The Secrets of the Elements novel Chapter 41

Advika covered her mouth with a mask and held Zarna's hand, who was hugging her from the side. "Ma- Maya, do-n't," stammered Advika. Maya advanced towards three women lying on the floor before them.

The girls' clothes were covered in blood, but it wasn't theirs. Advika and Zarna dropped to their knees, their body shivering with fear.

"It's her," whispered Maya as she the face. "It's the woman we came-" she stopped mid-sentence, "hang-on, she died years ago, how is the body so-"

"AAAAA!!!" screamed the girls as one of those dead bodies opened its eyes and grabbed Maya's neck. The other two disappeared.

The woman's appearance began to deface. The bright and sober face turned into an obnoxious, unpleasant one. Maya produced a small vial from her pocket and uncorked it. She threw the liquid on the woman's face. Advika and Zarna rushed towards her as she fell into their arms.

"Just black magic," murmured Maya as she got to her feet. "They were no spirits, just illusion."

"Is it possible to do something like this just with black magic?" asked Zarna, wiping her tears. "Yes," answered Maya. "I've helped solve many-"

"Advika!" cried Zarna as she lay flat on her back on the wooden floor.

Zarna kept Advika's head on her lap and looked at Maya. "Panic attack."

"Zarna, can you-"

"I don't think so," said Zarna and pursed her lips. "I can influence water, not summon, or create."

"Advika!" said Maya as she rubbed her foot and palms.

The girls swivelled as they heard something being pulled against the floor. Zarna froze- her heart pulsating violently. She looked at Advika and shook her. "Advika, please get up!"

The girls glanced at each other as the noise become clearer every passing second. It felt like someone was dragging a steel hammer. But why? And who?

"Okay," whispered Maya. "Don't panic. You look after Advika I'll-"

"No, we're staying together, no separating," declared Zarna.

~~~~~

"Okay," said Ray. "So? What do we do now?"

He got off the car and stared at the barren land in front of them. Tej closed his eyes and pictured Advika. He swivelled and kept his hand on Ray's shoulders. "I remember," he began. "Advika had once mentioned this technique called. . . I don't remember, but she said you could find anything with it by your heart and intuition."

"Great. How does that work?" asked Ray, his breath uneven.

"So you picture the object, in our case person, and try to connect to them, through some energy they emit," Tej tried explaining. "Then you ask like yes or no questions."

"Okay, so, picture the girls and.... but if the heart is involved... just picture Advika, the technique might work better," said Ray and got into the driver's seat.

~~~~~

The sound of something being dragged ceased to exist. Zarna pointed in the direction of the door as the doorknob rotated. Maya got to her feet and took a step towards the door.

"Maya," mouthed Zarna and held her leg. "AAAA!" Maya squealed. "You silly girl," she said. "Don't catch my led like that, not in this setting at least."

The door opened, revealing a silhouette carrying a steel rod. The person advanced towards the girls and lifted the rod in the air, ready to attack.