11 years old^

He and his parents moved to North Denver, CO, a few years after he turned 9, the boy sticking out thanks to his style and accent (General British, or more recently known as Received Pronunciation). Being terribly small for his age, and the American nationalism of his classmates, he was immediately targeted for bullying, secluding him from almost everyone.

In the Spring of 1974, when Dante was 11, he took interest in a magician packing up the back of the van, asking if he was going somewhere to perform. He made the mistake of offering his help to the man, ending up knocked out in the back of the van.

The Grabber's Games-

Already conditioned to be afraid of his caretakers, Dante didn't leave the basement once he was placed into it, being the only victim aside from Finney not to play Naughty Boy with the Grabber.

He received one (1) phone call from a boy at a Youth Camp telling him that the Grabber had fallen asleep with the door open. There was no knowledge of the game he could relay but he was able to give him that at least. Dante exited the basement and simply covered the shirtless sleeping man with a blanket from the couch and went back down to the basement. He would never hear the phone ring again. Telling the truth, showing just enough concern and attention to Albert Shaw, and his strange stunt with the blanket, he ended up earning himself more and more obvious traps: being let upstairs, being told to go bathe, being asked to cook, being sent outside to retrieve something. Each of which he seemed to pass with flying colors, always afraid of what would happen if he was sent back to his parents or if he was caught disobeying the Grabber.

His final test was an act of sexual assault which left him shaken and confused, not to mention in pain, but it seemed to solidify his place within the Shaw residence.

Over the year that he was the main target of Al’s psychological games, Dante lost more and more of his stability. Being tested and still being scared of the Grabber to some degree, he reminded himself that he was a good boy repeatedly and would do whatever he needed to so he wouldn’t be hurt. The longer he went without physical injuries, the more he realised that he knew how to exist with Albert better than he did with his own parents, promising to himself that he would do anything to then stay with the Grabber instead.

Eventually The Grabber had the urge to actually do what he intended, and took Billy Showalter in 1975. Dante completely withdrew from whatever the man was doing to these children, having the job of maintaining the house.

It wasn't until after Vance Hopper's death did things spiral a little for both Al and Dante.

15 years old^

In 1978, David Holdritch (non-canon character) was taken, and during an evening where Al was waiting for the boy to play his game, Dante accidentally distracted him, allowing for the victim to try and make an escape.

He made enough noise that the neighbours started to come and inspect, leaving Al to go handle them and Dante to take care of things. Doing what he thought was best for his own sake - not wanting to be taken away from a life that he understood and was able to navigate - ended the boy's life.

This caused a problem.

Dante lost the last part of himself that was truly a victim and if found out, would be no more innocent than Al himself (in his eyes). And Albert of course, has witnessed the abuse and violence successfully cycle through to the next generation. His delicate and lack of control over his own psyche caused him to start taking children more often. Bruce Yamada, Robin Arellano, and Finney Blake all in the same year - a common response to a particular stressor like Dante's actions.

When Finney Blake was taken, Dante seemed to come back to himself just a little. He knew about the boy and his family situation - after all, he took notice of other kids from homes like his own. After Finney refused to go upstairs, Dante was sent down in hopes of convincing the boy that he would have more luck if it was the two of them vs the Grabber.

Instead of convincing him, Dante witnessed Finney receiving a call and the boy David Holdritch warned the younger not to trust him.

Finney being Finney decides to confront him and Dante tells the truth - letting the boy know that he is a victim too, just one that wasn't brave. He leaves the basement and proceeds to ignore Finney when the boy eventually escapes the first time.

Al and Dante of course collaborated on a story about him being the son of a friend who is staying to learn how to do maintenance skills for a job, when Max comes to stay. Max may have the survival skills of soggy mashed potatoes but he isn't a complete idiot.

Alas, the man has bigger things to think about.

Albert Shaw's Death

Since Finney has such empathy and technically Dante was a victim, he tells the police that the boy did nothing wrong. He and Gwen tell their father that Dante has no where else to go and he eventually goes to stay with them.

Dante was able to take a few items of Al's clothing (including that delightful blue sweater that I both hate and adore) and the top half of the man's mask before the police could get to them.

A lawyer consults Dante after the death of Albert and advises him that once he turns 18, he is to inherit the man's house as it is stated in his will.

The Black Phone 2

18 years old^

3 years after the death of the Grabber and when Dante finally turns 18, he sets to fix up the Shaw residence using the skills Al actually did teach him. He spends his time with Finney and Gwen, but lurks around the Grabber's house in the top half of the man's mask. He is 100% losing his marbles. Or at least most of them.

He has been hallucinating (or so he thinks), seeing the Grabber and hearing phones ring when they shouldn't.

He has kept his violence in check but he enjoys watching Finney completely lose it on someone else.

Dante accompanies the others to Camp Alpine and ends up with the Grabber yapping at him a lot and trying to convince him to kill Finney and Gwen.