The Secrets of the Elements

Chapter 42: Into the Trap

"How are you so sure?" asked Rishi as they stood before a giant grey door. "I just know," replied Daksh

and kept his hands on the door. Rishi pressed his ears against it. "I do hear some chatter," he added.

"Do you hear her?" asked Daksh. "I think I do," said Rishi. Daksh turned the doorknob.

"No, wait!" said a voice from behind.

~~~~

"You girls!?" said Rutuja as she threw the steel rod on the floor.

"What are you doing here?" demanded Maya and crossed her arms.

"I'm not answerable to you!" snarled Rutuja and looked around. How did the street lead me here and

why? she thought. She glanced at Advika. "Is she fine?"

"No, she's unconscious," replied Zarna.

"As far as I've known," began Rutuja. "You have the element water. Why didn't you-"

"AaaHH!" screamed the girls as the door caught fire and lay flat on the ground; its hinges splintered

across the room.

They threw their hands up to shield themselves from the light and dust that now filled the room.

"Advika!" said Tej and rushed towards her. He took her in his arms and hugged her. "Advika! What

happened?"

Maya and Zarna shook their head, recovering from the shock. "Panic attack," was all Zarna could say.

She was shocked beyond words. She looked at Maya, who gave her an 'I don't know too' look.

Ray sprinkled some water on Advika's face and shook her. "Advika!" said Tej.

Rutuja walked towards the shattered door and peeped outside. It was just another room with chairs,

tables, and other accessories. She marched towards the door in the room outside.

"It's locked!" said Ray and swivelled as Advika opened her eyes. "Advika, you okay?" said Tej and

offered her some water. She coughed and nodded her head. She blinked several times before actually

taking in her surroundings. She looked at Ray and Tej in disbelief and glanced at the girls.

"We tracked you girls," revealed Ray.

Rutuja tried every trick she could to open the door but failed. She formed a ball of light and directed it

towards the door.

"Nothing will work! We already tried," said Ray. "How did she get here?"

"We don't know," answered Maya. "We're shocked too."

"And stuck too. Great job you guys," said Tej and patted Advika's head. She realized she was leaning

on him and moved away, getting to her feet. "You sure you're fine?" he asked again. She nodded her

head and took a deep breath.

"How did you get here?" she asked as she stepped on the burnt door and advanced towards Rutuja.

"What if I ask you the same?" Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

"We came here looking for a woman. And you?" asked Advika, hoping she could get an answer.

"Some book led me here," replied Rutuja and began pacing across the room, looking for a window or

some opening that could get her out of here.

Advika walked towards her friends. "There's no way out," said Ray. "Tej had to set that window on fire

for us to get in."

"Which window?" quizzed Rutuja and walked towards them into the other room. "I do not see any

window here."

"It literally turned into a solid wall after we jumped in," replied Ray.

"Don't worry. We'll get out of here," assured Tej. "Than-"

"I'm still mad," he said and lifted the black bag Ray had kept on the floor. "Here's all you got," he

glanced at Advika. "Might help us get out."

"You broke the glass, didn't you?" said Maya. Ray pursed his lips and nodded his head in a yes.

Advika lifted her hand to unzip the bag but stopped as she glanced at Rutuja. They had stolen the

books and accessories from the temple. And Advika knew that Rutuja was one of the guardians. She

could not risk opening the bag in front of Rutuja. She looked at Maya and Zarna questioningly.

~~~~

A girl came running towards Daksh and hugged him. "Daksh," she whispered. Rishi narrowed his eyes

as he observed her. "Are you fine, Rutuja?" asked Daksh and hugged her back. "Yes," she murmured,

sobbing. "We should find a way out," she said and lifted her head to look into his eyes. "Yes," said

Daksh and glanced at Rishi. Rishi shook his head and swivelled. "Aa. . . maybe we should try this do-"

"No," said Rutuja. "I don't think it's safe. Let's try that one,"

she pointed at a bright blue door far at the end of the passage. "I don't think-"

"Okay," Daksh cut Rishi and advanced towards that door holding Rutuja's hand. Rishi could not

understand this. A few minutes ago, they were finding Rutuja, and now she comes here and acts

differently. Plus, Daksh does not follow instructions whatsoever. He stood there contemplating over the

last few incidents as his friends walked towards the blue door.

"Daksh!!" screamed Rishi and ran towards them.

The blue door opened. Several pale white hands pulled Daksh inside, and the door shut. Rutuja formed

a ball of blue sparks and threw it in Rishi's direction, who dodged it and hit the floor. She threw another

ball of blue lightning energy that hit his chest. He lay there motionless as she opened the blue door and

walked inside with a smile on her face.

~~~~

Maya sat next to Advika. Zarna followed. "Let's first examine this place and then see how these books

can help," said Maya and helped Advika place the bag at one corner.

"Let's just-"

"What brought you here anyway?" asked Ray.

"We read about this woman," began Maya. "She was closely related to these books and the elements."

"What's her name? Who is she?" asked Tej.

The girls exchanged a glance. "That's exactly why we are here," said Zarna. "Yes, we read a book in

that library that told us the longitudes and latitudes of this woman-"

"What!?" said Ray. "Come again?"

"Yes, Ray, the location, there was this puzzle sort of thing, it gave a location, which we found. It led us

here," said Advika.

"And when did you do all this?" asked Tej and took a few steps in the other direction, inspecting the hut

they were trapped in.

Nobody answered. "Let's first find a way out," said Ray a little louder so that even Rutuja heard him.

"Then I'll talk to you guys later."

The girls knew Ray was upset, although it was out of his personality. Advika wanted to talk to him. Tell

him and Ray both that they were important than this mission. That her still going after the books and

the mystery did not mean that she did value their emotions. But she also knew that they were not in the

right frame of mind. The first thing she had to do is get them all out of here.

~~~~