I knew there was no way I could safely release the lightning I had gathered around my friend from where he stood between me and the charging creature. He had jumped up the moment he saw I was in danger. All he needed to know was where to be and I could only watch his final seconds before I utterly obliterated his killer. His stance was steady and balanced when he lashed out with a fist. He hit it dead center of its face and I watched as the punch sent the creature flailing backwards with enough momentum to be carried over the counter. Writhing whip like limbs were all that could be seen for a few seconds. One stretched, boneless arm stuck the refrigerator, partially crushing it, sending it flying through the wall.

Another creature came barreling through the open doorway. It barely slowed as I caught sight of me. I turned, pointing and roared, “Achrann!” The familiar word shaping my intent as a bolt of lightning erupted from my finger. The peel of thunder announced the creatures death. It’s head burst like an overripe fruit. The first creature rose, rage clearly painted on its twisted face. I scooped up my phone, and shouted another remembered spell phrase, “Gauss!” The object flew at a far greater speed than a throw could have managed, smashing its head too. The phone continued past and smashed through the next wall where I lost sight of it.

More figures were coming through the openings of the apartment and others were smashing their way through the walls. There were too many coming at once. I wouldn’t have the time to cast at each of them individually so I would have to make some short cuts. I extended my senses. Finding the wiring of the building, I pulled with the same method I had used to launch my phone. Wires from all over came together and joined just in front of me. Pushing my own power in as well as pulling from the building I laid into them with everything I had and more. The smell of ozone and burning flesh was thick in the air. Thunder rolled through what was left of the room with each bolt, but still they came.

They just kept coming one after another. I would blast one and another would step over the broken form in front of it. They were relentless. They did not fear my magic as I cut them down one by one. They were beginning to close the distance and I could not keep this up forever. I could feel the electricity flowing in and every few moments I felt the incoming voltage weaken. I must have been drawing too quickly and was blowing one fuse after another from the different wire bundles.

I turned for a moment to make sure my friends were still behind me only to see another of them burst through the wall. As soon as it’s feet touched the ground it it tackled Tibs. The pair tumbled with the creature coming out on top. Tibs had it by the throat keeping to needle like teeth at bay. It raised the one free hand and I watched as it shifted. The hand changed to more resemble a claw before it plunged the claw down to his neck. He twisted under it but it’s claws still found flesh. He roared, sounding more angry than hurt with claws buried in his shoulder.

The way they were grappling, there was no way I could separate them without hurting my best friend. It was right then I noticed Mari level a shotgun and fired. The creature was knocked off my friend even if it didn’t seem to take much damage from a point blank shotgun blast. I took my shot and killed it as it tumbled free. I rushed over to my friend, Tara met me on his other side as we pulled him back towards the balcony. I still mentally commanded my makeshift construct to continue firing but I was running dry even pulling on the building’s electricity. I was pulling in less power as I defend my home. Mari fired until she was empty as we got outside.

There was no place to go on the balcony but down 5 stories to the street below. My construct faltered and it caught fire. Mari reloaded as Tara kept pressing on her boyfriend's wound. He was trying to get up to keep fighting along with the rest of us. Dozens of twisted bodies came at us and we had nowhere to go. I never thought this would be how I went out but if I had to go I’m glad I had them with me.

I steeled myself for the end draw on the last dregs of my power. I knew using the last of my power could kill me as easily as they could but I would rather be long dead than let them die for me. I felt an impact as the balcony shook. A figure in a red dress soaked from the pouring rain stepped in front of me. The brief look I got at Lynda’s face showed fury like I had never imagined. She took a deep breath like she was about to scream at the lot of them but instead river of fire flowed from her mouth as she began to burn them to ash.