59 - Nick

 Nick sat in bed and watched as the light from a single candle in the middle of the room danced across the floor, walls, and ceiling. It had been a long, rough day. He was completely strung out and at the end of his rope. His best friend killed five people, a man he considered a mentor was dead, Brandon and Monica didn’t seem to trust him… and on top of all this, Ivan, his own camper, wouldn’t forgive him.

Everyone else, the rest of Nick’s group, was asleep. Logan, Jack, Jake, Mike, Chris… they all slept soundly in their beds against the walls of the cabin. But Ivan, he sat up straight in his bed. Staring across the room at Nick, watching the candlelight dance across his face.

“I did what I had to do.” Nick whispered.

“So did he.” Ivan responded coldly.

“He killed people, Ivan. He’s dangerous.”

“Those men were dangerous. Andrew was protecting us.”

“Protection and murder are two different things.”

“So then why was it okay for Andrew to kill the Madman?” Ivan asked. Nick was taken aback. Ivan had always been pretty well known for his maturity and above average intelligence. But just hearing a question like that come out of a camper was almost shocking to Nick. It was so confrontational, a complete attack on Nick’s morals. But it was subtle, so calm and collected. Nick couldn’t help but feel slightly disturbed by it.

“That was a different situation.”

“How?”

“The Madman was killing multiple people. He was crazy and unstable, torturing people for fun.” Nick said, almost angrily.

“And you and Andrew went in there and stopped him. Killed him. but the second Andrew comes back and tries to do the same thing here, you declare him crazy and throw him in a cell.”

“You threw him in the barn, might as well be a tomb.” Ivan muttered. Nick’s blood began to boil.

“You have no idea what went on in there.” Nick said, coldly and angrily, but still at a hushed whisper.

“I know enough.” Ivan said, pushing himself to the end of his bed and leaning towards Nick. “Everyone does. It’s something you’re gonna have to carry for the rest of your life.”
“We were right.”

“You know, and I do too, that it doesn’t matter wether or not you were right. No one cares about that. It’s the way you handled it, the things you did, and the things you then failed to do.” It was quiet. Ivan stared through the waning light at Nick as Nick sat there and contemplated what he had said. “When this all started, you, Andrew, and three other people killed things you thought might be alive in order to protect this camp. Today Andrew killed people he knew were alive, and he did it to protect this camp. What he did was right, and maybe not everyone at the camp sees it, but he was right, and both you and I know it.”

Nick sat for a second before pulling back the covers and lying down in his bed. He heard Ivan do the same. “Andrew needs to be punished. The camp needs to know they still have strong leaders.” Nick said.

It was silent for a moment.

“Andrew is stronger than you.” Ivan said.