The evening air was thick with tension as the group hurried through the bustling streets of Elemental City. The news of Lead’s accident had come as a shock, leaving a palpable sense of urgency among them. Aurelia’s mind raced with worry, her thoughts a chaotic whirlwind of concern for Lead and the unresolved feelings that his confession had stirred within her.
As they approached the hospital, the neon lights cast long shadows, mirroring the uncertainty that loomed over them. They entered the sterile, white corridors, the smell of antiseptic hanging heavy in the air. The group found Lead in a private room, his figure almost lost amidst the tangle of tubes and monitors that beeped rhythmically, a stark contrast to the silence that had fallen over his friends.
Lead’s eyes fluttered open, a weak smile gracing his lips as he saw the familiar faces gathered around him. “I guess I really know how to kill the mood, huh?” he joked feebly.
“You sure do,” Aurelia replied with a small chuckle, rolling her eyes. “As if anything major happened at the campus while you were away anyway.”
Suddenly, a police officer stepped up, holding a half-eaten, innocent-looking chocolate donut with rainbow sprinkles. “Aurelia, is it? He was very lucky, you know? The only reason we knew to contact you was through a phone number on the jacket around his waist.”
“That’s your gray hoodie, the one you wore a couple of days ago when you told me the results of the compatibility score, wasn’t it?” Nickolas asked, his eyebrows furrowing as he cast an icy glare at Aurelia. “How does Lead have it?”
“I told you it was a bad idea…” Gallus mouthed, shaking his head.
Aurelia sighed. “After my time at the library, Lead and I went out for a few minutes and chatted over a cup of coffee. I left my jacket behind at the café, so he offered to go get it for me.”
Aurelia glanced at Lead, her heart still racing. The unspoken truth hung heavy in the room—the date, the algorithm, and the tangled web of emotions that threatened to engulf them all. She had chosen to keep the date secret, a fragile thread connecting her to Lead, even as Nickolas’s jealousy simmered and Gallus’s understanding gaze bore into her soul.
“Makes sense,” Nickolas shrugged. “Weird how you decided to go get her jacket back like this, but I guess… it seems normal, considering you like Aurelia.”
“Yeah,” she nodded. “It’s a load of drama, I know… but I’m used to it now.”
Lead’s weak chuckle broke the tension. “Well, I guess my accident is the ultimate conversation starter,” he mused. “Chocolate donuts and stolen hoodies—what a way to end up in the hospital.”
Thalia leaned against the wall, her arms crossed. “You’re lucky we found you,” she said. “And Aurelia’s lucky she has two guys vying for her attention.”
Selena nudged Gallus, her eyes filled with mischief. “And what about you, Gallus? Any secret admirers we should know about?”
Gallus’s cheeks flushed, and he scribbled something in his notebook. “My admirers are all periodic elements,” he muttered. “They don’t get jealous.”
Aurelia’s gaze shifted to Nickolas. His jaw was still clenched, but there was concern in his eyes. “Lead, you’ll be back on your feet soon,” she said, her voice steady. “And as for the university, we’ll make sure you catch up on everything.”
“Thanks, Aurelia. Glad all this hasn’t driven you crazy yet…” Lead joked, while Thalia, Selena, Gallus and Alithea all exchanged glances. They knew otherwise. Aurelia had been driven crazier than ever by the boys’ feelings. “The algorithm is a smart idea, not gonna lie.”
“True that,” Nickolas agreed, before remembering Aurelia’s request to not talk about their relationship much, especially not when his friend had just gotten into an accident. “Anyway, what did the doctor say? When will you be back to the campus?”
“Before the finals, hopefully…” he replied. “But I’m gonna miss you guys a lot in the meantime.”
Nickolas nodded, his gaze softening. “We’ll miss you too, pal. But you’ll be back before you know it.”
Selena leaned against the window, her eyes scanning the cityscape beyond. “We’ve got your back,” she said. “And Aurelia’s algorithm can wait. Right now, we’re all here for you.”
Gallus’s pen hovered over his notebook, as if he were about to write something profound. Instead, he simply said, “You’re part of our elemental equation, Lead. We won’t let you fall out of balance.”
Thalia smirked. “And if you need any more chocolate donuts, just say the word.”
Lead’s smile widened. “Thanks, everyone. You’re the best friends a guy could ask for.”
Aurelia’s heart swirled with conflicting emotions. She had choices to make—between the logic of algorithms and the warmth of Lead’s smile, between friendship and something deeper. For now, they were all here, united by concern for their friend.
But Lead had something more to share, something about the mystery, the storm. He leaned forward, eyes intense.
“I have an idea,” he said, voice low. “About the storm, the power that nuke from the 1940s gave us. What if we could turn back time? Undo the third USA WWII nuke on Japan—the one that changed our world. Maybe then, we can find answers.”
“Why go that far? Why not just to my time? That’s when all these problems started… with…” Alithea, who had been silent the whole time, spoke up, her eyes watering slightly. “with… me.”
Alithea’s question hung in the air, a poignant reminder of the intricate web of time and consequence that bound them all. The group fell silent, each lost in thought, contemplating the gravity of Lead’s proposal and the implications of Alithea’s interjection.
Aurelia broke the silence, her voice steady yet tinged with the weight of responsibility. “Alithea, you’re right. The problems did start with the storm, but they’re rooted in something deeper—the nuke. It’s like a tear in the fabric of our reality, and everything since has been a ripple effect.”
Nickolas leaned forward, his analytical mind piecing together the puzzle. “If we go back to the source, we might be able to prevent the storm, the power glitches, and even the elemental imbalances we’ve all faced. It’s risky, but it could mean a chance to set things right.”
Gallus nodded, his eyes reflecting a mix of determination and concern. “We’ve been reacting to crises, but this… this is a chance to be proactive. To stop the storm before it starts, to protect the future.”
Selena’s gaze shifted between her friends, a spark of hope flickering in her eyes. “Imagine a world where our powers are a choice, not a consequence of war. Where we can live without the fear of losing control or causing harm.”
Thalia stood up, her posture commanding attention. “We have the knowledge, the skills, and the unity. We’ve faced elemental storms, time freezes, and power surges. If anyone can do this, it’s us.”
Lead’s expression softened, gratitude mingling with resolve. “I knew I could count on you all. But we’ll need a plan, a way to navigate the complexities of time travel without causing more harm.”
Aurelia stepped closer to the group, her mind racing with equations and possibilities. “We’ll need to calculate the exact moment of the nuke’s detonation, account for the butterfly effect, and ensure our actions don’t create an even worse timeline.”
Gallus opened his notebook, the pages filled with notes and diagrams. “We’ll also need to understand the physics of time travel, the energy requirements, and the potential paradoxes. It’s not just about going back; it’s about making the right changes.”
Nickolas chimed in, his voice laced with determination. “And we’ll need to be prepared for what we find. History is complex, and our presence could have unforeseen consequences. We must tread carefully.”
Selena wrapped her arm around Aurelia’s shoulder, a gesture of solidarity. “Together, we can do this. We’ve already changed the course of our lives; now it’s time to change the course of history.”
“One question. How do you guys expect to time travel?” Alithea asked, her eyebrow raised.
Alithea’s question hung in the air, a poignant reminder of the intricate web of time and consequence that bound them all. The group fell silent, each lost in thought.
“I’m right here, you know?” Lead spoke up, rolling his eyes. “I have C-14. I can time-travel.”
The room was filled with a mix of astonishment and skepticism as Lead’s declaration settled among the group. Time travel, a concept relegated to the realm of science fiction and theoretical physics, was now a tangible possibility, thanks to Lead’s unique C-14 abilities.
Aurelia’s mind, ever the mathematician’s playground, began to race with formulas and calculations. “Lead, if you can manipulate C-14, we need to understand the mechanics of your power. Time travel isn’t just about moving through time—it’s about ensuring we land precisely where we intend, and that we can return safely.”
Nickolas, who had always been the more logical of the group, folded his arms. “We also need to consider the moral consequences. We’re talking about altering history. We have to be sure that the benefits outweigh the risks.”
Selena, ever the optimist, chimed in with a hopeful tone. “But think of the good we could do! We could prevent so much suffering and destruction. It’s worth the risk.”
Gallus, flipping through his notebook filled with notes on elemental theory, added, “We’ll need a detailed plan. We can’t just jump back without knowing exactly what to do once we’re there. Every action will have consequences.”
Thalia, her eyes reflecting the gravity of their undertaking, nodded. “We should also prepare for the worst. If something goes wrong, we need contingencies in place.”
Lead, still weak but driven by a newfound purpose, agreed. “I’ll need to rest and recover. In the meantime, you all should tie up any loose ends here. We can’t leave anything to chance.”
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