My mind returns to the present and I reach down to slap the face of the crouching human male with my free left hand and he jerks. I glare into his surprised face and speak loudly enough to be heard over the chitters, crashes, and screams from outside. “You are going to die if you just stay here cowering. I can’t protect you any longer. Next time I move, you run or you die. Do you understand me?”

He blinks at me and just keeps staring. I let out a frustrated, “Shit!” and slap him again. “Die or move. Which is it?" I think he truly does not understand what to do. I point at the back of the place and tell him, “Grab her and run there when I get up and fire. That is your only chance. Do it now."

I hear the chittering getting closer and the thumping dying down.

I quickly raise myself to peek over the table again and spot four enemies too close for comfort. I fire, shift, fire, shift, fire, shift, fire, and duck all in just a few seconds. Each of my shots results in a screech. All four bolts found their way into the mouths of the mutated ants. With their either stunned or dead bodies out of the way of those behind them, more needles come pouring into and over the table.

The humans finally take the opportunity to run into the back of the bakery. Unfortunately, the man had to drag and then push the woman which slowed them both down. The rapid assault of the needles did not miss those obvious human targets, resulting in them being struck numerous times. As soon as the needles were embedded into their flesh, they flared black and the humans followed suit. A conflagration of black flames burst into being and then ended in a second or two, leaving only ash floating in the air.

Aria. These are corrupted. Leave now. Please!…

That was an odd word choice. Not mutated, or engorged. Corrupted. Well, I can find out what Jo meant later. Right now, I need to figure out how to get out. I can see the steel table beginning to glow red from the flaming projectiles. I quickly stick my crossbow over the top of the table and just fire blindly and repeatedly. I do this until my cartridge is empty and pull it back down for a reload. I hear two screeches and clatters. They were likely stunning hits and not kills. The chances of striking a mortal wound randomly on such small vulnerabilities is unlikely, to say the least. I doubt I was fortunate enough to strike an eye or mouth; most likely I hit some other soft spot like a joint, and the lightning caused a stun.

Surprisingly, the needle fire lessens and then stops but I still hear the chittering. Baffled, I wait a few seconds before attempting a quick look. When I quickly stick my head up and pull it back down, the reason for the pause in firing becomes obvious as a glowing object lands in the center of the ants. A loud explosion sounds and I'm forced to drop my crossbow and cover my ears from the deafening boom. The hot table is actually pushed into me by the force of whatever that explosion was and I gasp and yelp as it makes contact with my back. I lurch forwards to escape the cause of the burning pain and roll on the ground.

Laid out, I reach for and grab my crossbow and simultaneously send life magica into my back. Crawling to my knees, I slowly peer over the top of the table to see only two remaining ants skittering sideways and firing their needles at a group of humanoids in the hall. Details are difficult to make out from here, but I think I see two dwarves holding up mana shields while one elf and one human are behind them firing mana projectiles at the ants. The shields are dimming with each blow from a needle. Odd. Either those shields are weak or the needles are strong against mana shields.

Not wasting any more time to ponder, I aim at the joint to the back of the head of the leftmost ant and let loose two bolts. Immediately I do the same on the right. Disappointedly, only three of the four electrified missiles strike my intended targets but they do the job. The ants are stunned and skitter on the ground. The elf and human don’t miss their chance and strike the ants multiple times in their heads and bodies causing holes in the carapaces and gore to spill out onto the scorched bakery floor. Almost immediately after, the carcasses burst into flame, leaving only ash.

Ignoring the ants’ strange demise, I decide to introduce myself, reflecting on what Vic told me to do in a situation like this. We spent time going over numerous similar instances in our time together and this one is no exception.

I call out, “Friendly!” and make my way out from behind the table. Slowly I walk out keeping my crossbow aimed down and to the side. I call out again, “Friendly!” and loudly crunch my way past all the debris towards my helpers.

The pair of attackers raise their projectors to their shoulders while the dwarves deactivate their mana shields to conserve power.

“Hello,” I call out with a wave. “Thanks for the help.”

“Surely miss,” says one of the dwarves with a beard-covered smile. “Ya goo wi tha crossbow” gesturing at my lowered weapon.

“Thank you,” I respond, smiling in return. “My name’s Aria. There is a group of civilians in there in some sort of secure basement or shelter." I point with my thumb over my shoulder towards the back of the bakery.

The human nods. “Better they stay there. This is far from over.”

“How big is the outbreak then?" I ask, surprised.

The dwarf that had not spoken previously snorts, but it’s the other that speaks. “Big. Hunderds a da damn thins. Thousands maybe.”

“Well, shit,” pops out of my mouth before I can stop it.