ML C8, P9- "Back And Forth"

"Back And Forth" is the ninth Part of "Miracula Luxia" 's eighth Chapter- "For Whom The Bell Tolls". It was released on 05.04.2020.
== Plot ==
Jared goes to get some more bandages, as well as other important medical supplies for his dying mother in an attempt to save her from the clutches of death.
While doing so, he also scouts the rest of the city, trying to plan his next move against the seemingly endless humanoid army that is pouring through the portal with each passing hour, endangering the citizens of Paris more and more as it wanders on the empty streets.
Meanwhile, John finally recovers after the medic successfully bandages his wounds, stopping the bleeding from them and tries to find Jared, wishing to help his best friend out once again.
== Story ==
"Jared."- The mayor says- "I know that you really care about your mother, but the signs don't lie- she is going to die. And we cannot do anything about it."
Jared shakes his head.
"No! There's no way I will let my mother die. I will not!"
"Well, the best thing you can do for now is get some more bandages to ease her pain, at the very least. I don't know if you will succeed in saving her. I have to be honest, I don't have high hopes for that. But what I do know is that we must help her out somehow."
"I can see it in your eyes, Jared. She means the world to you. You don't want to lose her, so you're ready to do anything to save her from her certain fate, even risking your own life for this matter. And we want to help you as best as we can."
The mayor gives Jared a small silver key with a "A" written on it.
"This is the key to the nearby apothecary."- He says- "I want you to get whatever you can and clear out the area around it, so we can send scouting parties to recover more supplies from there."
Jared raises his eyebrow.
"So, I'm going to be solo again?"- He wonders.
The mayor nods.
"Unfortunately, I can't send anyone to help you out. My soldiers are patrolling the city, searching for intruders and are too busy to help and your friend- John is too wounded to do so. So, I guess you are alone. I'm so sorry."
Jared nods.
"You don't need to be, mayor. Fighting solo has always suited me best. My teammates are just dragging me down most of the time."
"Not that I don't trust them in helping me fight our enemies, but still... "
The mayor nods.
"I understand. Go. The city depends on you. And so does your family."
"And friends."
Jared nods and goes outside, ready to go to the apothecary.
He looks around, listens for more fights coming from nearby, but hears nothing.
The streets are now eerily quiet. There are no monsters wrecking havoc left alive (or, at least not in this area). 
Looks like Paris's soldiers have finally done their job- defending the city from the incoming hostiles and destroying any of them who are walking on the streets and killing its innocent citizens.
Jared walks toward the apothecary and notices that there are no monsters there either.
He smells a trap, but knows that he shouldn't just cower in fear.
He has to step forward, like the brave hero that he is and fight his enemies without a single drop of fear.
Jared approaches the door of the apothecary, inserts the key, turns it...
*creeeak*
The door of the apothecary opens. 
Jared enters the building and notices that most of the shelves are empty. Looks like the medics have taken precautions, taking most of their supplies with them. Oh dear.
Other than that, the apothecary seems to be free of monsters and other living beings. Except for ants. 
The ants are basically the only living beings in here, other than Jared.
However, Jared hears a rustling sound coming from nearby, but cannot identify it due to the darkness of the room.
When he tries to reach the light switch, the door suddenly closes, trapping our hero inside.
As he tries to figure out what is going on, he hears a sound behind him and barely evades the attack of something (or someone) who tries to kill him.
In the distance in front of him, he hears a laughter. But not that of a human being.
No. What is in the building with Jared is definitely a humanoid creature.
Jared quickly reaches the light switch and turns it on.
The light blinds the creatures for a few moments and Jared has the chance to see who they are.
They are a bunch of gremlins. Greedy little beasts who want to take everything they see.
That explains why they are so few supplies left on the shelves.
But Jared doesn't have any time left to think about that. He has to find a way to kill the gremlins and get out of the building safely.
First, he tries to open the door, but with no success. It seems like something has barred it from the other side.
While he is distracted, one of the gremlins jumps on his back and tries to stab him between the shoulder blades.
Jared turns around and smashes the creature's head against the wall until it falls off his back.
The other gremlins throw potions at him in a futile attempt to stop him.
"What a waste of valuable resources."- Jared says to himself as he lunges towards them.
He stabs three of the gremlins in the chest at once with his longsword.
Another gremlin tries to jump on his back, but Jared is prepared for this. He quickly pulls out his blade and stabs it in the neck while it is airborne.
The creature quickly falls to the ground, now dead.
The rest of the gremlins finally get scared and decide that the risk to fight against Jared Kaos is not worth it.
Some of them try to open the front door, but to no avail. They are the first who are killed by Jared.
The smarter gremlins go upstairs, in an attempt to escape their enemy.
They try to hide behind a supply crate, but are quickly found by Jared who points his blade at them.
"Look."- He says- "I know you cannot understand me, but you're getting in my way. My mother is dying and you are being evil, trying to kill me so I don't succeed."
"So, sorry, but you have to die."
Jared swings his blade at the gremlins, killing two of them.
One is left behind.
Jared looks at the scared creature. Something tells him that he doesn't want to kill the creature.
He sighs and decides to let it live.
"I know that we're enemies, but I will let you live."- He says to it- "Go. Live your life, be yourse-- "
The gremlin screams and jumps out of the window behind it.
Jared looks at it trying to crawl away, but it bleeds out before it can even reach one meter away from the apothecary.
Jared shakes his head.
"I was just trying to be merciful. And this is what I get? They may be smart, for a bunch of humanoids, but they definitely don't know the true meaning of "mercy". "
He sighs and goes downstairs to recover what remains on the shelves for his mother.
He notices a bag nearby.
"This will help me carry them back."- He says.
He fills the bag with the medical supplies and tries to find a way out.
After searching for a little bit, he notices that one of the walls is partially broken.
"I will apologize to the medics later."- He says and casts an earth spell on the broken wall, breaking it even more.
Or, at least enough for him to get through with the supplies.
He looks upstairs and finds some vaccines (that he takes with him) and some food leftovers (Which he leaves behind. There is no point in taking them as well)
Once he is done, Jared goes outside.
He looks back at the apothecary and the broken window upstairs, stares at the dead gremlin, sighs and goes back to the city hall.
Meanwhile, John wakes up from his slumber once again. 
"I think that I'm done, John."- The medic says- "Do you think you can walk now?"
John nods.
"Well, I will try. At the very least."- He says and tries to stand up.
He notices that there is no more blood dripping from his wound. And it doesn't hurt anymore!
That is a great relief for John who is now able to walk without any difficulty whatsoever.
The medic smiles.
"Looks like my job is done. Your equipment is outside, by the way."
John nods.
"So. Where is Jared?"- He asks the medic.
The man is not sure, but decides to make a guess.
"Well, I heard that he's fighting enemies around the city hall, so he's most likely going to be there, if you want to help him out."
"Of course I do!"- John exclaims- "I have to hurry. He needs my help."
"Well, good luck then. Stay safe."- The medic says as he escorts him outside.
"Thank you. I definitely will."- John responds, takes his supplies and starts to walk towards the city hall.
Back to Jared, it seems like he is finally back near the city hall, after this unexpected and exausting adventure.
He notices that the surviving soldiers have made a barricade around it to protect the mayor and anyone else that is inside the building. And so far they are succeeding.
One of the soldiers opens the door for Jared and welcomes him.
Another opens the front door for him.
"I'm glad you're back, Jared. It's such a relief to have you here."- He says.
Jared nods, smiles and moves on.
He enters the mayor's office and gives the bag full of medical supplies to the priest.
"Oh, but I do not need them anymore, my child."- He says- "My work here is done."
"But... who is going to use them, then?"- Jared wonders.
A man stands up from a nearby sofa and shakes Jared's hand.
"I'm going to take care of your mother, Mr. Kaos. I needed the supplies to ease her pain first, then bandage her wounds even further."
Jared nods.
"How is she now?"
The man shakes his head.
"Well, she seems to be fine for now. She fell asleep as soon as you left the building. Her wounds are still bleeding, though. You need to get ready for the worst case scenario to happen."
Jared wipes a tear from his eye.
"I know. I know. Just, please, try to help her out."
The man nods.
"I will do my best."- He says and starts to treat her wounds.
The mayor taps Jared on the shoulder.
"Jared. Please sit down."- He says- "I have some bad news for you."
Jared gasps.
"Is it... about my mother?"
The mayor shakes his head.
"No. It is something even worse than that. Much worse."