Round 618

The air in the hidden chamber is thick with dust and the musty scent of ancient stone, punctuated by an unexpected sound - the distinct crack of a crossbow firing. Merrin freezes mid-crawl, her rogue instincts screaming at her to remain still and silent. She lies flat on her stomach, pressing herself against the cold stone floor as she tries to process what just happened. The bolt that whizzed past her head moments ago had come from somewhere ahead in the darkness, and she knows it wasn't Varikka - her friend is still trapped at the bottom of the shaft behind them.

Her mind races as she considers her options. She could call out to see if whoever fired the shot will reveal themselves, but that feels like a terrible idea. Instead, she slowly reaches for her own crossbow, lying beside her on the floor, and begins to back away from the direction the bolt came from. As she moves, she hears it again - the unmistakable sound of someone moving through rubble just ahead. They're coming closer.

Merrin's heart pounds in her chest as she realizes she's trapped between two threats - the unknown shooter ahead and Varikka behind, injured and needing help. She has to make a decision quickly.