Story 1220: When Water Rose

INT. STORM DRAINS – NIGHT

Lena jolted awake. The whispers were gone. Only the slow drip of water and the low, rasping breath of the wounded Briggs remained. Ward stood at the tunnel mouth, checking the map he'd scrawled on a piece of duct-taped cloth.

WARD (gruff):

“The east junction’s close. If we make it there, we climb out.”

LENA:

“Unless the water rises before then.”

A distant rumble echoed. The pipes trembled.

THE GIRL (panicked):

“What was that?”

Lena crouched near the tunnel floor. A faint trickle touched her boot. She held her breath.

LENA:

“Rain upstream.”

EXT. CITY EDGE – ABOVE GROUND – NIGHT

A massive storm dumped sheets of rain into broken gutters, gushing toward the old flood tunnels. A rusted floodgate groaned—and burst open. Water roared into the drainage system.

INT. STORM DRAINS – MINUTES LATER

Water surged past their ankles.

WARD (shouting):

“Move! Now!”