They had arrived at a massive junction. Unlike the narrow overflow pipes they had been navigating, the four tunnels branching out from this central chamber were gargantuan—at least five times the size of the previous ones. The vaulted ceilings disappeared into the gloom, and the sound of rushing water had grown from a trickle to a steady, rhythmic roar.
"Hmm… We should follow the tunnel where the water is moving the fastest," Lucy said, stepping closer to the edge of the stone walkway. She narrowed her eyes, scanning the surface of the black sludge.
"The current is stronger here, and if you look at the sediment on the walls, this tunnel has a sharper incline."
Thomas watched her, silent. He had already reached the same conclusion using the same indicators, but he let her lead. Her sudden display of observation and deduction was a revelation—and a warning.
"Let's go then," he said simply. "Let's try our luck."
