Chapter 2—The Angel

The angel held out a translucent arm and spread her glowing fingers wide. A ball of orange light escaped, flew to the ground, and erupted into a blazing fire. The wind died down.

"Whoa!" Chaz said, catching himself from falling backward.

Ranger sprinted back and forth in front of the fire, barking madly. Jesse and Nikki stood in shock, their eyes glowing like giant marbles. After several minutes, Jesse blinked and sat down before the fire, rubbing his hands together as if fires sprang out of nowhere every day. "I have so many questions," he said. "I'm not sure where to begin."

Seeing Jesse's calm reaction, Chaz and Ranger joined him. Ranger put his head on Jesse's lap, and Jesse rubbed it with gentle assurance.

Not as accepting, Nikki remained standing. "I'm not going to sit by the fire like a brainwashed camper. I need answers first, like how is the voice talking to us without speaking?"

Telepathic thought transfer. This is how angels communicate. Humans call it a psychic link. The link opens up for those who are able to see us. Not everyone can; you three have unique attributes, which is one reason we chose you for an assignment.

Nikki pushed up her glasses. "Why us? Everyone is unique in their own way. I need information before I can take on some mystical assignment." Nikki pointed to the roaring blaze. "Maybe this fire is nothing more than spontaneous pyrotechnics. And maybe you've tricked us into thinking we're seeing an angel."

The light sphere quivered as if laughing. Even those would be spectacular feats, my dear.

Chaz cut in. "Stop showing off your smarts, Nikki, and sit down. I want to hear about this assignment. I don't need to know how angels make fire and talk inside my head. It's the supernatural, plain and simple, and I believe it."

Nikki threw up her hands. "Tsk," she said, while dropping down before the fire a few feet behind the boys.

Jesse grinned. "I've always known something extraordinary was going to happen to me. I'm ready to listen." Ranger barked once in agreement.

The angel floated down and hovered over the fire.

Excellent. Then I will get right to the point. The time has come to uncover what has been hidden and waiting for eons. Twenty crystals of great consequence are embedded in three different regions of your planet. It is now time for them to be found and activated. To that end, I am asking each of you to lead an expedition to uncover these crystals. You are being guided to their locations. They already exist as simple crystalline stones awaiting their ultimate purpose. We have observed you for a while and selected you for this quest. It will not be easy, but it will be worthwhile, because activating these crystals will set in motion a shift in your world—a shift toward goodness and truth. And the power of goodness and truth, once unleashed, will begin to repair your planet and eventually influence all of humanity.

"How can we be sure this shift is a good thing?" Nikki asked.

I say "good" because the power comes from the universe. Did you know the natural state of the cosmos is goodness and truth? It is when souls come into human form that contrasts are created, like good and evil, light and dark, pain and pleasure, harmony and disharmony. Humans have free will to travel down one road or the other, and when aligned with the field of goodness and truth, human actions will increasingly reflect this universal energy. Compassion will become a priority. Eventually peace, not war, will be humanity's strength.

When the twenty crystals are found and activated, they will form a chain of light around your planet. This will initiate the shift.

Jesse jumped to his feet. "I think I get it. You're saying our natural state is good, and if we recognize what feels bad we can do the opposite, and this new energy will help us." He pointed to the crater and surrounding mountains. "What can we do from here, though?"

"Well, at least I'm traveling somewhere," Chaz reminded everyone. "I'm going to New Zealand for part of the summer."

New Zealand, on the North Island, is where one cache of enchanted crystals is hidden. Chaz will lead an expedition to explore caves there. And you, my dear Nikki, will lead an expedition inside this very crater. You will all learn the third location very soon. Activating the crystal chain must occur at the precise time of the next full moon in June.

"Are some of the stones right here?" Jesse looked around as if they might suddenly appear. The mirage moved up and down, and the three friends stared at each other with stunned awareness.

Do you agree to do whatever it takes to find and uncover the stones of the crystal chain?

Jesse and Chaz each nodded several times. Not wanting to be left out, Nikki gave a slight nod, even though she didn't fully agree.

Wonderful, my children. Remember, not in a billion stars will I let you down. The psychic link is how we will communicate in the future. Until then....

The angel likeness began to quiver and break apart. Jesse ran toward her. "You're not leaving us, are you?" He wanted his part to be more defined first. "Where will I explore?" The wind picked up again and Jesse heard a fading voice inside his head.

It is getting dark, my young friends, and I am concerned for you traveling through the forest at night. Hurry home and you will learn more very soon. A sudden wind will tell you I am near. And remember, I will never let you down.

Jesse made one last attempt to hold on to her presence. "What's your name? Wait!" The light field faded, and seconds later the angel and the fire disappeared in a blinding flash.

"Holy smokes!" Chaz said, jumping up and running to where the fire had been burning. Not a single particle of the blaze, or of their crystal angel, had been left behind.