[At least Maya alerted Aqua to the threats? But no, even though she jumps up to help, Aqua dispatches the two attacks with little preamble and lots of style, and Maya, easily impressed as she is, can't help but exclaim (a little too loudly, thanks, Maya---)]

That was incredible! Where'd you learn to do that?

[Prince Aqua's got herself a fan.... albeit a noisy one. The intrepid duo makes their way over the bookstore with no further incident, though some other infected notice the commotion and start to head in their direction. But they still have time.]

[However, there's another obstruction -- the gate's already closed up the bookstore, hastily locked but enough of a barricade to buy those inside some time if infected did head that way. Maya looks to Aqua]

What do you think? I might be able to get this thing open.... or do you want to keep looking?

[Maya's arm is thin enough that she can probably get it through the gate.... so she attempts it]