8.

                                    

                                          
The prison is cool in contrast to the early heat of summer outside, and Stanley is relieved as he sits at the visiting table and waits.
He almost laughs when he recognises Pendanski filing through the prisoner's door.
                          
He's wearing an orange jumpsuit.
                          
Oh, the irony.
                          
He was arrested for paedophilia only a few months ago. Stanley remembers reading about it in the newspaper. His trial is pending.
                          
Stanley hopes dearly they lock him away for a long, long time.
                          
Pendanski stops when he sees Stanley at the table. He recognises Stanley, and his eyes flit from side to side as if looking for an escape route.
                          
He knows why Stanley is here.
                          
Eventually he smiles that big, fake smile Stanley remembers so well and sits at the table.
                          
"Stanley," he says. "This is a big surprise."
                          
Stanley shrugs one shoulder.
                          
"Not really," he says, as if it's been days, not years since they last saw each other. As if this was any old day at Camp Green Lake.
                          
Pendanski seems unsure how to act, and watches Stanley warily.
                          
Stanley takes a moment to study him, eyes travelling across s swollen nose and black eye, fairly recent, the dirty orange jumpsuit, the battered, bandaged hand resting on the table top.
                          
"They don't like you much in here," he says.
                          
Pendanski attempts a smile, but Stanley isn't completely ignorant.
                          
He knows what the other prisoners do to paedophiles.
                          
"You know why I'm here," he says, voice low.
                          
Pendanski hesitates, then nods.
                          
"Zero," he says.
                          
Stanley closes his eyes.
                          
"Hector," he says quietly.
                          
"What?"
                          
"His name is Hector." His eyes snap open. "He is not a zero. He is not a nothing or a nobody. He is worth more than you'll ever be, you perverted piece of shit."
                          
He is trembling, he realises, and forces himself to breath.
                          
"You're lucky I can't touch you." His voice is low and gruff. So unlike him. "Or I might just kill you right now."
                          
Pendanski swallows, and Stanley feels a glimmer of satisfaction.
                          
"I'm glad you're in here," he hisses. "I hope they lock you up for a very long time. And I hope the other prisoners show you just how much they don't like you every single night, and then you might know how it feels."
                          
He is suddenly very tired. He doesn't want to be in this prison that reminds him so much of that nightmare summer. He doesn't want to be looking at the man who has cast a shadow over Hector's life for far too long now.
                          
He stands.
                          
"I think we're done here."
                          
"Stanley wait."
                          
Pendanski puts his hand on Stanley's arm, and Stanley stares coldly at it. Pendanski pulls back and Stanley leans down until their faces are very close.
                          
"If, by some miracle, you actually get out of here and you come anywhere near Hector Zeroni, I will personally make sure you are physically unable to carry out your perversion ever again, do you understand?"
                          
Pendanski nods, eyes wide.
                          
"As I said. We're done here."
                          
Stanley signals to the guard and walks through the door.
                          
He does not look back.