Round 721

The corridor groaned around them like a beast waking from slumber, stone grinding against stone in a symphony of impending doom. Merrin pressed herself against the wall opposite Varikka, her dark eyes wide and alert despite the terror that gripped her insides. The air was thick with dust and the stench of decay, making each breath a struggle.

"Now!" she screamed, throwing her entire weight against the shifting rubble beside her companion. Her wiry arms burned with effort as she fought to contain the avalanche, muscles screaming in protest. Varikka matched her push for push, face contorted in agony as her sprained ankle screamed beneath her. Together they managed to stem the flow, but the sound of crumbling mortar and cracking stone continued unabated above them.

For a moment they stood there panting, chests heaving, adrenaline evaporated as quickly as it had surged. The weight of their situation crashed down like an avalanche—trapped in a collapsing corridor with no visible exit, Varikka injured and barely able to stand, the distant sound of pursuit growing closer by the second.

"Keep moving," Merrin hissed through gritted teeth, more prayer than command. "We're almost there." But where was 'there'? The partial map in her pocket offered little comfort against the tower's shifting architecture. Every step forward might lead them into a worse trap, but staying put meant certain death when the ceiling gave way completely.

She glanced at Varikka, taking in the Fighter's pained expression and trembling limbs. The woman was barely holding onto consciousness, let alone maintaining her grip on that crucial sword. Merrin's stomach twisted with anxiety—she needed Varikka's strength, but right now she was little more than dead weight held together by sheer willpower.

"Varikka," she called out softly, voice barely carrying over the groaning stone around them. "You okay?" The Fighter managed a nod, though her face remained pale and drawn. Merrin felt a flicker of relief—at least she was conscious—but it did little to ease the growing dread in her chest. They were running out of time, and fast.