The waves of the ocean made a distinct rhythmic noise as they collapsed at the hull of the ship. It was anchored off the West End of the island, and nobody was present there besides Gabriel. He had returned back after the ordeal earlier in the night and now rested deeply in the cold beds of the Coração, for it was here that he felt most at home.

Suddenly, a storm began to pick up outside. It thundered and roared, and the waves got hostile. The rain poured down heavily, but this did not wake him, for he was accustomed to this. He had travelled 185 days to reach here from Tartessos after all.

"Rise, my son."

Gabriel jerked awake, his heart pounding heavily. He felt the voice pierce through his ears, it had been so sharp that he had to check if his ears were bleeding. He looked around all over, but he could see no one. He thought about patrolling the ship to check if any thieves had infiltrated it, but he gave up on the idea. He was too weak from everything that had happened.

"Look towards me, my child."

This time the voice felt softer. Gabriel lifted his head to look at what beckoned him. Bright light filled the entire deck in front of him. His first instinct was fear, for he thought that lightning struck the ship and that it had caught fire, but to his surprise there was no odour of any smoke.

"I am Raphael. You do not see me, but I see you, my son."

Gabriel looked confused. He could hear the voice clearly. And now, he was staring straight into blinding light, but it did not hurt his eyes. In fact, his sight was fixed onto it, and he could not bring himself to look away.

He could feel Raphael smiling, even though he could not perceive him. "I have been sent to you by the Lord. Will you listen to His request?"

Gabriel was taken aback, "Listen?" He dropped to his knees and brought his palms together, "I would give my life for the Lord."

"I did not doubt your resolve, son. Come, let me show you what the Lord seeks of you."

In a blink, Gabriel was now no longer on the Coração. Instead, he was flying. But he did not panic.

"Do you see that?"

Gabriel turned to the voice. He now saw a human figure next to him. It looked neither male nor female. It was draped in a robe as white as snow, with a face which, upon first glance, appeared to Gabriel as if it were the face of every human being he had ever seen meshed into one.

The face turned towards him, and he noticed that the entity's eyes were hollow. "That is Gehenna. Not the Gehenna you see today. It is the Gehenna of times long past."

Raphael smiled, "It feels just like yesterday. Follow me."

He moved elegantly through the sky. It felt like he pushed away the sky to make way for himself, yet he possessed no wings. Gabriel mimicked him, and he too flew through the skies. They flew until they reached a cliff on the island.

"Wait."

Gabriel stopped.

"Look."

Gabriel looked in the direction pointed at by the entity. The next moment, horror seized him.