Summer tried dozens of poses at various locations around her room. She wanted to make sure that when they saw her, she gave off the vibe of a spiritual healer. What that actually meant wasn't clear to her, but she had a feeling that she'd just know it when she saw it.

She flopped down on her floor pillow, gazing upon her newly decorated room; feeling both antsy and exhausted. Posters of pop stars she used to obsess over and hunky actors she promised to marry coated her green-colored walls. Clumped together stickers formed a border on the edges of her mirror. A thin layer of dust covered her dresser—different colored wax from her myriad of candles dotting the walnut. She grimaced at the pile of clothes stacked against a corner. I really need to clean this—

A knock at the door interrupted her thought. She leapt up—her stomach twisting with excitement.

The first thing that alarmed her was Victor's choice of attire. "I told you to wear something comfortable. You don't own any sweatpants or athletic shorts?"

"I do." Victor swaggered his way to her collection of crystals scattered atop her nightstand. "But I find jeans to be more comfortable."

Summer sighed and turned to Connor. She was used to seeing him in semi-formal wear, so his v-neck t-shirt and sweatpants threw her for a loop. Summer leered at his body before averting her gaze back to Victor, who was messing with her favorite topaz crystal.

The last time she saw Connor in anything slim-fitting, his limbs were sticks and he had the chest of a baby robin. His defined arms and slightly filled out frame made her blush.

Connor dramatically cleared his throat. "Alright guys, before we get into this, we need a recap on what V's abilities are. We know you feel euphoric when you enter... wait, do you have a name for the mode you enter when you trigger your powers?"

Victor put the crystal down. "Yeah, I call it 'angel mode.'"

"Wow, how creative," Connor mocked. "So, when you enter this 'angel mode' you gain super speed, super strength, and increased reflexes."

"Don't forget about the glowy eyes," Summer added.

"That too. V, can you think of anything else?"

Victor looked up in contemplation. "Nope."

"If you trigger your angel mode, don't make any sudden movements. You might accidentally level Summer's house."

Victor picked up the smoky topaz crystal and held it up to get a better look. "You worry too much. Everything will be fine."

"Famous last words," Connor said.

"Wait," Summer said. "Before you guys sit down, I have a surprise."

She scurried toward the plain white paper bag with thin twine handles resting atop her dresser. After digging inside, she pulled out a large black jewelry box made of smooth marble, white flecks sprinkling its exterior.

Summer presented the box to her friends, soaking up the looks of both shock and interest on their faces. She opened it, revealing two beautiful purple stones shimmering in the room's dim lighting. "I bought it last week. What do you think?"

Victor and Connor awed at the amethyst stones. They reached into the box and each grabbed a necklace.

"Wow, Summer... these are beautiful," Connor gushed.

Victor fiddled with the stone on his new necklace. "Yeah, I don't even know what to say."

"How about thank you!" Summer bustled to her closet. She opened the two large, sticker covered doors and pointed to the stacks of holy water. "These demons are gonna have nightmares about us."

Victor and Connor shared a glance of amusement.

"I'm still waiting for mine to come in the mail," Victor said.

Connor reached into his pocket and pulled out a small glass bottle with a faded black cross on the front. "I have another bottle at my house. After we finish this session, you can borrow this until yours comes in the mail."

Victor nodded. "Thanks."

The three pillows in the middle of the room formed a triangle. Summer sat on the pillow furthest from the door. "Connor, you sit on the pillow to my left, and V, you sit on the other one. Cross your legs and then face me."

"Yes, Ma'am," Victor said, giving her a half-assed salute before sitting down.

Connor placed his glasses on her dresser. Summer peered into his striking blue eyes. "It's been a while since I've seen you with your glasses off," Summer said. "You look good." Connor smiled nervously. Victor rolled his eyes, a groan escaping his lips. "Okay, so the most important thing about mindfulness meditation is learning how to focus on your breath so that it's the only thing on your mind. It seems like V has managed to accidentally do this on his own, but based on how quickly he gets out of his angel mode, he doesn't know how to maintain this focus. Meditation is like any other exercise, you only get better with practice." Victor and Connor were laser focused on her, listening intently. Summer smiled and then continued. "There are many hand gestures one can use while meditating, but today we'll be using dhyana."

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Victor snickered to himself. "I'm sorry, can you say that again?"

"No. Place your right hand on top of your left hand with your palms facing up and your thumbs lightly touching." She demonstrated the gesture. After correctly copying her, she nodded at them approvingly. "The next step is the easiest or hardest part—depending on the person. Close your eyes and then focus on your breath. Let whatever thoughts and images that arise come and go without acknowledging them. Whenever you feel like a thought is pulling you toward it, just gently and calmly return your focus to your breath. Ok, you guys ready to try it?"

"Let's do this," Victor said.

They all closed their eyes and sat in silence, Summer periodically opening an eye to check on them.

She clapped her hands, causing the both of them to almost jump up out of their pillows.

"What the hell was that for?" Victor asked, trying to catch his breath.

"You guys were falling asleep, weren't you?" They didn't respond. "Don't worry. Like I said before, it takes practice. If you were truly in a meditative state, the sound of my clapping wouldn't have caused you guys to jump up so violently." Her mouth curled into a smile. "Now, let's try it again."

Several minutes passed before Summer opened an eye. Victor's face was relaxed, and his radiant golden aura steadily expanded. Her eyes moved to look at Connor. "Wings!" she yelled.

"What?" Connor asked.

Summer tried to collect herself, but she couldn't believe what she had seen. "You had wings!"

"What kind of wings?" Victor mocked.

"This isn't funny. I swear I saw wings. They... looked like angel wings." Victor and Connor shared a confused glance. "Connor, have you ever meditated before?"

"Nope, this is my first time."

"I need to make sure. Let's try it again."

Connor closed his eyes. This time, Summer focused on his aura. After a couple of minutes, a set of white angel wings began forming, sprouting from his aura. They were the same bright shade of white. "Connor, this is incredible," she said.

"It's kind of hard to appreciate something I can't see," he pouted.

"It's easier to meditate with your eyes closed, but it's not a requirement. I can meditate pretty much anywhere, but it took a lot of practice. Eventually, you'll be able to meditate while standing, walking, running, and with your eyes opened or closed."

"Wow, that's pretty—"

Summer felt flushed and lightheaded. The room spun and everything went mute. She closed her eyes, trying to remain calm, but she found herself consumed by darkness.

A numbing pain pulsed in her forehead as a dilapidated building materialized before her, replacing the pitch blackness with a jarring, yet familiar view. Her heart skipped a beat as she sped toward the building, eventually landing in the body of a young woman. The smell of mold filled her nose, and she was drenched in sweat. She looked around and saw a man, tall and thin, pacing back and forth several feet in front of her.

There was a sharp pain in her ankles and wrists. She glared at the thick braided rope that bound her. The pacing man stopped and then turned to face her. His crimson eyes gleaming under the sunlight slanting through the windows. A stab of terror piercing her chest was the last thing she felt before being transplanted back into her own body.

Victor and Connor stood above her, desperately trying to get her to wake up.

Summer shot up. "We have to help her!"

"What are you talking about?" Victor asked. "You randomly fell backward and collapsed. What the hell happened?"

"I don't know, but we have to help her."

Victor and Connor gazed at her, perplexed.

Summer used a hand to cover her eyes. She still felt the young woman's fear—it clung to her like wet clothes.

Connor placed a hand on her shoulder. "Just calm down and tell us what happened."

"I'm not really sure, but I saw a building." She could have sworn she had seen it before.

"What did it look like?" Victor asked.

"Um... oh yeah! St. Peter's sanatorium, that's where she was."

Connor raised an eyebrow. "I thought that building got torn down. And wait, that's where who was?"

"I got transported into the body of a girl." Victor and Connor sat up, their eyes almost narrowing in unison. "She was tied up, and there was a man walking in front of her. His eyes were... red."

Victor's face twisted into a snarl, his uneasiness was palpable.

"Who was the man?" Connor asked.

"I don't know! You guys just have to believe me. We need to help her before it's too late."

"Oh great. We went from angels to demons to visions. I wonder what mystical bullshit is gonna end up being real next," Victor moaned.

"We gotta check it out," Connor demanded. "Summer, you have to stay here."

"No way!"

"Wait," Victor said. "Why are we checking anything out? Maybe it was all a hallucination."

"It might be nothing, as you suspect. But I have heard of instances where out-of-body experiences have turned out to be real." He turned to Summer, softening his face in the process. "If this is a demon, we can't risk you getting hurt. Summer please, you have to stay."

"No!" Summer exclaimed. "I can't just sit here and let an innocent person get hurt. You didn't feel what I felt. Connor, I have to help her!" She glanced at the neatly stacked bottles of holy water. "Besides, I have an idea."

Summer bolted toward her closet. She reached past the bottles and pulled out her orange water gun. Victor burst into laughter.

"No way..." Connor sighed.

Victor wiped a tear from his eye. "Connor, you know damn well we weren't gonna change her mind anyway. Besides, if I'm remembering correctly, she was a pretty good shot with that thing."

"We were kids. This isn't a game."

Summer frantically removed the cap from the water gun and started pouring bottles of holy water into the reservoir. "Connor, I'm going," Summer declared.

Connor shook his head, accepting defeat. "Focus on getting the girl to safety. V and I will worry about the demon. Got it?"

Summer ignored him, instead choosing to focus on her pouring.

"Do you understand the plan, Summer?" Connor asked, his tone more forceful.

She stopped pouring. "Got it."

"Wait a minute, how are we even gonna get there?" Victor asked. "I doubt our parents are gonna drive us to an abandoned building to go demon hunting."

"We'll take the bus," Connor replied. "There's a stop about a half a mile from the sanatorium."

Summer put the cap back on her water gun. She darted toward her door. "Come on guys, let's go!"

"Wait," Victor said while pointing to her closet. "Let me borrow a bottle."