Choose
Warnings: captivity, electrocution, torture, restraints, self-sacrifice
“You have to choose now, Team Leader. Make your pick.” Whumper circled Team Leader’s chair. They had restrained Team Leader to the chair at the arms, wrists, around the middle, and ankles. There was no way Team Leader would escape this time.
“No,” Team Leader thrust their chin out defiantly. They would not be a party in the torture and destruction of their team.
Whumper smiled darkly and thrust the cattle prod into Smallest Teammate’s side. Smallest Teammate screamed as their body jerked uncontrollably. They slumped over, panting, once the shock had subsided. “Choose, or I’ll choose for you. And though Teammate Two is very pretty, I do like the looks of Smallest Teammate. So delicate. I wonder how long it would take for them to break?”
Team Leader growled. “No.”
Whumper waved the cattle prod in the air. “Make. Your. Choice.” Each word was punctuated by a prodding of Team Leader’s teammates. Teammate One tried to not scream, but their shout became louder once it escaped. Teammate Two whimpered and whined after the shocks had subsided. And Teammate Three never broke eye contact with Whumper as Whumper shocked them. Smallest Teammate continued to breathe heavily as they looked on in horror.
Team Leader would not sit by while their team was tortured. “I choose me.”
“What was that?” Whumper turned around and stared at Team Leader, their head cocked to the side. “What was your choice.”
Smallest Teammate shook their head at Team Leader. Team Leader tried to nod reassuringly at Smallest Teammate as they spoke. “Me. I choose me.” Team Leader returned Whumper’s gaze, putting all the rage and hatred in their eyes.
Whumper broke into their biggest grin yet. “Oh. Oh that is an interesting choice. And one I did not offer you. Hmmmm,” they pondered as they circled the team.
“Me. Break me. Let them be and I’ll do whatever you want. I’ll let you do whatever you want.” Team Leader tried to keep the desperation out of their voice. They tried to sound as calm and collected as they had been before they had fallen for Whumper’s trap and led to the capture of their team. They were anything but calm, but they knew it would bait Whumper.
“I am breaking you.” Whumper stopped short of Team Leader’s chair. “But, I have always wanted to break you body, mind, and soul. So, I guess that is the best choice. You it is.” Whumper waved their cattle prod around again.
“Ah-ah, before you get to take me, you have to make me a promise.” Team Leader needed to be sure their choice left their team unharmed.
“What is it, Team Leader?”
Team Leader didn’t look at their team. But out of the corner of their eye, they could see the collective looks of horror and dismay as their team looked on, pleading with eyes to not make this choice. They took a break. “You cannot harm my team. You have to make sure their needs are provided for and you have to let them go.”
“I’ll agree to the first two, the last one, not a chance. I need others to bear witness to your undoing, Team Leader.”
Team Leader opened their mouth in a snarl, ready to fire off a response, but Whumper silenced them as they pressed the cattle prod into their exposed ribs. “You are in no position to bargain, Team Leader. I’ll humor you on the first two, but your team is not leaving this place until I am done with you. But, rest assured, they will be unharmed physically, and all their needs cared for.”
Team Leader glared as their body convulsed around them. They didn’t open their mouth to give Whumper the satisfaction of their scream, but the pain was intolerable. They nodded, not trusting their voice to speak.
“Then let us begin.” Whumper smiled as they thrust the cattle prod into Team Leader’s side again.
