Love at Death's Door [COMPLETE]

Chapter 4

With the flow of water paused, the threat of imminent death had also been put on hold. A moment that should have been a relief for Tatiana and Edward was instead anything but. The Butcher had made it clear that the temporary respite was just that—temporary. He had a proposition to make, an ominous declaration to present considering his two prisoners had no leverage in their state of complete helplessness.

"As I stated before," the Butcher started, his intimidating bass buzzing through the speaker. "It's just the three of us at the moment. Listen carefully to what I have to say, do not be difficult. Is that clear?"

Tatiana and Edward nodded in unison, both looking one of the cameras in its center as though it were the Butcher's eyes.

"Good. I've bled viewers since the last time we spoke, and the two of you are to blame," the Butcher growled.

"What the hell did we do?" asked Edward.

"Your incessant arguing disrupted the flow of my stream. People pay to view these streams to witness pure human suffering, but your childish bickering is interfering with the mood my customers have come to expect."

"Well, poor them," Tatiana remarked.

"Quite the contrary. For some reason, my viewers found your silly fighting more entertaining than the usual begging and crying. They want more of it, and for the past few minutes you two have neglected to give it to them," the Butcher said, irritably.

"So let me get this straight," Tatiana started, "the sick freaks who paid to watch us beg, scream, and drown want to watch us yell at each other instead?"

"Yes, at least until the entertainment value has run its course."

"Screw you!" Edward cried. "We aren't here to be your audience's little jesters, now let us go!"

A deep, quiet chuckle emerged from the speakers, sending a chill down Edward's spine. "I'm glad you said that. As I said, I have a proposition for you two."

"So, let's hear it already," said Tatiana.

"I've never had a stream come under these circumstances, and I stand to make more money than usual if I give the people what they want from you two."

"But we have no reason to give you what you want," Tatiana interjected.

"Precisely. So, I present you two with a proposition. Play along and give my audience what they want, and I will let one of you go."

Edward's eyes briefly lit up but then swiftly fell once his brain fully processed the offer. "Only one of us?"

"Yes. And I will even let the decision belong to the two of you," the Butcher assured.

"Come on, why can't you just—"

Edward attempted to bargain but was immediately interrupted by a stern Tatiana. "How do we know you won't just kill us both anyway?"

"You don't," confessed the Butcher. "But I stand to make more money from the two of you arguing about it than killing you both outright at this point. So, trust me or don't, the choice is yours. But decide who perishes or I will kill you both."

The Butcher's words were far from comforting, and he was certainly not trustworthy, but there existed no alternative to his offer. Comply or die. Simple.

"Fine," Tatiana agreed. Edward tried to protest, but his voice was unimportant. The Butcher had received the answer he desired.

An unsettlingly jovial jingle played over the speaker as the Butcher once again began to speak. "The stream has now been resumed. To both those just joining and those who have remained, I have an announcement. Our prisoners will be given twenty minutes to debate which one of them will die. Additionally, I have created a poll in the chat for you, my valued viewers."