When There Is Nothing Left But Love

I sat up in a daze for a moment before I got out of bed.

With Abe’s permission, I had complete freedom around the villa.

There was a landline in the villa, but I was not allowed to use it.

Nobody was able to guarantee if the landline even worked; it was not worth the trouble to try.

To speak to Nora and the rest, I had to find a way to enter the operating theatre. The only catch was that it required Danny’s retina scan to unlock.

With nothing to be done, I wandered around the pitch-black villa and returned to my bedroom dejectedly.

Everything was normal over the next few days. I’ve probed Dante a couple of times hoping to learn something about Nora’s situation, but all I’ve been told was that she was away doing what needs to be done.

The monsoon was in full force during lunchtime.

It left as quickly as it came; the air was dank with moisture when the rain cleared.

The compound of the villa was littered with rain moths. I glanced over at the boulder-like figure next to me. “Grilled moths are delicious,” I said casually. “Have you had any before?”

Danny was taken aback. “Had before,” he repeated, in broken English.

He looked like he understood. “Did you have them in a restaurant?” I asked with a grin. “I used to have them when I was little. Each time when it rained in my home, I would go out to the yard and pick them up. I’d give them a rinse and then throw them into a pan. When the wings are crispy, that’s when I’d add some oil and spices. It was delicious.”

remained lost in thought as though he recalled something within his memories and did not answer me. “It had just rained outside,” I pressed on. “If you’re worried about me running, why don’t you come along with me and we’ll go

I said impatiently. “I’m just feeling nostalgic over the taste of fried moth.

agreed in

I said as I got on my

and proceeded to fill it up with moths from the

at the appearance of a dark hand over my basket only to realize that Danny had lent

you like fried moth

grunted but did

gathered an entire basketful and

familiar with the art of moth eating. But according to Tabitha, moths are a staple for people from Xenhall. Many of them had fond childhood memories of

change, I

geographical differences, one’s

taught me to sauté them for a while before adding some oil and seasoning to taste. The moths would soon turn from sticky to crispy, bloated with oil and all the good stuff. A bite

hint of a promising scent, Danny could not help

how to cook?”

I was young. But it’s been years since

Danny the plate

very

very slowly. “Not bad!” he said as

had to eat things that other cultures would consider repulsive like silkworms, maggots, and locusts due