Round 797

Merrin's heart pounded in her chest as she clutched the glowing shard, its light casting eerie shadows across the cramped crevice walls. The sound of rushing water grew louder with each passing second, and she knew they had mere moments before the entire tunnel system flooded. "We need to move," she hissed, her voice barely audible over the roar of the approaching deluge. "Quickly!" She shifted Varikka's weight more securely across her shoulders, ignoring the protests from her own aching muscles. The fireman's carry was becoming increasingly difficult to maintain, but there was no other choice.

As Merrin stumbled forward into the darkness, she could feel the cold stone floor vibrating beneath her feet. The entire structure seemed to be groaning around them, and she knew it would only be a matter of time before the next collapse occurred. "Stay with me," she urged Varrika, her voice strained with effort. "We can't afford to slow down now." The water was almost upon them now, its icy tendrils reaching out to caress Merrin's boots. She redoubled her efforts, pushing forward with every ounce of strength she possessed.

Just as the first rush of water hit her ankles, Merrin spotted a narrow opening in the wall to their left. "There!" she cried out, veering sharply towards it. "Get through!" She practically threw Varrika into the gap before following after her, the two women tumbling into a small chamber just as the floodwaters burst past them. Merrin slammed the stone door shut with her entire body weight, sealing them inside just in time to hear the roar of the torrent recede back down the tunnel.