A surge of adrenaline rushed through my veins, my visions swam. But what scared me the most was her anguished scream that echoed in my head. Nazira and I landed hard on the floor with a thud, a little apart from each other. For a split moment both of us remained calm, in a complete state of shock, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

I coughed and slightly whimpered getting my senses back. I turned around to check on her condition. She was trying to get her bearing but was immediately falling back on the floor for several times.  Her feet was bleeding, sharp tiny glasses stung deep into her skin. Reacting on my impulse, I ran speedily and fell on my knees beside her. I removed her flip flops out of the way to pull out a few shreds of glass off her feet. She instantly cried out of pain  and her cry trembled me. Tears began rolling down her cheeks and I quickly let her leg go, not wanting to give her any more pain.

I was scared to death, and I could feel my body temperature rising. Heat began to prickle my skin and I turned around to check on the source. My heart plummeted, it took every damn nerve of my brain to comprehend that what my senses were telling was true.

Doctor’s cabin was full on fire, dangerously glowing as orange flames baking the air, sending billows of black smoke.

My face contorted with rage. It was more than a violent tingle running underneath my skin. I didn't had to think twice about who was responsible for this nefarious feat.

It must be Shaytan Rup!

Nazira’s cry pulled my focus back to her. Without removing all the glasses from her leg, she was totally incapable to escape out of the room. This made me take a decision which I wasn't too proud of.  

“Fire Shield Formation!”

I commanded my stone. I did not even bother if I was seeing or hearing her in my mind at that moment. I just kept my total focus on the real person in need of my help. A huge fire ball erupted out of my hands, and it was the only formation I knew that was going to help the fire from the blast to stay afar and I made sure it kept Nazira out of danger.

“Stay here,” I requested her, even though I doubted if she was able to read my lips, “I’ll go and get help.”

I hated to leave her there alone, but I needed to check on Doctor as well. He had mentioned he was leaving and I so wished him to be gone already. I jumped out of my own fire, safe and unharmed. But then my whole body began enduring the intense heat of the fire that wasn't mine. I was drenching in sweat, black smoke streaming my eyes. I swallowed holding back a sob of my own, watching the whole cabin turning into ashes and charcoal. I looked through the orange light, at the cabin door, cracking and breaking into two.

I stood still, slightly gasping, when I was sure my eyes caught a strange appearing but a very well know person ambling inside the cabin, blowing a powder. He was in his jeans and black shirt, his frizzed up hair grown longer covering his ears and neck, his skin darker than glancing of the sun could produce. A white light then emerged amidst the orange and the person, I was dying to meet since the past few months, was just about to escape through it.

“Tyrell!” I shrieked, my heart drumming and my eyes watering, “Tyrell, WAIT!”

He was here, just a few steps away from me. Hope washed over my body tremendously, helping me muster up all the strength I needed. The chance to keep my promise, I had made to bring him back, was right in front of me.

He was leaving, he was about to pass through the Gates of Chandrika that he created. But before he left, he reacted on my call, turning his head leisurely around, to look at me.

His eyes shone splendidly in the blazing light, enough for me gaze intently at them. There was no life in them, no spark, just two dead eyes that can see the world.

Flames erupted and King Harsh’s statue ruptured, descending down to the floor. Pieces of it formed into a pile of debri that delayed me get in. But now that he was so close to me, I didn't care about anything that came my way. I dared, stepped on the debri and plunged through the fire.

I ran speedily with all my might, withstanding the pricking heat. My power was fire, everybody kept saying I was outstanding in my formation. This element that I was the master of, shouldn’t be bothering me so much.

All the paintings hung on the wall, were now scattered down on the floor, turning into ashes. I had to hop carefully selecting places to put down my feet. Smoke intensified and I squinted my eyes in search for him, finally finding him standing on the other side of the Gates. I wanted to run faster and get to him before the Gates closed, but all the fire around me was obstructing me to reach him, to pull him back.

I failed...terribly.

My hope alternated with despair. Gates were closed and he just disappeared. My mind at once drifted to that day when we had talked the last, the day we fought our hearts out. He had never responded to me on my trials of contacting him ever since then. I wished him to come back just for once. All I wanted was to talk to him. One real chance to talk was what I was craving for.

Whole cabin has now turned an inferno and it was making feel more numb.  There were no more white lights. He was so close to me and I missed him, again. I gritted my teeth, grunted loudly and banged on the burning table making a strong fist. This frustration within me was more intense than the heat around.

Sparks of fires glided upon me. I swung around to get away but losing my balance I fell on the floor, soothing pain roasting my skin. I began breathing heavily and I looked down carefully at my burnt hands, feeling desolated. This has never happened to me before. How many times, had I not, just been toying with my own fire, making many formations? Never ever I had imagined that the fire other than mine, could hurt me this much.

“Stop running after me!”

I winced, tears dropping down my eyes and onto my hands. His voice, that was so unlike his, echoed inside my brain, making it jam, yet I tried my best to focus to not to  break the connection I finally had, my chest rising and falling unable to breath in here anymore.

“You have other friends,” he added, “Go. Save them, before it gets too late.”

“Tyrell, what have you done?” I sobbed, tears making my vision blur, “This is our home.”

I waited, wanting him to talk more but he didn't respond. He was really gone-out of sight, out of mind.

Dejected, I tried to stand up on my feet but yet again I was forced to fall back. A picture, a painting on a paper, about to burn, grabbed fullest of my attention. I quickly held it and hit it with my burnt palms to lit the fire off and studied it carefully.

It was a painting of two people, one of them, younger than the other,  sitting on the throne was King Harsh Tribhuvan. His hands was placed firmly around his step brother Shashi Thribhuvan’s shoulder, crouched down beside King Harsh’s legs. They looked rather happy, smiling all the way to get their picture painted, no sign of animosity between them. I was still scrutinizing the picture, forgetting I was sitting in the middle of the inferno.

“Hayden!”

It was Pruthvi’s voice that snapped me to the present.

“Wha...” I gasped, wiping my tears and standing up balancing myself, “Where are you?”

“Where the hell are YOU?” he asked me back, his voice aggressive, “Your room, it's all ashes... everywhere.”

My breath caught in my throat. I immediately ran outside the cabin, carefully passing through the fire, in the same direction I had chose to come inside. A lot of things were running inside my mind- Doctor, Tyrell and then this painting, and on top of it, my instincts also indicated me that I was forgetting something, but I didn't wait to figure it out.

Dumping the painting inside my pocket carrying the envelope, I rushed outside the training room, kicking burning pieces out of my way. Blood drained off my face as I watched the whole academy becoming the victim of this disaster. It was getting all ruined in front of my eyes. The ducks were lying dead in the pond, creating a sickening stench. The few indoor plants blackened, reducing to ashes. Covering my nose with the thickened smoke, I trotted upfront, now finding Leena and her Constellia Kumbh trying their best to minimize the intensity with their water attacks.

“Leena!” I shouted, “I saw Ty...”

“Where were you?” she shouted discarding what I was trying to say, her hands lifted up focussing on the stream of water she created, “We have to leave. Go to your room and get your stuff you need. Quick.”

Nodding at her, I ran down the corridor. All the doors, walls and the roof completely invisible, hidden beneath the flames. The academy seemed to have turned into complete hot fire breathing monster. For once I thought if Agnidaanav has risen again somewhere within the academy. Even Leena and Kumbh’s combined water attacks were failing against it.

Maahir, Naomika and Ruchin came running from the opposite side, screaming and writhing.  Blythe was behind them, his shorter legs caught on fire. I watched him limping and instinctively tried to help him.

“Back off, Mackay,” he gasped, pushing me by my chest, “This is probably all your fault.”

I couldn't blame him. It was certain to suspect me to have done this. Yet irritated by his mean accusation, I left him alone when Ruchin came back to help him.

Series of flashes broke out, troubling me to the core. A gush of flame rose, trying to knock me down but I wrenched myself aside and managed to run towards my room.

I was almost there, turning aside to enter my room. But before I could step in, Pruthvi was already running out of my room, escaping the falling lanterns.

“Where the hell have you been?” He asked through his gritted teeth. Skin on his cheeks and hands were smeared with sweat and ash.

“I..” I faltered unable to understand why everybody was asking me the same question. “Pruthvi, there is something I need to tell you.”

“Fill me up later,” he said handing me my bag, “I could only manage to take this, few clothes and your grand father’s scroll. Everything else...just forget it.”

“Thank you,” I gasped.

He held me by my wrist and said, “Come on, let's get out of here.”

Together, escaping the fire roaring all across the corridor, we sprinted towards the lobby. Leena asked Kumbh to leave and quickly joined us, running inside the lobby trying to escape the fire that lunged towards her. All the twelve of our paintings and that of the Kings’ and Doctor’s, were fallen on the ground, torn apart. The tables, chairs, nothing were in a shape anymore. Three of us were almost near the elevator, when my intuition yet again hit me, warning loudly about forgetting something...someone

“Nazira!” Pruthvi gasped aloud turning towards me, “Where is she?”

My stomach acid bubbled hearing her name.

“Di...didn't she come out?” I asked, panic-stricken.

“No!” Pruthvi exclaimed, flabbergasted, “Wasn't she with you?”

I should be slapping my own cheeks for my stupidity. I knew it wasn't a good idea yet I went for it. I had asked her to wait for me and I totally forgot about it. How can I even forget her! Hasn't she become the most important person in my life now?

The elevator chimed, halting, ready for it's next load. It was the only thing that seemed to be in perfect condition, and if not used sooner, chances of us getting out of here would soon become frail.

“We have to get her,” wheezed Leena, totally tired, bent down, having her hand on her knees and taking deep heavy breaths. “It's already too late!”

Tyrell’s warning struck me as if he himself had hit me with his lightning attack. I was apprehensive, yet unafraid. If I, having the power of pyrokinesis didn't do this, nobody could.

“You go,” I said, passing my bag to Pruthvi, “Take this with you too.”

I ducked my hand inside my pocket to remove the envelope and the painting, and handed it over to Pruthvi.

“What is this?” he asked, finding it difficult to hold all the stuff I was thrusting into his hand.

“You will know,” I affirmed, “Get out of here, now.”

“No, I can't leave you alone.”

“I’ll be fine,” I said clenching my teeth. “Just leave. I’ll go and get her.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes,” I shouted, “NOW GET OUT!”

I pushed Pruthvi and Leena inside the elevator and hit the out button. The elevator jerked and in no time it took them, with their frightened expression plastered on their faces, upwards to the actual ground level.

There was an odd feeling watching them go away. This could be, possibly, the last time I was ever going to see them. But I shook my head instantly. It wasn't the time to think anything about it.

I had no doubt, but Nazira and I were the only two left behind. I inhaled a long breathe, turning around to face the intense blazing fire once again. I noticed the orange flames were turning violent red, racing among itself all around the academy. I covered my face with my sleeves, unable to sustain the heat, my shirt completely drenched in sweat, my palms still hurting.

Deep down I was praying for her safety. I chided myself for forgetting her in the first place. My goosebumps shot frantically out of my flesh on a thought that occurred to me- what if Shashi and his men had already entered into the academy and taken her away?

Feeling extremely tensed, I jumped all over the flames and finally entered the training room. The last time I had seen, the training room wasn't affected this much, but now it was turned into a humongous bonfire. But I couldn't stay back fearing the fire. I never was.

Finding a safe path  even though full of twists and turns, I resumed my sprint. The one thing I hated the most began happening to me. My stomach growled. I couldn't believe I was hungry at this critical point of time and it was eventually making my momentum slow.

My eyes sought for her, and I was immensely contented to find her completely fallen on the floor. The shield that I had created was already broken. She was lying down, unmoving, at a distance away from the last I had left her. As I reached closer, my heart skipped a beat noticing her eyes closed, black greasy marks all over her face and her dress at the ends was about to catch fire.

I collapsed on my knees beside her, and patted on her legs to lit the fire off. I grunted as my palms hurt and waved it hard to subdue my pain. I brushed her fallen hair out her face and pulled her up on my lap.

“Nazira!” I cried, desperately, “Please! wake up!

I slapped lightly on her cheeks, but she didn't show any sign of movement.  

Panic overwhelmed me noticing her whole body burning with temperature, her breath labored.

A monstrous flame roared itself sending in huge vibes of pressure. It was getting difficult to breathe in here anymore, no wonder she fell unconscious. Without waiting for her to wake up, I placed her between both my arms and lifted her with all my might. My burnt palms stung having her over, but for the first time I was glad that she was extremely light weighted.

My stomach began to growl heavily and because of it I had to be slow and careful while walking. But it didn't suffice. My leg immediately tripped over a broken large piece of the bench and I lost my balance.

“Aah!” I shouted. Luck favoured us and we both landed on the fire-free floor. But I was scared if the sudden impact had caused her any more harm. I quickly crawled over, set her hair straight and began positioning her between my arms.

I was never this lucky before, I could only call it nothing but a miracle. I didn't had to run towards the elevator anymore. Among all the orange light and intense heat, the familiar and well accustomed white light emerged in the middle of the lobby. As soon as the Gates opened, I was grateful to see Ira Zutshi’s face appearing.

“Come on!” she urged, finding me so much in trouble, her face darting watching the training room in blistering fire .

Nazira was still unconscious and so I went ahead without wasting anymore time. I quickly scooped her up in my hands. Grunting and wincing with my own pain, I walked as swiftly as I could, to jump out the Gates of Chandrika, leaving the home like academy behind.

-x-