As they flew through the void, Kirina swung her legs out and into a half running, half crouching position. This prepared her for the rough landing as she was thrown from the data stream and into the tangible world once again. Almost gracefully, her heels tapped against the ground and it only took a few steps for her to slow her body down, allowing her to stop and wait for her team mates. Turning around she placed one hand on her hip, the other was keeping her balance while gripping the staff of a rather huge halberd. 

The staff itself reached her middle forehead, and the dagger and axe that protruded from the top and side made the weapon even bigger. The blades pulsed with bright blue data streams that matched her heartbeat while the staff was a shiny, unscathed metal. 

Kirina almost laughed when Oliver told them to clear the crowd. With a crazed grin she turned towards the bystanders and started swinging her weapon above her head. “Убирайtис отсюда!” (get outta here) She raised the halberd over her head and shouted, “Или вы действительно увидите кровь,” (Or else you’ll really see some blood!) and slammed the staffed end against the ground. 

The bystanders did what normal people would tend to do, they turned on their heels and ran away from the crazed girl who screamed at them. Kira followed them for a few steps, letting out loud barking laughs that echoed off the boardwalk. Once she had calmed down she turned just in time to see Oliver get thrown back through a wall of a nearby building. Wincing, Kira ran over to him almost instantly. Her heels clicking against the ground as she skipped to and fro to avoid the rubble that lay around Oliver’s body. “Oliver? You ok?” She called at him, and although she was deeply concerned for his well-being, her face still held her cheery smile and her voice rang out with delight. 
Placing her weapon down on the ground against a big rock, Kirina put out a hand. Once Oliver was ready, she braced her feet against the ground and pulled him up. She patted him on the back and dusted him off quickly. “You know, you really shouldn’t do that. I’m not sure that wall wanted a hug very much!” Letting out a soft giggle she gave him another pat and made sure all the dust was gone. 

Just as she was about to kneel and pick up her halberd once more something wrapped around her waist. It was wet, and gripped her rather harshly, pushing the air out of her lungs. Kirina’s eyes widened as she froze for a moment. Her eyes glanced behind her and she saw that the arm had stretched from out of the water, and many more had begun flailing around the surface. 

The thing lifted Kirina off of her feet and swayed her forward. She twisted her body and put out her hand, her fingers searching for her Halberd. As the arm lifted her higher, her hand grazed against the soft metal of the weapon but she couldn’t grab hold. Within moments she was high off the ground, the arm strangling her and tightening its grip. 
Screaming curse words in Russian, Kirina clawed at the arm as it swung her back and forth. Lurching her body forward she managed to kick the flesh with full force, her sharp high heel getting stuck in the wet muscles. This, however, did not have the intended effect. Kirina wanted the thing to set her back down, but she did not think it would let her go entirely. 

For a moment she was confused. The monster had let go and Kira felt weightless. Then she realized she would probably break all her bones. This was not fun. Somehow, as she reached her arms up, the creature had grabbed hold of her hand. Kirina heard a sickening pop and a sharp pain seared through her hand and wrist. She let out a scream as she flailed in the grasp of the virus.