The rope burned against my skin as I was trying again and again to force them free. My shoulders ached, the chair scraped against the floor. The timer kept ticking.
I pulled harder, ignoring the sharp sting cutting into my skin. My veins bulged, sweat slid down my temple, and with one desperate wrench—CRAAACK!—the wood of the chair leg gave way. The sudden force sent me crashing sideways onto the floor with a painful thud. For a moment, my lungs emptied, but I didn’t stop. I twisted my wrists again, teeth gritted.
Snap!
The rope finally gave in. The sound of freedom was the sweetest thing I’d ever heard. I scrambled to my knees, eyes flicking up to the timer. Just seconds. The tank above groaned under pressure, drops of water already forming on its underbelly. If I didn’t get us out now
