Chapter 38 Mind Walking
THE FIFTH ELEMENT 🌊🔥🌪️⛰️☯️
Cassie’s POV ~
We held our breath, waiting for the footsteps to reveal who—or what—was coming.
And low and behold, Madeleine came sprinting through the shadows, chest heaving.
"Oh my gosh! Geez, you guys scared me. Wait— is it really you guys, or... should I just keep running?" Madeleine said, doubling over to catch her breath, eyes darting between us.
"It’s us. You can relax now," Jake said, lowering his sword slightly.
Madeleine squinted at him, still unsure. "Sure about that? Because that’s exactly what the last ‘you’ I saw said to me. So I’m not really convinced."
"Madeleine, I’m here too. And I’m telling you it’s us. Convinced yet?" I said, holding my hands up.
"Hmm. What if you two are just monsters working together to get me?" Madeleine said, arms crossed, still not convinced.
"Geez, you’re such a drama queen. If you don’t believe us, then you can continue your little race to nowhere," Jake said, letting his fire sword fizzle out before turning and walking off.
"Are you coming? It’s not wise to stay apart after the split-up earlier," I said to her.
She still had her arms folded, lips pressed into a thin line.
"Fine. Let’s just go." Then her eyes narrowed. "Anyway, what were you two talking about?"
"Um. About the school," I said.
"About the school? Okayyy. Is it just that?" she asked, tone sharp.
"Yeah," I replied.
"Okay then. We better catch up to him." Madeleine and I broke into a jog to catch up to Jake.
"Didn’t you learn anything from the last time we split up? Or do you want this little maze run to never end?" Jake said, sounding annoyed when we reached him.
"Sorry," I mumbled.
He glanced at me, his jaw tight.
"Soo! What’s the plan now?" Madeleine asked, brushing dust off her sleeve.
"We find the others. Then hunt down these monsters," Jake said, determination hardening his voice.
"So how do we find them? We don’t have all the time in the world, you know," Madeleine said.
"I’ve been thinking about that. Cassie, your power is related to the mind. I think you can use it to find the rest of us. You can search through your mind and connect to theirs. It’ll be much quicker, if you ask me," Jake explained.
Madeleine’s head snapped to me, eyes wide with disbelief.
Then I heard it— a low voice, coming from her direction... coming from her, but her lips weren’t moving.
(I can’t believe she blabbed about her powers to Jake. So much for me being her only friend.)
I stared at Madeleine, and she raised an eyebrow at me.
I looked away fast, my heart thudding, trying to understand what just happened. Then the voice came again.
(Does she like Jake or something? She better not. I've had my eyes on Jake since we were kids... and she just got here.)
This time, I couldn’t help but gasp. I looked at her again.
"What?" Madeleine asked, tilting her head.
"Nothing," I replied, forcing myself to sound calm.
"Okay, so do you think you can do it?" Jake asked me.
I looked at Jake, half-expecting to hear his thoughts too. But there was nothing. Silence.
That’s it. I must be going crazy. This school has officially turned me insane.
"Are you okay?" Jake asked, his brow furrowing with concern.
"I’m good," I said quickly.
I glanced at Madeleine. She was eyeing me weirdly, like she could sense something was off.
"I think I can do it. I think I can find Phoebe and Damon," I finally said desperately wanting to be of help.
"Great." Jake looked relieved.
(I knew she had potential. She just doesn’t know it yet.)
I heard Jake’s voice again— but not from his mouth. From his mind.
I kept my face blank, pretending nothing was happening.
Whatever this is, I have to keep it to myself until I understand it.
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, trying to focus, shutting out the damp, echoing corridor.
There was absolute silence until Madeleine’s voice— her thought — cut through.
(What the hell is she doing right now? Gosh, I can’t stand her acting like the main character all the damn time. So annoying!)
My eyes flew open and I shot Madeleine a look.
"What?" she asked, all innocent.
"Is something wrong?" Jake added.
"No. Everything’s fine," I said, and closed my eyes again.
This time I mentally blocked everything that dared to distract me.
I listened.
I saw myself floating, weightless, drifting through the cold, twisting corridors of West Wing A. The air was thick, silent, tasting like mildew and old stone.
I stopped when I heard a voice. Phoebe’s.
I drifted closer and saw her. She was sitting on the cracked floor, legs crossed like she was meditating, hands resting on her knees. Dust motes floated around her in the dim light.
I listened again and caught just one thought from her.
(Where are they?)
I guess she was looking for us too.
After taking in the environment— a collapsed archway, broken glass glinting— I decided to find Damon next. At least now I knew where Phoebe was.
(Something’s wrong,) I heard Phoebe’s voice— her mind — say.
She was still in her meditative pose.
What could be wrong? I wondered.
Her eyes suddenly flew open, sharp and alert.
I froze mid-air, hoping she couldn’t see me. I mean, it’d be impossible. I’m practically inside her mind.
(The air suddenly seems so tense... it’s unnatural. What could it mean?)
I heard her inner voice as her gaze swept the room, searching, until her eyes stopped— directly on me.
She squinted at my exact spot, frowning. Then she shook her head, exhaling.
"What the hell am I doing? There’s nothing there. And how can I not even hear anyone? This super-enhanced hearing of mine isn’t really helping me out right now," Phoebe muttered to herself before dropping back to the floor.
(This is stupid, I gotta find the rest of the team, before time runs out,) her inner voice said as she settled into her meditating position again.
I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.
Don’t worry, Phoebe. We’re coming for you. First, I have to find Damon too, I thought.
I closed my eyes and was suddenly floating through the void again.
I listened for Damon’s voice. And caught it easily— cocky, low, drawling.
I got closer to his voice, then my stomach dropped.
Oh no.
He wasn't alone. He was in trouble and he needed help.
🌊~