Round 301

Merrin's grip on the pipe tightened as the water surged again, cold and relentless. She could feel her fingers slipping, exhaustion making them clumsy. Below, something splashed—loud enough to be heard even over the roar of the torrent. "Varikka?" she called out, voice cracking with fear. No answer came, only more splashing and a gurgled sound that made Merrin's stomach clench. She tried to lean over the edge, desperate for a glimpse, but the water surged upwards, forcing her back against the metal pipe. The cold was seeping into her bones now, making her muscles cramp. Every second counted down toward structural failure, but she couldn't move—not with Varikka still trapped and unseen horrors possibly lurking below. The water surged again, colder than before, as Merrin fought to maintain her grip on the slippery metal. The chill seeped into her h...