II DEMONE

TER

ing sharply. As clarity slowly returns, he realizes he's inside a dilapidated tent, its fabric patched with holes al

ace in disjointed flashes; Dante recalls he was having a satisfying meal of arancina balls after th

ally you

and scrambling out of the tent in panic through another exit. But as his heart slows,

a reproachful glance. "Would you keep it down

– how long has he been here? he wondered. But then, in this sparse neighborhood, the only people visible were jus

ecoils, fearing her intentions – after all, she'd alre

ve just stolen something at the market square. You'd definitely have joined your anc

ced his absence, let alone come looking for him. He should be grateful the woman let him pass out for two days, at least

for so long? What did she want from him? Was she into child

startled as the woman approaches. He instinc

y she was trying to unravel, the wo

ls him closer by his singlet and still holding on to it, she adds stern

shaky with fear, "D-Dante,

leasing her grip on his sin

you don't have any. Well, hold this," she tosses a

low me!" With that she strides out of the alley, Dante hur

greetings with almost everyone they pass, even those settled in makeshift tents. Hi to almost everyone who walked past her as even those settled in their different tents did same to her. It dawns on Dante that this are

at they had. But compared to these people, they had much more. Despite their lack

an approaches, holding a chi

e of the old Signora he woke up to, an

iddle-aged man remarks cheekily. Nonna waves

ing her attention to the child he held beside him, "Now how are you,

Learn to respect others and not poke your nose

" Marcelli begrudgingly

, considering the small sackcloth he's holding for her. Nonna walks up behind him, placing a hand on his shoulder and le

puzzled by h

Mary. Dante wonders if Nonna intends for him to buy them back. Is he supposed to tell her that he

points to a woman across the marke

man he tried to beg arancinas from days ago, only to be chased awa

o have to get back my arancinas y

sks unsure of w

teps closer to Dante. "You're going to steal those lo

never to do so. How was he even supposed to do it without even getting caught? If he gets caught, he could be beaten to de

this her way of seeking revenge for the stolen food? Why didn't she just kill him when she had the chance? Why wait for two whole days? Maybe

is how he'll reunite with his parents –