Round 198

Merrin had clambered up onto the narrow ledge, her fingers aching as she pulled herself clear of the rushing water. She lay there for a moment, gasping for breath, the cold seeping into her bones like ice. She could feel the weight of the heavy iron bar still clutched in her hands, useless now but too heavy to abandon. Her torches were nearly spent—two flickering embers barely kept the encroaching darkness at bay.

The sound of rushing water filled her ears, and she craned her neck upward again, searching for any sign of escape—a dark gap in the rock face, barely visible above. Her only chance lay in reaching it before the rising waters claimed this precarious perch entirely. Behind her, the sounds grew louder—the splash of something heavy breaking the surface, wet clicks and scraping that sent ice through her veins.

She didn't dare look down to see what followed her ascent—some things were better left unseen. The cold was becoming unbearable now, her teeth chattering violently as her body trembled uncontrollably. She knew she needed to move, to find higher ground or a heat source before the hypothermia set in.

"Varikka!" she called out, her voice barely carrying over the roar of the water. "Where are you? Answer me!"

The silence that followed was more terrifying than any sound. Merrin forced herself to her feet, the iron bar still clutched tightly. She had to find Varikka, had to ensure her friend was safe before the entire tower came crashing down around them.

"Varikka!" she shouted again, louder this time, her voice cracking with desperation. "Please, answer me!"

The darkness seemed to close in, the water rising ever higher. Merrin knew she didn't have much time. She had to act now, or they might both be lost forever.