The Elemental Alchemists

Chapter 1: Introduction

Normally, you see the sun shining on a beautiful July morning. Clouds have parted apart revealing the glorious, illuminating fiery ball of light called the Sun. The Sun was the source of everything, it gave us hope, as well as success and freedom. The freedom of a healthy life sure, the Sun also gives us a healthy life with Vitamin D. But our plants’ll wither and die if the Sun wasn’t there. It gave us success to build civilisations.

If only we had that success… if you are in some other world complaining how you got burnt harshly by the Sun, choose your words wisely. Might as well be beholden and grateful that you have that giant glowing star in the centre of your solar system.

Yep…in my world, the sun only shines a bucketful 4 times a year. Sure, we get sunlight, but this time, our source of everything is absent when we beg for it. The path of freedom and success will be forever masked and veiled by the clouds.

Life so bitter and frigid, some people weep at night; fear increases every minute, a centre of destruction lie in rubble , and the tiniest pieces of the rubble, is our joy. You may be wondering what I’m talking about, what is this mega catastrophe that I keep babbling and gibbering about.

Well..your about to see soon: a world where the Sun lay dozing behind thunderous gloomy clouds. Where it’s almost impossible to catch a glimpse of a bright, sparkling star in the sky. The dot, a tiny dot which might even carry a bulb every time. It may be tiny, but it carries utter significance as it carpets over a shadowy sky. As the night turns beautiful enough that the famed painter, Vincent Van Gogh had enough courage to paint it’s splendid beauty. Yet it’s highly difficult to see a single star, yet alone never see a shooting star to whisper your most desired to wish as you gaze it descend like a meteor.

The green, glorious grass, a common sight in history, die and blackened. When you wished and craved for a soft, silky feeling when you brush your hands against the grass, explodes when all you feel is the death that lingered in those weeds.

Mountains were towering with their stunning beauty, making every little dancing flower that dwelled on it feel a utopian sensation around them. With the animals grazing around, minding their own business while the humans hunted down. While the birds teach their little ones how to fly, when the bees perch on a dazzling sunflower, dispersing the pollen. The predators lurk in the shadows, as quiet as mice. As the prey, oblivious to the fact that they were being watched munch along grass and berries. But we didn’t have that; we had hard, jagged rocks that point out like spikes on the mountain. The flowers that lived, rarely swayed or swayed much too hard. Snow rained cats and dogs there, extremely high chances of rapid hail hit like asteroids with such force that sometimes avalanches occurred. What once was a dazzling sight of a mountain was now a dwelling for darkness.

The electricity was extremely difficult to grasp. As the cold chill flew across the world, the power plants failed. The industries shut down after they didn’t get enough revenue. Only the selfish and greedy government enjoy the luxury with unlimited electricity whilst others, who can find their way to get electricity, have to use at particular times of the day.

Cars were abolished after the catastrophe, resulting to everyone having to walk and endure the frigid cold. No sign of transportation other than walking, it took up too much electricity. And electricity was valuable. It was the last droplet of water in the world.

Life was miserable. With the constant event of rain, snow and ice, it couldn’t get any easier. Could it? My world was very bleak, and I indeed believed that there was multiple worlds. Worlds much better than this one. If only there was a way to go there…

Occasionally a streak of fire would sprout from the ground. Sprout like water from a whale. Except it was a beautiful sight. Normally, people’ll panic whenever a firework of fire just flames into the air, but since the ice appeared, it was like a sign of hope. It appears for approximately 9.769 seconds in a random, unpredictable place.

The sad disadvantage of the unpredictable places were that if someone was strolling around outside, and they were right under the fire, well they can get burned quite severely. There was a less likely chance of death, but the injuries and casualties were still drastic. And almost every one of us as a community has a sense of uneasiness whenever they roamed outside…which was about 60% of the day.

We called these random fire sprouts “Fire Fountains.” Which was a rational name as it sprouted fire like a fountain. Geologists had spend centuries researching, analysing anything to find the causation of the Fire Fountains. It was fruitless. Archaeologists dug up as deep until they reached the mantle of the Earth. Also fruitless. Scientists in fire claim that they had no idea how the fire automatically shot up like a geyser. Chemists analysed the fire and reported that there are no special, foreign chemicals and that the fire was just…normal. Some say it was a curse, others say it was a miracle. I just say it was…slightly abnormal.

Chapter 2: The Story of Our Destruction : 6 Years ago…

“Shhh…go to sleep dear. The nightmares won’t come again.”

“But Daddy! They are soooo scary! They come every day, I can’t sleep!” Whined the little girl. She and her dad were in her bedroom. The lamplight by the bed dispersed a dim, orange colour. After a while, it’d flutter, causing the room to black out for a millisecond.

“The ice always comes!” The little girl wailed. She had seen every night for a month, ice slithering on her bedroom walls. It was like the ice had a mind of it’s own, slithering in particular paths to creep the little girl out.

“No they don’t. It’s just your amazing imagination, playing tricks on you that’s all!” Her father tried to consult in a gentle tone. But it didn’t work, the little girl was still petrified.

“Daddy! Please, they come when I’m alone, but they go POOF! When you come into the room!” The girl countered. She made an exaggerated expression with her hands when she stated “POOF!”. For a 6 year old girl, she was incredibly intelligent. But that wasn’t to say she was resilient. She panicked over a lot of rational things, but some were irrational.

Like a few months ago, she was happily playing were Barbie dolls on the floor in the bedroom, making a role-play out of it. Barbie was a superhero that saved her family from an evil villain, the girl adored that game! Until, the top, wooden shelf on the wall creaked a little. And made a slight tilt downwards; the little girl, too oblivious that the shelf moved, kept her back against it. Laughing and giggling contently. The shelf creaked more, the weight of the girl’s fairytale books pushing and urging it down. When finally, the screw slipped off and the shelf collapsed onto her desk, snapping the shelf in half. The girl, startled by the sudden noise, screeched, scooped up her dolls and hid inside her closet. Her parents came rushing into the room, and found her clutching her dolls to her chest and weeping. Saying there was monster. Her dad tried to relax her, saying there was no monster and that it was the shelf that broke. He stroked the girl’s long, messy brunette hair. The girl noticed her mother roll her eyes slightly when she said there was a monster.

“Daddy…can you please tell a story?” The girl asked. Her dad shook his head, he looked slightly weary and haggard. The girl could sense he must have been going through rough times.

“I told you every story I know. I don’t know any other story to tell.” Replied Daddy, shrugging his shoulders to depict that he doesn’t know.

“But I know one! I really want to hear this story!” Exclaimed the girl. Dad laughed, a sound of pure joy in miserable times. It was rare when that happened, but the girl always knew a way to make her father smile.

“Okay dear, which one?” He asked, grinning. The girl took a breath, then replied.

“Why is there so much ice, and it’s sooooooooooooooo cold! And why isn’t the Sun always here? And why are the F-fire Fountains here?” She asked inquisitively and rapidly, not bothering to slow down. Sometimes, she always stuttered on speaking. It was a medical issue she had since she was born, and she didn’t know why.

Her dad smiled. “Are you sure you wanna know?” He asked, hesitating slightly. The girl nodded her head eagerly, and sat up on her bed, hugging her stuff toyed, smiling giraffe. When they bought it, Mommy said the eyes and smile were very creepy, but the girl already fell in love with the toy and pleaded her parents to buy it. Mommy hesitated slightly, then bought it. Mom always had a different opinion on things!

Her dad thought for a moment, then took a deep breath and began. “So…long ago. Before Mommy and Daddy’s parent’s were even born-.” The girl’s eyes widened at how long ago it was. She hardly knew her grandparents, they were very cantankerous and old-fashioned. And they never bothered to visit for that particular reason, that her dad had done his best to make their house fit into the current generation. Which did not please her grandparents! So the fact that this was before her old-fashioned grandparent’s were born, made the girl gasp.

“The world was sooo beautiful! There were so many colourful and vibrant flowers everywhere! Life was easy, everyone was happy and content-!”

“What’s content?” The girl asked in puzzlement.

“It’s another word for happy, anyway…there were no Fire Fountains, the Sun shone almost everyday and the sky was azure! But…there was an accident. People say, there was a bomb in the ground-.” The girl gasped in horror when her dad said bomb. “But this was no ordinary bomb, this was an Ice Bomb.”

“Ice Bomb?”

“Yes. You know how bombs, they make explosions, big fiery explosions right?” The girl nodded. “Well this was a very weird bomb, because instead of making big fire explosions, this made big ICE explosions!”

“So, there is a lot of Ice Bombs on the ground, and whenever they explode, soo much ice comes?” The girl asked, trying to comprehend the theory of the Ice Bombs. Her father looked taken-aback from the thought, then chuckled and shook his head slowly. “No. There was a massive Ice Bomb. Bigger than our house! And then…the bomb exploded. Nobody knew why the bomb was there, or how it got there. But when it exploded-.” The lamp fluttered for a second, as if listening and getting scared as well to Daddy’s story.

“When it exploded, all the flowers went icy. The clouds were as dark as night, and it started raining so cold for 5 days! It was said that some people died from the frigid cold of the rain.” The little girl felt fear crawling up her throat every time.

“Does the rain still come?” She asked. Her father grinned and replied no. The girl breathed a sigh of relief, the last thing she wanted was fearing refreshing yet lethal rain. “And it’s been this cold ever since.” Said Daddy grimly. The girl frowned, why haven’t the people fixed the problem?

“Is there a way to stop the ice?” She asked quietly, her dad had to lean slightly to hear her. When he heard the question, he tilted his head slightly and his soft, innocent brown eyes grew distant, as they always did when he was thoughtful.

“I believe there is a solution to everything. But don’t worry about it, it’s not your business.” He leaned over and kissed her on the forehead.”Good night Tina.” As he pressed his finger against the switch and the whole room dwelled in shadows as the ice returned. But this time the girl didn’t feel afraid.

Chapter 3: The Invitation of a Dream

The bread tasted..stale as usual. There wasn’t a day where I could enjoy a luxurious, exploding in my mouth as I crunched it and allowed it to slide down my oesophagus. Nothing was spread over it, except dust and air. And alongside a cold glass of snowy milk. Breakfast was no different and sometimes I thought we were impoverished with that type of evidence. Even if we were sort of in the centre of the hierarchy scale.

I twirled my straight, black hair into a curly mess, a nasty habit that grew rapidly no matter how I hard I urged myself to stop.

“Tina! You ready for school?!” A voice called out from the biggest bedroom of the house, the voice echoed and bounced everywhere like there was 1000 microphones over the walls.

I sighed. “Dad!” I called out, “It’s the holidays! There is no school!” I yelled angrily. 2 months holiday! The best freedom a child can get, before diving into the pit of boredom that originates in school.

“Right! Sorry! I’m gettin’ old haha! Anyways, finish your breakfast quickly, then come upstairs to get dressed!” My dad shouted again.

My face scrunched up in confusion, dressed for what? “Why?”

“Well, I’m not gonna leave you home alone now am I dear? Crime never stops, and unfortunately never will due to the amount of desperation growing through some people, so you’re coming to the lab with me.”

The word “lab” sent a million thoughts swirling in my brain and neurones. I let out a giant, deafening scream internally and hurried up the stairs, straight towards my dad. “Going to where?!” I exclaimed. My dad chucked and rubbed his ageing beard. “My lab.” He replied calmly.

“Why?”

“I just told you, I can’t leave you home alone. If I did, your mother will scream at me for a month!” He joked. A hint of sadness washed over his words though. Mum was on a trip, to another area far away. Someone asked her to be Head Scientist, all the way far North in the mountains. It took a month to get there by horse (as I said, cars were gone so we had to use horses for transportation). The weather was supposed to be more frigid and bleak than it was already in the Chicago. She promised she would be back by 14th of August. And it was 8 of June today.

The Art Institute was a 8 minute and 47 seconds walk from our house. It was incredibly humdrum at home so I often entertained myself by stealing by dad’s stopwatch and walk to particular places at a fair pace, counting how long it would take me to get there.

Next, rush back home, construct a table and finally add my new data onto the table. Then, when I have enough places and their timings, I produce a bar chart and feel satisfied at my success. And then I get bored again, unfortunately. “Now go and get dressed, wear anything you want!” My dad interrupted me from my thoughts and I quickly slipped into a simple, red shirt and jeans. Just keep it simple. I told myself.

‘You couldn’t choose any other colour than red?!’ My brain argued.

‘Shut up!’ I shot back.

‘No, you look hideous with red!’ Suddenly, I pictured myself dressed as a blood red tomato, a sight so terrifying that I immediately changed my opinion for the better. I gulped and took a steady breath. ‘Ok, I won’t wear it again after today!’ I compromised. My brain said nothing and I let out a deep breath of frustration.

I glanced at my unorganised room, papers were sprawled everywhere from the floor to the edge of a wall light. A tornado came to this room, messed it up and made it like a rubbish dump. And that tornado was me. A giant encyclopaedia of animals lay at the centre of the desk. The book was open, unveiling a hybrid: The Puddle Alligator. It was like any normal alligator, except it’s scaly skin was a darkish night sky blue. Everywhere it goes, it created a large puddle, when it wanted to at least, or of it was wounded. Geologists assume the Alligator has a slight control over liquefaction, when I asked my dad what that meant, he only replied that it was the state of something becoming liquid, and he added that liquefaction caused earthquaked sometimes. Which did not help me.

Thank goodness geologists assured that the Puddle Alligator caused only little liquefaction, which means landslides, earthquakes and flooding won’t occur that easily. “We are leaving now Tina! Come on!” My dad yelled out again from downstairs; how he managed to get downstairs with passing my room and I was not aware…was beyond my knowledge.

I sprinted and slid down the railing of our wooden staircase. My butt paining but the joy of sliding down was infinite. My optimistic dad grinned and we both ventured the 15 minute and 21 seconds to the Museum of Science and Industry.

Chapter 4: A Masked Truth

If I were to be candid with you, my dad’s lab was definitely not in the famed Museum of Science and Industry. We crossed the zebra crossing, even though there was no cars. Mom always said we should honour the ways of our ancestors, even if it seemed unnecessary. I was lost in my thoughts, again. I was always the daydreamer of the family. Mom and Dad were quite straightforward and did not dream of the future that much, neither did my brother, Alan.

Alan Frost was a very realistic and grumpy person who quite rarely had any comedic ideas. He married a much more kinder girl named Allie. Which seemed to please my parents as they found someone to knock some kindness into Alan. Allie humbly agreed. I was also grateful Alan was gone, he’ll visit a few times a month but completely ignores me, which I was fine with as well.

I never liked Alan, ever since birth. I was treated like the stem or the leaf of a flower, invisible. Everyone always like the petals because the petals are the most detailed and vibrant, they stand out the most from the whole flower to attract bees…and humans. Alan treated my parents like the petals, whereas I could easily even be the root! Out of the picture! Sometimes I often wondered what I did wrong to Alan that made me the odd one out. My parents did nothing about it, which made the situation a lot harsher. When I was younger, I would rush into my room and sob on the floor when Alan didn’t come to greet me with his beautiful smile hid behind the bitterness. Now, after 2 years, I finally realised that truth that he would never treat me respectfully as well and I learned to live with it.

“Behave good please, would you?” My dad half-asked half begged. Sometimes I would be really whiny like a brat in some special parties. My dad was highly respected in the Lab. If it wasn’t for his excellent and remarkable work on animalistic biology, we would be poor and hardly valued, theres this book I read a few months ago: To Kill a Mockingbird. The book had quite intricate detail but it pictured it amazingly through a small girl’s eyes. And I feel like if my dad hasn’t done all that work…we would be like the Ewells in the story. Minus the fact that the family handling was quite…mediocre.

I nodded to my dad’s question and looked forward. I could just see a distant part of the Museum, depicting we were close. A snake of ice was slithering down the sidewalk next to us.

Some people claim that the ice was…alive. As if it had a mind of it’s own. Building up to this idea, some people assume that this ice was from space. It was an alien coming to spy on us. Government officials reject that idea; saying it was barbaric that aliens such at these existed. The government declared this a few years ago, when I was 8. When my dad heard the news, he pointed out to my mother that the government said “Aliens as these.”

I comprehended fully what he meant; that the government didn’t say aliens didn’t exist…they specified that aliens, that behaved in that certain way didn’t exist. Which made me wonder exceedingly that the government then knew of aliens being alive…? NASA had confirmed that they saw no unusual activity outside the Earth’s atmosphere. Astronomers (with a balked look on their face) had said that the planets looked as empty as a wasteland.

But still, the possibility of the government knowing aliens had dwelled with us in this universe, and masked it was possible. But why would they mask it was the real question that had felt like it’s slowly pulling wires off my brain. “Daydreaming again are you?” My dad asked, a mischievous smile was planted on his face. I shook my head. “No,” I replied, “Just thinking…”. My dad stared at me for a moment, then looked away, “You look like your mother.” Was all he said. I nodded, “I know.” I replied.

I inherited my appearance from my mum, brown, sleek and lengthy hair, falling down my shoulders like a waterfall. My personality was sort of like my dad’s. I had that impish cunningness like him. Making traps was like a hobby for me, small playful traps. And my love for biology was passed down from both parents.

I realised that we were approximately 5 minutes until we reached the Lab. I snapped back into the horrible reality, away from my utopia of wonder. I could just see massive figures, holding briefcases ascending up the Museum’s steps. A black coat covered their bodies with a darkish blue tie, the colour equivalent to the sea at night. They held mono-glasses in their hands, or they perch it over their eye. Many people who employed in Museum or either came for the entertainment of art seemed to keep their distance from the group of strange men. Their eyes darting everywhere but to them, as if the very look in the eye could be intimidating. I searched my brain to see who they were, I recognised them but it was like my brain kept a security lock for the memory, and I had no password.

Then suddenly, one turned around his piercing eyes glared right through my soul. My spine sent a frigid shiver down my nervous system and throughout my whole body. The term “shiver me timbers” seemed a brilliant term to describe what I was feeling. The man scowled at me, then spun around and headed with the rest of the men.

My dad tugged my hand and pulled me away from the Museum, “Whatever you do in the future…never go to those men.” He whispered to me in my ear, and then looking around to see if there were any eavesdroppers. “Who are they?” I whispered back still dazed from the whole staring fiasco. “Government men..” my dad said grimly. I waited, knowing my dad will go into more detail; but he didn’t. “If the government are related to this…that means..?” I asked, “That something is wrong, and something big will happen…in the Museum soon.” My dad finished the sentence. We walked in silence, the walk seemed long than usual now with the tense atmosphere.

We were nearly there when a pillar of orange exploded directly in front of me.

Chapter 5: The Talking Fire

The temperature suddenly risen about 50 degrees. Everything happened so fast, as I felt flames tickling against my skin. The smell of smoke entered my lungs, causing me to cough. I glanced down at my body, nothing was burnt, yet. I stood frozen in spot, my feet unable to move one step in any direction.

The Flame Fountain erupted a few centimetres in front of me, my eyes watered. I grabbed a handkerchief out of my pocket and covered it over my mouth. It didn’t help my feet though, I could just make out a tiny, dancing flame on my shoes. I stepped rapidly on the foot, trying to extinguish it.

The sight was quite stunning though, I never been so close to a Flame Fountain so close before. Every time a Fire Fountain occurred, my parents would drag me away from the fascinating sight. The flames seemed to have connected to each other, creating a river of swirling orange ribbons. A tornado of swirling, hazy, thunderous smoke surrounded me. I could just distinguish the shadowy figures outside the smoke. This must have been a Fire Fountain with a quite long duration. I estimated about 7 people coming..one of them may have been my dad. The yellow contained inside of the flames made it illuminate greatly. It was said red and yellow made orange. I couldn’t see the red, only the yellow. Which puzzled me but art wasn’t my area of expertise.

The sight may have been enough for a lifetime, but the most abnormal thing were the voices. It all started out as a hissing sound, whistling through my eardrums. I thought it was just something the fire caused, but as more time passed by the whispers shaped into words. Next, it started as a buzz, like the fire just spawned bees. But they started to go louder, and more voices kept whispering the same words in their silvery, hissing voice. The fire sounded desperate, or the voices within.

I craned my ear slightly closer to the fire, trying to figure out what they were saying. But the roaring of the fire, disabled that opportunity.

If only the waves of the fire shut up… I thought. And then suddenly, the roaring stopped. The voices became clearer, I stood in silence, stunned. “Did I just…will the fire to do a command?” I whispered.

“Yes…” a voice whispered.

“Huh..? Who said that?” I asked, darting around, but there was no source of the voice nearby.

‘I speak within the symbol of courage and light. A trapped soul…’ the voice said in the same tone, it seemed to be urging me to do something. “A fan of riddles are you?” I muttered under my breath. Then something in my head clicked, courage…light= fire. “You speak in the fire?!” I asked, quite surprised. ‘Yes…well done…listen carefully young one for the universe are in your hands…’

“What?!” I demanded. But the fire went silent, I waited patiently. My head swarming in confusion and I was almost certain I was going crazy.

‘The light will bring forth a girl, blessed at birth and cursed at death.

Families tear apart, and nature collapses

All heroes fall, in the hands of only one as they let out their last breath.

Hope is lost as the all worlds are plagued by diseases.

The destructive one wakes, disguised as the one who all loathe,

An oath must be taken, for them to be awaken.

The heroines will venture for a significant journey

Across all lands, till the truth is unveiled.

The duet will be aided by 8. Not humans, nor Gods.

As they venture to destroy the control of the 9th element-’

Suddenly, the voice stopped, as the fire disappeared. “No no! Stay! What were the other lines?!” I cried out. But the flames were gone. And all that were in front of me was a giant pile of ash and a truckload of people, worried looks wore on the faces as they asked if I was alright.

I stood up and my dad hugged me straightaway. “You sure you’re alright?” He asked. I took a shaky breath and did my best to smile. “Yes I’m fine.”

My dad grinned, then held my hand and shooed all the people away. “The girl…she was not singed or scorched by the fire…” I heard a person murmur. It was true: as I looked down at my clothes, not a speck of ash was laid over it. I was completely clean as if the fire never happened.

I heard other people agree. “She’s not charred anywhere…how’s that possible? It was a long Fire Fountain!” A man exclaimed quietly. My dad squeezed my hand, I know he was telling me to keep moving and ignore everyone’s else’s views.

But my head was now glued to the half prophecy the fire spoke of. What elements did it mean? Why was I told this prophecy…when no one else had.

I remembered the situation I was in and I felt a giant ball of panic exploding in me. I shut my eyes and ventured forward to the lab. Walking silently down the rocky pavement as if making a noise would kill me. But as I peeked out slightly, out of the corner of my eye, I see a group black suited men, a dark blue tie perched on their collar and a long, brown briefcase, looking directly at me with suspicious looks. The government men know what happened, and know the victim was me.

We were in trouble.

Chapter 6: Trouble

We finally made it to the Lab after a 2 minute walk. I glanced behind me, the people in the crowd had decreased slightly, but there were still a lot of curious people.

The government men were no where to be found. They disappeared like a rabbit in a box.

I had a huge grin on my face as I glanced at the Lab for the first time, it was a tall, cuboid building right next to the Museum. At the outside, it looks like an abandoned building, small rickety windows. A tiny, light up sign at the front with a door that’s nearly broken.

But if you dare to go inside, you will be amazed. It’s the exact opposite!

White, clean walls with intricate patterns flowing through them. Pictures were hung over them of various scientists. Thomas Edison, with a picture of the bulb next to his portrait. Albert Einstein and the E=mc^2 equation below his picture. And dozens of other scientists.

Test tube racks were in one corner, all empty and clean. Thoroughly scrubbed to make sure the experiment goes well. As well as several conical flasks and safety equipment, all in a dozen grey, metallic cupboards. And that was only the Chemistry Division.

Adjacent to that, was the Biology Division. The first half was a research centre for the human body. At least 10, comfortable beds were placed on the left, and sinks and equipment on the right. A creepy, old skeleton was looking directly in front of me, it was so disturbing that my heart seemed to have jumped all the way to my trachea in fear.

20 seconds deeper into the Homo Sapien Biology Division, was the superior part of the whole Lab: Animalistic Biology! There were boxes with certain hybrids inside it, smooth glass panels on the faces to show the appearance of the animal. And a gold sticker on the bottom, labelling the name of the hybrid and the power it contains.

My dad lit a candle (light bulbs are very limited here) and placed it next to a sheet of papers. “What’s that?” I asked, glancing at the papers and reading them.

“It’s an information sheet.” My dad replied, showing me different things to put in before you get the full picture. “How is that helpful?” I asked.

“The information sheet? Well that’s the most significant part of the whole experiment! You record your results-?”

“No! Not the information sheet! Why is it helpful putting different things to get the whole picture????” I interrupted, perhaps my brain was too hazy and excited for being in the Lab to actually think about it. But I was extremely inquisitive. My dad laughed, as if expecting me to know the answer. “I d-doubt I can give an accurate answer for that, but try to search up the Blind Men and the Elephant poem.” Was all he suggested

Suddenly, I heard footsteps cracking the silence, and when I turned my head, there stood the most superior friend you could ask for: Ari.

Ari’s real name was Ariana Morena. But people kept calling her “Ariana Grande” and one thing to know about Ari was..never talk to her about music. If you do, it’s basically asking if you wanted a death sentence; so for that reason, she shortened it nice and sweet to Ari. She had a darkish blonde hair that only ended till her shoulder’s, like Alice from Alice in Wonderland. Green eyes matched her complexion and her mannerisms mostly included the eyes. Whenever she was thinking intensely, her eyes would flicker for a minimum of 3 seconds. She loathed maths and sciences with her life, swearing that she would never even have a thought of consideration about it. She was shockingly adroit at Poetry. Poetry, riddles, word games…anything to do with words…and you fully persuaded her to do anything.

Though, she wasn’t the fan of music, her voice was the most melodic out of the whole school. Which was quite irrational to be gifted with the ability to bend music to something….more extraordinary but promising to yourself you will never use that gift.

“Tinaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!” Her beautiful voice yelled and filled the room with a pleasing sensation.

“Ari!” I smiled, not willing to use my voice for unnecessary projection.

Ari’s grin always ignited the gloomiest of conversations. She was like a walking flame, yet harmless but effective. “This is a…majestic place..” Ari noted, looking around. Like me, it was the first time in the Lab. And also like me, her dad was a Scientist here and partners with my dad, which was a reason why our friendship was unbreakable, our happiness existed with each other. And being separated, was the Titanic sinking. Just pure misery.

I nodded and tugged her hand towards the display hybrids. Some animals were quite innocent and harmless and so they need a glass container. Like the Egastas Azuris, also known as the water bunny. The bunny seemed to have the ability to manipulate water, only around it’s ears. The water surrounding the towering ears were like a halo, and the only results from the Water Bunny was it’s control over the ears. Which meant it was perfectly safe, and totally not violent. But that didn’t mean there were no hysterical ones.

The cimmeris muris was incredibly savage and vicious. It was basically a Thunder Mouse. You’re thinking “Well…hey aren’t mouses small and peaceful?”, yeah…they mostly are. But the cimmeris muris has the power to electrocute anyone’s heart within a 4 metre radius unless there is an object in the way of the mouse. Which was why the Thunder Mouse had to be kept in closed and isolated conditions at all times. It can literally destroy mankind.

Ari and I opposite likings, but we were still the most glorious of friends.

When I pointed that thought out to Ari, she smiled and stated a quote that I also found fascinating. “We have more in common, than sets us apart.” And I haven’t questioned our friendship ever since.

She was just telling me about a poet called Maya Angelou when suddenly I felt an aura of menace slowly closing in.

It was strange. It was like my sixth sense was telling me something…but it never told me anything before, until now. I ran towards the nearest small window and peered out, Ari was instantly next to me curious why I was looking quite anxious. “What’s wrong?” She whispered. I shook my head, and then what I saw made my heart sink:

The black suited men were coming to the Lab.

Chapter 7: The Unnecessary Arrest

The same stubborn and sincere expression on their faces and their posture slow, but confident. spotted behind them, a few police officers walking, a handcuff was placed in the palm of one of them and my heart began to thump.

Ari’s expression twisted in confusion. Her eyes flickered in recognition of whom they are…but did she know why they were there? “Aren’t they from the government..?” She asked.

“Yes!!” I hissed. Fear crawling up my throat. “Dad! Dad!” I yelled, my dad was looking at a Fire Spider, counting how many eyes it has. He looked up, a pang of annoyance as I ruined his concentration. “What is it, Tina?” He asked irritatingly.

“The government men are here!”

“WHAT?!” My dad exclaimed, “No…you must be joking!” I shook my head furiously, but my dad still looked unconvinced and doubtful. Ari came darting and also yelling at my dad “Mr Fros- I mean Mr Fox! They are here, I’m telling you they are here! No lying I promise!”

My dad sighed and then looked around. Ari was more honest and truthful than me, that’s why he finally was convinced when Ari claimed the men were coming. His eyes rolled and rested towards an empty grey closet on the left, it had about 6 miniature holes in it, a good place for hide and seek. “You 2, hide in there! And only come out, when I tell and PLEASE stay silent! And if anything happens to us two adults, still don’t freak out!” He ordered angrily, we obeyed without making a sound, Ari was whispering to me though that I had to tell her everything that’s been going on lately. I nodded and we rushed and crawled inside the claustrophobic closet.

“You nearly said our real surname!” I whispered to Ari furiously.

“I know, I know! I was just…-my mind was a bit overexcited…” Ari whispered back.

My real last name wasn’t Fox, it was Frost.

Tina Frost. Since ice made our world…fall into destruction…the government banned any names relating to ice. The punishment was death, and anyone caught using a fake name when their real name is relating to ice…will also be executed That’s why we changed it, we are basically criminals of the law disguising as innocents. I only ever told this secret to Ari, and she nearly gave us away.

We stayed as silent as a mouse as the doors opened and unfamiliar deep voices echoed in the room. We even breathed as quietly we can, trying to eavesdrop every grain of word they were saying. My dad sounded amazingly calm and tranquil, as if he weren’t talking to the authorities, but his best friend. “-We witnessed something Mr Fox, just a few moments before you entered your main hub of employment.” A man was saying, using the fancy language that every man in the government was taught and trained to do. “Yes! We were happily walking down the road a few moments before we entered here!” My dad laughed. But, the humourless men sounded like they didn’t even think it was a joke. “Mr Fox…what we are trying to explain here is that your daughter…after she nearly got caught in a Fire Fountain, doesn’t have a single scratch or burn on her.” The man carefully explained.

“Uhh..she might have been a bit far from the fire, the fire didn’t catch a single atom on her maybe?” My dad suggested, I could tell from the his tone he was struggling.

“IT WAS A LEVEL 5 FIRE FOUNTAIN! THERE WAS A CYLINDER OF FLAMES AROUND HER AND THERE WAS A MASSIVE CLOUD OF SMOKE! THERE IS NO WAY THAT IT DIDN’T BURN HER MR FOX!” A man yelled at my dad, slamming his hand on a table, shaking the room.

For a horrifying 5 seconds, the whole room was silent. Then another man said, “Sorry for that Mr Fox…he has a short temper. What we really just want is that we want to analyse a bit on your daughter. Nothing dangerous I promise, but it’s unnatural that she is completely okay, we just need to see if she’s…normal.” He paused on the last word, knowing that parents aren’t really cool when someone says their child is not normal in a negative way. His words felt heartwarming, but his voice and honesty was a stabbing dagger.

My dad seemed to have recovered quickly from the shouting fiasco and hesitated on the demand for me. “Oh..uh- she and her best friend has gone out somewhere…to you know- hang out. When she comes back, I’ll let you know. But she may come very late, so it’s quite foolish to wait here.” My dad lied. I let out a silent scream of relief.

“Ah…I don’t think we’ll do that Mr Fox unfortunately…” the man grinned. My dad raised an eyebrow, suddenly everyone except the leader started pacing around the Lab. Observing everything, my dad sounded startled. “W-what are you doing?” He yelled. The men ignored him until one stopped right outside our closet. I could smell his awful perfume and see the night suit he wore and I nearly gagged.

“What’s in here?” The man outside our closet asked. My dad looked and realised we were in it, made his face flush. “Oh…uh nothing.” He replied. The man raised an eyebrow “Literally nothing.” My dad then added “It was just an old closet used for spare things, so it only gathers dust.” My dad assured. The man who was next to my Closet, I called him “Closet Man” still stood adjacent to us. Closet Man gripped the handles, and I was prepared to make a run for it as soon as the doors opened. Ari was shaking and looking like she was about to burst into tears.

Closet Man gripped the cold handles nice and firm, then pulled. Tugging loudly as his body forced backwards from pulling. I expected blinding light and a mean face snarling. But as the man tugged, the closet creaked slightly and stayed put. The man tried again but gave up with the same result.

Oh my clever father! He locked the doors! A wonderful trick! I wanted to thank God for giving me such a thoughtful father. “It’s locked.” Closet Man muttered. The leader glared at my father, eyes red and dangerous. “Where’s the key??” He demanded.

My dad shrugged then said, “I don’t know, I lost it a couple of months ago, the closet been locked and unused ever since.” He was lying. Again. He was lying for our lives, he must have been very desperate.

The leader sighed and gestured Closet Man and all the other men to come. They made way for the door, and I breathed a sigh of relief. They were leaving, we were safe.

Suddenly, the leader halted. His action caused a reaction as all other men stopped and awaited further orders. “Hmm..” the leader murmured. He looked like he was thinking, then suddenly, he said the most horrifying thing that changed the rest of my life.

“Arrest all the people in the room, and take them to Parliament…for questioning.”

I nearly yelped out and gasped if it weren’t for Ari covering my mouth. The men reacted instantly, handcuffing all Scientists, including our dad’s. I wanted to barge out of the closet and slap the leader, to tackle him, to anything but touch my father. My anger was rapidly rising and going over the limit, but Ari grabbed my shoulder and held me back, shaking her head rapidly and mouthing “NO!”.

I watched in horror as my father and plenty other Scientists were taken away from our lives and far away, I was alone. My mum was far away, my brother was useless, and my dad…he was slowly being pulled away. The men were breaking the chain between me and him. The men marched out of the lab and I hear the footsteps fading away till I was silent.

And soon enough, I curled up in a ball and sobbed all the tears left in me. I was alone ;except Ari, and those men will pay.

Chapter 8: Elements

We pushed our way out of the closet. The doors were weak and old, making the screws easily loose and us coughing out of that dusty cage. “They’re gone! Dad’s gone! Mom’s gone! All gone!” I wailed, clearly not over my grief. Ari patted my back, trying to consult me. She had it worst then I did, but I was being the crybaby. Ari’s mum died when she was 7. She had no siblings and her dad was also arrested, she was more resilient than me, and that’s why I needed her. I was the panicky one.

“We will get them back!” Ari assured. I smiled gratefully at my optimistic friend and sat up, wiping the tears away. “But first…I need to know what’s going on.” She added, glaring at me, since it was technically my fault that she had just lost her only family.

I sighed and hesitated, not sure if I should really tell her. But if I keep it a secret any longer from her, the more consequences I’ll face in the future.

So I told her everything, starting with the Fire Fountain erupting in front of me, all the way to seeing the government men a second time. Ari’s faces twisted from shock, to surprise, to puzzlement and then the whole cycle again throughout the whole story.

“I-I can’t believe you were in a Level 5 Flame Fountain! Hardly anyone survives that!” Ari exclaimed. I managed a weary smile.

“How did you not get burnt though?” she asked. I shrugged and replied that I was trying to figure that out too. Ari said I might be a wizard and I laughed so hard, I fell off my chair. But her face was dead serious and I just replied to her that she lost her mind.

I told her about the prophecy (which was still stamped fresh into my mind) and Ari claimed that Fire Fountains don’t start sprouting out prophecies. I agreed but I knew that it wasn’t an illusion, I did heard the fire speak. Urging me to do something. We discussed for over an hour, going to one confusing part, but somehow twist it to more puzzlement. No one else came to the Lab and we had it all to ourselves. It felt a little forlorn but Ari still knew how to keep my mind off that. When Ari stood up and told me to write the prophecy. I humbly started doing it, knowing my poetry friend will have a better advantage at cracking it than me.

Ari inspected it, her eyes flickering at times when she needed to think but her floral forest eyes were glued to the paper with the prophecy. Then she clicked her tongue and looked up at me. “A girl blessed at birth and cursed at death you say?” She muttered. I shrugged. Me and Ari’s birthdays were 3 days apart. Ari being older. “You were born…when the Sun came. When the clouds unveiled for a short time.” Ari pointed out. I blinked.

“What’s your point?” I asked. Ari smiled and I saw she figured something out in her eyes. Soon enough, I realised it too and my heart sank. “Y-you think I’m the girl in the prophecy?!” I asked, hoping for a no, but knowing that Ari will say yes. “You were born on the 5th day of the Sun Miracle. It must be you!” Ari replied.

I couldn’t think about it. “What about the other lines??” I asked, trying to change the topic. Ari shrugged then said, “I feel like there is only one villain, here. ‘All heroes fall, in the hands of only one as they let out their last breath.’ and ‘The destructive one wakes, disguised as one who all loathe.’ These lines seemed to talk about one person…or maybe thing?” I gulped. Ari wasn’t making this look like a happy fairytale. Which I should’ve expected since she was totally a realist. “But what’s totally bothering me is the elements part!” Ari screamed, frustrated. My head snapped up at the sound of “elements.”

Ari eyed me carefully with those startling eyes then shook her head. “No Tina, I’m certain it’s not the Periodic Table elements..”. I slump back down, depressed and miserable again. Then suddenly, it started making sense, like 10 puzzle pieces being together at the same time, expanding the comprehending of the whole picture.

“WHAT IF…” I squealed, standing up and pushing my chair backward. Ari jumped in surprise from my sudden enthusiasm. “What if…” I reiterated, more calmly, “it meant the elements that make up nature? Like Fire, Water, Wind, Earth etc.” I explained. I saw Ari’s grin broaden as she starts to get it.

“Of course..” she murmured. “How can I be so dumb? That’s maybe why the hybrids- they have powers that only go by 7 elements: Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, Thunder, Shadow and Light!” Ari noticed.

The puzzle was ¾ complete! We just to figure out a few more things. “I managed to talk with fire…and control it.” I realised. Ari looked like she was 20 steps behind me right now. “What if I could do it again? Maybe figure out the rest of the prophecy or ask who this ‘destructive one’ is?” My friend laughed, then pointed out that I didn’t know where or when the Fire Fountains occurred. Which was true, they had a random pattern. If you tried making a scattergraph of when a Fire Fountain occurred and where, you’d get no correlation.

I sat back down and sighed, feeling hopeless and insecure again. Like the whole world was crumbling around me, and I couldn’t save it. I stood up and walked over to the caged zoo of hybrids, animals stared at me and I only stopped when a Pyroc Lion (Fire Lion) sat lazily in my way. It had golden skin that shone brightly in the daylight. The Pyroc Lion wasn’t as muscular as a real lion as it was a herbivore, it’s eyes were a darkish orange, like the sunset of a painting; it’s mane was fully made out of fire, which was helpful for it glowing in the night or in dark. It wasn’t a vicious animal. I gently petted it, and he snuggled in return , that’s when my eye caught sight of it’s fiery mane. I read how u can collect samples of dancing fire with the mane of the Pyroc Lion. I hesitated for a moment then slowly brought out a jar from a nearby cupboard, Ari was too busy sulking in the other room to notice what I was doing.

The lion eyed me gingerly and I prayed to God that he won’t attack me. I shakily brought the jar above the mane, and lowered it. My hands trembling and burning as it heads closer to the flame. I scooped the fire up and took several steps back, the lion growled softly and then went to sleep.

And in my hand, was a pure orange flame, trapped. Ari came over and saw me with a jar of fire in my hand.

I expected her to demand what I did, but she just smiled and gestured me to follow her. As if she predicted I’d do that. We headed off to the table and slowly opened the lid and let the fire out.

Chapter 9: The Quest

The whispers came immediately, the same voice as the one in the Fire Fountain.

‘Ah…Hello Chosen Girl’ It hissed, I wasn’t afraid of it anymore. Now it seemed like an old friend.

“Hello…Fire.” I said with uncertainty. The fire sounded like it cackled, and then…clicking it’s tongue? Ari looked petrified and I guessed she also heard the fire talk. ‘Call me…Blaze.’ The fire hissed again. I roll my eyes

“Okay Blaze…”

‘What is it that you desire from me? I’m certainly not some genie.’ Blaze sounded annoyed and frustrated. As if it was better off on the head of a lion. I took a deep breath, told myself I’m definitely not mental, and asked everything. “You told about a certain prophecy, before it was cut off. I’d like to hear it completely.” I demanded.

‘I do not speak repeatedly of something, I have said the prophecy once! This is why I made sure you remember it as clearly as you remember the first letter of the alphabet!’ I noted that the Fire Spirit was a very stubborn and sarcastic being. “Fine…” I sighed and said, “Where do we need to go to stop this “destructive one” you speak of? Lets just get this over with…”. The fire laughed again, it was creepy when it did that and I had no intention of adding humour and comedy to my inquiries. ‘Oh my dear one…that’s why in the Prophecy, it states that you’re aided by 8. You cannot defeat the Destructive One and the 9th element alone.’ I could tell Ari was also realising that truth. “You mean, there are more like you?! We have to…persuade the other elements to help us..correct?” Ari confirmed.

‘Yes, very good clever One! I’m only one spirit, the other’s are far but if you reach them..alive, convince them. Only then you have the ability and the strength to wield us against the Destructive One.’ My eyes widened, that’s how I managed to will the fire to stop making noise and how I was not burnt! It made more sense now! “Where can we find the next element?!” I asked desperately, whoever this destructive one is, he would for sure have my dad! ‘The Shadows are tricky and stealthy, but walk east when the Sun is unconscious, walk till the dwelling of the Shadow’s are in view. But remember, equip the darkest of them all to live, only then you will feel no pain.’ And then slowly, the fire began to fade until me and Ari were staring at an empty jar. “So…shall we go discover this next spirit?” Ari asked quietly.

I stood there staring, “We just made…a bargain with fire?” I asked, completely mesmerised. Ari blinked, I was sure she was thinking about it as well but she turned away and only muttered, “Best not to think about it.” I chased after her, Ari was just at the exit of the Lab. Her eyes were unfocused but they flickered again. “Where are you going?” I asked.

Ari glared at me, then replied. “I can’t- I can’t live with this. I’m going home, have a good nap and then wake up seeing all of this was a dream.” I opened my mouth to reply but closed it. My realistic friend, my friend who hardly uses that imagination dozing in her head, now believes this is some kind of fiction. “Please!” I begged, “Ari, I need you please!”

Ari was walking fast towards her house, I recalled that the time to her house from here was about 7 minutes and 41 seconds. Rounded off to 8 minutes, 8 minutes to convince her. I also felt like this was a dream, a nice little dream where I’m a special chosen girl who can talk to…substances and elements.

I stopped for a second and closed my eyes, calling out to my mind a person who can help.

“Blaze?” I urged my mind. “Blaaazee?!” No reply. I must really going mad. Then I slowly calmed down, allowing my breaths to take a rest and my heart to go to it’s normal rate. I emptied my mind of any catastrophe occurring currently and allow joy to flood through my bones. Anger never helped, anger, jealousy, misery…was all there to poison the mind, not cleanse it. I thought of the philosopher who said “The world is characterised by opposites.” Meaning that you can only know to be good, if you know what it’s like to be bad. I thought for a moment, I experienced forlornness before, before Ari came into my life. Before the nightmares ended, to know what it’s like to have a real friend, you have to know what it’s like to be alone. To know misery, you have to experience happiness. The thought helped me focus better. “Blaze!” I called out rapidly and confidently in my mind.

A moment has passed and it was silent. I sighed and was about to give up when suddenly, my vision blurred slightly for 10 seconds and I felt light-headed. Then I regained balance and suddenly, I was seeing the world like an x-ray on the ground. I spotted Ari through my vision, walking with her head down and glum. Suddenly, I could sense candles in people’s homes flickering, the huge circular shape of the Sun hiding behind the clouds. I could sense the temperature, noticing barely any heat dwelled.

I gasped “Blaze! What did you do to me?” I yelled in my mind. Blaze replied smoothly and calmly

‘You’ve summoned me, now I’m here. And now you have full vision of the heat of this world.’ It was true, as I glanced to the ground, I saw a pillar of orange sprouting out a few yards next to me. I saw where the Fire Fountains are. “Wow…”I muttered. “That’s quite spectacular!” I grinned. ‘If you think that’s a spectacle, then you must be one of those who get excited at every minor thing!’ Blaze hissed.

“Wait, you mean you can do more?!” I asked, quite surprised. I could sense Blaze scowling in my head.‘If this was all in my power, I’d be a fool! You only cannot posses more power for it can kill you, the more you practice and experience, the more you would discover within yourself!’

“Yep, yep! Practice makes perfect..” I muttered out loud. Then, I switched back into Communication to Mind via Neurone Express. “Blaze! How necessary is Ari in this quest?!” I asked urgently, I could sense Ari about 2 minutes away from her house now. I started jogging towards her, but silently. “Who? The intelligent one? Yes, you especially need her on the current quest I told you before. She is the main component!’

“Wait! What do you mean ‘main component’? Why is she necessary for the next quest especially?!” I asked. Blaze seemed to cackle again, she (I decided it was a she) sounded amused. The wind started to howl loudly like a wolf. The sky turning damper than ever and I knew it was starting to get night. The clouds became thunderous, a large booming sound echoing around Chicago. Rain poured down bullets and I had a flashback of when I was 6 and my Dad said about rain that killed people. The memory of my dad made my eyes water as my whole body dripped from the rain. My beautiful hair now a wet mess! I had to convince Ari fast! I was quiet close to her and Blaze has started her sarcastic reply ‘Not everything is about you Chosen Girl. The poet plays a role as significant as you do. Shade will enjoy her very much.’ And then Blaze went silent. And slowly my super vision began to fade…but as it was paling, I noticed a column of fire, glowing orange like a nuclear reaction was happening…under the ground. Under a person’s feet, under Ari’s feet.

“No..no!” I muttered, shaking my head. And I pounced towards Ari, I felt the wind trying to push me and making me slower. But nothing will stop me from saving my friend, lightning can fall on me, burn me, cut me and half and stab me and I’ll still attempt to save her. She was the only one I had, the only one who made myself, me. I pushed and sliced through the wind, and gazed at my withering x- ray vision. The fire was centimetres away from Ari’s feet. I jumped and tackled Ari, shoving her to the ground and rolling her away as if I was beating her up. I could hear Ari screaming and feel her kicking my stomach. As we rolled over I saw the flame erupt like a volcano as soon as I tackle her.

Ari was staring at the flame and all we could hear is the sound of our heavy, wheezing breaths as shock electrocuted our body. Ari’s hair turned into a bird’s nest, thanks to me. I could only imagine what my hair would look like then. The wind had dissipated revealing a quiet atmosphere.

I realised I was still hugging and wrapping my arms around Ari’s waist and I awkwardly let go. I sat up and helped Ari up. I felt dizzy yet pleased. Pleased I was now a heroine.

Ari stared at me, eyes wide and mouth open, revealing her perfect teeth. I stiffly pushed my hand from her chin, to close her mouth. As I did this, Ari seemed to gain focus. “H-how did you know there was a Fire Fountain?” She exclaimed. I grinned, a feeling of joy and amusement.

“You can thank Blaze for that, I used her power, and I can see where the Fire Fountains appear.” I bragged. Ari grinned, and for a second, I saw the old Ari there. Not the Ari who gave up easily, which reminded me of why I was here in the first place. “I know you think it’s a dream, but it’s not!” I begged. “No.” She just replied no, simply and easily. That “no” was breaking our friendship as easily as you break a glass.

“Please! Just-just think about your dad, he wouldn’t want you to accept defeat so easily. You’ve been hit in the head, you’ve been saved from the Fire Fountain, nothing has changed, how much more things would be good enough to convince you that this is the real world! We just didn’t know about this fact! It doesn’t mean that our world is entirely harsh and cruel!”

Ari hesitated ;and I knew why, we lived in a real dystopia where ice ruled and we couldn’t escape. Seeing the Sun was equivalent to a miracle. Seeing a shooting star was like…seeing a pig fly. It was impossible, having this hard, cruel world. The environment you’re surrounded with, affects your personality. Ari experienced more than me, that’s why her views are real and straightforward, that’s why she couldn’t accept this truth as easily as I did. “Fine…” she muttered. I cheered and hugged her fiercely, a smile as huge as a house was worn on my face. I looked up, seeing the colour droop and the rain beginning to drizzle again, it was getting dark.

‘When the Sun is unconscious’ I recalled. Unconscious meaning…sleeping? Ugh, curse that Fire Spirit for being such a word fan! Sometimes it’s a good thing to not be so intricate and twist your words..

“We need to dress in black! Quick!” Ari urged. She glanced at herself and realised she was already wearing black in the soaking rain. Then she gave an incredulous look at my shirt. She raised an eyebrow and judging by her face, I could tell she was giving her best to not burst out laughing the way she bit her lower lip harshly and her mouth twisted upwards. “Honestly?” She asked, “Red?!”. I stifled out a groan then warned, “Don’t. Even. Think. About. It.” Ari started laughing so loud, that I even joined in. And it felt like any other normal day, except for the fact that elemental spirits are real and I saved Ari from an angry burst of fire.

After 15 minutes and 22 seconds, we were walking east in the dead of night. Shadows pacing under a cloudy sky, supposedly looking for an ancient being named Shade.

Chapter 10: The Journey

If I were to be completely honest, I wasn’t at all excited to see Shade. Energy wasn’t exploding in me, I just felt…dread. Shade didn’t seem to be the cheerful and smiling one. Especially if he was…some King of The Shadows.

I had no black clothes, so I had to borrow a set of Ari’s ( who adored and cherished black as if it were the Queen’s Crown). I despised this dark colour, it wasn’t even a colour! I felt miserable in it, especially late at night, and certainly when we had to visit the darkest element of all. We headed straight east, shadows reflected from everywhere. The atmosphere felt ghastly, I felt like I was gonna see a ghost anytime soon pop up and scare the skin outta me. No comforting thoughts, and whenever I called Blaze through my mind, I could just hear a buzz in my ear like a bee. A buzz that lasted a maximum of 6 seconds before it fell silent again. My eyes were drooping from exhaustion and fatigue, eyelids slowly closing the window of reality. Trapping the wonderful world of dreams! I craved for it so badly.

Ari was somehow…the complete opposite. She was jumping up and down several times, her eyes sparkling with excitement. It was like she got a sudden adrenaline rush and refused any obstacle to go in her way. When I suggested that we take a short break, she sternly shook her head like a strict mother and said that we had no time to waste and Shade must be nearby. Another time I asked her why she was so excited to see Shade, her only reply was a huge grin on her face. The Ari with a frown on her face seemed to have disappeared now. I was sure that I would never understand my erratic and unpredictable friend.

Our footsteps echoed in silence, my panic was getting worse any minute. I wanted to escape from here and go back to my soft and comfy bed, safe and snug. What did the future twist our fate to? “I’ve been wondering…” I said out loud, desperate to hear a voice in this eerie silence, “Who this ‘destructive one’ is? It says the one we all loathe, meaning…?”

“The one we all hate.” Ari finished my sentence and simplified it for me, as I have terrible vocabulary.

But who does everyone hate? Then my mind rolled back to the men. I wanted to kill those suited men, they arrested my father for a crime he did not commit. Then, I took my mind deeper, who were the men? They were government people of course! Who was in full control of the government then..? The president!

“Ari..” I whispered quietly. Ari looked at me and due to my face, she knows something’s wrong. “How much do you hate the president?” I asked in the same tone. Ari looked confused but she replied anyway, “Tina…everyone hates the president with their heart. He’s mysterious, he’s harsh he’s practically a maniac Tina! But why-?”

I cut her off saying, “Then he definitely the ‘destructive one’. Everyone hates him, we may have an ice-free world if it weren’t for him. He sets up strict and rash camps for kids! H-he may-.” I couldn’t say it for some reason. Some force inside me make me break up my words. A sob came out instead. Ari looked..concerned. “Tina, what is it you’re trying to say?”

I opened my mouth to reply, but I couldn’t bear myself for an unknown reason; the truth was cold. It was sword stabbing inside all of us.

I shook my head and pointed east. “Nothing. Just a dumb idea, I’m likely to be incorrect. Anyways, lets keep moving before it becomes dawn.” I cast away the thought in my head, hoping I was wrong. Hoping the truth wasn’t what I think it is.

After a dull, lengthy half an hour we gave up. Then slumped to the ground, my stomach seemed to have swallowed up a thunder cloud. It complained more than a whiny little kid who’s toy train broke. Ari seemed to be draining out of enthusiasm. I remember Blaze saying “Shade will like her.” Or something similar to that. I wonder if Shade would like a half-asleep Ari. We came to an area of slums, the kingdom of the impoverished, I’d like to call it. Unstable houses, made from junk found in scraps surrounded us. Tiny pathways along dirt were only shown as well as sharp, jagged rock pointing out like spikes out of the path. The place was silent, I was really panicking, exaggerating that a hundred eyes were upon us. Noting every movement made, ready to attack any second now. I whimpered slightly in fear, suddenly not so weary anymore. I pulled Ari up and silently forced her to start walking fast using poor sign language.

I calmed my mind to a haven of tranquility and tried to call on Blaze again. It took several attempts but it was better than the previous time. “Blaze! Are you there?” I asked rapidly in my mind.

‘Was never gone, Chosen Girl.’ I rolled my eyes, the formality was getting annoying easily. “Please just call me Tina! Chosen Girl doesn’t sound like me!” I begged her.

‘Haha! All doubtful ones say this, but if your are in discomfort, I will switch my titles to you as “Tina”.’ It took me a few moments to try and comprehend the complex language but I silently and gratefully sent thanks to her, wondering if Blaze could even sense it.

“Um…alright Blaze, I have a request. May I use that heat vision thing…please?” I asked pleadingly. I rubbed my hand against a wall of the slum; metallic, not robust, one single push and the wall can topple, which can cause other walls to topple. Which would cause a chain reaction of broke people waking up to see one member of their community dead by metal.

I gently took my hand off the wall and glanced at my friend, who was asking me if I was trying to convey playing rock, paper, scissors when I was doing sign language, when I actually was trying to portray that we walk more rapidly. Blaze wasn’t replying and it was starting to freak me out, I tried again and this time I heard that horrible hissing voice. “Did you consider my request?” I demanded to her like a grumpy businesswoman.

Blaze cackled again, she had an abnormal sense of humour. When things were totally severe, she would think it’s a joke. I never tried joking with her, but I half expected her to be dead-on serious. It was like Blaze could see the world in an opposite way, and that amused her.

Suddenly, I felt light-headed. Like the blood just left my brain, Ari was too busy fiddling with an emerald necklace around her neck to see. My eyes stung and watered. My arms ached and I fell to my knees, Ari only then realised what happened to me. She was on her knees in an instant, calling out my name, shaking me roughly on the shoulder. But my senses were dimming, Ari’s voice was 1000 miles away. A faint whisper flowing through the air. My vision started to splash black onto my eyes as all my other body parts seemed to froze. And just in a second, my eyes rolled up to my head, and I fell into a slight comatose.

Chapter 11: Ice Beasts: Ari

I tried to splash our remaining water onto Tina, but she was out cold. The water only rolled down her dark skin. She didn’t wake up soon after, it was like an automatic faint. Did Blaze do this to her?

I curled my hands into a hard fist, then let go of my anger. It couldn’t be Blaze, it was someone else, something else. I leaned against a grimy wall, panicking, unsure what to do. Tina laid dozing, I didn’t have any medical equipment. I was no doctor, there was no hospital nearby. I was alone. Alone, my friend was unconscious, unaware of what’s happening in the real world.

I wanted to curl up in a ball and sleep too, but I knew why Tina was getting so…fearful in a place like this. It felt haunting, the silence eerie, the darkness sinister. We must really be getting close to the dwelling of the Shadows if we go through a place like this.

I hummed a small song my dad used to sing to me when I was younger. He was the only one there for me when my life turned upside down, before I met Tina, before the tears stopped pouring down everyday.

My mum died when I was young, when I hardly remembered anything. I could only remember her forgiving eyes and her sunny smile. Dad said she also sang the song to me too, in fact it was her who created it.

‘Away from the despair in life

From the stabbing of the knife

There’d be a day when the Sun shines bright

With a starry night

Sleep away from the storm

For your heart will be warm

Under the oak tree you will see

A brand new opportunity

Just sleep tight dear one

And just watch, as all your dreams, will be free.

Whenever your scared

Remember the dreams that you cared

Sleep away from sadness

For your personality will be kindness

Sleep away from reality

And forget your sanity

Greet your fear like a friend

And your confidence will expand

Sleep away from the storm

…for your heart…will be warm.’

When my mother passed away, I stopped adoring music. I detested it, knowing the one person who can sing so melodically was now gone. Even humming the song pained me. “Nothing I can do about that.” I muttered under my breath, jumping up to my feet.

I craved to meet Shade, but I couldn’t desert Tina. I wasn’t the betrayer. I thought about the prophecy… “cursed at death”? What did that mean?

Tina was definitely the Chosen Girl, no doubt. But it scared me to think about her being cursed.

What really was making me tick and pace around left and right, was the struggle she was having on saying a few words when she thought the President was the destructive one. She was trying to say something else about him, something much more major. It could change our point of view on things, completely.

Suddenly, I heard a growl behind me. Deep, rumbling and snarling, I slowly spun around. Expecting to see some hideous monster, but there was nothing. Nothing but ice trickling and slithering down the ground beside me. I stared at it carefully, noting it’s every move. When suddenly, the ice started to shake. Vibrate, vibrating faster and faster like particles in science.

I carefully, took a few steps back. Ice never behaved so violently before, I took a heap of air and allowed myself to calm down; but my heart had other ideas, it was hammering in my ribcage, forcing my body. My blood was pumping rapidly, I could hear a storm in my ears. It drowned the snarls, which didn’t prove as good assistance.

The ice started rising, it was a layer as thin as paper, now slowly aggrandising. Going higher, then lower like a wave. It seemed to be transforming into something, something larger, something more powerful.

The ice started to solidify to a taller shape, expanding and growing. I took a couple of steps back again, butterflies were in my stomach, fluttering quicker every second. I felt ill, but, my eyes glued to the monster, I watched in horror as the shape twisted and turned. More terror flooded in my eyes as more thin layers of ice came crawling, copying what the first layer was doing. And slowly forming until I saw it grew in the shape of a mammal, a beast.

After 2 minutes, I was seeing a towering monster, it’s skin was pale blue like a clear sky, a hint of black was sprawled as a line against it. It’s feet were large and strong, white needles sticking out from it. The beast was muscular, I judged that if I tried to run, it was a death sentence. It was built for speed, but I sensed strength was more enhanced. It had no fur, just large cyan crystals sprouting out from it’s back. It’s mouth was wide and the teeth rounded sharp. The eyes were creepily red, furious and savage. The tail contained a tiny white flame at the end and was incredibly long like a whip. I glanced under his head, to his front. It looked less burly from there. “Everything has a weakness…” I repeatedly whispered to myself. There were 6 beasts in total, 6 monsters trained to kill and one girl who never even hurt a fly before. That’s a bit biased… I thought.

I grabbed a broken, twisted pipe from the ground and posed it like a sword, desperately hoping it would scare the monsters away. I looked like some idiotic superhero, whenever the monsters got near, I would wave the pipe around like it was some magic wand. It kept them for a short distance but I knew they were going to pounce on me soon. The air turned extremely cold, and I was soon shivering and holding my pipe with a shaky hand. “A sign of weakness” the monsters were probably thinking. They were soon getting closer, and my arm began to throb a thousand fires.

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I caught a neon glow next to me. A candle! And there, sitting and relaxing on the wax was a burning, orange flame. A sign of light! A sign of hope!

I groped the candle, it was getting darker by each second and I was careful to not accidentally burn myself. Tina couldn’t get burned, but I was unsure about myself, and I wasn’t in a mood to test it out now. Finally, I grabbed the mini plate and hauled the candle up till it was beside my face. “Blaze!” I called out hopelessly. Anyone seeing me this moment, will think I’m mental, no doubt. “Blaze! Please listen! I need your help!!” I called out. It wasn’t working, maybe only Tina had direct connection to Blaze, which was extremely disheartening, especially since I’m about to die.

Then I remember Tina’s face scrunching up in pique sometimes. I never asked her why she did this, but it initiated when we met Blaze.

Suddenly, an idea seemed to light up in my head.

I closed my eyes, allowing my heart to reduce beating, and formed words in my mind. “Blaze!” Silence closed in and anguish was pouring in, until suddenly, I heard a buzz. And then, a hissing voice. ‘Ahh, I see thee has figured it out.’ I whooped out loud, confusing the beasts which were now closing in on me. “Why are you speaking like Shakespeare? Never mind, it’s not important, I need to get Tina to safety, and I don’t know what to do with these…barbarians.”

‘Leave Tina there, make a run for it-.’

“WHAT?!” I was horrified, how can I leave Tina here? That’s equivalent to betraying her! Blaze hissed in annoyance, it was creepy for her to hiss like that. It was even more haunting that another voice besides my own was in my head. ‘You didn’t let me finish! Don’t be stupid! The monster’s are more attracted to you, if you run, the Chosen Girl will be like a ghost to the monsters: invisible.’ Blaze seemed quite satisfied with her idea.

My mind was swarming with thoughts. A side of me was willing to run, but a more skeptical side was thinking that Blaze may be wrong and the monsters’ll harm Tina. The monsters did look like they were fit for running, especially a whole Tom and Jerry game, but…I could be wrong. Not everyone is always right, nobody was perfect. “Blaze…I’m relying on you.” I muttered.

‘I know. Remember to go East, only then will you get assistance.’

And with a good push, I swung my pipe at the beast and ran for my life.

Chapter 12: Shade

It still felt like a wound bleeding out of my chest as I sprinted away from my dozing friend. But I had faith in Blaze. I just ran straight, knowing it was east like the back of my hand. I could hear the vicious beasts snarling as they discover their prey has escaped, and the sound of their feet loudly crashing against the rough ground.

I twisted into more miniature alleys, jogging at times and then sprinting again when they came back. One thing I learnt from them is that, their agility sucks. As I turn into a sharp narrow corner, they don’t seem to control their breaking. And that led to them slipping against the dirt like an ice skater and crashing against a slum. And then, them howling in pain and possibly a few screams from the impoverished people.

I ignored them all, dashing down east for my life.

After a bloody 10, tiring minutes, I saw a pitch black area, not a single light can be shown through the darkness. “Shade..” I whispered. I halted, and stared at the mesmerising gloom. The beasts were now catching up to me, snarling and showing their long fangs. I felt sick in the stomach, but I needed more help. I needed shadows.

“Shade!” I called out, my voice echoing around me. “Shade I need your help please!” I calked out again. The beasts were very close now, nearing and drawing more fear. “BLAZE SENT ME PLEASE HELP SHADE!” I screamed at the top of my lungs. My throat fell sore, must I saw a shadow of a boy peeking out from the darkness.

He had blonde hair and a sly grin. He was quite pale in the sun and very skinny, at first I assumed it was a poor boy from the slums. But what really caught my eye were his eyes: they were round and dark blue. With a slight mix of purple, that wasn’t a normal eye colour. His dark blue eyes were deep and thoughtful, I stared at him and he smiled in return.

Only then, did he caught sight of the raging monsters. The beasts leaped their bulky arms towards me and I fell to the ground, covering my head. But before they could touch me, the boy with the dark blue eyes seemingly summoned a large, purple sword out of no where and in a speed of light, sliced all 6 beasts through the heart.

I screamed in terror but the monsters were dead, I looked up and saw their bodies fade into darkness. I shakily looked up at the mystical boy. He tilted his head, then offered me his hand. I accepted it without hesitation and brought myself to a standing position. “T-thank you…” I mumbled. All the boy did was smile, then he opened his mouth and replied “It’s my pleasure.”

He sounded like he spoke English fluently, his voice was normal, not deep, not enchanting. Just like he was a normal, regular boy here, minus the fact his eyes are abnormal and he was holding a sword tirelessly even though I was absolutely sure it weighed like a ton. “You ask for Shade, correct?” The boy asked, his eyes flickered.

I nodded, it’s exactly what I ask for. “What do I call you?” I asked the boy; normally, people say, “What is your name?”, but I decided that this boy may also be one who uses convoluted language. The boy turned around and faced me, his eyes looked entertained but he replied “The name’s Dill, and please don’t use such formal language, our people are have caught up quite quickly into this generation.” He grinned.

I opened my mouth to reply, then closed it again and smiled. I already liked him, I already trusted him. The real question was…will I ever see him again now? We walked silently through the darkness, Dill managed to light up a small path through the shadows, a nice illuminating place as I followed him carefully. A few times, he would point to the ground to watch my step and as I looked to see below, it was a hole through the ground. That wasn’t the weirdest thing, the most bizarre part was instead of more layers and stuffing of dirt below, the holes seemed to open to a beautiful blue sky,I gasped.

The clouds were snowy white, the Sun was hypnotising. It was the first time I’ve seen such a clear sky in my life. Dill stared at me carefully, then he said that we better get moving quickly. Shade wasn’t a patient one.

Blaze was hyper in my head and for that exact reason, my head throbbed continuously. Occasionally, Blaze would see the world through my sight and give snarky comments to the place. Dill would light up more of the place till I realise we were in a castle, a castle surrounded by black and shadows, and Blaze wouldn’t shut up! ‘Meh, Shade could’ve added a better picture than THAT!’ or ‘That spirit hasn’t changed at all, what is this supposed to be? A 6 year old haunted house on Halloween?’ I thanked God that Blaze was saying this all in my head and not out loud. The last thing I needed was a frenetic Shadow spirit and a mysterious likeable boy because an old friend of theirs couldn’t help but be the critic.

It was a long journey and I was desperately needing to ask a very significant question. As we passed sown another hall, my curiosity betrayed my head, “Why is your eyes, dark blue? I mean- normally people don’t have that colour.” I asked rapidly, I didn’t exactly brainstorm how I was gonna ask Dill, I just…went directly to the point. I always thought of myself as deep and astute, until now when I realised I’m a very simple-minded person.

As we glided through the traumatising rooms, we finally made it to a throne room…black as usual. And there at the centre, sat a cloaked man. Shade. The man had no face, it was just pure space, in his hand sat a long staff made out of dust. “Ahh…Ariana Morena. How pleasing it is to meet you at last.” Shade a deep, mighty voice, but still hissed like Blaze. “Shade…” I whimpered, then raised my voice. “I ask for assistance, Shade please.” I demanded. Shade laughed, I could sense he was smiling. “I see…you have Blaze as well by your side. Very well, but theres a test you must do…to succeed.” He grinned. I stood frozen, as a now awake Tina suddenly appeared by his side. Tina looked awfully confused “Bring the Head of Souls to me both of you, and assistance will be accepted.”

Before any of us could react, Shade twisted his staff horizontally and suddenly me and Tina, were falling in an endless abyss. Little did we know, that Dill had fallen with us. Only the future holds our faith.

[TO BE CONTINUED IN THE NEXT STORY: THE SHADOW AND WATER DYNASTY]