By Graph_ winner of the Walls And Towers contest.

"I'm leaving with the rest," Koren said firmly.

"You mean with her," Faith shot back.

"What good does that do now?" he muttered. "I hold no grudges."

Why should you? If anyone is entitled to a grudge it's me.

"Go then," she said, aloof.

Koren took a step towards her, paused, then turned on his heel, grabbed his satchel, and departed swiftly out the open door.

Faith hung her head, disappointed and relieved all at once. Then she began the process of lifting herself out of her chair, protecting the belly that grew more swollen every day.

She drank from one of her mother's handmade cups, savouring every sip, for she knew every sip was a step to the well laden with skins. Faith walked outside.

Koren was already gone.

He would need to make haste. If the magistrate and his advisers were correct, the last wall would rise today. Then the countdown would be done.

The nearest tower gleamed like obsidian against the rising Sun. Imposing, menacing even, Faith could understand why the villagers felt afraid and had decided to leave. Whether crafted by ancient people, or perhaps by a clan from the stars as some believed, the twelve towers that encircled the region were frightening to behold.

Centuries old, they seemed out of time altogether. No moss clung to them, no cracks formed upon them, not even frost in winter could find purchase upon their smooth shiny surfaces.

And yet Faith had never feared them. Not in the village where her great grandfar had built this house with his own hands. Not when their shadows had told her the time since she was old enough to read them.

Then, twelve days ago, a wall had sprung up between Adin and Dvah, the first and second towers. The day after that, connecting Tree. Then Chetyreh. Then Pyat. And so on till all the towers were connected, equally impenetrable.

All but this last.

And she came to fear them. Even now, she feared she was making the wrong choice. If she hurried, she could be outside the walls in time. When the sun reached its apex, not long from now, Dvenazut and Adin would reunite, and make her village - her home - either a prison or a sanctuary.

Faith sipped her water.

"I'm staying," she whispered. And that was that. The trepidation in her heart replaced by a soothing stillness.

Noon arrived. A deep groan in the ground followed by an earth-rending rumble as the final wall broke free and rose to join its sisters.

A moment of stillness, then the sound of an ocean of water rushing forth. A great wave crashed against the walls and Faith could see high in the sky as it broke and a mist came floating down.

They were all gone. Koren, his mistress, everyone who had thought to flee. Which was everyone.

Only Faith remained, and the child growing in her belly protected by the walls of her body.