Heather shouted.
The bluish aura turned red, her silhouette in the midst of it resembled a spectrum from hell.
"Heather!" I yelled. I couldn't stand her screams. What on earth could be happening in there? I rushed inside, but a brutal wave of energy, crackling with electricity, slammed into me, throwing me back like a painful whiplash. I crashed to the floor. My skin stung, and my head felt like drilled by a thousand knives. Heather shouted again. Shit. I hated I couldn't do anything. I felt so useful, so frustrated, totally a failure.
Another wave hit the room, scratching the glass windows that surrounded us and leaving a spiderweb pattern in its wake. Was this what we were? Flies ensnared in the web of a monstrous spider, with Heather at the center, fighting against a relentless queen?
The bloody color of the aura intensified. Another wave struck. Windows shattered, sending shards of glass swirling around us, trapping us in a nest of thorns. The wind rushed in, violently howling through the gaps. The lights went out and the Orb's aura dimmed. Heather's silhouette, now dark, shook, staggered, and collapsed. I ran to her just in time to catch her in my arms.
"Heather?!"
Her skin felt like ice. Her lips were slightly purple, as if The Orb had drained her blood like a vampire. Was this really it? I hugged her, hoping my warmth would reach her.
"What's going on?" Her weak voice emerged fragile.
I stepped back to observe her. She half-opened her eyes, which seemed paler too, a clear blue, almost silver. Not her color.
"Heather?" I said softly.
"Where is Mom?" She whispered.
"You remember her?"
If that was true it would mean the algorithm had worked.
She frowned as if my question was nonsense. "What do you mean?" That was when she scanned the surroundings, her eyes flickering stressed at every turn.
"Where am I?" She asked, but before I could answer, shots echoed.
Damn it. We weren't alone. We had to move.
"Can you walk?" I asked ignoring her question.
Footsteps approached from the stairs; we didn't have much time.
"Heather, we have to move, okay?" I helped her sit up. She staggered. Fuck. Her legs barely supported her. We wouldn't get far like this. The sound of the intruders grew louder, they were close. Too close. Damn it. There was no place to hide. No place to go. We'd be dead in seconds. I pulled out my laser gun, ready to defend Heather, no matter the cost.
"Grace?" A familiar voice cut through the chaos of footsteps.
I knew that voice. My hand shook as I pointed the gun toward the stairs, holding Heather with my other arm who was still confused and weak.
"Where are you, Grace?" Another familiar voice.
The footsteps reached the top of the stairs, and I saw them. Kate and Erik rushed toward us, their faces tense with worry. Kate's security uniform was splattered with blood, and Erik had dust smeared across his cheeks.
"Are you okay?!" Erik shouted the moment he spotted us.
I lowered my gun, unable to hold back the tension anymore as tears rolled down my cheeks.
"I thought we were about to die." I mumbled as sobs cut off my breath.
Kate came next to me and placed her hand on my shoulder.
YOU ARE READING
SILVER EYES (GXG)
Romance[2024 WATTYS SHORTLIST] Grace had no idea what she would find on the other side of the wall when the gates opened. Even less so that they wouldn't let her brother cross. Why? A blue-eyed and fierce commander, named Heather, holds the answer. She clo...
