This part is going to be set right after Venn leaves home. The morning his parents discover he's gone.

"Venn!" Claudia called up the stairs. "Venn get up! Nonno Bentali is coming today!"

There was no reply. No rustle of movement. No loud groan and tired "but madre!" This wasn't like Venn.

Claudia took a couple steps up the stairs, growing mildly irritated. "Venn!" Still nothing.

Claudia stomped up the stairs. "Alright, giovanotto. You better get up. You know Nonno cant come by often." She pushed open Venn's door and froze.

The space was as neat and tidy as she had ever seen it, which made the desk stand out like a raven among swans. Several smears of blood marked the wood and a pile of bloody bandages sat on the corner.

Claudia's hand went to her mouth, taking in a previously unnoticed pile of crumpled papers near the desk. "Edvin!" She called, her voice trembling. "Come upstairs!" She crossed to the desk and collected the papers, placing them on the bed.

A series of thumps followed close after her shout. A moment later, Edvin appeared in the doorway. He blinked at the room, scanning every detail before he crossed to the bed. "Where is Venn?"

Claudia shook her head, barely holding back tears. "I don't know. Edvin there's blood and these..." she gestured to the crumpled papers.

Edvin gently pushed her to sit on the bed, settling down next to her. He forced himself to stay calm. "Well let's see what they are," he said soothingly. "I'm sure he's fine."

The two began smoothing the papers. Edvin's certainty wavered more with each half finished note they uncovered.

I'm sorry. I cannot stay. This place is eating at me. I can't put up with the torture.

The next.

Malvagio hurt me really bad. I'll live but I can't-

The rest was lost to frustrated scribbling.

Don't worry for me. I think I shall be fine. I just need-

More scribbles.

Each note remained similar to the last. "I'm sorry," "I can't stay," and "Malvagio hurt me badly" appeared in almost all of them. On the final sheet was a sketch. For Venn's talent for drawing, it was a lazy drawing.

A mostly faceless head with only the left eye. A jagged squiggle started slightly above the eye and stretched down the side of the face. Another sketch showed a leg with a dark spot that dripped.

Claudia was crying openly now. She brushed her hand over the drawings. "My poor ragazzo."

Edvin put an arm around his wife's shoulders and pulled her close to him. "We can go to the train station after breakfast and ask if anyone saw him there early this morning," he was on the verge of tears himself but held together for Claudia's sake. "He's a smart boy. He'll be alright."

Claudia buried her face into Edvin's shoulder, clutching Venn's sketches in her hands. "We need to find him. He's just a boy, he won't survive long alone."

Edvin stroked her hair soothingly. "We will. We'll find him." He wished he felt as sure as he sounded.