Promise

chapter iv

010 AF

It's my last night here. Noel and I are leaving tomorrow. It's time to leave and start my journey to find my sister. I don't feel whole without her. There's something missing and I've been searching for that missing piece for the past three years.

I lay next to Hope, with his arms wrapped around me and his head resting in the crook of my neck. I feel his breath on my skin.

"We're going to solve the paradox," I begin. "If we can change the future, we might be able to create a better past."

Hope doesn't say anything for a moment, making me wonder whether he fell asleep.

"I'm going to help you, too," says Hope suddenly. "I'm going to help you find Lightning. And I'm going to get Fang and Vanille back . . ."

I smile. I wish that things could go back to the way things were—the way things were right after Cocoon turned to crystal. If only . . . Except, I wouldn't have ended up with Hope. And I never would've met Noel.

If you'd asked me about time travel a couple of months ago, I probably would've said that it's impossible. But here I am, traveling through time with Noel Kreiss, a young man from the future. Even though no one in New Bodhum believed his story and his purpose, I did. I didn't doubt him.

I know what it's like to be doubted. You feel dumb, hopeless, and alone. You feel like your voice means nothing . . .

"Serah?"

I turn over on my side so that I can face him. "Yeah?"

"Do you think that I'll see you again?"

I nod. "Of course . . ."

"What if I don't remember that we met? What if I don't remember our first kiss?"

I press my lips to his. "Then I'll just have to remind you . . ."

"Serah," he says slowly, taking my hand in his. Even in the dim light, I can see his green eyes shimmer. "I think I'm falling in love with you . . ."

His words make my heart flutter. "I am too."

"I won't hurt you," he says. "I promise."

NOEL

I've been thinking a lot about my past. I've been thinking about my future, too.

After we find Lightning, if we can find her, what's going to happen then? Serah will have what she was looking for. But what will I have? I suppose I'd feel good, with helping her and all, but what is my future going to be like? Will Serah forget about me once she has her sister back? Will she need me anymore? Will she want me as a friend?

My worst fear is loneliness. Growing up, I lost everyone that I've ever cared about. My parents . . . My friends . . . My grandparents. Everyone I'd come to know and care for was taken from me. The world I grew up in was dead. Hundreds of years into the future, the world was dead. I don't want to lose anyone else, especially not Serah.

Serah is my only friend in this world. If I lose her, I lose everything. Without a friend, without a person to talk to, I'll lose my sense of purpose.

I picture Yeul in my head. She was so young . . . so gentle. She hadn't had a chance to live her life. I'd do anything just to see my friend again. I'd do anything to hear her laugh . . . to see her smile.