Round 152

The sudden crash of falling stone echoed through the narrow passage, a sound that sent a jolt of pure terror through Jeane's system. She whirled around just in time to see the ceiling give way, rocks and debris cascading down with deadly speed. "Seraphine!" Jeane screamed, lunging forward as her companion vanished into the cloud of dust and falling masonry.* Her hands closed on empty air, fingers brushing fabric that slipped away before she could grip it.

For a heart-stopping moment, Jeane stood frozen in place, staring at the widening gap where solid floor had been mere seconds ago. The roar of stone on stone filled her ears as more of the passage collapsed behind them. She dropped to her knees, crawling forward into the choking dust, desperate to find any sign of Seraphine. "Seraphine! she yelled again, voice cracking with fear and exertion. The dust began to clear slowly, revealing a gaping hole in the floor—far larger than she'd first thought. A narrow stone ledge jutted out just below the break, and Jeane crawled out onto it, peering down into the darkness below.

There—a movement! A pale shape lay sprawled on a distant stone platform far beneath her. Relief evaporated as quickly as it had come when she realized the sheer drop between them. "Fuck! Jeane hissed, pressing herself against the wall as more stone shifted ominously above. She needed to get down there—needed to check if Seraphine was okay—but the crumbling ledge offered no easy descent. The walls on either side were smooth and featureless, offering no handholds or footholds.

Jeane glanced back at the blocked passage behind her, then down at the distant platform again. No choice—she had to get down there. With a deep breath, she began to carefully work her way along the ledge, searching for any stable section that might support her weight.