Chapter 17

"Okay. This is it, folks. Now, remember this man is a lunatic. He's a crazy, murderous, arsehole. This is my house, so please, no fire-based attacks or nothing too fancy – I just bought new furniture," Fang spoke as if she was the lead in Braveheart. "Vanille, ready your weapon. Hope, put down that damn mandarin and find some cover – you're still unable to fight, and let's be honest, you were never really good even before your injury."

Hope looked shocked and insulted from Fang's outspoken honesty, but knew it was best not to get into an argument with Fang.

I turned my attention to Serah and I grabbed her shoulders firmly to look her in her eyes. She was not afraid and it was clear from her determined stare.

"I think it would be best if you went with Hope to put some distance between Snow," I told her.

"No, Claire, I'm staying," Serah, replied, her mind made up.

I observed Serah's features and at that moment, I realized a woman was staring back at me and not the little girl I remembered always wanting to protect. When did you get so mature? I thought to myself and suddenly, felt like I wanted to cry.

I gave her a half-smile and tipped my head forward in acknowledgement. "Okay," I said.

Serah's crystal-blue eyes fogged slightly, but she smiled through whatever sadness plaguing her. "I know you can always take care of yourself, Claire, but I want to be the one to watch out for you this time. You are always there for me. I should be able to do the same."

Serah moved in to lay her head against my chest. "I really don't want to see anyone else get hurt."

I laid a hand atop her head and kissed the soft hair which tickled my lips. "He won't hurt me or anyone else. Not on my watch," I assured her.

Serah looked up at me and placed her palms flat against my collarbone. "I know," she stated, and looked down and away as she thought deeply. "Please, Claire, he wasn't always like this."

I understood what she meant as I spotted the faint nostalgia in her eyes.

"You still care for him even after all he's done?" I asked, not out of jealousy, but out of pure curiosity.

Serah looked at me slightly amused about how wrong I was. "No, I care about how you may feel afterwards if you do something you might regret," Serah clarified, and observed me silently in a way which made me feel naked.

She knew. Serah could always see through me. Perhaps she could even see my thoughts in which I pictured killing Snow in many ways, like macabre movie reels. I tried to think of something else besides revenge truly believing she could read my mind, and I focused on Serah's tranquil eyes – blue as the water of an ocean – and I felt calm.

Another series of loud knocks came from the other side of Fang's front door and interrupted our moment.

"Impatient butt," I heard Fang mumble under her breath. "Alright, best not dawdle around any longer before he decides to bomb my door too," Fang, announced, and signaled for me to come forward.

I gave Serah one last lingering look before I walked towards the door. As I approached the door I could slightly make out Snow's blonde hair through one of the small windows above the threshold, he was no longer wearing his knit-cap and his long hair went down to his shoulders like a punk-rock grunge lead. I turned back to make sure Hope had found a hiding place. I then turned my attention over at Fang and Vanille who both gave me a thumbs-up. Serah sat atop the table with her arms crossed looking surprisingly serene. I stood a moment longer at the door and nearly laughed at the fact that only a flimsy piece of wood was standing between me and throttling Snow.

Many thoughts were running through my head and I couldn't quite grasp one to fully form into a musing. Mainly, I thought about the possible outcomes of confronting Snow, how much I hated him for taking Serah away from me and creating such a mess, and if I should just eliminate him right here and now. But somewhere deep down inside me I possibly wanted to forgive him.

Damn, conscious.

My hand wrapped around the doorknob while my other free one grasped the hilt of my blade. Can't be too careful.

Like a long-awaited reunion, the moment my eyes met Snow's, time seemed to slow and trickle by. Snow's blank face transformed into one of amusement when he spotted my hand on my weapon.

"Good ol' Lightning," he said, his voice raspy as if he had been smoking and drinking for days. His eyes looked tired with newly-formed little lines at the bottom and sides. Dark, deep circles made Snow's eyes look like a raccoon's and the fuzzy, full-grown beard only made the image more complete.

I didn't say anything and the room was as still and silent as a funeral wake.

Snow's eyes roamed Fang's living room until he spotted Serah sitting on the tabletop. Instantaneously, a little spark flickered across his eyes, but disappeared as soon as it had appeared. He looked despondent, but then a resolute smile cracked at the edge of his lips.

I remained wary as I remembered Snow on the day he attempted to shoot me down, but hit Hope instead and then there was the empty look on his face the day of the courtroom, but today, it was a different Snow – as if he had changed back into the once jovial, boyish, well-meaning (albeit idiotic) self. He's unpredictable, irrational, and I didn't trust him even the slightest.

"What do you want, Snow?" I finally asked him the question on everyone's mind.

After some time he answered, "The power to turn back time," and laughed childishly. He tilted his head sideways until he made contact with the wood paneling of the door. He rested his head there with a sad and blissful smirk on his face. His eyes were closed as his smile remained frozen on his face as if in a scene of a photograph.

I heard Fang snort and sigh impatiently at Snow's response. Soft footsteps behind me made me turn my head slightly to see Serah approaching the door. I instinctually wanted to tell her to head back, but I knew I no longer had the power to alter her decisions.

I could feel Serah's body heat behind me, but she no longer needed me to protect her – I knew this and allowed her forward.

Snow still had his eyes closed with the same peaceful expression on his face as Serah stood before him. From an outsider's perspective, they'd have thought the situation an insanely bizarre one. Like a scene out of a twisted, satirical play, there was Serah, a significantly smaller woman, standing before a sad hulking giant named Snow. Also, there were three other women with their weapons at the ready. I'd have laughed if I wasn't a participant.

"Snow," Serah called out.

"Hmm?" Snow hummed, his eyes still closed as if afraid to open them to nothingness.

"The least you can do is look at me," Serah said.

Snow slowly opened his eyes and his vision took Serah in his sights. He smiled. "Gee, did I die and go to Heaven because I see an angel standing before me," Snow said, and chuckled softly.

I immediately went into an offensive stance – Snow's statement bothering me than I thought it would.
"Did he really just use that lame line?" Fang whispered to Vanille in disbelief.

Vanille made a gagging gesture as Fang chuckled softly.

Serah turned to see me losing my patience and gave me a pleading look to back down. Just like Serah to always think there was good in people, but I wondered if she knew some people really had no intentions on spreading goodwill.

Snow turned his eyes to me and his smile faltered slightly. "I'm only joking, Lighting. I know when I'm defeated. Can't beat the love between siblings."

With that, I saw only red and I sprang forward with my blade fully retracted and ready for a fatal blow to Snow's neck, but Serah stopped me.

"Move, Serah!" I ordered, breathed heavily, but Serah held my shoulders and whispered urgently in my ear, but I only heard the blood pounding maddeningly in my ears in a rhythm as if urging me to 'Do it. Do it.' But Serah's voice was fighting back the devil's voice on my shoulder.

But while everyone was distracted between the scuffle between Serah and myself, a loud groan of pain came from Snow and we all turned to see something so mind-bendingly shocking and surprising we had all thought we entered a strange dream.

Hope was sitting atop of Snow's chest and pummeling the guy as if he were tenderizing meat.

"That's. For. Shooting. Me," Hope said, coupling a punch with each word he said. He took out his weapon and started slapping Snow's face. This is for kidnapping Serah and hurting all those people in the courtroom!" Bam. Wham. If there were comic book sound effects, the scene would have been as comical as it was twisted. "I used to look up to you, but now, I hate you! You're not a hero! You're a loser!" Hope was screaming at the top of his lungs as angry tears streamed down his face. The sling on his arm had come loose, but it appeared he couldn't even feel the excruciating pain he must have been in as he continued his assault.

I ran to Hope to stop him as blind rage took over his actions and I didn't want him to reopen his wound. "Hey, Hope, stop! Calm down," I repeated, as I dragged the flailing boy off of Snow.

Snow laid on the ground looking as defeated as a man could look. There were numerous welts and bruises on his face, but he was still conscious as he stared blankly up at the ceiling.

I handed Hope to Fang and Vanille as they tried to placate him. "Damn, Hope. Remind me not to insult you ever again," Fang said, softly. Vanille was wiping the tears from Hope's face as the silver-haired boy trembled from the bottled-up emotions now running rampant through his body.

Serah's eyes were wide with disbelief at what had just transpired and she struggled to process the whole scene. She looked sadly at the shaking and sobbing Hope and then at Snow. There were many variations of pain in the room, pain borne out of love, friendship, and idolatry, but there was one thing in common in all of them, Snow.

"Can't say he didn't deserve it," I said, to Serah, as I stared at the limp Snow. I was just as surprised as she was at who was the one to lash out. I guess you can't underestimate anyone.

Snow chuckled softly as blood trickled from his nose. We all looked over at him as he struggled to sit up. We all grabbed for our weapons.
"Don't worry," Snow wheezed. "I'm not going to try anything." He looked at Hope for a long moment and didn't say anything. "You're right, I'm no hero, kid," Snow eventually said, and smiled sadly. "But you are now, right? You took down the big, bad villain. A true hero. Proud of you," He finished, and then laughed a little too loud as if masking a pain.

Hope stared at Snow with a lost expression you'd find on a little brother whose older brother had left him alone in a cruel world, and I felt sympathy for the boy. My hate for Snow only grew at how many people he let down. Sure, he was never a hero, but that wasn't what anyone needed him to be.

Snow then looked at Serah and I and the corner of his lips twitched into a broken smirk. "I know I say a lot of stupid things and I may not be the smartest guy, but I know love when I see it." He looked away from us and looked at Fang's unkempt carpet. "I wanted it too," he vaguely finished, and slipped into unconsciousness. Asleep, he looked very boyish and I knew he was never more of a threat than a child throwing a temper-tantrum. It was tragic, but I knew the world was filled with fallen heroes.