"My son…"
The whisper came out of nowhere, but as soon as the voice reached him, the darkness faded, and he found himself in the middle of the inner space where his heart stood.
Opposite him stood the baroness, looking at him with a warm smile. Under her gentle gaze, he felt at peace.
"You have grown into a handsome young man," the woman said. Her voice was soft but clear.
"Y-yeah," Hex said, unsure how to proceed. "W-we need to find a door…Heaven's door…"
He pointed clumsily at the monolith. He felt his body heat up and his heartbeat accelerate.
"Are you nervous, son?" Hex flinched when she called him son. It felt strange. It felt…nice. He didn't reply and stood there, averting his gaze from her.
Suddenly he felt her arms around him. Before he could react, he was pulled into a hug. His mind went blank and his body stiffened.
'Warm…'
