Surviving a Hot Air Balloon-11（熱気球からの生還）

This work is a fiction designated R-18G and contains brutal language, but does not promote criminal acts.

The names of all characters and places in this work are fictitious and have no relation to any real person or place.

All characters are adults.

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Unlike the handcuffs behind her back earlier, she could now use both hands, so it seemed relatively easier.

However, there were many of them; the padlocks for securing her were attached in many places.

There wasn't enough time to remove them all, so she needed to identify and unlock the bare minimum number of locks needed to escape from the chains.

Furthermore, the water level continued to rise, finally reaching her face.

Locks were being removed one by one, but she still couldn't free herself from the chains.

Time was passing mercilessly.

The audience was still watching with bated breath, wondering if she would really be able to escape safely.

And finally, the water level rose to the height of her mouth and nose.

Mai was gasping for oxygen, trying to lift her face out of the water as much as possible while continuing to unlock the locks.

She somehow managed to remove the chains securing the upper part of her body, such as around her neck, but she still couldn't remove the chains securing her lower body.

She was breathing raggedly, but finally half of her face was submerged in the water, and it became difficult to breathe.

Mai made up her mind, took a deep breath of oxygen, and submerged herself underwater.

Countless bubbles surrounded Mai, momentarily obscuring her vision.

If she couldn't unlock the locks now, it would be impossible for her to surface again.

"Ah...! She's finally running

先程の背面の手錠と今度は両手を使えるため比較的外しやすいようであった。

しかし数が多いのだ、固定するための南京錠は何カ所も取り付けられている。

全部外していては時間が足りないので、この鎖から抜け出すための必要最低限の鍵を見定めて解除する必要があった。

さらに水面は上昇し続け、ついには彼女の顔に掛かり始めた。

鍵が１ヶ所・１ヶ所と外されてゆくが彼女はまだこの鎖から躰を抜け出せずにいた。

時間だけが無情に過ぎてゆく。

観客たちはまだ、彼女が本当に無事に脱出できるのかハラハラしながら見ていた。

そして遂に水面は彼女の口や鼻の高さまで上昇してきた。

舞は酸素を求めて顔を上向きに少しでも顔を水面から上げるようにしながら鍵の解除を進める。

何とか首回りなど体の上部を固定している鎖は外せたが、まだ下半身を固定している鎖は外せないでいた。

彼女は喘ぐようにしながら呼吸をしていたが遂には彼女の顔半分が水中に水没してしまい、遂に呼吸するのが難しくなってきた。

舞は意を決すると口いっぱいに酸素を吸い込み息を止めて水中潜った。

ゴボゴボと無数の気泡が舞の周りを取り囲み一瞬だが視界が遮られる。

これで鍵の解除が出来なければ二度と水面に顔を上げることは不可能となった

「あ・・・！！！いよいよ呼吸が出来なくなりました。舞さん頑張って下さい！！」

司会者の声援が水中に居る舞の耳に届いたかどうかは分からない。

ただ彼女に残された時間が少ない事だけは確かだった。