Round 36

The sound of tearing stone echoed through the chamber like a death rattle—the ancient tower collapsing in on itself from the inside out. Merrin pressed herself against the wall of the newly revealed secret passage, her heart hammering in her chest as she tried to process what had just happened. The screech that had sent her running still rang in her ears—a sound that spoke of violence and hunger, not human.

She strained her eyes into the darkness ahead, but saw only blackness stretching out before her. The air here was different—thick with the smell of old decay and something else she couldn't identify. Magic, maybe. Or blood. Probably both. She swallowed hard, trying to ignore the way her hands were shaking.

"Halie?" she called out softly, her voice barely carrying in the confined space. "Jeane? Can anyone hear me?"

Silence answered her, broken only by the distant sound of rushing water and the occasional groan of collapsing stone somewhere above them. Merrin cursed under her breath—she'd been so focused on getting away from whatever was making that noise that she hadn't stopped to think about what might be waiting for her in here.

She pulled out her crossbow, checking the mechanism with practiced ease even as her mind raced. If Halie had fallen into the pit trap and Jeane was still up top... then they needed help. Fast. But going back alone meant leaving them behind, and she wasn't about to do that.

"Fuck," she whispered, and then louder: "I'm coming!"

The darkness seemed to swallow her words whole as she crept deeper into the passage, each step carrying her further from safety and closer to whatever had made that sound. The walls here were covered in strange symbols—arcane markings that glowed faintly in the dim light from her torch. She didn't recognize them, but they felt wrong somehow.

Ahead, the passage opened up into a larger chamber. Merrin could hear water lapping against stone—rising fast by the sound of it—and something else. Breathing? No, worse than that. Laughing.

She raised her crossbow, aiming into the darkness beyond. "Show yourself," she called out, her voice shaking only slightly. "Last chance."

The laughter stopped. For a moment, there was nothing but silence—then a splash echoed through the chamber, followed by the sound of something large moving through water.

Merrin backed away slowly, her mind racing. Whatever was down here, it wasn't human. And it wasn't alone.

"Jeane!" she shouted, her voice cracking with fear. "Halie! Respond if you can hear me!"

No answer came. Just more laughter—closer this time—and the unmistakable sound of teeth clicking together in the darkness.

Merrin turned and ran.