The Resolution by Steven Bird

not like this is a Nazi death camp.”
    “Maybe not yet, but it’s off to a good start,” Nate replied, tossing another pebble to the ground, fixating on its short flight through the air.
    “Ah, crap,” Ed said with contempt in his voice. “There comes our friend Tate.”
    Tommy looked up to see Tate walking toward them with his buddies. “I’m so sick of that bastard. I don’t know what sort of life he lived before they threw him in here, but he sure as hell seems to be enjoying the place.”
    “We’ve just got to play the game a little longer, man. Play the game,” added Matt.
    Walking up to the group, Tate stood tall with shoulders back and chest extended. “You guys are in our spot.”
    “There’s lot’s of room here, man,” answered Tommy in a calm but defiant voice. “Can’t you just find another spot? We’re all on the same team. Remember?”
    “Get the hell out of my corner. I’m not telling you again,” Tate demanded as his cohorts took a few steps to each side, expanding their visual presence and giving Tate room to do whatever he needed.
    Matt replied before Tommy had a chance, “C’mon, man. You’ve been givin’ us all shit since we’ve been here. We’re tired of it. We’re tired of everything. We’ve got nothing to live for in here and, quite frankly, I’m not sure I have anything to live for out there, either. Why don’t you just sit down and join us and let’s all start over? We don’t have to be enemies. We’ve got the blue bellies for that. We can all just kick back like friends and make fun of them to pass the time.”
    Without hesitation, Tate kicked gravel in Matt’s face. “I said move!”
    Shielding himself with his arm, Matt exclaimed, “What the hell, man?” He jumped to his feet. “I’m sick of your crap! I’m sick of all this crap! Now get the hell away from us or get your ass beat. I, for one, am not gonna take it anymore!”
    Glancing up at the upper level of quad two’s central building, Ed could see the guards watching with interest from above, but taking no action. “Calm down, boys. The blue bellies are watching the show.”
    “You know how it works. Last in, first out. I win the game by default,” replied Tate, disregarding Ed’s warning.
    “I don’t give a shit about that anymore. Maybe getting kicked out of here would be a good thing if it gets me away from you. Not to mention the satisfaction of watching you bleed.”
    “Matt!” Tommy said insistently.
    Ignoring the warnings of his friend, Matt stepped forward and came to within inches of Tate, standing face to face. Tate had several inches and about twenty pounds on Matt, but Matt had no intention of backing down, punishment from the guards or not. “Your little reign of terror is over, Tate. Back the hell off,” Matt said through gritted teeth.
    Tate spat directly into Matt's eyes and threw an uppercut punch, knocking Matt to the ground. Ed and Tommy immediately jumped to their feet as Tate’s friends squared off on them.
    Matt sprinted from the ground and ran shoulder first into Tate’s knees, taking his legs out from under him. Landing firmly on his back with a solid thud, Tate struggled to catch his breath while Matt began punching him like a mad man.
    “Matt, stop!” Tommy shouted as he started to run over and stop the fight. Tate’s friend intervened and held him back. Tommy wanted to help, but considering the fact that Matt was holding his own and gaining ground, he momentarily chose to stand down as thoughts of his family and the freedom he so longed for flashed before his eyes. Just stay out of it, he said to himself.
    As Matt drew his fist back to throw a punch at Tate’s face, Tate’s other cohort threw dirt in Matt’s eyes, giving Tate an opportunity to overpower him and get back to his feet.
    “Hey! You stay out of it!” Tommy shouted as his adversary blocked him from running to Matt’s aid.
    As Matt leaned forward and attempted to clear his eyes with his hands,