It was a strange place-unnatural and overwhelming.
A man stood before me, nearly seven feet tall, covered head to toe in a black garment. His form was massive, unreadable. I could not see his face, only his eyes-glowing red, fixed on me with an intensity that froze my breath.
The surroundings burned with color. Shades of fire-red, orange, and gold-filled the space, blinding and bright. The air felt heavy, alive, yet nothing touched or harmed me. I could not clearly see where the place began or ended.
Beside him stood a small gate.
It was black, streaked with fire, as if forged from burning metal.
His gaze shifted slowly-from my face to the card in my hand.
Without moving his lips, he asked for it. The voice did not enter my ears; it echoed directly inside my mind.
I did not understand why, but I handed him the card.
The moment I released it, the strangeness deepened. It felt as though the decision had already been made long before my hand moved.
He took the card and opened the gate.
Up close, he seemed even larger. His hand was not human-huge, rough, almost demonic in shape. As the gate opened, a surge of light and heat poured through, powerful and consuming.