Beyond the Rift ✔ (Completed)

Chapter 23: When the fog rolls in

Alexis

We returned to our secret base in California the very next day. Ethan didn't think it necessary for anyone to have cellphone along with them. Because he still didn't trust anyone. And hence he zaps every single person's phone. Not mine, because I didn't have it. It's still lying in my clutch; probably on Jake's study table in his house.

We began our training again. Nick taught me few tricks and how to wield a water weapon, just like the fire shield and fire sword of the fire essence. I am still perfecting the fire shield thou; it's only been 2 days.

"Alexis, you should be sleeping, its 1 am in the morning." Halitus speaks from the other end of the room. All thanks to her, she has constructed few extra rooms for us. We all had separate sleeping quarters. The cabin looks spacious than ever.

"Yeah, I was about to." I reply. "Did you have any luck finding the stone?" I ask her.

Halitus meditates while using her essence. Every morning, she wanders in the forest to contemplate any disturbance in the earth's field that might have caused by the red beryl crystal. Apparently, you can sense its presence if you are an air essence altruist.

"Not yet, we'll have to do something about it." She turns off the night lamp and gets back to her bed.

...

Thick-fat droplets obscure my vision. The murky navy-sky gushes water over me, as if I were at an ice bucket challenge. The glacial downpour pounds on my head and soaks my clothes entirely. Lightning illuminates the dark forest ahead of me for a split second.

Moments later there comes the rumbling thunder and right on cue the rain begins to fall haphazardly with extra vigor. The forest floor turns even more slippery. My feet slip on the wet muddy grass. The soul of my foot feels like thousands of needles piercing at the same time.

My knees begin to give in to the painful stinging. Regardless, I run. I run as far as my legs can take me. I run like the forceful wind that cranes the trees during a thunderstorm, like a cheetah running for its life. I run like my life depends on it; because it does.

My heart pumps blood vigorously to my numb body. My breath comes in pants as I gasp for air. I inhale deeper. I can taste the wet earth and fear on my tongue.

I don't know what I saw or didn't see, I can't recall what made me bring here in the first place. It's like the memory is wiped out of my mind but the sensation of it is clutched to my skull like a leech.

The feeling of being terribly afraid of something, is warning me to not stop. I have to run. I don't know why, but I have to.

Time and again, I look back to get the glimpse of the thing following me, all I see is the darkness; the glistening trees and bushes close-in in my wake.

I am drenched in water from head to toe. My clothes begin to sag my pace. I start bouncing as I jog; stumbling and stamping one foot on the other. My exhausted limbs uncontrollably glitch and I fall face first on the wet earth.

"Ah....." I moan in agony, the shooting pain in my brain begins again. My head feels like it's on fire.

...

Suddenly, my vision fades. White spots and gleaming lights flash before my eyes, and everything turns silent.

The pounding of the rain has stopped. The growling of the overcast sky is gone.

I open my eyes slowly to the bright light. The heavy downpour is absent. The grass is greener than before. I straighten up, there is no dark forest anymore. It is day.