Round 191

Jeane moved through thigh-deep water toward the maintenance room emergency exit sign glowing red above a reinforced door. Between her and freedom stood a massive industrial pump system still churning away, water spraying everywhere as it fought a losing battle against the building's structural failure. She could feel the barrier spell shredding at the edges with each pulse, tapping deeper into demonic residues to maintain integrity—two minutes maybe three if she pushed hard enough but was it worth the price of what it cost her internally? The sensation was like being kicked in the chest from inside her own skin—her wings beat instinctively for balance even though there was no air to catch, a useless vestigial response that gave away too much about her nature if anyone noticed. The water reached thigh height now and she could feel the vibration of machinery through the floor even over the groaning of stressed concrete—perfect. She approached the pump system with her pistol drawn—better safe than sorry—as she moved forward through thigh-deep water with elbows tucked in and boots splashing. The tunnel opened into what looked like a maintenance room, revealing an emergency exit sign glowing red above a reinforced door.