"Isn't it so cool?" Arra asked, standing on the opposite side of the narrow tunnel from Larten. They both had their backs against the wall and were standing on the extremely thin banks of a small river flowing down the tunnel. There was a sheet of ice on top of the water, but it was too thin to stand on.

"Yeah," Larten said over the rush of the river, "but isn't it a little bit dangerous in here? What with the low ceiling and everything?"

"I dunno," Arra frowned, "I've only come a few times recently."

"Does anyone else know about it?"

"No. Just you."

Lately, Arra had been surprising him with how much trust she was able to put in him. They were spending more and more time together after her becoming a full vampire (just a week ago), between training for their Trials and free time. Arra felt she was with Larten nearly 24/7, and she didn't mind at all.

There was a rumble. Sort of distant, above them.

"Thunder?" Larten asked uneasily.

"It is raining, but I don't think…"

The rumble gets louder, and both realize at the same time. A landslide. But before either can think about moving to get out, dirt and rocks begin to pour through the opening. Cracking noises ring through the air as rocks puncture the ice, creating holes that the restless water moves up through. Arra remembers how, only ten meters back or so, the tunnel becomes so narrow that they had to crawl. More dirt and mud cascades in, bringing bigger boulders with it.

"Stay flat against the wall!" Larten yelled over the noise. As if she would go anywhere!

More ice was breaking, and the water was starting to splash up. There was no more river bank, and Arra's shoes were soaked through. One more huge roar, and everything went dark.

When Larten's eyes adjusted, he realized he wasn't dead. The tunnel was just blocked at the beginning. "Arra," he said, "you okay?"

"Yeah. Do you think the other way is blocked too?"

"I have a feeling it might, but I really don't want it to be."

"I'll go check." He heard her footsteps, splashes in the frigid water, and then a groan. "Oh no, no no no no no. Mika's going to kill me if we make it out alive. It's all my fault…" her voice kept rising.

"What, is it blocked?"

"Yes, how did you know?" she asked sarcastically, tone hitching with panic. "The water level keeps rising because of the river, and we can't get out! We're gonna drown."

"Hang on a minute. Keep a clear head. We have plenty of time. The ceiling here isn't as low as most the other parts, so we have some extra time treading water-"

"You have extra time treading water."

"What do you mean?"

Arra coughed, embarrassed, "I- I can't swim," she said softly.