[Automatic] (An Aarmau AU)

[Chapter 5] Losing Faith (pt. 1)

It seemed like weeks since the last time I had been in the palace. When in reality it was only about three days. 

I had spent many sleepless nights trying to fix that stupid control panel. At one point I even passed out from exhaustion, only to be woken by a knocking on my door. 

I slid on some gloves and ran towards the door. Sneaking a glace at the old clock on my wall, I found it was three in the morning. Who could be knocking on my door at three in the morning?

Opening it, I came face to face with a familiar blue haired girl. Katelyn looked exhausted, with dark bags under her eyes, and her hair a mess on her head. 

"Aphmau", she said relieved, "Thank Irene you're awake, we have a serious problem"

My mind was still fairy groggy, so her words didn't quite register at first. "Problem?", I asked, very much confused, "Katelyn, why are you here so early"

"Just hurry", she told me, grabbing my hand and pulling me out of my apartment. 

I followed her down the ever familiar hallway, never stopping to consider how she knew where I lived. We finally came to the front door, and exited out into the darkness of the night. 

To my surprise, a car wasn't waiting for us. Instead, Katelyn continued leading my down the sidewalk. She still tightly gripped my non-metal hand, pulling me faster then I could walk. 

After what seemed like forever, we arrived at what looked like an abandoned factory. Katelyn hastily pulled me inside, her face full of worry. 

"I don't think we were followed", she said quickly, shutting the large factory door. 

I rubbed my eyes, "Katelyn, why are we here?", I asked, wishing I was back in my bed, "Couldn't we just talk back at my place?"

"We had to go somewhere where they couldn't listen"

"Who Katelyn?", I asked, deciding to play along with her games. 

"We don't have much time", she told me, completely ignoring my questions, "There is so much I need to tell you, but we have so little time"

"Now you're just being cryptic"

"Aph!", she snapped, "This is no time for joking around"

"Then get to the point!"

Katelyn took a deep breath. "There are many people out there right now, who are dying to obtain what you posses right now" 

"Katelyn", I said, wondering if her brain had been fried from some machine, "What did I say about being cryptic?"

She looked as she was about to respond, when a look of dread spread across her face. "They're here"

Before I could process what she said, an explosion sounded, making me fall backwards. The sudden smell of sulfur filled my nostrils, and I started to cough. 

I felt Katelyn's hand wrap around my metal arm, and she pulled me off the ground. I looked up and saw the whole roof was encased in flames. 

"KATELYN WATCH OUT", I screamed to my friend, as I saw a piece of flaming debris about to crush her. 

I ran to her and swiftly pushed her out of the way, but no sooner then I did that, did I feel a burning sensation encase my face. 

"They're coming", Katelyn told me, quickly standing up, "Even Aaron doesn't realize it, but we are all in danger" 

She grabbed my shoulders, pulling me closer. 

"Save us Aphmau!" 

I looked up, right as a large chunk on the roof crushed us.