Round 404

Merrin’s eyes went wide as the ground beneath them shook violently, a sound like thunder rolling through the stone. She saw Varikka stumble from the collapsing passage, her friend’s face pale and drawn but alive. “Varikka!” she cried out, reaching for her with shaking hands. But there was no time for relief. The roar of rushing water grew louder by the second, and Merrin could feel the ground shaking worse as the tunnel began to collapse around them.*

“Varikka, we need to move now!” she exclaimed, her voice laced with urgency. “The tunnel is collapsing behind us, and the water pressure is getting worse by the second!” As they spoke, the ground gave a loud creak, and more stone came crashing down from above. Merrin’s heart raced as she realized how precarious their situation truly was.*