By this point the people in the bar were starting to panic, one man in his late 30's rushed towards the exit, but before he could make it out I saw his whole body split in two, right down the middle. I almost threw up, and I've seen a lot of disturbing things in my life. My revulsion quickly turned into fear when I saw what caused the scene.

The thing that caused the carnage was some kind of huge blubbery insect looking creature, it was blotchy green and yellow, with way too many limbs to make anatomical sense. The top two appendages were shaped like giant, organic knives, the blades glistening a sickly red from the blood of the poor guy who tried to get out. But what disturbed me was not its praying mantis limbs, but the rest of its body. It had dozens of sickeningly human arms that littered its torso; each arm was reaching outwards, as if it was grasping at some unknown object. Its head was simply a pulsating blob of flesh, half human and half insect, with no eyes or any other discernible feature other than its huge, gaping mouth. The whole creature was at least 8 feet long, and some 6 feet tall, it crawled on hundreds of tiny legs, like some kind of mutated centipede.

Before I could even react, the whole bar exploded into action, some people ran for cover, hiding behind tables and getting as far away as possible from the thing. A few brave patrons tried to fight, but they were quickly cut down.

“Kelley,” I said hysterically, “we gotta get out of here...”

There was no response.

I turned to where Kelley was sitting a minute ago and saw that she was gone. Before I could even question the situation I heard a sickening skittering approach me. I turned towards the noise, only to see a pair of huge scythe arms swinging down at me. I felt its arms slice into my chest and I immediately ported a few feet back on instinct, only to realize that I was placing myself in a corner. The creature, apparently unfazed by my sudden disappearance, continued to crawl towards me, it's top limbs looking ready to cleave my body into pieces.

In panic, I tried to port towards the door, but the second that I reappeared someone crashed into me and I fell harshly to the ground. Damn, karma's a bitch! I was rattled from the fall long enough for the creature to pounce. Before I could right myself it slid one scythe arms into my shoulder blades, and with another quick motion it tossed me aside like a rag doll. The fall thoroughly winded me, and I could only stare in dread as it crawled towards me, ready cleave me in two. I felt it's tiny legs dig painfully into my stomach as it mounted me, I tried to shove its bulk off my body but it was futile. The only thing I could do was stare into its putrid face, waiting for my end. It raised its scythe arms, and I closed my eyes.

I guess I had a good life, and this would have happened to me eventually, and by all means it should have happened sooner. I waited for the moment where my head would leave its body.

* * *

“Frank, we have to go!” A voice said.

Was I already dead? The voice was sweet enough to be an Angel's.

“Come on Frank! Get up!”

But why does it sound so familiar?

“Up Frank, up!”

I felt the Angel lift my body up, and as she did it I felt pure agony.

My eyes creaked open from the pain, and in my blurry confusion I saw a familiar face. “Kelley?” I asked weakly.

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“Yes Frank, it's me, come on, we have to go!”

I tried to stand up on my own, but found that my limbs refused to respond, I looked down at my body and saw a huge gash on my chest, along with dozens of little holes from where the thing's legs pierced me. My clothes were stained red and I could barely feel my legs.

“You lost a lot of blood, but you have to come with me. We'll get you some help. And don't you dare lose consciousness! I can't do this with you passed out.”

Between the bouts of pain and fatigue I felt, staying conscious was not something I wanted to do. I tried to focus my attention, to work my mind as best I could to stay awake, and it was only then did I notice something strange. The whole bar and everything in it was in monochrome. What's more, the people, the dust, the debris, and more importantly, those creatures were all frozen in place.

“What's going on...?” I asked, still staring around the room.

“It's my ability, I've stopped the time around us, but I can't keep this up for too long, and I can't include you in it if you're not conscious. I'll explain everything later, but we have to go. Now!”

I barely registered what she said, and only nodded in response. I leaned on Kelley and we made the long trek towards my dorm. I knew the walk should take 15 minutes at most, but this time it felt like an eternity. As we walked I couldn't help but notice that there were hundreds of those monsters in the streets, and just as many people who would die moments later, all frozen in time. The whole scene was almost calming.

“Why arn't you saving the rest of the people?” I muttered.

“I can't,” replied Kelley, I could see that she was sweating profusely, her features strained as if she was in deep concentration, “it's taking everything I have to include you in the time slip.”

“Why me then?” I coughed, “There are thousands of people better suited to be saved!” I couldn't stand it, being rescued by the person I so painfully bashed earlier on. I didn't feel like I deserved to be saved, especially by her.

“It has to be you, Frank. You don't get it yet, but it has to be you!” replied Kelley.

And she was right, I didn't understand her. I wanted to question her further I found that my mouth wasn't functioning at all, and the numbness was starting to spread throughout my body. I looked up at Kelley one last time and saw that there was concern in her eyes, “Come on Frank, stay with me, we're almost there!”

I saw the “ATHORIZED PERSONAL ONLY” doors, but I could feel the last bit of my will power leaving me.

“Kelley,” I muttered with the last of my strength, “I'm sorry about before, you're actually one of the nicest people I've ever met, I really didn't mean to hurt you.”

“I know Frank, I know, and I forgive you, so stay with me. Common, we'll get you help; you'll be better in no time. And... and we can have some coffee again, make up for today, ok?” she said, her eyes watery, “Frank? Frank!? Stay way me Frank, just a little more, you hear me? Come on! Please stay with me!” You know what? Tears really don't belong on such a sweet face like hers, especially tears shed for an idiot like me.