The Secrets of the Elements

Chapter 40: Moon's secret?

The girls jumped as the door opened, revealing another red door. "The last time," said Zarna and took

a step behind, "it was empty. It was just darkness. Where did this door come from?"

"Girls," said Maya. "Lockets on." She produced three similar lockets from the small velvet bag and

passed them.

"Wait," said Advika as she wore the locket around her neck. "Are we. . ."

"Yes," said Maya and kept her hand on the doorknob. "Follow me."

~~~~

"These girls," said Tej as they drove past the coffee house. "I know," said Ray, his eyes glued to his

phone's screen.

"Tell me what was the need?" he said as he drove at full speed, impatient to reach the destination.

"I'm mad too," said Ray. "Take the next left."

~~~~~

Maya pushed open the door. A gush of liquid blew from an unknown source. The girls closed their eyes

at once and threw their hands up, shielding their faces from the liquid.

Advika sniffed her sleeves drenched in the water like substance covering most of her top and jeans.

Her heart was hammering inside her chest. She gathered all her courage and stepped forward with her

hands trying to find the doorknob. "AAAAA!" was all the girls heard before finding themselves in a dark,

murky, cold room.

~~~~

"No way," said Ray as Tej hit the breaks. "I lost them."

"What do you mean?" said Tej and took Ray's phone in his hands. He zoomed in on the screen and the

location. "We're almost there. They were just here, right?"

"Yes," replied Ray. "But-"

"Did she know about it by any chance?" asked Tej and looked at the barren land ahead. "No, if it was

Advika she would have, but not Zarna."

Tej took a deep breath and pictured the girls. "I hope they are safe."

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"Where is Master Indra?" quizzed Rishi as he sat on the floor in front of the mysterious bookshelf they

had just discovered. "He said he'll be back soon, didn't say where he's going," replied Rutuja as she sat

next to him. "Where is Daksh?"

"Sleeping," said Rishi and picked up a random from the shelf. "Is he okay? Let me go and check."

"No," said Rishi and held her hand. "He's fine. Just you know, coping up with. . . whatever happened."

Rutuja nodded her head and pursed her lips. "After his mom, Dai Ma was-"

"I know," said Rishi and examined the other books. "What's that?"

He picked up a dusty, dull-looking book from the second shelf. "See its glass," he said and kept his

hand on the front cover.

Rutuja almost jumped at the sound of cracks in the wall opposite them. "Did I- Oh no," said Rishi and

turned the book to read the back cover. "Only for the brave hearts," he read.

The cracks in the wall grew every single moment, filling the entire library with dust and thunderous

sound. "Should we like. . . run?" wondered Rishi and kept the book back in its place.

"Moonlight!" said Rutuja as the wall split into two halves forming a pathway, which lead to what looked

like a moonlit street. The wall began repairing itself. "Why is the gap closing?" wondered Rutuja as she

got to her feet.

"Maybe it's because I kept the book back in its place," guessed Rishi and pulled her towards the door.

"No," she said and jerked his hand. "Dai Ma said your answers are here."

"Yes, but-"

Before Rishi could complete his sentence, Rutuja grabbed the book in her hands and marched towards

the opening. "Rutuja, no," said Rishi and grabbed her shoulders, pulling her back. "First at least-"

She gave him a slight push and turned to face him. "If you don't want to come, then just don't."

Both of them looked into the eye of the other and raised their hand. Rishi threw his hands in front of

him as though throwing an invisible net. "Ou!" cried Rutuja as the book slipped from her hand and

landed on the floor. Rishi pulled her towards him and hugged her. "Sorry, Ru. But I can't let you play

with your life."

Rutuja struggled under his grip. Impair, she whispered in his ears. A tear slipped from her eye. Rishi's

grip loosened gradually. He closed his eyes, wobbling. "Ru-" That was all he could say before he lay

flat on the ground.

Rutuja wiped her tears and picked up the book. She swivelled and ran towards the opening, which

closed after she stepped into it.

"Rishi!" said Daksh and rushed towards him. He looked around and noticed the cracks in the wall

repairing itself. Repair, he whispered in Rishi's ear.

Rishi woke up with a start, panting. "I don't believe this!" he almost screamed.

"What happened? Where's Rutuja?" asked Daksh. "What's with the noise and this wall."

"That stupid book!" said Rishi and got to his feet. He explained to Daksh how Rutuja performed the

immobilization spell on him and entered the hole in the wall.

Daksh rushed towards the bookshelf and rummaged through the books. "There might be some other

book that'll lead us-"

The boys fell to the ground as the wall split itself into two halves with a deafening sound. Rishi noticed

the same moonlit street he had seen before. "Which book did you-"

Daksh lifted a rose-coloured book in his hand. "Is that-"

"Yes, this is the same opening, but where's Ru?" said Rishi and took a few steps towards the wall.

"Let's find out," said Daksh and stepped into the opening. Rishi took a deep breath, glanced at the

bookshelf, and followed Daksh into the unknown moonlit place.

~~~~~