Chapter 36 Middle Of Crossroads
THE FIFTH ELEMENT 🌊🔥🌪️⛰️☯️
~Cassie's POV ~
I was still debating which team to join when I glanced over at Sage’s team. Our eyes locked for a second.
She gave me a cold stare before looking away. I turned to Cara and she smiled at me.
I managed a small smile back.
Finally, I looked over at Madeleine’s team and immediately made my decision.
"I think I’d like to join Madeleine’s team," I told the instructor, and he nodded.
"Good choice." He motioned for me to join them.
I jogged over to where they stood.
"Hey," I said to Madeleine.
"Hey right back," she replied, smiling.
I turned sideways and caught Damon already smirking at me.
I raised an eyebrow at him. He raised one right back.
The staring contest started getting weird, so I looked away, suddenly shy.
I glanced up and caught Jake glaring at me.
I frowned. What did I do to him now? I wondered.
I opened my mouth to say something, but he turned away from me instantly.
"Okay everyone! Time for training to kick off. And remember, you’ve got to have each other’s backs. A visual reality of these monsters will be activated using Artificial Intelligence. It’ll look real, but it isn’t. Still, give it your best. Alright?!" The instructor shouted, and everyone murmured in agreement.
"Each team will be directed to their own wing, and there you’ll fight your assigned monsters."
The instructor assigned different wing sections to each team. My team got West Wing A.
"Great. We got the dark, slimy wing. This day just keeps getting better," Damon said, dripping with sarcasm and amusement.
"How bad is West Wing A?" I whispered to Madeleine.
"Grossly bad. You do not want to be down there," she whispered back.
"It’s not all bad. You just have to be careful not to touch anything while we’re down there," Phoebe suddenly said.
I blinked, shocked she’d heard us. I was sure nobody could.
"Wait, how did you hear what we were talking about?" I asked her.
She just smiled. "It’s a secret," she told Madeleine and me.
"Oh," I replied.
The instructor finally set the stopwatch.
"Okay, everyone! Once I click this stopwatch, your time officially starts. So ready yourselves! On the count of 3... 2... 1... Your time starts now." The instructor announced, and everyone scattered across the field, each team heading toward their assigned wing.
"Come on," Madeleine said to me, and I nodded, following right behind her.
Jake and Phoebe quickly followed suit.
Damon took his sweet time before deciding to join us.
When we reached the entrance of West Wing A, we halted.
The door looked ancient, the walls peeling, damp air seeping out from the cracks.
Jake made the first move, shoving the gigantic door open with both hands, muscles straining.
He held it open, waiting for us girls to pass first.
He gave me a look as I walked by, and I avoided his gaze.
Once Damon was the only one left at the entrance, Jake let the door go and joined us.
Damon just scoffed and strolled in.
"So what exactly are we doing next?" Madeleine asked aloud.
"We explore," Jake said.
"I vote we stay right here and wait for the monstrosity to come to us," Damon said.
"Wait for what exactly? Don’t tell me you’re scared," Jake shot back.
"Hm... yeah... no, I’m not doing this with you right now," Damon replied, pressing his lips together.
"Why not? Isn’t that what you’re good at? Getting into fights," Jake said.
"What the hell is your problem right now, man? Do you really want to start a fight in here?" Damon said, stalking closer to him.
"I don’t mind, as long as I get to kick your ass," Jake said, squaring up to him.
"Okay, you guys aren’t helping matters here... Could you maybe drop your silly feud for a second and let’s just join forces and get this over with?" Madeleine stepped between them.
"I wonder if you’d still say that if Cara was here with us," Jake said coldly to her.
"Yeah, well, she isn’t... But you two are. So get it together and let’s get this done!"
"Yes, ma’am," Damon replied to Madeleine and chuckled.
"Whatever..." Jake muttered and stalked further inside the wing.
"Should we follow him or..." I said awkwardly.
"Let’s just go," Madeleine said and followed Jake.
I looked at Damon and he gave me a wink.
"Come on," Phoebe said, grabbing my hand and dragging me with her.
"So... this is not fun," I said to Phoebe.
"Yeah, I know. Anything that involves Jake and Damon working together is never fun," she replied.
"I don’t get why they hate each other so much. They both seem so nice, individually," I said to her.
"Yeah... well, they’re not," Phoebe said.
"Guys!!!!!! You need to hurry over here right now!" Madeleine’s voice echoed from somewhere ahead.
"Shit! Come on!" Phoebe suddenly bolted toward the sound of Madeleine’s voice. I followed closely.
Phoebe ran so fast, I lost track of her within seconds. I guess her speed had something to do with her air magic. There’s no way someone could run that fast.
Oh no... I lost her... And I can’t hear anyone’s footsteps anymore.
"Shit. No, no, no, no, no. Oh no. What do I do now? Okay. Just relax. We heard Madeleine’s voice from that direction, so I just have to keep going that way... wait, or was it this way?" I was at a crossroads. Three different pathways yawned in front of me, all dark, all dripping, and I was standing right in the middle, confused as ever.
"Come on, get it together. Just follow your instincts, Cassie..." I whispered to myself.
"Guys!!!! Phoebe! Madeleine! Damon! Anyone!!!" I yelled, hoping someone could hear me.
"I think I’m lost, guys!!! Anyone close! Jake?" I called out again, but got no response.
"Okay... this is officially a nightmare. I don’t think anyone can hear me." I sank down right in the middle of the crossroads.
I had no idea which path to take.
I guess I’ll just sit here until they realize I’m missing and come back for me.
This whole thing was a mistake. I should have chosen Sage’s team. Honestly, right now, Sage seemed more reliable than anyone on this team.
How could Madeleine, of all people, leave me alone? She’s the one I trust most in this whole school.
I sat there quietly, silly thoughts racing through my head, until I heard a faint sound coming from one of the dark paths.
I scrambled to my feet. "Madeleine! Phoebe, is that you?" I said a little louder, but got no reply.
I stood very still, waiting — expecting — something or someone to step out of the darkness into view.
I even held my breath to listen. Everything suddenly felt quieter than before... the sound I’d heard seemed to be fading.
Was the person retreating? Or had they stopped in their tracks?
I stood there motionless, still listening, the silence growing thick, suffocating. Then I heard it... a faint growling that sounded inhuman.
Oh no. This is no person.
~