Mikael's persuasion

Mikael intended to use it as some kind of shield in case Dennis springs out from behind the curtain to attack him.

"I know what happened," he continues. "What was done to you. I want to help."

The curtain moves, and Mikael ducks to avoid the object that's been hurled at him: a half-full bottle of ethyl alcohol. It moves again, and a plastic garbage pail lands at his feet.

As far as Mikael can tell, the thing was filled with blood-soaked rags, but he doesn't look too closely.

He is almost certain there is something else in there that he doesn't want to see.

"I think I know what he told you," he says.

 "That you were his special little boy. That it would be fun. That's what people like him do. They try to gain your trust so that they can do terrible things to you."

"Go to hell."

The voice is small, frightened, hoarse, and the words hang in the clotted air, in this small space, in the thickness of the dark.