The Secrets of the Elements novel Chapter 43

"Rishi! Rishi!" Daksh said as he shook his body. "Daksh," Rishi woke up with a start and hugged him. Daksh was taken aback. He didn't know how to react. Whether to push him off or to embrace him in return.

Daksh patted Rishi's back. "Yeah, I'm fine," was all he could say. "She wasn't Ru," said Rishi. "Indeed," said Daksh. "I knew that the moment I saw her."

"But then you followed her," said Rishi, confused. "Yes," said Daksh and helped Rishi get to his feet. "I wanted to know her plans and who she really is."

"So? What was in that room?" asked Rishi as they proceeded towards the grey door.

"Dead people."

Rishi stopped in his tracks and looked at Daksh in terror. "Yes," said Daksh and patted his shoulder. "But they didn't know who they were messing with. Now let's open this door."

Rishi nodded his head and turned the knob.

Tej stepped ahead and pulled Advika behind him. Ray did the same with Maya and Zarna.

"You guys!?" exclaimed Rishi as they stepped inside the room and the door shut behind them. Rutuja came running and hugged Rishi. Daksh looked at the ground and smiled. "How? What are you-"

"You thought I would leave you alone," said Rishi and pulled Rutuja in a tight embrace. "I'm sorry, I just wanted-"

"What are you guys doing here? The five?" asked Daksh as he walked towards them.

"We might ask you the same," said Tej and let go of Advika's hand. "So you have decided-"

"Guys," said Rishi. "Why not figure out a way together. This place seems-"

Advika stepped ahead and pulled Rutuja in time as the door shook violently, splitting into several pieces. They could see small bricks popping out of nowhere and covering the door.

"It's a trap," said Ray. "It wants us to stay and not escape."

"Ru," said Rishi and examined her hands. "You okay?"

She nodded her head as Advika went back to stand with her group. "Let's find what we can," said Maya. "Guys," said Advika and signalled them to come closer. "Why don't we talk and sort our differences with them. Tell them we mean no harm. We are not the bad guys."

"They are the bad guys," said Zarna, stressing more on the word they.

"No, we aren't," replied Rishi and swivelled.

Advika and Maya exchanged a glance. Was I that loud? thought Ray and looked at Rishi.

"We are not the bad guys," said Rishi. "You are."

"No, no, we aren't," said Advika as she stepped ahead and advanced towards them. "See, the book chose us. We're no thieves."

"How do we know you're not lying?" said Rishi.

"You're the one to talk?" said Maya and crossed her arms. "You guys broke in Tej's house and attacked us."

"That's because you are meddling with things," said Rishi. Rutuja clutched his hand.

"Meddling?" wondered Advika. "No, we were doing what Gran-" she stopped mid-sentence. She knew they did not trust them enough to reveal things, but she did not want to be enemies with either.

The air in the room grew colder. They could smell something that resembled a rotten egg. Maya produced two lockets from her pocket and tied them on Tej's and Ray's wrists.

"I suspect some evil spirit," said Maya and turned to look at the other three people standing opposite them. "Do you want any-"

"No, thanks, we're good. Nothing can touch us," said Rutuja. "Yeah, we don't need lockets. Those are for kids like you," said Daksh.

The floor shook and gave a loud rumble. Advika lost her balance and fell to the ground along with Rutuja and Rishi.

Daksh caught his neck and rolled his eyes. His feet gradually lifting from the ground. "Daksh," said Rutuja as some invisible power lifted him in the air. "Daksh!" cried Rishi as he tried getting a hold of his leg. "No," said Advika and pulled him behind.

Zarna pointed at his eyes. They had turned into some different colours, half blue, half orange. "It implies that he is possessed and will hurt you-"