Leah shuffled back inside the college building, her brain a tangled mess of confusion and curiosity. What was up with Mia's weird behavior, and who were those two strange men? Just as she reached the doorway, a familiar voice cut through the fog in her head.

"Hey Leah, what's the story with the frown?" Sean called out, his usual goofy grin noticeably absent. He wasn't alone – Zoey, stood beside him, her brow furrowed with concern.

"Uh, I just ran into Mia," Leah stammered, the memory of their encounter replaying vividly in her mind. "And let's just say, things were a little...off."

"What's the deal?" Sean asked, his brow furrowing in concern.

"I bumped into Mia earlier by the park," Leah explained, her voice laced with confusion. "And get this – she was meeting with these two ridiculously good-looking guys. Like, model status, seriously."

Zoey's brow shot up. "Whoa, that's cryptic. Spill the tea, Leah."

Leah bit her lip, frustration creeping into her voice. "The thing is, when I asked her about them, she acted like she had no clue who I was talking about! Like we never even saw them together."

Zoey whistled, a low sound that spoke volumes. "That is weird."

Sean, ever the voice of reason, offered a different perspective. "Maybe she just didn't want to talk about it for some reason. You know Mia can be private sometimes."

Leah slumped against the lockers, the weight of the encounter pressing down on her. "Yeah, maybe," she sighed, unconvinced. There was something about Mia's behavior that just didn't sit right with her. But without any more information, all she had were unanswered questions and a growing sense of unease.

"Alright, time to ditch the detective act," Zoey declared, clapping her hands together. "Let's forget about this whole Mia thing. Sean, Leah – it's been ages since we've had a proper hang-out session. How about a movie night at my place tonight?"

Sean's eyes lit up like a pinball machine on tilt. Zoey was right, their last get-together felt like forever ago, and tonight seemed like the perfect opportunity to catch up.

"I'm down!" Sean enthused, a wide grin splitting his face. They both turned to Leah, who seemed lost in thought, replaying the encounter with Mia in her head.

"Leah, earth to Leah," Sean nudged her playfully. "Zoey's got a point. Stop overthinking this whole Mia business. It's her life, not ours."

Leah blinked, pulled back from her internal world, and offered a hesitant nod. Maybe Sean was right. Dwelling on it wouldn't solve anything. Besides, a night of catching up with her best friends sounded way more appealing than getting tangled up in Mia's mysterious meeting.

"Yeah, you're right," Leah admitted with a sigh. "Mia's drama can wait. Movie night at Zoey's sounds way more therapeutic."  A grin finally replaced her frown, and they all bumped fists in agreement.

Zoey declares, a mischievous glint in her eye. "We've got a movie marathon to tackle! But first, pesky lectures."  She glanced at her watch. "Oh snap, looks like we're already running late. Time to ditch the gossip and hit the books... well, for now at least."

With a flurry of activity, they all scrambled towards their classes. This time, Leah and Zoey lucked out with a shared class, while Sean headed off in a different direction for his own lessons.

"See you after college!" Leah called out, waving goodbye to Sean.

"Later, girls!" Sean replied with a two-finger salute before disappearing down the hallway. Zoey and Leah exchanged a conspiratorial grin, both relieved to have snagged seats in the classroom just before their professor arrived.

Professor droned on about the French Revolution. History, especially the ancient stuff, had always held a strange allure for Leah. Maybe it was the mystery, the unearthing of forgotten stories, or the chance to travel the world and dig up cool artifacts – whatever it was, archaeology was her dream career path.

Just as the professor wrapped up his lecture with a flourish, a wave of dread washed over Leah. Detention. Completely forgotten, thanks to Zoey's movie night suggestion.

"Ugh, detention!" Leah groaned, the realization hitting her like a ton of bricks.  Zoey, ever perceptive, picked up on Leah's sudden shift in mood.

"What's got you looking like someone just unearthed a cursed mummy?" Zoey prodded, a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes.

Leah rolled her eyes, swatting playfully at Zoey's arm. "No mummies, just detention."

A snort escaped Zoey's lips, quickly morphing into full-blown laughter. "Seriously, Leah? How do you manage to forget something like that?"

"Hey, it happens to the best of us!" Leah protested, a smile tugging at the corners of her own lips despite her predicament. Detention wasn't exactly ideal, but Zoey's infectious laughter was hard to resist.

"Alright, alright," Zoey chuckled, wiping a tear from her eye. "Truce. Movie night is still a go. Just make sure you're sprung from detention jail by eight, jailbird."

Leah grinned. "Wouldn't miss it for the world. See you then, Zoey!"

With a final wave goodbye, Leah headed off to face her detention sentence, the promise of popcorn and laughs with her best friend a beacon of light at the end of the tunnel.

Three hours of detention felt like an eternity.  Stuck in a stuffy classroom with a droning teacher rehashing the same old rules – it was enough to make anyone stir crazy.  Finally, with a final exasperated sigh, the professor released Leah, his last warning echoing in her ears.

Emerging from the detention room felt like a prison break.  Freedom!  Leah practically skipped down the hallway, a wide grin splitting her face.

As she reached her house, a wave of delicious aroma washed over her, instantly putting a smile on her face even wider.  Yep, that was definitely the unmistakable scent of her mom's famous pasta sauce simmering away.

Bursting through the door, Leah called out, "Hey, Mom! What's for dinner? Smells amazing!"

Her mom's warm smile greeted her from the kitchen.  "Just whipping up some pasta, honey. Go wash your hands and get settled at the table.  It'll be ready in a few minutes."

Leah did as instructed, the delightful aroma of garlic, herbs, and simmering tomatoes filling her senses.  By the time she sat down, a steaming plate of perfectly cooked pasta, bathed in her mom's signature sauce, awaited her.

"Thanks, Mom," Leah said, digging into the delicious meal with gusto.  The first bite was a symphony of flavors – the tangy tomato sauce, the al dente pasta, the sprinkle of cheese – it was pure comfort food heaven.  A satisfied moan escaped her lips, momentarily pushing away the memory of detention and replacing it with pure bliss.

"Mmm, this is amazing, Mom," Leah sighed contentedly between bites.  Her compliment brought a warm smile to her mom's face.

"Glad you like it, honey," her mom replied, a hint of pride in her voice.

Fueled by delicious pasta and the promise of a fun night ahead, Leah finished her dinner and headed upstairs.  Her phone chimed on the nightstand, the notification pulling her attention away from post-dinner drowsiness.

"Hey, Sean!" Leah answered, a spring in her voice.

"Hey yourself," Sean's voice crackled through the receiver. "So, movie night at Zoey's still on?"

"Absolutely! You guys ready for a popcorn coma?" Leah teased.

"We were born ready," Sean chuckled.  "Listen, I was wondering if you wanted me to swing by and pick you up? Save you the walk."

A wave of relief washed over Leah.  "Actually, that would be amazing, Sean. Thanks for offering!"

"No problem at all," Sean replied.  "I'll be there in about forty minutes. Be ready to roll!"

"Sounds good, see you then!"  Leah hung up the phone, a grin plastered on her face.

Showered and changed into comfy clothes (tonight called for relaxation, not a red-carpet entrance), Leah grabbed her essentials and settled down on her bed, anticipation buzzing through her veins.  Every now and then, she'd steal a glance at her door, eager for Sean's arrival.

"Hey Leah, Sean's here!" her mom called out from downstairs.  Leah's smile widened – tonight was officially on!  She raced downstairs, finding Sean chatting animatedly with her mom by the doorway.

The two of them launched into a playful debate about superhero flicks versus classic comedies, Leah listening with amusement.  Finally, with goodbyes exchanged and promises to be safe, Leah and Sean headed out the door.

"Ready for a night of popcorn and bad movie quotes?" Sean asked, flashing Leah a wink.

"Absolutely," Leah replied, her grin mirroring his. They hopped into Sean's car, and as they pulled away, Leah couldn't help but glance back at her house. Settling into her seat, Leah buckled up, ready for whatever movie mayhem awaited them at Zoey's.

They pulled up in front of Zoey's house, the familiar sight bringing a smile to Leah's face.  Hopping out of the car, they made their way to the door, the sound of their doorbell echoing through the twilight.

A moment later, the door swung open, revealing Zoey.  She was clad in pajamas – a soft, floral print that seemed to glow under the porch light.  Sean, ever the charmer, felt a familiar fluttering in his chest.

"Hey guys! Welcome!" Zoey greeted them, her voice warm and inviting.  "Come on in."

Stepping inside, Leah felt a wave of comfortable familiarity wash over her.  Zoey's place held countless memories – movie marathons, late-night talks, and enough laughter to fill a stadium.  They settled onto the well-worn couch, the promise of a fun night ahead thrumming in the air.

"My parents are on a business trip, so it's just us movie masters tonight!" Zoey announced, a playful glint in her eye.  She disappeared into the kitchen for a moment, returning with three drinks – a frosty glass of lemonade for Leah, a steaming mug of hot chocolate for Sean, and a bottle of what looked like a tropical fruit punch for herself.

"Thanks, Zoey!" Leah grinned, taking a grateful sip.

"Alright, movie time!" Zoey declared, holding aloft the remote. "I found this really cool movie that looked awesome. Up for it?"

Sean cleared his throat, trying to ignore the warmth spreading through him at Zoey's attentiveness to his hot chocolate preference. "Sounds good," he managed, forcing his voice into a casual tone. "What's the movie about?"

"Demons and angels," Zoey announced, a mischievous glint in her eyes.  She was a sucker for anything fantastical, always holding onto a sliver of belief in the extraordinary.  Celestial creatures flitted through her favorite novels and movies, and she secretly dreamt of a world where such things were real.

Leah snorted, a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes.  "Oh Zoey, ever the romantic.  Those things are strictly fantasy."

"Come on, Leah, don't be so closed-minded!" Zoey countered, a playful pout forming on her lips.  "There have been tons of sightings reported throughout history, even people claiming to have witnessed them.  You can even look it up online!"

Leah raised an eyebrow, a playful challenge in her gaze.  "Alright, alright," she conceded with a smirk.  "But if the only evidence we have is the internet, I'm afraid your angels and demons are staying put in the realm of fiction."  This friendly debate was a familiar routine between them, Leah's grounded skepticism a perfect counterpoint to Zoey's boundless imagination.

"Hold on a sec, you two," Sean interjected, a playful grin spreading across his face.  "How about we settle this debate once and for all?"

Zoey's eyes widened with excitement.  "What do you have in mind?"

Sean leaned forward, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.  "How about... one of us tries summoning a demon? Winner takes all?"

Zoey's grin mirrored his.  "Now that's an idea!" she exclaimed, clapping her hands together.  A thrill of nervous excitement danced in her eyes – was this actually possible?

Leah, however, wasn't as enthusiastic.  "Uh, guys," she began, rolling her eyes.  "Maybe we should stick with, you know, actual movies?"

"Come on, Leah, don't be a scaredy-cat!" Zoey teased, a playful nudge in her voice.  "Besides, if we don't try, how will we ever know for sure?"

Leah scoffed, but a flicker of uncertainty danced in her eyes.  Zoey had a way of being persuasive, even when her ideas were a little out there.  With a sigh of resignation, Leah mumbled, "Fine, fine.  But if nothing happens, I'm blaming you for getting my hopes up about demon conjuring."

"Deal!" Zoey chirped, practically bouncing with excitement.  "Alright, so here's the plan.  I have this book I found at a thrift store, filled with all sorts of... unusual things.  Apparently, there are a few chant rituals in there.  The loser of a quick game of rock-paper-scissors gets the summoning honors."

Leah groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose.  "Seriously, Zoey? Rock-paper-scissors?  This is getting ridiculous."  Despite her annoyance, a sliver of curiosity sparked within her.  Could there be any truth to Zoey's wild idea?

"The suggestion hung heavy in the air.  Sean's grin widened, a hint of nervous energy crackling around him.  "Intriguing," he murmured, the word laced with a thrill that both excited and terrified him.

Zoey couldn't contain her enthusiasm.  She bounced off the couch, practically vibrating with excitement.  "Alright, then! Let's settle this once and for all!" she declared, disappearing into another room with a flourish.  A moment later, she reappeared, a dusty old book clutched in her hand.  Its worn leather cover and faded inscription hinted at forgotten knowledge and arcane secrets.

"Let's do this!" Sean announced, his voice laced with a bravado that barely masked his underlying apprehension.

With bated breath, they all chanted the familiar rhyme: "Rock, paper, scissors!"  Their hands shot out simultaneously, forming a tangled mess of fingers.  Sean threw scissors, a mischievous glint in his eye.  Zoey mirrored his gesture, her own scissors flashing in the lamplight.  Only Leah stood out, her hand outstretched in a triumphant paper.

"Ugh! Seriously?!" Leah groaned, her voice laced with a mixture of frustration and a flicker of fear.  Zoey burst into laughter, her grin infectious.  She thrust the book towards Leah, the weight of the situation suddenly settling in.

Zoey grabbed a nearby marker and flipped through the book's yellowed pages, her eyes scanning the cryptic symbols and arcane script.  "Here we go," she declared, pointing to a particularly ominous-looking passage.  "This chant should do the trick."

Leah stared at the spidery writing, a knot of apprehension tightening in her stomach.  The language was foreign, the symbols swirling together like an indecipherable code.  "Uh, guys," she began, her voice barely a whisper.  "This is... a different language entirely.  I don't even understand what I'm supposed to be reading."

Zoey waved a dismissive hand.  "Don't worry about that, Leah.  The book says the meaning isn't important, just the pronunciation. Just follow the sounds, loud and clear. We'll hear you from the living room."

Leah stood up and headed towards a nearby bedroom. Reaching the room, she locked the door with a resolute click, the sound echoing in the sudden silence.

Annoyance flickered across Leah's face as she scanned the book.  The musty pages were filled with indecipherable symbols and bizarre pronouncements, a language as foreign as ancient Latin.  Zoey's flippant explanation about pronunciation over meaning did little to ease the knot of apprehension twisting in Leah's gut.

With a shaky breath, Leah began to speak the alien words, the sounds rough and unfamiliar on her tongue.  A tremor ran down her spine with each syllable.  Was this just a silly prank fueled by late-night movies, or was she about to unlock a door that could never be closed?  The air in the room seemed to crackle with anticipation, and Leah couldn't shake the feeling she'd made a terrible mistake.  But now, there was no turning back.  She had to see this through, whatever terrifying consequences awaited.

"Veni, accipe corpus meum, daemon.

(Come take my body, demon.)

Te potest pascere in ea.

(You can feed on it.)

Voluptatem me et vos potest habere virtutem meam.

(Pleasure me and you can have my energy.)

Veni, accipe corpus meum, rex de Incubus.

(Come, take my body, king of Incubus.)

Hoc est possessione tua nunc.

(This is your possession now.)

Ego sum possessione tua nunc.

(I am your possession now.)"

Ten times. Leah repeated the strange chant ten times, her voice hoarse from the unfamiliar syllables. Silence.  Nothing stirred in the house, no unearthly glow filled the room, no bloodcurdling screams echoed from the beyond. Now, Leah had a confirmation that there indeed was nothing like angels and demons in this world, she had her point proved.

Hello! So this is the first chapter of "The Gloom & The Gleam"! I hope you have enjoyed reading it♡

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