Round 237

The water closed over Merrin’s head again, but she kicked hard off the bottom, propelling herself toward that glimmer of light. The tentacles loosened for just a moment—enough for her to twist free and surface gasping. She was still in the water, still trapped in this nightmare maze, but at least she could breathe now. The shrieking had stopped, which meant something worse had happened. Or maybe it meant multiple things worse. Either way, she needed dry ground and a weapon—preferably both together—and she needed them fast.

Her teeth were chattering already; the water was cold enough to chill bone, and her earlier near-drowning hadn’t helped. She was running on fumes, and every instinct screamed at her to find shelter.

But there was no shelter here. Just rising water, collapsing stone, and creatures with glowing eyes that seemed to be everywhere now. Merrin tread water carefully, scanning the gloom for any sign of movement. The light from her remaining torch flickered weakly against the darkness—she had maybe an hour’s worth of illumination left, tops. After that...

She needed a plan. Fast.