The Secrets of the Elements

Trapped!

Maya held her phone above the bowl kept on the stone table. 

"Is this normal water?" quizzed Zarna. 

"No, don't touch it," said Advika as she held Zarna's hand. 

"What did you forget?" asked Maya and looked at Advika.

"I had read about this bowl in the book The Legends of the Elements," she said and took a step closer to the bowl. "The other day we went to the library."

"And?" said Maya.

"No!" Ray almost screamed. 

As the Earth beneath her trembled slightly, Advika struggled to maintain her balance. Maya and Zarna swiftly pivoted, stepping back to gauge their surroundings. Following Ray's alarmed gaze, they discovered the sliding door had been shut.

"Somebody closed that door," Ray fretted.

Daksh, a sly grin on his face, comfortably perched on the sliding door. "Poor guys," he taunted and closed his eyes. "Make the seen unseen," he muttered.

A collective cry of despair escaped Zarna as the steps began vanishing, one after the other.

"Don't panic, don't panic," said Advika more to herself than to the others. 

"Advika," said Tej and rushed towards her. "Got any idea of getting out? How can the bowl help?"

"The bowl," said Advika and sped towards the stone table. "I had read... this helps... to get answers..." she stammered, her body shivering with fear and anxiety.

"Advika," said Tej and held her hands. "Relax, calm down, breathe."

"May the air you breathe vanish, may the consciousness you hold vane into oblivion," said Daksh closing his eyes as he brought his lips close to the sliding door.

"This bowl can help us get out of here. It can show us the way," said Advika. 

Maya coughed with her hand on her chest. 

"The air," mouthed Advika. "Somebody's playing with-" Advika stopped mid-sentence and coughed.

Ray held his throat breathing heavily. Zarna dropped down on her knees, gasping for air. 

"Maya," said Tej panting. "You... can... influence the air, do something," he said.

It felt as though an invisible hand was squeezing the life out of them. The room's air grew oppressively heavy, suffocating them. Only the feeble beams from their phone flashlights pierced the surrounding darkness.

Advika braced herself against the stone table, her hands trembling. Tears welled in her eyes, spilling into the golden bowl. A chilling current of energy coursed through her, sending shivers down her spine. The water in the bowl stirred, its surface beginning to ripple.

"The... bowl..." she managed to say. 

Zarna, Ray, and Tej dropped on their knees, coughing loudly. 

"Maya... the bowl... words," said Advika and extended her arm. Maya held her hand and stood near the bowl.

A tinge of golden and silver color appeared in the bowl; the water began to move in a circular motion. Advika could see something move in it. Letters began to dance in the water; Advika dropped on her knees. "Maya," she said, panting. "You can bring back... the... air," she said and lay unconscious.

Daksh pressed his ears against the sliding door on the ground.

Maya blinked her eyes, staring at the bowl, trying to make sense of the words floating on the water. She stood near the stone table for a brief moment.

"May the done be undone, past be present, and actions reversed," read Maya and fell on the ground, unconscious.

"No!" screamed Daksh and push opened the door.