Ivan the Horrible

Three: A Murder

After a long day of work, Aida and Steven visited the local pub in the village. Though he was hesitant at first, Ivan decided to join them. It had been ten years since he lived in the small town. He wanted to see some of the change, which there was a lot of, now that he was fully moved back home. He needed a drink. Something strong to take his mind off the current reality he faced.

As the three strolled into the village, their cabin being about a quarter mile away from town near the woods and river, Ivan took in all of the new scenery. He had only been through the town a couple times when first moving into his mother's cabin. From when he was a child, there was so much less in the village. Where trees used to stand now were cabins and insulated wooden buildings. There was a small hotel where the hovel used to be, now taller and much more sturdy looking. Two restaurants and two pubs across the one road through the middle of town. Much more supply shops with firewood, food, water and travel gear. It seemed that more travelers passed through here now, and this unmarked village had started to become a rest stop for weary travelers.

There was a large lit fire in the middle of town. Some people with drinks in there hands were huddled around it to keep themselves warm in the chilling winter air. Everyone looked... happy. Ivan could see their jolly smiles as everyone lived in a tight knit community. In order to survive, people had to work together and settle any disputes that would make life harder. Not everyone is perfectly happy and generous to their neighbor all the time, and of course, when people drank too much there were fights, but overall, this was a lovely village to return to.

"Does any of this look familiar?" Aida questioned her son as she saw his darting eyes examining all of his surroundings.

"No. Everything is... better, bigger. It is good to see the village growing," Ivan replied as they made their way to the pub. The smell of cigarettes instantly triggered the desire to relapse as Ivan entered the pub. He had quit years ago and never had the urge even when around his friends who were heavy smokers, but the stress of the move, his father's unfortunate demise, and his terrifying nightmare made the young man want to light one up. At least he still allowed himself to drink enough to feel a buzz.

"Too bad I couldn't bring you with me all those years ago," Aida sighed to herself.

"Pa and I had started a decent life after I finished my service," Ivan said, feeling his heart sink in his chest. His hand began to clench into a fist at what his mother said next.

"You're father got what he deserved!" She hissed as she took a seat at the bar. Ivan had to grit his teeth and close his eyes to control his outburst.

"What?!" He managed to grunt out in as calm a voice he could.

"You're father was a terrible man, and I regret leaving you in his care!"

"Do not talk about him that way!" Ivan yelled. Now a few eyes had locked onto the three as they took their place at the bar. Ivan didn't notice the people staring as he continued shouting, "You didn't know him like I did! Whatever he did wrong..." Ivan felt his voice begin to break. "Whatever he did wrong he didn't deserve what happened!"

"Be quiet, boy!" Steven hushed in an angered voice. He slipped his arm around Aida's back to comfort her from Ivan's harsh words. Ivan was right, though, but what he said could easily be turned around and said to him by his mother. Arguing about his father's was a conversation that didn't need to happen. Steven spoke up, his words quiet but dripping with vitriol, "your mother decided to take you in as a grown man! Your precious father left you nothing and threw money at Aida as if that would make up for the years of abuse! Clearly you became the man your father was; a pathetic, disrespectful leech!"

Ivan lost control of himself. He reared his arm back, ready to slam his fist into Steven's nose. As he lurched forward, he felt two hands grab him by the bicep, holding him back. Ivan turned to see a massive man about his size standing behind him. The man's wife stepped out from behind him and put on a big smile.

"Ivan Cal! Look at you all grown up," she said cheerily. She and her husband looked to be in their mid-40's. There was a bit of gray in the man's beard and the woman had silver streaks in her black hair. Ivan tried to recall their wrinkled faces, but his mind came up blank. He was still focused on hitting Steven as hard as he could. The forced of the old man's hand pushing him back caused Ivan to exhale. He lowered his arm and now fully faced the two.

"Aida, we want to catch up with Ivan if that's alright," the woman said. Aida had wide eyes, shocked from seeing her son raise a fist. She merely nodded without saying anything and turned her back on the three. The couple then shuffled Ivan away from his mother and step father. Steven still shot daggers at Ivan as he walked away with the two strangers.

"Who are you?" Ivan asked as the three sat at a table in the corner.

"Your father's murderer!" The woman said. Ivan jumped a little at what she said. Her voice sounded muffled, almost distorted like an audio glitch. His heart did a flip in his chest out of fear.

"What?!" He choked out.

"I said your father's friend, Ivan. I watched you grow until your family moved away. I tried writing to your father, but with such a long distance it was hard to keep in touch," she told him.

"Oh," Ivan muttered. He turned his focus away from his anger towards his mother and her husband and focused on the familiar, yet forgotten, face in front of him. A name finally came to mind. "Clara?" he asked.

"Now you remember!" she said happily. "And my husband Alexander." The large man smiled and waved. Clara continued, "Can you tell us a bit about your time in Russia?"

"I..." Ivan paused feeling his words caught in his throat. He took a deep breath and began.

***

After hours of catching up and finishing a bottle of vodka between the three, Clara, Alexander and Ivan were ready to head home. His mother and her step husband had left a couple hours ago. Ivan couldn't tell if it was the vodka or not, but he did manage to feel better talking about his home.

The cold greeted his face as they stepped outside. Alexander shook his hand and Clara leaned in for a hug.

"Thanks for listening to me ramble all night," Clara said. "Feel free to stop by our cabin down the road if you are feeling lonely here."

"Thank you. It is nice to know that I am not alone here."

"Goodnight, Ivan. Have a safe trip home!"

"Goodnight," he said with a wave and a smile.

And with that, Ivan went his own way heading back for his mother's cabin. There was a calm feeling in his heart for once, even with the tense fight his his mother and her husband earlier. He truly was grateful to know that he had a friend to rely on in his new home. Little did Ivan know that his last goodbye would be the last time he saw Clara and Alexander.