Confronting and More
1114 Words
Zarna took in the fresh air and spread her arms. "Guys, we landed on the beach again," she said.
Tej rushed towards Advika. "You're bleeding," he said as he touched her knee. Advika removed a band-aid from her jeans pocket. Tej immediately took it from her and helped her with it.
"Thankfully, you chose to wear shorts today, on my suggestion of course," said Zarna and crossed her arms smiling.
Ray and Maya tied Daksh against a rock on the beach. "Your powers won't work here, dude," said Maya and headed towards her friends who sat at the shore. Ray followed.
"Why won't his powers work here?" asked Ray.
"This is our area, our vicinity, the book's I mean. No evil powers allowed," she replied.
"You okay?" said Ray and sat beside Advika. She nodded her head and smiled. Zarna's eyes fell on Daksh; she started walking towards him.
"What are you up to?" asked Ray.
"Talk," she replied.
"He's not worth it," said Advika. "He didn't listen to the book, Grantha, why will he listen to us?"
"What are you talking about? Who Grantha?" asked Maya.
"The book," replied Advika. Tej helped her get to her feet.
"You're saying that Grantha is the name of the book and she talked with that guy," wondered Tej, still holding her hand.
"When I hid behind that white rock in the forest, the book talked, no kidding," said Advika.
"Where's the book now?" asked Maya and crossed her arms.
"Technically it absorbed us into it," said Zarna.
"Are we like inside the book then?" wondered Ray.
"He's running away!" cried Maya.
~~~~~
"Ouch!" said Rutuja as she fell on Rishi.
"Luckily, you had a safe landing," he said and smiled.
Rutuja got up and helped Rishi get to his feet. The air blew her hair across her face. Rishi started at her.
"Rishi," she said and grabbed his jacket stepping closer to him. A crab passed by on the sand beneath. He tied her hair with a clip.
She smiled, "where'd you get it from?"
"You left it behind the day we parted," said Rishi.
"I was ten," said Rutuja and hugged him. "You kept it all this time?"
"How wouldn't I?" he said and hugged her back, smiling. His smile disappeared when he saw Daksh running towards them with three people behind him.
Daksh fell on his knees as Ray jumped on him from behind. Maya, at once, punched his nose. Zarna tied his hands with a rope and threw some sand in his eyes.
"Daksh!" cried Rutuja and ran towards him. Rishi followed.
"O, My God! He's the one, the one who I had a vision about, the guy that fought with Tej," revealed Maya.
Rutuja saw a ball of fire heading towards her; she ducked. The ball hit Rishi who was running behind her. "Rishi!" she screamed.
~~~~~~
Tej's move made heads turn.
"Dude," said Ray. "That was literally fire!"
Rutuja dragged him to the shore and pushed him into the water. Rishi dusted his jacket and jeans; rage dripping from his eyes.
"Aaah!" that was all that left Rutuja's mouth before she fell into the water after Advika kicked her in the back.
"Rutu!" screamed Daksh struggling against the rope. Maya kept her hand on his head and chanted some mantras.
"Aahhh!" he screamed.
"What are you doing?" asked Ray.
"Just a second you guys," interrupted Zarna. "Wasn't Advika injured like a few moments ago."
"Attention seeker," said Maya and looked at Advika nodding her head.
Rutuja got to her feet and raised her hand, which was blocked by Advika. Rutuja kicked Advika on her knee, which was already injured.
"Aaah!" said Advika.
Tej and Zarna rushed towards her.
Rishi went for Tej, punching him on the nose. Tej, recovering from the blow, lifted his right leg and hit Rishi on his shoulder. Rishi pursed his lip and landed a blow in Tej's chest.
"Oh, I love drama," said Ray.
"Seriously, Ray?" said Maya, amazed at the casualness in his tone.
Rutuja held Advika and Zarna by their hair, dragging them to the shore. She put her arms around their neck, almost choking them.
"Stop!" screamed Maya and held a small blade near Daksh's neck.
"Hurt my friends and, I'll kill him," she threatened.
~~~~
Rishi stepped behind. Rutuja, let go of both the girls.
"Why don't we talk?" said Ray and helped Maya take Daksh to the shore.
"This guy attacked us," said Maya.
"Who are you guys?" asked Advika.
"Daksh," said Rutuja and took a step towards him. "Did you attack them?"
"Why?" asked Rishi, removing his jacket as the atmosphere was getting hot.
"Yes, we were minding our business, and this guy comes and attacks us," said Ray.
"No," spoke Daksh. "You weren't minding your own business." He looked at Rutuja. "These guys have the book. They have earned the powers," he revealed.
"That's not possible," said Rishi.
"Yeah? How do you think this guy hit you with the fireball? How can these guys fight us? Us?" said Daksh.
Rishi walked towards Rutuja. "You need special powers to hurt or make Daksh weak," he whispered in her ears. "He's strong, too strong for even us."
"Okay," said Advika and stepped forward, standing between the two groups. "Let's sort this out. What do you guys have to do with the book?"
"We are the protectors," said Rutuja.
"Protectors?" wondered Maya.
"We are trained to protect the book," clarified Rutuja. "Fight the enemy."
"Who's the enemy? Why does the book need protection?" questioned Maya.
"Wait," interrupted Rishi. "Where and how did you guys get the book?"
"In a library, well, that's not important, how are you guys related to the book, who appointed you as the protectors?" quizzed Tej.
"This all is very confusing," added Ray. Zarna nodded her head in agreement.
"We both don't mean any harm to the book," said Zarna. "So, technically, there's no reason to be enemies."
"Exactly," added Ray. "Why fight when our mission is the same."
"Daksh," said Rutuja and helped him get to his feet. "How did you know about these guys? And why didn't you consider telling us?"
"The hero doesn't like taking help you see, Ru," added Rishi.
"I came here thinking you needed help," said Rutuja. She walked towards Advika. "Listen, just hand us the book, and get out of this matter. It's dangerous. Not for pretty little girls."
Daksh laughed.
Advika crossed her arms. "Take it from us if you got the guts," she said.
Tej and Ray exchanged a glance, smiling at each other.
"Daksh, no!" said Rishi extending his arm towards the object Daksh threw in the air.
- Writer
