The Secrets of the Elements

Chapter 13: Time To Take Action

"Finally," said Daksh hiding behind the bushes as he saw a black car pull over.

"Wait," said Maya. "The meter shows some negative energy around."

"Should we go ahead or not?" questioned Ray. "Let's wait for a while," suggested Maya glancing at the

meter.

Advika rubbed her palms and peeped out of the window. "I don't see anyone here," she said. "What if

somebody is hiding behind those bushes?" wondered Zarna, pointing at the bushes on both sides of

the road.

"Okay," said Maya. "All good now."

Tej stepped out of the car and put his mask on. "Feels like robbery," said Ray as he pulled up his mask

and stepped out of the car. The girls followed suit.

They carefully headed towards the temple; looking around them, careful not to be seen.

"Wait," said Ray. "How did this lock open so easily?" he wondered as he pulled out the hairpin from the

lock. "It's good, right? Now let's get in," said Maya. "Something's not right," whispered Advika.

Tej stepped inside; the others followed.

They headed towards the wall where they had found the symbol. Advika kept her hand on the Earth

symbol, Tej on Fire, Zarna on Water, Maya on Air, and Ray on the Sky symbol.

Daksh cautiously closed the main gates of the temple behind him. "Lock the gate," he said to the old

man and headed towards the temple.

The five friends heard soft music play. "Advika," said Tej and motioned her to go ahead. Advika closed

her eyes and focussed on her breathe; entering the state of thoughtlessness. All she could hear was

the sound of soft music. She took a step ahead towards the womb chamber of the temple and paused

for a brief moment. She could feel the positive energy coming from within the chamber. The others

followed her, unaware of the fact that somebody else was following them too.

It was dark in the womb chamber. Everyone except Advika removed their cellphones and switched on

the flashlight. Tej stood close to Advika. "Ouch!" she almost screamed as she lost her balance. Tej

caught her hand in time.

"Woooo!" said Ray. "A secret underground tunnel," he said as they looked at the sliding ground below

them. "Hold this," said Tej as he gave his phone to Maya motioning her to hold it above him so that he

could see clearly. "How do we go down? I see no stairs and unfortunately, we aren't carrying any rope,"

said Maya.

"That's because it works on the Master's command, and that's me," whispered Daksh. "But it never

reveals itself, how and why did it do that?" he wondered.

"Let's just jump, can't be that deep, is it?" wondered Zarna and sat on her knees, peeping down the

underground tunnel-like opening they had just found. "That's crazy," said Maya. "Tej, I'll jump and see,

or you go, you're taller than me," said Ray adjusting his headband. "I'll go," said Tej and sat at the

opening with his legs hanging down. "Careful," said Advika, breathing heavily.

Should I let them enter the room or no? Daksh thought. Let them go, maybe they'll get what I'm looking

for.

"Make all the unseen seen," whispered Daksh and closed his eyes.

The stairs began to appear one by one. The five moved stepped back at once. "Why do I feel like...

somebody wants us to go in there," whispered Advika.

"Intelligent girl," mouthed Daksh.

"Let's just go down and see, we've come so far," said Maya and began descending the stairs. Tej

followed. Ray thought for a brief moment and then followed his friends. Zarna held Advika's hand and

pulled her downstairs.

The stairs led to a small room that looked more like a prison cell. It had some broken mud utensils, a

few matchsticks lay hither-tither; oil spilt on the floor. It had the smell of petrichor; the air damp and

cold.

"The magical bowl," said Advika. "How could I forget," she said.

Maya held her phone above the bowl kept on the stone table. "Is this normal water?" quizzed Zarna.

"No, don't touch it," said Advika as she held Zarna's hand. "What did you forget?" asked Maya and

looked at Advika.

"I had read about this bowl in the book The Legends of the Elements," she said and took a step closer

to the bowl. "The other day we went to the library."

"And?" said Maya.

"No!" Ray almost screamed. They followed his gaze and found the sliding door to be closed.

"Somebody closed that lid, the door," Ray panicked.

Daksh smirked as he sat on the sliding door. "Poor guys," he said and closed his eyes. "Make the seen

unseen," he whispered.

"No!" screamed Zarna as the stairs began to disappear one by one.

"Don't panic, don't panic," said Advika more to herself than to the others. "Advika," said Tej. "Got any

idea of getting out? How can the bowl help?"

"The bowl," said Advika and sped towards the stone table. "I had read... this helps... to get answers..."

she stammered; her body shivering with fear and anxiety.

"Advika," said Tej and held her hands. "Relax, calm down, breath."

"May the air you breath vanish, may the consciousness you hold vane into oblivion," said Daksh

closing his eyes as he brought his lips close to the sliding door.

"This bowl can help us get out of here, it can show us the way," said Advika. Maya coughed; her hand

on her chest. "The air," mouthed Advika. "Somebody's playing with-" Advika stopped mid-sentence and

coughed.

Ray held his throat breathing heavily. Zarna dropped down on her knees gasping for air. "Maya," said

Tej panting. "You... can... influence the air, do something," he said.

It felt like someone was choking them to death. The air inside the room ceased to exist. The flashlights

from the phone were the only source of light in the room.

Advika kept her hands on the stone table, leaning on it, tears slid from her eyes and fell into the bowl. A

ripple of cold energy floated through her head and made her shiver. The water in the bowl began to

move. "The... bowl..." she managed to say. Zarna, Ray, and Tej dropped on their knees, coughing

loudly. "Maya... the bowl... words," said Advika and extended her arm. Maya held her hand and stood

near the bowl.

The tinge of golden and silver colour appeared in the bowl; the water began to move in a circular

motion. Letters began to dance in the water; Advika dropped on her knees. "Maya," she said panting.

"You can bring back... the... air," she said and lay unconscious.

Daksh pressed his ears against the sliding door on the ground.

Maya blinked her eyes, staring at the bowl, trying to make sense of the words floating on the water.

She spread her arms and stood near the stone table for a brief moment.

"May the done be undone, past be present, and actions reversed," read Maya and fell on the ground,

unconscious.

"No!" screamed Daksh and push opened the door.

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"We're not going back to the temple again," said Advika and crossed her arms.

The five friends had gathered at Ray's home, sitting in his bedroom. His parents were asleep

downstairs in their bedroom.

"The spell," said Maya and sat on the bean bag. "It reversed everything."

"God saved us," added Advika and sat on the bed cross-legged, placing the cushion on her lap. Zarna

sat next to her. "Yes, we were saved, but who was that person?"

"Was some boy, couldn't see his face, it was dark," said Ray leaning against the wall. "He trapped us,"

said Tej and sat on the ground, leaning on the bean bag. "It means he knew we were going to come, he

planned it," said Advika.

"But he has seen us," said Tej. "What do we do now?" wondered Maya. "Focus on the book, as of now,

it'll tell us what to do," replied Tej. "But, what if he comes searching for us?" asked Advika. "Exactly, he

knows how we look," said Zarna. "I was thinking-" said Maya. Everybody looked at her as he paused

for a moment.

"The old man... is he with that guy? Otherwise, how could he do all that?"

"True," said Advika. "It's quite possible that he has people with him."

"It means we need to hurry up," said Ray and wore his headband. "Yes, it's 12 we need to go," said

Maya. "Where?" asked Advika. "To the moon," said Maya and faked a smile. "We are being followed, is

it safe to go to the barren land?" she questioned.

"The book will handle everything," said Ray adjusting his hair. "Let's just go, someplace where it is

quiet."

"But the book should appear there, right?" quizzed Advika. "Let's go to our usual place if the book finds

it fit, the forest will appear, else, we'll be transported someplace safe," said Tej.

Advika was doubtful about going out together with her friends. She knew they were followed by

someone whose powers were still unknown to them. She had not yet recovered from the incident last

night.

"You guys go ahead," said Advika. Tej spun around and looked at her. "Don't be silly," said Maya. "The

symbols don't glow till all of us are together similarly the book won't appear if we aren't together."

"Advika," said Tej and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Swe... I mean, I know you're worried, but

trust me, when we're together, we can handle anything, running away from things isn't a solution, is it?"

Advika let out a sigh and nodded her head. "I just want all of us to be safe," she said. "We will be," said

Tej and held her hand. "Now let's go."

"You girls go ahead, I want to talk to Tej," said Ray and smiled. Maya opened her mouth to say

something but Ray stopped her. "Man to man," he said. "Whatever," said Maya and marched

downstairs. Advika and Zarna followed.

Ray shut the door and smiled at Tej. "What's the matter? Why are you smiling?" asked Tej. "Dude," said

Ray and hugged Tej. "What-" Tej pushed him slightly, breaking the hug.

"We're best friends," said Ray. "I know you from childhood, and you, you-"

"Ray, please be clear, get to the point, we're getting late and the girls are waiting," said Tej. "Girls... or

Advika?" asked Ray and crossed his arms. "What do you mean?" asked Tej and turned around. "Face

me or don't face me," said Ray. "But you can't deny the fact that you were about to call Advika,

sweetheart."

"That's rubbish," said Tej. "We'll talk about this later," said Ray and went downstairs, leaving Tej alone.

Tej walked to the mirror kept beside the bed. "I don't love her," he said looking at his reflection in the

mirror.

"Where's Tej?" asked Advika as Ray descended the stairs. "He's coming," Ray said and smiled. "Is he

fine?" she asked. "More than fine," replied Ray and motioned Zarna and Maya to follow him.

They headed towards the door. "You guys wait near the car, I'll tell mom we're going out... somewhere,"

he said.

The girls, except Advika, went to the parking where Ray's car was parked.

"What happened, Tej?" asked Advika. "Nothing," he answered, avoiding eye contact. What's wrong with

him? Advika thought.

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