The Hero's Journey
Call to Adventure: Gabriella becomes aware of her superhuman abilities when her invisibility instincts are triggered as a car crashes. She saves a man’s life, and although no one knew it was her, she is excited to become a superhero to save more people while winning fame and fortune.
Refusal of call: Gabriella quickly becomes discouraged by the fact no one knows she is the Guardian angel, and doubts whether she wants to continue risking her life when no one can acknowledge her heroism. When she sees all her feats credited to a “Guardian Angel” she almost gives up her dream entirely.
Supernatural Aid: When Gabriella faces a demonic foe, her usual strategies of stealth are not enough to defeat him. When it seems she may be killed, she discovers a new power: sunlight shines out of her, and turns the demon to ash. Alestor--Gabriella’s boss who is an undercover demon--witnesses this and begins to train her how to use her powers.
Crossing the threshold: When Gabriella defeats the demon, she realizes this is a terrible danger, and that she cannot give up. She decides to be a hero that Chicago needs, even though she will never be a famous superhero.
Belly of the Whale: Before dying, a demon tells Gabriella that their infernal master, Asmodeus, will be coming for her. She realizes this is what she is meant to do, to defeat her arch-enemy Asmodeous and foil his diabolic plans to harvest all human souls. Now that Asmodeus knows of her, there is no going back.
The road of trials: Gabriella starts battling crimes of increasingly powerful demons that have begun cropping up around the city to prepare for invasion. Gabriella begins skipping classes and falling behind in school for the greater good of humanity, but struggles with the burden of secrets and anxieties. Her mental health takes a downturn, and she is at risk for relapsing in her addiction.
Meeting with the Goddess: Gabriella realizes that she is in love with Raphael. Raphael has supported her throughout her journey, in matters of life and death as well as her own personal struggles. She has come to rely on him in every way as she becomes more deeply enmeshed in fighting the demonic underworld.
Atonement with the Father: Gabriella finally faces Asmodeus. While on a date with Raphael, Asmodeus shows up and Gabriella confronts him face to face for the first time. Raphael leaps in front of Gabriella to save her and is killed. Gabriella vows to kill Asmodeus. Alestor reveals to her that the origin of her powers is from Asmodeus’ own energy.
Apotheosis: After Raphael is killed, Gabriella loses her uncertainty and mercy, becoming a darker, fiercer Guardian Angel. She drops out of college and trains relentlessly until even Alestor becomes worried. She brutally kills as many demons as she can and causes significant collateral damage too.
The Ultimate Boon: Gabriella, seeking vengeance for Raphael, fights and defeats Asmodeus.
Refusal of Return: Gabriella’s vengeance is still not satiated by Asmodeus’ death. She continues hunting down the lesser demons, going days without sleep and inflicting collateral damage that hurts humans as she annihilates demons.
Rescue from without: Alestor helps Gabriella recover from the devastating grief that prompted her blood-thirst and addiction relapse. He tells her how he too was once murderous, but he realized he loved his artisanal pizza parlor more than anything and chose a peaceful life. This inspires Gabriella to end her violent demon-hunting and instead channel her energy and emotions into writing music for her soundcloud.
Crossing the Return Threshold: Gabriella’s soundcloud takes off and she stops demon-hunting.
Freedom to Live: Gabriella embarks on a career in music which inspires others with messages of love, peace, and justice. She realizes this is the life Raphael always wanted for her and remembers how he believed in her music when no one else did. She lets go of the destructive need for vengeance and embraces life.
A significant divergence from Campbell’s Hero’s Journey is that Gabriella does not become a Master of Two Worlds. Gabriella gives up demon-hunting after she realizes all the damage and pain she caused, so she leaves that world of supernatural battle entirely.