of Lightning's arm.

Lightning kissed Serah's forehead and brushed strands of her pink hair away from her eyes. They remained in a quiet embrace as they both prayed for Hope.