The Secrets of the Elements

Chapter 22: Into Another Dimension

"Where are we?" said Rutuja as she got up from the rugged ground.

Rishi looked at the black leaves hanging from the timid trees that surrounded them. He dusted the wet

mud from his hands and jeans. The twigs crunched under their feet.

Daksh scanned the place.

The trees were malady-brown. The musty air was difficult to breathe.

They stood in the middle of an umber-brown ancient forest. It reeked of age. Every sprawling tree they

passed through reminded them of a watchful guardian.

"Why do I feel like these trees are staring at me?" Rutuja whispered as they walked through the forest.

"It feels like a different dimension," said Rishi as he jumped, escaping a ditch in his way.

The further they went, the more mystical and spellbinding it became.

They arrived at a wide glade, where the trees began to disappear, revealing the bespeckled sky.

"Wherever we are," said Rutuja. "We need to get back home."

"Daksh, the ring can help," said Rishi. His eyes fell on his reflection in the water. He closed his eyes at

once and stepped back.

Daksh tossed the ring in the air.

"No, that's not possible," he said as it hit the ground.

"Nothing happened?" said Rutuja bemused.

"Try it again," said Rishi, his eyes scanning the forest.

Daksh, once again, threw the ring in the air.

The wind caused ripples in the glade, the atmosphere turning ice cold. The green leaves began to turn

black and froze.

The ring hit the ground, spinning in its place.

"Impossible," said Daksh.

"This was supposed to transport us to the portal," said Rutuja rubbing her arms.

Daksh removed his jacket and placed it around Rutuja's shoulders.

"Thanks," she murmured.

"Rishi, what are you doing?" she asked, turning to him.

Rishi opened his eyes. "Calling Master Indra for help."

"What!? No," said Daksh and took a step towards Rishi. "We can't tell him about the five, yet, he'll

ground us, we'll be locked in that cottage forever."

"You got any better ideas?" asked Rishi.

"Daksh, we'll think of an excuse later, but now we need to get out of here," said Rutuja and held his

arm.

Rishi pushed Rutuja and Daksh aside as a wolf jumped in their direction. He removed a dagger from

the inside of his jacket and slashed the animal on his steel grey claws.

"Rishi!" cried Rutuja.

"Rutuja, careful," said Daksh as roots began to crawl from beneath the ground, surrounding her.

"Daksh!" screamed Rutuja.

Four black paws, now red, stood firm to the Earth's soil, the beast lowered its head while its ember

eyes watched every move of its victim. Blood oozed out from Daksh's shoulders.

"Aaahh," screamed Rutuja as thorns stemming from the branches, pierced her skin.

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Tej hit the brake as they arrived at the temple.

"Negative," said Maya as she stepped out of the car, keeping the meter back in her pocket.

Advika could feel her heart pounding. Zarna squeezed her hand. "I'm feeling scared too," she said.

Tej locked the car as Ray switched on the torch. "Onward ho!"

"Advika, relax," said Tej and held her hand. "We'll be fine."

"C'mon guys," said Maya as she led the way. Ray almost jumped in excitement.

~~~~

"Noooo!" cried Rutuja as a sword pierced through his skin, and blood oozed out from the wounds.

Daksh took in a deep breath, closed his eyes, gathered all the force he had and threw the wolf in the air

and rushed towards Rishi, who lay in the pool of his own blood.

Rutuja grabbed the branches encircling her. The thorns dug deeper in her skin. Closing her eyes, she

chanted a mantra.

Her skin began to glow, her wounds healing themselves. She could feel energy gather around her

finger.

A glowing round object appeared on her forefinger.

"Rutuja, no," said Daksh. Rishi lying on his lap.

She grabbed the branches and uprooted them from the tree they were sprawling from, tossing them

into the air.

Daksh lifted Rishi on his back. He stood there for a brief moment; a tear slid from his eyes. "Danj," he

said.

Rutuja rushed towards them, the mud seeping in her heels. She rose her hands in the air and as if on

cue, the wolves went up in the air, disappearing into a thin mist.

She placed her hand on Rishi's forehead. The ring stopped glowing.

"Why? Why wouldn't the ring work?" she wondered and looked at Daksh.

"See if the ring can take us back," suggested Daksh, tightening his grip on Rishi's hand. "You know it

can't do that, but still, I'll try," said Rutuja and closed her eyes, bringing the ring near her chest.

~~~~~

"I don't want to go back in there," said Advika, clutching Zarna's hand.

"Yes, the last time we were almost choked to death," added Zarna.

"But the sound, the music is coming from here," said Maya and pushed open the sliding door on the

ground.

"And we have ropes with us this time, we've sent those three to, doesn't matter where we're all set this

time," said Ray and tied the rope to one of the four pillars of the temple.

"Advika," whispered Tej and kept his hand on her shoulder. "It'll all be fine. Our enemies are there

fighting their own battles, and there's no one to attack us."

"I'm going first. Everyone else follows," said Ray and went down with the help of the rope.

~~~~~~

"No," said Rutuja and ran her fingers through her long hair.

Daksh was still carrying Rishi on his back.

Rutuja stepped in front of them as a massive circle of fire appeared in front of them.

"Rutuja," Daksh said and held her hand as the air coming from the circle pulled her within it.

"Daksh, take care of Rishi," she said as the air sucked her up.

"Rutuja!" screamed Daksh as the winds took her near the circle and then within it. He tightened his grip

on Rishi as the air pushed both of them towards the centre of the circle.

Daksh jumped in the air and entered the circle, landing on the hard wooden ground, alongside Rishi.

~~~~~