Not falling, not standing. Simply suspended in a dark expanse. it wasn't cold or warm. it wasn't even empty, exactly. 

his body felt weightless. whole. no trembling, no pain. the panic of dying had vanished, leaving a howllow quiet in its place.

"Where....am I?" he whispered.

footsteps echoed softly on an unseen floor. slow, deliberate, graceful. the kind of sound you'd hear in a cathedral at midnight. a figure emerged from the dark: tall, draped in black velvet heavy as funeral cloth. a veil hid her face completely, falling to her cheast in sheer shadow. even her hands were covered in lace gloves.

Theo's instincts prickled

he didn't know her but something was familiar

"You came earlier than I expected," She said softly. Her voice was low and smooth, every syllable precise. Not cold. But filled with something deeper.

"Who are you?" Theo asked, throat dry.

"I'm someone who owed you a gift" She reached out a gloved hand, as though to help him, though he was already standing somehow.

Theo backed up a step.

"This is a dream right? Or...did I actually die?" Her laugh was faint, almost sad

The darkness pulsed faintly, as if breathing around them.

"I don't understand" Theo said. "What do you want from me?"

"Nothing" She replied "I only want to give." Her fingers curled slighty,like she longed to touch him but didn't dare.

Theo blinked.

"Born again? Like reincarnation?" He tried to laugh, but the sound stuck in his throat.

"You'll see," She murmured.

Her words pressed against him like a warm tide.

 He wanted to ask her name. 

He wanted to see her face.

 But when he reached for her veil, she stepped back.

"WAIT-"Theo said.

"Because I do," She whispered

"More than you realize." Her voice trembled on the last word.

  The first crack in her perfect composure

The darkness folded inward, pulling her away.

"Who are you?" Theo shouted, panic flaring as she receded

Her final words foggy but you could feel her smile