I touched it which I thought to be the lava but it wasn't burning me, it wasn't even hot. Instead I was sensing a smooth and silky surface. I was too scared to open my eyes but the silky surface was raising my curiosity.

Slowly and terrifyingly, I opened my eyes one by one, to see what was happening and when I found myself lying on a red with golden striped carpet, I burst out with ecstasy.

 "Hello buddy!"

My mind was jammed for a moment that I did not even recognize the voice. Slowly I lifted my head and blinked my eyes hard, only to find out it was none other than...

"Pruthvi!" I cried. "What are you..."

 I was never so happy watching him sitting beside me. Then I frowned a lot, till I could not, and looked down trying to deduce what I was sitting on. It was a carpet and it was flying, like seriously flying!

"No time to talk, Hayden," Pruthvi said, "Let's get rid of that creature together."

"But how..."

My certainty was answered the next instant. If Pruthvi was here, then the one I needed the most was here too. Carpet glided up towards my other best friend Leena who was standing near the fence. She held her hand up letting Pruthvi to pull her onto the carpet. I turned around to find the two headed monster flying at us ferociously as I gasped.

"Hey Hayden," said Leena, "Miss me!"

"Leena I need your help." I shouted.

"Then do as I say," she said turning completely to me, "Lure that creature outside this cave."

"Outside?" I asked frowning, "Why?"

"Because I need water," she snapped watching a fire cage in which Tyrell and Celina were imprisoned.

"Here's your jacket," said Leena, "This led us inside."

"Thank you," I mumbled, taking back my jacket from her.

"Hardik!" shouted Pruthvi, "fly around the creature!"

I glanced at Pruthvi dubiously. I couldn't get with whom he was talking to. The carpet turned its direction towards the creature, making me astonished. The flying thing had a name and it can understand Pruthvi.

"Hayden, you know what to do," said Leena as soon as the carpet glided nearer the creature.

I nodded and commanded my stone. "Flame Formation!"

Flames formed around the tip of my hands and as the carpet flew upon the head of the creature I started making it angrier by throwing flames at it and diverting its attention more towards me. It screeched aloud and Hardik slightly jerked at its deadly voice.

"Hardik!" shouted Pruthvi, "Let's drag the creature outside."

I continued infuriating the creature with my fire and I was happy it was falling in my traps. It seemed to have forgotten to throw flames at me and was getting interested more in chasing down the flying carpet.

We were now gliding away from Tyrell and Celina. I tried to glance and I was sure I had a glimpse of them through the flaming fire. Celina and Tyrell were on their knees trying hard to breathe. I shivered with terror watching them in that poor condition.

"Hey watch it!" Leena cried.

"Oops, sorry!"

My flames were suddenly intensified. Before it could hurt her, I changed my direction. The creature screeched again as we were almost outside the cave.

WHOOOOOOSH!

After all the twists and turns, Hardik managed to bring us outside. I was careful not to lose my balance when the carpet started taking us uphill. On Pruthvi's command it stopped flying and settled on the base of the rock.

As soon as we took a step out of the carpet, we whirled around to look for the creature. It was now outside of the cave, its wings opened as far as possible, and it was flying up towards the sky, screeching continuously. Its screech had a different vibe this time as if it was scared the snow might hurt it.

An idea framed in my mind. I turned to discuss it with Leena. But she was already looking at me, smilingly as if she understood what I was thinking.

"Ready?" she asked, stroking her chain holding aquamarine.

"You bet!"

"Be careful, both of you," said Pruthvi, "And call me after you are done!"

Leena and I ran down the hill as soon as Pruthvi on Hardik glided aside.

"Flame formation!" I cried out to lure the creature towards me. I was successful in catching its attention and it glided with the jet speed towards me.

I loudly commanded my stone, focusing towards the snow, "Fire explosive formation!"

The white snow started melting. I was careful enough to run aside without slipping myself into the freezing water. My fire was still there and creature was almost ready to attack me...

"Tidal wave formation!"

I heard Leena's command and I had to jump aside from the immense force she had created. The melted water loomed up into a giant wave, drifting towards the creature. I looked up at Leena. She was still concentrating on water to make it rise till it reached its prey. The fire creature was stuck between the waves, screeching and writhing only this time out of pain.

I have never seen Leena using her stone so fiercely before. I always knew my fire was nothing before her watery powers but now being a team to defeat someone or something was making me feel immensely proud. Watching her being so aggressive, my confidence piled up. I smiled proudly at her and continued to help her by melting the snow.

"Whirlpool formation!"

The monster seemed to have given up to fight back. Its fire was diminishing gradually. Leena found the best chance. She created a giant water rolling whirlpool within the huge piled of melting snow. As I was watching I understood she was trying to dump the creature inside it.

But she was struggling to push the monster into it. Her knees began to shake and her hands felt heavy. I decided to join her. Even though I knew it could be dangerous, even though I was asked not use the command until and unless the situation got worse, I command my stone with my most ferocious attack ever.

"Eternal fire Brigade Formation!"

My body burnt, my head ached inexplicably. Celina had ordered me never to use this command for it could be nothing but suicidal.

Leena was trying too hard to finish of the creature. I cannot let her take all the pain. I had to do something to make the creature vulnerable.

A battalion of thousand-degree fire bullets appeared out of my fingers, charging towards the creature with a super speed that I presumed one or two bullets might knock me down too. But I stayed strong and I focused as she came into my mind again. I was trying hard not to get diverted from watching her beautiful face. But this time she looked different. Her eyes were watery and her lips began to move.

"I am still waiting for you! Please! Help me!"  

Hearing her soft but painful voice made my heart ache. I didn't know who she was, I didn't know where she was. Heck, I didn't even know if she existed in this world. But yes, now that I have been seeing her every other day inside my brain, I couldn't deny with the fact that she was turning out to be a big part of my life.

I was helpless. I couldn't do nothing except to provide her my sympathy.

"I am sorry!" I whispered, pleading that my voice might reach her. "I am so sorry!"

"Hayden! Why are you sorry?!" shouted Leena running down towards me, "It's done. It's gone!"

My senses came back to me. I slowly pulled back my command when I realized what I had done. I successfully shot the creature. It was inside the water, writhing and struggling hard to escape. With my eyes widening, I gazed down at my palms unable to believe what I had accomplished. Were my powers stronger than the creature's? Am I really that strong.

Then the other voice grabbed my attention.

"Earth Mend formation!"

Pruthvi was back, now standing on Hardik. He glided slowly down and his hands were up pointing towards the struggling creature. The melting ground at once shook. I and Leena stumbled back as the water started flowing towards us. Watching us escape the sudden rumble on the ground, Hardik sped up towards us to let both of us jump onto it. I peeked down to see what Pruthvi was trying to do with the creature and I cheered out with his amazing idea. He was closing the ground right upon the creature, firmly sealing it beneath the earth. It was screaming and trying its best to come out of the whirlpool but in vain. In about a few minutes the mountain was back to its normal state only it was bearing the creature underneath it.

"Oh no!" gasped Leena, "Tyrell and Celina are still inside. We have to save them."

For ones I thought I had completely forgotten about them. I should be hitting myself to even think this was over. My friends were still trapped and their condition was already very poor. I and Leena commanded our stones for one more time. I, helping her providing with the right amount of water as she pushed the melted water inside the cave till it reached the cage.

Water was just enough to successful setting off the fire. Pruthvi broke the cage and I pulled Tyrell and Celina out. We threw them upon Hardik and together five of us flew out of the cave as hurriedly as possible.

Hardik seemed to fly slowly and carefully than the last time. I was immensely impressed to see it understanding carrying two sick people on it.

"Tyrell! Celina!" I cried hitting them on their cheeks. They were already turning slightly making me worried sick to the core. Leena splashed little bit of water on their faces. Then Tyrell stirred giving me a sigh of relief.

"Where-are-we?" said Tyrell still having his eyes closed.

"Open your eyes, punk!" shouted Pruthvi at them.

Then Celina shifted, perhaps on hearing Tyrell's voice. She opened her eyes wide watching Leena and Pruthvi sitting bolt upright.

"How did you know we are here?" she asked.

Seriously? That is what she wants to know?

"It was Shourya," replied Leena and then turned to me, "He asked us to find you."

"Shourya!" I asked, disgusted, "He seemed to have tricked you and Pruthvi to battle this mental creature."

"He told us it is important for me to go to Uilani hill," Leena said ignoring my comment, "As if I know how to cure the people suffering with the disease."

"Your tears," Tyrell mumbled, holding Celina's hand as she came over to stand beside him, "Now I know why you cry so much for everything."

Leena frowned, "What?"

Pruthvi looked as surprised as Leena was.

"Leena, listen to me," I said, grabbing her  by her upper arm, "Your tears are precious. Your tears are the cure for the Comalica virus."

Leena gaped at me for a few seconds before she  said, "Is it because I own Aquamarine? One of the Chandrika's children who owned the aquamarine invented the cure, right?"

I blinked hard, wondering how she has come to know about that. But we didn't had time to discuss each and every thing we had been through. Also, I was kind of glad she was somehow already informed about the cure before she went berserk and started to shower questions upon me.

"But we need Maiden's Cup for that," said Celina, interjecting my thoughts, "And Shashi is still having it."

"Shashi?" gasped Pruthvi, widening his eyes, "As in Shashi Thribhuvan?"

"Or as in Hayden's grand uncle..." said Tyrell, scratching his head beneath his cap.

"What the hell is Maiden's cup?" Leena asked ignoring Tyrell. But Pruthvi didn't. He caught my eye and his expression changed drastically on hearing something impossible.

A rustling sound diverted us from our conversation. Although no one had asked it, Hardik, the flying carpet, stretched itself and began flying up in the air.

"What is wrong with Hardik?" Leena said, her voice slightly quivering.

Celina gasped, her mouth dropping

"It's a carpet!" She exclaimed, watching the thing astonished.

"And it is flying...on its own!" Tyrell finished her sentence, equally surprised.

They both stepped back instantly, still holding hands, watching Hardik behave unnaturally, as if it was trying to inform us the coming up danger.

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I sincerely want to thank all my readers to be the part of Hayden's life reading his story. I dedicate all these three chapters to vidhu25, Anukrissh, likhitha9, SayanSahoo, bookloverng, ChocoRiz. Sriram_Gudimella, Daina-ann, ParamaJoseph.