Page 11 of Fool's Gold
Her anguished call ignited something primal within me, a burning need to protect her at all costs. With a roar, I redoubled my efforts, raining down a barrage of blows upon the automaton's torso.
Metal groaned and buckled under the onslaught of my strikes, and finally, with one last thunderous punch, the machine crumpled to the ground in a heap of twisted metal and sparking circuitry.
Silence descended upon the chamber, punctuated only by my ragged breaths and the faint hum of the automaton's dying systems.
I turned to face Gemma, my chest heaving with exertion. Her eyes were wide, a mixture of fear and something else I couldn't quite identify flickering in their hazel depths.
Slowly, almost tentatively, she approached me, her gaze fixed on the wound on my arm. "You're hurt," she murmured, her voice laced with concern.
I glanced down at the gash, dismissing it with a grunt. "It's nothing. The wound will heal quickly."
Her delicate fingers reached out, hovering just above the injury as if she yearned to touch me but held herself back. "Thank you," she whispered. "For protecting me."
A sudden, inexplicable urge to pull her into my embrace washed over me, but I resisted, uncertain of the strange sensations coursing through my body.
"We should keep moving," I rasped, tearing my gaze away from her captivating eyes.
Gemma nodded, her expression unreadable as she gathered the commpads and followed me out of the chamber, leaving the mangled remains of the automaton behind.
As we navigated the treacherous corridors, an undeniable tension lingered between us, thick and palpable. I found myself hyper-aware of her every movement, her every breath, as if my senses had become attuned to her very existence.
* * *
Shards of broken metal crunched beneath my boots.
Gemma paused, her brow furrowed as she studied the crumbling ceiling above us. "Be careful," she warned, her voice laced with concern. "That section looks unstable."
I followed her gaze, my sharp vision picking up on the hairline fractures spider-webbing across the durasteel panels. With a grunt of acknowledgment, I ushered her forward, my body tensing in anticipation of potential danger.
No sooner had we taken a few steps than a loud groan echoed through the corridor. Gemma gasped as a cascade of rubble rained down, blocking our path. I reacted instinctively, grabbing her and pulling her against me as I shielded her with my body.
Dust billowed around us, and Gemma coughed, her face pressed against my shoulder. I could feel the rapid flutter of her heartbeat, the warmth of her breath seeping through the fabric of my armor.
"Are you alright?" I asked, my voice gruff with concern.
She nodded, her hazel eyes wide as she pulled back slightly, our bodies still pressed together in the confines of the narrow space. "Y-yes, thanks to you."
An unfamiliar warmth spread through me at her words, and I found myself momentarily captivated by the vulnerability in her gaze. Shaking off the strange sensation, I turned my attention to the collapsed ceiling, assessing the situation with a critical eye.
"We'll have to find another way around," I muttered, reluctantly releasing her from my protective embrace.
Gemma’s cheeks flushed as she smoothed her hair back from her face. "Right, let's keep moving."
We backtracked, taking a side corridor that wound deeper into the station's bowels. The dimly lit passage was littered with exposed wiring, the tangled cables snaking across the floor like metallic vines.
"Watch your step," I cautioned, my hand instinctively reaching out to steady Gemma as she nearly tripped over a protruding cable.
Her fingers curled around mine, sending a jolt of electricity through my body at the unexpected contact. I tensed, my senses heightened by her proximity.
"Thanks," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
We continued on, navigating the treacherous path with care, our hands still intertwined. Strange. But not annoying.
As we rounded a corner, the deck trembled, and a deep, ominous groan echoed through the corridor. Gemma's grip tightened, her nails digging into my skin as we froze in our tracks.
"What was that?" she whispered, her eyes wide with trepidation.
Before I could respond, a section of the floor collapsed, revealing a gaping chasm beneath our feet. I reacted without hesitation, wrapping my arm around Gemma's waist and leaping across the unstable ground, my powerful legs propelling us to safety.