Elementia

Chapter 3

I started hanging around with Caspian more and more. He was actually a really fun guy. We would hang out almost every other day. He could make me laugh so easily. Though, every second I was with him was another second I might have in jail. Every hangout had a risk of getting caught. I knew we needed a safe place to meet up whenever we wanted to. A place no important official would find us.

    The city I lived in, Amburn, was in orbit of the school. There were four neighborhoods. Each neighborhood held each of the Categories. The one I lived in, the one that held the Fire Categories, was called Luminous Light. It was to the right of the school. The neighborhood next to mine was called Radiant Rivers. Next to that was a park where the little children could play- separated from each Category, of course. To the left of the park was a city that held the Earth Categories, Excellent Environment. To the right of that was the final city, holding the Air Categories, called Breezy Brilliance. That's as much as Amburn holds.

    Though, of course, no one knows about the abandoned playground behind the school.

    I found it one day, trying to find the after school care Blaze would have to be in. I explored more with Agni that weekend. No one else knew about it. No one else really cared about. I would go every now and then, when Agni was busy, and everyone at home was too loud. It's a great place for thinking. Once, I wondered why this place was abandoned. I came to the conclusion that it was supposed to be something like the current park, for little kids. Though whoever was building it had realized there was a better location. So that person left it here to rust.

    "There's a place I wanna show you," I told Caspian one day, after school, when I visited the Water flutterball team.

    "Really?" Caspian looked up from behind his long curly hair.

I nodded. "I don't think you know where it is so I'll take you there."

"When?" Caspian asked, eyes still fixed on me.

"Tomorrow, after school. If you're not busy," I said, nervously breaking away from his stare.

    "Does 4:00 work?" Caspian asked.

    "Yeah, that'll be good. That way no one will catch us talking, for sure."

    "I thought you weren't scared."

    "I'm not scared. I'm nervous and a little uneasy of being caught."

    "Well, okay. It's my turn to train with Coach Beck, so I got to go. Anyway, see you then, Ash."

    "See you then, Caspian," I waved. The giddy adrenaline I had felt when talking to Caspian had left. I was relieved to not feel it. Yet, at the same time, I wanted Caspian to come back, so I could feel it again. I didn't know what to make of it.

    I swung my backpack onto my back in a move I had mastered over the years. I looked out the field to see Caspian swinging his cupped hands- holding an imaginary ball- over and over. He saw that I had looked over and gave me his familiar smirk-smile. I smiled back. Then I got up and left.

    I pulled out my phone and let Agni know I was on my way.
Instantly, he replied, Let me know when you get there.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Where could Agni be hiding, today? I thought, as I inspected every aspect of Agni's two story house. I gave up and texted Agni that I was there. A minute passed by, and I heard a loud noise. I looked back to find the garage door now pulled up and a smiling Agni underneath. He had hid behind the garage door.

    "I don't think hiding behind something counts," I remarked, entering his house.

"Well, you couldn't find me, now could you? And I don't remember establishing rules. As long as you can't find me I win," Agni grinned.

"Whatever," I smiled. We entered his room and I sat on his beanbag chair, by now muscle memory.

"So what did you do today?" Agni asked, plopping onto his bed.

"Nothing interesting. Had that club again. I've won at least two debates by now."

"Not surprised. When you're mad, Ash, you're dangerous. They were probably scared."

"Well, I still won. That counts for something. Anyway, how was your day?"

"You wouldn't believe it."

"Well, now, I'm intrigued. Tell me."

"The vice principal needs someone to decorate the gym for the winter dance. For some strange reason, maybe my good grades, he decided to give me the position in advance."

"Oh, wow, that's great. What did you decide on for the theme?"

"A winter wonderland. Basic, but I like it anyway."

"I'm sure it'll be great."

"Got any homework?"

"Yeah, just something from math."

"Need help? I finished my homework twenty minutes ago."

"Sure, thanks."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

3:50, my watch read. If I didn't start moving, I'd be late to show Caspian the playground.

"I have to go, Agni," I said, gathering my stuff. "I have to meet a friend from the debate team."

"Oh, ok. See you tomorrow," Agni walked me to the door. I could sense he didn't want me to leave. I kept walking, pulling the hood of my hoodie up.

I reached the school at 4:00 on the dot. I pulled out my phone and texted Caspian I was here. Not more than two minutes later, Caspian appeared.

"So, where are you taking me?" He said, smiling that smirk of a smile I knew so well.

"A place where we can meet up to talk and not get caught. Come on, I'll show you."

"Ok," Caspian trailed close behind me. I showed him the fastest route to the playground.
~
We rounded the corner to the old-looking playground. I looked around though I knew no one else would be here. I looked at Caspian and to my surprise, he was already looking at me. I made eye contact for a minute before looking away. My gaze turned to the abandoned playground.

"So, this is it. What do you think of the place?" I asked Caspian, staring forward.

"Looks alright. Though I don't know if I'll be able to remember the way here; I might get lost."

"I can bring you again, next time."

"Sounds great," Caspian stated, moving toward the swingset behind the playground and sitting on one. I followed and sat next to him.

We talked for a while when suddenly, Caspian said, "Do you hear that?"

I tuned in my ear and heard a twig snapping. "Yeah...what do you think that could be?"