Round 293

The sound of rushing water was no longer a distant threat but an immediate reality crashing against stone. Merrin scrambled backward instinctively as the torrent burst into the chamber, filling the pit trap with terrifying speed. The force of it struck the far wall with enough power to loosen stones from their age-old perch, sending them tumbling into the churning waters below.

"Varikka!" The elf woman's scream was lost in the roar of the flood, but her pale face surfaced for a moment, eyes wide with terror. Merrin didn't hesitate—she lunged forward, diving into the icy deluge without thought for her own safety.

The cold hit like a physical blow, stealing her breath and strength as she fought against the current to reach her friend. She broke the surface on the opposite side of the chamber, gasping for air even as she clambered up onto the narrow stone shelf—the room's sole remaining high ground.

Merrin shook water from her eyes, scanning the churning waters below. The torrent had already risen halfway up the original pit trap walls, and showed no sign of slowing. "Varikka!" she called out again, her voice hoarse with urgency. "Where are you?"

The elf woman's head broke the surface once more, closer this time. She was treading water frantically, her eyes wide with terror as she stared at something below. "Merrin! There's something in here with me!" she shouted.

Merrin dropped to her stomach, leaning over the edge of the shelf to get a better view. The rushing water made it nearly impossible to see clearly, but she caught a glimpse of pale, writhing shapes moving beneath the surface. Something large was down there, and it was closing in on Varikka.

"Hold your breath!" Merrin shouted, already searching frantically for something—anything—that could serve as a rope or anchor. There was nothing within reach except smooth stone walls and the few remaining torches still clinging to their brackets.

The water rose another foot with a sickening gurgle, submerging Varikka's shoulders. She let out a choked scream before diving beneath the surface once more, fighting against the current.

Merrin's heart hammered in her chest as she watched helplessly. The shelf was too small for both of them, and there was no way to reach Varikka without risking being pulled into the water herself. She needed a plan—fast—and the rising water gave her only minutes to find one.