I close my eyes and cast out my senses.
The faint whisper of water beckons to me—I’ve ignored it for months, but it’s always been there, lingering just beneath the surface.
I follow its call.
My knuckles are white around the torch, eyes scanning every dark corner. There could be other entry points that lead into this very tunnel. Every faint sound has me jumping, ready to attack. My footsteps echo back to me, too loud, too alive.
But I remain alone.
I walk for another twenty minutes before the tunnel widens into a larger cavern. The walls are slick, glinting in the torchlight, with three arched openings carved into the stone. I close my eyes again, searching for water.
The entrance on the far right.
I disappear into darkness, but not for long. The tunnel widens again into another cavern—this one larger, more purposeful. Unlit torches line the walls, where precariously tall stacks of crates lean against the stone. Another tunnel opens immediately to my left—this one with a stream of water flowing through a shallow valley carved at the bottom. The indentation flows through the center of the room, disappearing into another tunnel on the opposite side.
I bite my lip, scanning the chambers.
How do I know this is the right one?
Find water. The tunnel will lead outside.Father’s voice echoes in my mind.
My eyes find the shallow stream. I send a large ripple through the water and watch as it grows smaller as it disappears into the darkness.
Five minutes later, I do it again.
Then, again.
And again.
The cold stone is hard against my back as I sit, knees to chest, against the wall. It’s been over an hour. Every few minutes, I send a strong wave of water cascading through the tunnel.
One more. One more, and then I’ll go. Tomorrow, I’ll try a different tunnel. I’ve said this to myself at least six times now, but I mean it this time.
One last ripple sent barreling down.
Minutes pass.
Nothing.
With a weary sigh, I rise, walking away. I’ve almost left the large chamber when I hear it. The rushingwhooshof a ripple.
The same sound I’ve heard repeatedly for the past hour.
Except this time, it’s comingtowardme.
My feet slap against the stone floor as I rush back to the mouth of the tunnel in time to see a small wave crest and ebb away.
My legs almost give out.
It came back.It came back.
I stand there for minutes, waiting.
I wait for it to be a trick of echo or my imagination, but then the unmistakable drumbeat of boots splashing reaches my ears—and all the breath leaves my lungs.
A dark silhouette appears in the tunnel, broad shoulders and long, swinging braids. He catches sight of me and runs even faster, the distance vanishing between us like smoke in the air.
The man’s face is shadowed, but his gaze glimmers in the dark.
