The Inside Story

Hard Shell

Ella's POV

The waterfall was Mediterranean-blue and positively breathtaking. It looked like a sheet of blue velour as it swished down; its edges were hemmed with whipped-white lines. It was flowing over the rocks joyfully. It was thundering down into a seemingly bottom-less pool like a gigantic water spout. When it toppled into the pool, it foamed at the bottom. The water was untouched by pollution and was crystal-clear, enabling for us to see into the rocky bottom. Fronds of forest-green plans and seaweed swayed gently in the depths.

I cast my eyes away from the waterfall unto the horizon, gripping the tree's bark right next to me tightly. I could hear the morning birds chirping with delight as they began their day, woodpeckers pecking, and squirrels leaping tree to tree. The morning wind rustled my hair, giving an enlightened chill to the forest's natural heat.

Marina lifted a finger to the giant monumental tomb right next to the waterfall, it seemed like an ancient Egyptian pyramid with tales of booby traps and forbidden treasure hidden inside it. Marina told us that many people had gone in it but never came out, it was where the stone firefly resided.

Okay, I still can't believe that a firefly, even if he's made of stone, can be a threat. Come on, a stone firefly? And that nature chose him to be the guardian of the River of Life; they clearly needed some improvement in choosing the river guardian.

Marina pulled out a thin long maroon vase with a tight lid, she popped it open and showed it to us. "We need to get this water," she pointed at the waterfall that was flowing into the river right next to us, "into this vase without touching it."

"Why can't we touch it?" I asked.

"The River of Life is a special kind of element that can reverse time; the ingredient in the potion helps you to go home where you originally were. If you touch it, you will turn into a previous version of yourself such as a child or infant," Marina explained.

"We can't simply get water from here," Marina gestured to the river, "we have to walk to the top of that waterfall."

"If we're quiet, will we not face the stone firefly?" I asked again, covering my mouth with my hand.

"I hope so," Marina replied, sounding sincerely frightened and darted her eyes nervously to the tomb.

Robin valiantly stepped forward with his fists closed and made a triumphant pose with his hands on his hips. "We will scout the area first, the guys, and let you ladies know if there is any imminent danger."

"How about I guard your back, Hood?" I asked with a clear annoyance with treating us like damsels in distress. I walked right up to him until I was a few feet away from his ugly face, giving him a steady glare. This was a tough routine to move away from, other people would say we were conservative and old-fashioned. The truth was, we are the beginning of those terms. As fairy tales, we are the traditional knight or prince saving the princess from the dragon or tower and you won't believe how it's like to go through that over and over again.

The world around us has changed, girls like me no longer feel that we need a guy to help us through things and have accomplished great things. Yet when we have to go back into this book...it's like all the progress we made regresses.

"Nice try Ella, but I know why you want to come with us," Robin replied, his smirk widening.

"And why is that? So I can show off that I am better than all of the guys combined?" I demanded.

Robin darted his eyes to Alejandro who was ignoring our argument, fingering the flora of the woods. His gaze fell on me and raised his eyebrows, "Oh, just the fact that you want to spend more time with Alejandro," he whispered in my ear.