Despair filled John's heart as he remembered what he was kneeling before. Clinging to the last shred of hope he had left, he shouted without hesitation, pleading for God to descend, to accept him, and to shelter him.
He had seen the Hiers before—those beings favored above all others. He could not understand what he lacked compared to them.
If I have truly come here... then please... please...
Whatever stands before me—whether a God or something else entirely—
Please... please save me. Please!
Crack... crack... crack...
Suddenly, the sound of bones twisting echoed through the air.
The agony John had been dreading never came.
His index finger twitched.
Only then did he realize that he could move again.
Almost instantly, he raised his head. Sweat, tears, and mucus dripped from his chin. His brows twisted together as he forced his eyes open and timidly turned around.
