Page 32 of The Stars

“Dante?” She sat up, stopping him from leaving. “Where, um, how…”

He frowned in confused, then laughed. “Bathroom is there.” He motioned to a large bowl on the floor in the corner. “Sink.” He pointed to another large bowl on a table. “Welcome to the dark ages.” He chuckled as he walked out of the room.

Amy watched as Dante disappeared through the curtain, leaving her alone in the room. The yellow fabric he had set down on the bench seemed to glow faintly in the morning light. She sighed, running a hand through her hair as she swung her legs over the side of the bed.

As much as she appreciated the hospitality, the reality of her surroundings hit her again. This wasn’t her world—not even close. The bowls that Dante pointed out to her didn’t exactly scream comfort, but she had to make do.

After she relieved herself and washed up with some fragrant powder that she hoped was soap, she splashed her face with water from the “sink”—a term she used loosely.

Then she stood and approached the gown that had been left for her, running her fingers along its soft, almost silky texture. It was finely made, more luxurious than she had expected, especially considering the rough conditions. She held it up and smiled.

Amy dressed, enjoying the feeling of the cool fabric settling against her skin. The dress fit her perfectly.

Once she was ready, she pushed the curtain aside and stepped into the main room. Dante was already seated at the table, dressed in a simple tunic that looked far more regal on him than she expected. His eyes lifted as she entered, and for a second he seemed to forget how to speak.

“You look...” He cleared his throat, his eyes lingering on her. “Amazing.”

She felt her cheeks blush, though she tried to hide it. “You clean up pretty well yourself.”

They shared a small smile before she joined him at the table. Fresh food had been laid out: bread, cheese, some kind of roasted meat, and fruits that looked oddly familiar yet different at the same time. She realized just how hungry she was, her stomach rumbling as she reached for a piece of bread.

They ate in comfortable silence for a while, and then Dante finally spoke. “This place... it’s starting to feel less like a dream and more like a reality I can’t escape.”

Amy chewed, nodding thoughtfully. “I know what you mean.”

“Every time I think I’ve adjusted, something happens to remind me just how far we are from home.”

“Home,” she echoed.

“Feels like a distant memory.”

Amy glanced at him, seeing a flicker of something in his eyes. Sadness? Longing? She wasn’t sure. But she knew the feeling well. They had both been thrust into this world with no real choice and now they were trying to navigate it together.

Dante leaned back in his chair, stretching slightly before he spoke again. “I thought I’d miss modern conveniences more than I do,” he said, picking at a piece of fruit. “But honestly, there’s something about this place... like it’s alive, watching us.”

Amy felt a chill run down her spine at his words. “Yeah, I get that too. Like... we’re being observed, every move we make.”

“By the gods, no doubt,” Dante said, his tone half-joking, half-serious. “We’re not exactly off the radar.”

Amy pushed her plate away, her appetite fading as the reality of their situation settled over her again. “So, what now?”

Dante sighed, looking around the room. “I guess we wait. The town’s leader seemed to think we’d know when it was time to move on. For now, we enjoy the comforts they’ve offered... even if it feels a little too good to be true.”

Amy nodded, biting her lip as her mind wandered to Moros and the dark future she couldn’t shake the memory of. “Do you ever feel like, no matter what we do, it’s not going to be enough?”

Dante’s eyes darkened, and he set down his drink. “Sometimes. But I refuse to believe that deep down. We’ve already come this far, and we’re still standing.” He reached out, placing his hand over hers on the table. “We’ll figure this out.”

She looked down at their hands, his warmth steadying her as she gave him a small, grateful smile.

Before they could say anything else, the door creaked open and the town’s leader stepped inside, his face solemn but welcoming. “It’s time,” he said, gesturing for them to follow.

Amy and Dante exchanged a glance.

“Time?” Amy asked.

“The Fates await.” He motioned towards the doors.

Moments later, they were helped into a very small rowboat with a young man working the oars.