Sacrifices

Chapter 3: Selfish or Selfless?

Ok so I was going to make this a big chapter but it would have taken way too long so I'm dividing this one up. That basically means this one's probably the shortest chapter in the story. Sorry. Easter had me really busy. But I'll be uploading constantly! Thanks for your patience and support! Enjoy!

"What?" Poppy asked in confusion. 'This must be some trick just to try and take him from me' her brain told her.

"You heard me." The Chef laughed, "I haven't given him a herb plant in about a day now so any moment soon, he'll start to die away unless he gets another dose." She explained with a venomous tone.

"That's ridiculous!" Poppy laughed. "You just want to hurt Branch again! But he's not going to be tortured by you anymore. Isn't that right Branch?" She looked to her arm only to notice the Blue Troll grasping his stomach falling to the floor. "Branch?"

All she could hear was the pained gasps for air departing from Branch's mouth. Was the Chef right!? Branch started to slowly hold onto his stomach tighter and tighter until Poppy screamed, "Please help him! He doesn't deserve this!"

"That we can agree on. He deserves to be making us happy." Chef started to approach the dying Troll.

"Branch, come on! Get up! We can get you out of here!" Poppy tugged at his arms.

"Poppy..." He groaned out. "Just go"

"What!?" Poppy shouted at him not to be mean but just shocked.

"I can't let you be trapped here too. I'm going to die if I step out that door. You won't. So please, don't share my fate." He pleaded.

Poppy refused to move. "No, I'm not going to willingly leave you to be tortured!"

"Poppy, please! For me!" He shouted back, then went into a whisper. "If I stay here, I live and you or I might be able to find out what the cure is for whatever happened to me. If there is none then we can find out what flower or herb will keep my alive. You can't save me if you're locked up beside me. It'll be ok. Please." He whispered so only Poppy could hear.

Poppy struggled then asked him. "You promise you'll be ok when I get back?"

"I promise." Branch gave a weak smile and cupped Poppy's cheek. Poppy quickly took his hand away and kissed his forehead.

"I'll be back for you" and with that she turned and ran out the door as Chef got to Branch.

"Oh come on, don't be so sour" Chef started. "I had to make sure you didn't escape! Plus it's not like I'm killing you."

"Not on the outside." Branch not only meant whatever poison was in him but also separating him from Poppy, the Troll he loved.

*Outside*

Poppy finally stopped to look back at the town. She couldn't believe it. She just left him to be tortured. But would dragging him out of there be selfish? She would have saved him being selfless but she wanted to be with him so bad she would have forgot that he was still poisoned and would probably be dead right now. She left him. Was it because she didn't want to see him tortured? Her selfish reasons or was it selfless doing what he asked?

Her brain was going everywhere trying to figure out the answers. She had to find out what the suppressant or cure was. There was only one person she knew that could get that info.

Like I said, short one. Next chapter will be WAY longer. Again, thank you all for being so nice after I was absent from this story for like 3 months. I promise I'll finish this before June and hopefully before May! Luv u all!