Chapter 52
SINN'OUS
The yard has a particularly harsh chill today, huddling in on himself Sinn'ous stands at a distance from the phones. Watching Izz make a call to his family using Sinn'ous’s phone credits. It’s not as though he has anyone he needs those credits for.
And Izz would be on the phone with that sister of his every day if he could.
Their conversation is as dull as ever, too many emotions sprinkled in. It’s nauseating to say the least.
A bemused noise leaves his lips when he spots Rogers by the fence. Leaning back against the chain-link, looking sombre, and caught deep in thought.
Sinn'ous gives Izz a calculated glance, deciding he will be on the phone a while, and makes his way over to the guard. Who shows no signs he registers Sinn'ous’s approach.
Chain links dig into his back, the thin shirt doing nothing to keep it from imbedding in. He ignores it in favour of settling in beside Rogers. “Aren’t you supposed to be keeping an ear on the phone calls.”
“Jesus.” Rogers snaps out of his daze, hand clutching his chest above the heart. “Why must you always do that?” His reprimand carries no real bite to it.
“You should probably stay more alert in here. After the last time.”
Rogers winces at the mention of the time he was jumped, shivved, and would have died if not for Sinn'ous stepping in. “Those inmates are dead. And everyone thinks you fuck me, so they stay away.”
“You don’t correct them?” It comes out as a question in his mild surprise, and he kicks himself for showing any kind of vulnerability. Even if it is something others shouldn’t pick up on.
In theory, anyway.
“Fuck no. I’d rather be called a bottom and all the creative terms they come up with, than have that shit happen again. Names are nothing compared to the near-death experience. The scars still ache on cold days.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t quit.”
It would have made his saving the guard pointless had he quit.
“Me too.” A heavy sigh follows. “But it’s not like I have a university degree, or many job choices in this town other than being a waiter. At least here if the customers piss me off I can throw them in solitary, or ask you to deal with them.”
Sinn'ous smirks at that.
The yard is bustling with inmates, clustered in their gangs, and groups.
Games being played on the basketball court.
Card games divvied out on the benches. Smokers not so discreetly smoking by the back of J-Wing—the separate building that contains The Hole.
Large block letters over its doors announcing to the world its purpose of solitary confinement.
His eyes flick over to where Izz’s still huddle by the phone, old receiver clutched in hand. He mentally checks over his expression, correcting anything that may give away what he is thinking to Izz. In case the smaller inmate were to look up.
Rogers follows Sinn'ous’s eye line to Izz. “He doesn’t know, does he?”
“Know what.” He feigns as if he doesn’t know what Rogers is talking about. Keeping the words clipped and uninviting to stave off any answer.
“That you kill people and enjoy it.” Rogers bears him no mind, continuing on like Sinn'ous’s brittle attitude is nothing new. And he’s not wrong. It’s not new.
“No.” The word is clipped. And he regrets walking over here.
Why did he come here?
“He know you worship the devil?” At Sinn'ous’s silence Rogers whistles. “Lot of secrets you’re holding back there. You might want to tell him, before someone else does.”
His eyes flash immediately to Rogers, scanning if that was a threat.
The guard’s hands go up. In the universal sign of surrender. “Don’t look at me, I don’t have a death wish, my lips are sealed. But others’ might not be.”
Teeth gritting to the point of pain, Sinn'ous takes his gaze back to Izz. Choosing to stand in the shadows and not wade into the deep end of this conversation and the outcomes it may have, should he choose to do something about this.
“I just need a little more time.”
“Time for what?”
“To break him down. So he won’t run when he finds out.”
Rogers hums in something that could be agreement or weary concern. Either way, Sinn'ous pays it no mind. Locking his thoughts off and shutting off his mind. Clearing it of everything but the sight of Izz smiling warmly at something his sister said.