The little boy fixed his eyes on Summer's bright-orange water gun, annoying Victor to no end. He tried everything in his power to get him to stop his incessant gawking, but sadly, nothing worked.

Summer sat facing the window, her foot tapping an anxious tune.

Victor found the bus to be surprisingly clean. He recalled the last time he used public transportation. Trash was scattered about, stains of unknown origin covered the seats, and the smell of stale sweat coated his nostrils. At least the smell is the same, Victor thought.

"We're here," Connor said.

They immediately bolted toward the sanatorium. The bus driver cursed in their direction as they barged through the folding metal doors.

Victor felt the rhythm of his heartbeat quicken with each step. He couldn't tell if it was fear or excitement that had him so agitated. Whatever the feeling, it wrapped itself around Victor, strangling him like a noose. You got these powers for a reason, echoed in his mind. He recalled the conversation with his father after his panic attack—his reaffirming words giving Victor solace.

The St. Peter's sanatorium was constructed in 1903. The dirty, off white eyesore perfectly embodied the phrase 'style over substance'. Its moss covered pillars attempting to evoke a neoclassical aesthetic aged horribly. And the building's parking lot was riddled with cracks and litter. A melodramatic plea during a city council meeting, and a petition somehow accruing over ten thousand signatures had saved it from being demolished.

There was a single black van parked near the front of the sanatorium. Rust spotted its exterior, and the front bumper was completely gone. Victor and Connor tried to get a peek inside, but the tint blocked their view. Victor pulled on the driver's side handle, and to his surprise, the door opened. An indescribable funk assaulted them.

"Oh my god, what the hell is that smell?" Victor asked. He peered at every corner of the interior, trying to find the source.

Connor pinched his nose. "I have no idea." The smell made him leap backward. He coughed and spat on the ground. "Did you find anything?" he asked, eyes watering.

Victor suffered through the smell long enough to scan the inside. Food crumbs coated sections of the carpet, and about a dozen black ice air fresheners hung from the rearview mirror. "Besides the smell, nothing looks out of the ordinary," he replied with tears blurring his vision. Victor slammed the door shut. While dry heaving, he noticed Summer standing near the entrance, waving them toward her.

Victor tried to open the sanatorium's colossal front doors delicately, but its hinges screamed in protest, ruining any plans of subterfuge. The inside was mostly the same disgusting shade of white as its exterior. Two massive roman style support columns stood several feet apart, and a line of thin blue paint wrapped itself around the base of each column. There was a giant round seal in the center of the lobby. A faded-white dove was in the middle, surrounded by a circle painted sky-blue.

There she was, lying on the seal. The young woman's dark brown hair was a tangled mess, and her wrists and ankles were tied. Black duct tape covered her mouth, and her cheeks puffed when she noticed them approaching. She started squirming violently—her muffled cries bouncing off the paint chipped walls.

Summer sprinted to her. Victor and Connor edged their way forward, darting glances across the lobby. Connor shook his bottle of holy water. Victor promptly pulled out his bottle and unscrewed the cap.

Summer set her water gun down before grabbing the edge of the duct tape covering the young woman's mouth. "This is gonna hurt," she said before ripping it off.

"He knows you're here, he's behind th—"

A man appeared from behind one of the columns and dashed toward them. He smacked the bottle out of Connor's hand and it shattered on the ground. Glass shards peppered the marble floor. The figure started toward Victor. He swiped at the bottle, but Victor moved his arm at the last second.

Victor started a punch aimed at the man's face, but he ducked and then kicked his hand. The bottle made a loud crash as it hit the ground. We really need to get plastic bottles, Victor thought as he got into his fighting stance. "Summer, focus on getting her out of here! We'll take care of this guy!"

Summer started untying the rope around the woman's wrists. "You're gonna be okay. My friends will take care of him." The young woman could only muster a nod. Streaks of sweat and tears silvered her rosy cheeks.

Connor recovered and sprinted toward the figure. The man spun around, revealing his blood-red eyes. The demon countered Connor's punch with a kick aimed at his leg. Connor reeled back while holding his thigh. He bit his lip and let out a low grunt.

"Did he send you guys?" the demon howled. Victor ignored his question and lunged at him, aiming a punch at his throat. The demon leapt backward, causing his punch to whiff.

He's faster than the last one, Victor thought.

"V, get into angel mode!" Connor yelled. He landed a punch to the demon's face, staggering him.

Summer was still untying the rope. The young woman's eyes were glued to the fight. "Your friends, they're so... bright," the young woman murmured, her body still shaking. Summer began freeing her ankles. The braided rope previously binding her wrists lied coiled on the grand near them.

Victor backed away from the demon. He closed his eyes and formed the hand sign Summer taught him. The demon's sunken red eyes and the young woman's terror filled gaze crowded his mind's eye.

"V, you can do this!" Connor yelled.

"Shut up, I'm trying to focus!"

After removing the rope from the woman's ankles, Summer picked up her water gun and bolted toward the demon. She lifted it and steadied her aim. Streams of holy water splashed against the demon's cheek, causing smoke to billow from his face. He dropped to the floor, writhing in pain. His screams boomed throughout the lobby. Summer ran back to the woman and helped her to her feet.

The screams caused Victor eyes to snap open.

Connor stood over the demon's squirming body. "The holy water's effects won't last long. You can do this!"

Shit. What is wrong with me? Victor thought.

***

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Summer and the young woman trudged out of the sanatorium. The woman limped to the black van and leaned on the vehicle's body. "There's... an axe in the back of the van," she said.

Summer yanked the door open, immediately covering her nose with her sleeve. She grabbed the axe hidden under a large black sheet. The dried blood on its head gave her pause, but she collected herself and closed the car door. "I'll be right back!" she yelled.

***

The demon's hoarse screams squashed Victor's focus. He weighed his options. Summer and the girl were safe, so they could count their losses and make a run for it. But Victor had no timetable for the holy water's effects, so the demon could easily catch up to them. Besides, where would they even go?

His inner monologue was interrupted by Summer dashing toward Connor. She was carrying an axe—maroon-colored blood crusting the head's edge.

Connor grabbed the axe and lifted it over his head. Summer grimaced as Connor repeatedly chopped at the demon's neck. A pile of ash was all that remained.

Victor collapsed to his knees and punched the ground. "Fucking worthless..." he whined, his fist stinging from making contact with the hard floor. Connor dropped the axe. It made a loud clunk as iron hit marble.

Connor placed a hand on Victor's shoulder. He helped him to his feet and they walked to the exit. Summer snatched the water gun she had dropped near the seal before catching up with them.

The young woman was still leaning against the van, red marks on her wrists and ankles. Victor perked up. He kneeled beside her and forced a radiant smile. "Hey, I'm V. And these are my friends, Summer and Connor. What's your name?"

Her face lit up. "Gold," she whispered. "I've never seen gold before."

Victor gave Summer a look.

"Hold on," Summer said, "you can read auras?"

The young woman nodded, her messy brown hair partially covering her face. "Your aura is Violet." She turned to Connor, "And yours is white, but," she squinted while lifting a hand to cover her eyes, "it's so bright. Who in the world are you guys?"

Summer presented a nervous smile. "They're... special. I'm sorry, what's your name again?"

"April," the woman said with her eyes still fixed on Connor.

Summer tenderly put her hand on the woman's arm. "April, who was that guy in there?"

"I don't know. I was walking home from work when he grabbed me and put me in his van." She looked at her wrists. Tears formed as she inspected the red marks.

"You're gonna be okay. He won't hurt anyone else," Connor said.

"He... kept saying 'I want you for myself' over and over again," April stammered.

"Was he alone?" Victor asked.

April used the back of her hand to wipe away the tears. "It was just him, but I heard him say a name."

"Who?" Summer asked.

"He turned around while driving once and said 'Aayan can screw himself.'"

They all shared a glance. Victor shrugged his shoulders before kneeling back down and peering into the woman's dark brown eyes. "We're gonna take care of you." He turned to face Connor. "Where's the nearest hospital?"

***

The bus stop bench was wide enough to fit the four of them. Victor sat with his back slouched, vacantly staring at the ground—Summer and Connor periodically sneaking glances at him. The nearest hospital just so happened to be the one Victor recently got released from. His stomach turned at the thought of having to step foot in there again.

April took a break from staring at Connor to glance at her brooding savior. "What's wrong?" April asked. She had used one of Summer's extra scrunchies to tie her hair into a ponytail.

Victor sighed wearily. "It's nothing. How are you feeling?"

April smiled. "Grateful." She stared at her wrists. "His aura was so dark and twisted. His eyes were full of hate and... desire." Summer gently rubbed April's back. "How did you guys even find me?"

"Summer saw you in a vision. If it wasn't for her, we wouldn't have even known you needed help," Connor said.

Summer blushed. "And if it wasn't for these guys, that demon would have killed me."

Victor slumped lower.

"Demon?" April asked.

"Yeah," Connor answered. "They've been around for a long time, but they rarely harmed humans before. I don't know what's causing this change." He rubbed his nonexistent beard.

April gawked at him, trying to parse this new information. She eventually turned to Summer and asked, "You had a vision? I'm sorry but... what does that mean exactly?"

"To be honest, I'm not sure. I saw the sanatorium, and then I sort of jumped in your body for a couple of seconds. I felt your fear, and the pain in your wrists and ankles." Summer paused for a moment. "I'm so sorry you had to go through that."

April's eyes widened. "You jumped in my body?" Summer nodded, her mouth morphing into a nervous smile. "It doesn't matter. You guys saved me. I don't think I'll ever be able to repay you."

"Repay us? We saw someone in danger and helped them. Anyone would have done the same," Summer said.

April grabbed Summer's hand. "Thank you."

Summer pouted at April's injuries. "You're welcome. It's great meeting someone else that can read auras. The only other person I know is my grandmother."

"Growing up, I didn't know anyone else like me," April said.

"That must have been difficult," Connor added.

"It was tough at first, but eventually I learned how to deal with it. My parents still think I'm a little crazy, but at least I know who to be friends with and who to stay away from. It's kind of like a superpower." April turned back to Victor, his head still down. "Summer, why are Connor and V's auras so different?"

"Well, Connor was an angel, and V is half-angel." April raised an eyebrow. "I really wish I had more to say, but that honestly sums it up." Summer chuckled.

April gave Summer a flat stare. "First demons, now angels... I think I'm starting to feel lightheaded."

Victor slightly lifted his head. "I know the feeling. You'll get used to it."

Raindrops pattered on the bus' windows. They all got glares as they scurried to the open seats in the back of the bus. It only took a couple of minutes for the drizzle to turn into an outright downpour.

Victor stared daggers at the blue hospital sign about a mile from the building proper. When they finally reached the waiting room, he recoiled in disgust.

Connor spoke to the receptionist and within ten minutes, a nurse came to where they were seated. She guided April to the examination room.

"Don't forget about the holy water!" Summer exclaimed. An elderly woman seated nearby gave Summer a confused glance.

April waved at them as she walked away. Once she was out of their view, Summer glared at Victor—her eyes full of venom. "What the hell is wrong with you?" Victor went mute, frantically darting his eyes around the room. "We just saved someone's life, yet all you could do on our way here was pout?"

"We? I didn't do shit."

"So What!" A thunder crack tore through the hospital's thick walls. He suddenly felt everyone's eyes on him. "I don't exactly know why we got these powers, and honestly at this point, I don't care. What I do know is someone needed our help, and we helped them. You're a superhero, right? Isn't that what it's all about?"

"I..." Victor dropped his head, focusing on Summer's muddy tennis shoes. She rarely got mad, and he couldn't recall the last time she screamed at him.

On the bus ride to the Sanatorium, he envisioned things going differently—him saving the day with one glorious punch. The thought of not even getting a hit in never crossed his mind.

He raised his eyes to meet Summer's gaze and winced. Her face communicated disappointment, twisting the knife already in his chest. "I'm sorry," Victor said. Summer ran to give him a warm embrace. He got whiplash from her sudden change in demeanor.

"You just got these powers," Connor said. "Why would you beat yourself up over not mastering them yet?"

"What if you guys got hurt? What if April got hurt? It would have been my fault."

"Get over yourself," Summer said, her demeanor changing again. "We all knew the risks, and we went anyway. You aren't alone in this."

Victor grabbed the amethyst attached to his necklace and studied its sharp ridges. "April must think I'm a huge dickhead."

"Well, I think you're a huge dickhead, and we're still somehow friends," Connor said.

Victor smiled and pulled out his phone to check the time. "Shit, how are we gonna explain being out so late to our parents?"

"I texted my granny that we were going to the movies," Summer responded.

"With a water gun?"

Summer presented a sly grin. "She was in the kitchen, so she didn't actually see us walk out."

"Alright, what movie did we see?" Connor asked.

"Why does that matter?" Summer asked.

"Well, if our parents ask us what we saw, we need to have the same answers."

"Good point," Victor said. "So... what did we watch?"