The Hanged Man

It was the fifteenth of June and two Ferries were driving off the port into the river. It was a disgusting river, filled with the nastiest creations of human waste, but nevertheless was used as a transportation system. 

Inside the first ferry were regulars, a group of new settlers to one of the new restored districts. They were filled with hopes and dreams of a new life. The other was filled with minor Villains and regular criminals, bunched together and tied both figuratively and literally. 

As the two ferries began to cross up into the middle of the river, both suddenly stopped. Inside passengers began to converse about the sudden stoppage, but the other ferry clearly visible through the clear windows reassured them as it was also stopping. It was most likely a planned stoppage, whatever purpose it might serve.

The intercom buzzed on the Ferry.

Bzzzz… Passengers? Passengers? Is this working correctly? 

I paused for dramatic effect, though, no one did answer my calls on the intercom; my listening devices I had planted inside the boat captured nothing but hurried rumors. 

I began again.

Well aren’t you guys lucky? This is a one in a lifetime opportunity folks. You guys are going to be part of a social experiment! Exciting, right?!

A small grin escaped my face as I heard one of the passengers scream, “Villain attack!”

No, no, no, if you think this is a Villain attack, you are seriously mistaken. Let’s say… this is a Villain surprise! Better no?

No one answered, though it was a rhetorical question in their defense.

Using my magic, or as some people call it diesel fuel and ammonium nitrate, I will blow up both ferries sky high. If anyone tries to escape, they will die immediately. But- there is a twist. Tonight, you guys are going to learn a bit about yourselves. Who do you guys think you are? It’s gonna be interesting don’t you think?

Using the camera I had also planted, I looked at the expressions of the passengers. THe regulars were of course all shitting themselves, while the Villains, who at the beginning had smiled in glee, were also in similar states of despair. 

But… there's no need for all of you to die. That would be a waste. So I've left you both a little present.

As I stood next to the harbor, I glanced at the two remote controlled detonators in my hands, their red buttons tempting, so tempting to press. It would be magnificent to see the explosions, the art it would create. But no… I had to hold it in. I began talking into the mic attached to my coat again. 

Each of you, or more specifically each Ferry, has the remote to blow up the other boat. At midnight, specifically in 20 minutes, I will blow you all up. If, however, one of you presses the button, I'll let that boat live. You choose. Be- The Worst Villains of New London... Or the sweet regulars that Heros work so hard to protect? Oh, and you might want to decide quickly, because the people on the other boat may not be quite so noble.

Bzzz. I cut the connection. 

I stared into the river again, though it wasn’t as beautiful at night, it still had a certain quality to it under the sun. I wanted a cigarette but had forgotten one.

On the boats, chaos reigned.

“They're going to push the button! Push it before they do!” One man in a business suit, starkly out of place in the boat, began to rush toward the captain who held the remote. He was quickly held back by some of the crew. The other passengers began to murmur and avoid eye contact.

A mother pushed to the front of the crowd.

“I have a baby! Please! We don’t all have to die. All those men had their chance-”

The captain spoke up. “We shouldn’t even be discussing this. We can’t-”

“What is there to discuss!” another passenger screamed. “It’s them or us. Why should we let villains live.”‘

One more passenger let his voice ring out: “Let’s hold it to a vote.”

After a few seconds of silence, the captain of the passenger ship put on a look of resignation. “We will hold a vote. We are a democracy. Whoever votes to use the remote will put a black X on their paper while not pushing it will leave it empty. Understood?”

Then began a wild scurrying of passing out torn pieces of papers and markers throughout the boat. In the end the papers were all compiled and the Captain began to count them, one by one. 

On the other hand, in the prisoner’s boats, the prisoner’s all stared down the security officer who held the remote. He gulped. They began to inch closer and closer as the guards began to block them. Gunshots rang into the air, but they only pulled the crowd back slightly, before they came crawling back like a tiger.

Back on the passenger ship, the vote had been decided. The captain looked at the paper with the results in his hands and back at the crowd. 

“There are-196 votes against and… 340 votes for.”

“Then use the remote, what are you waiting for!”

“...”

The captain looked at the remote in his hands before placing it down on the table before him. 

“I can’t not do it. I voted the same as you all. But that doesn’t mean I should be the one to push the button.”

“But you are-”

“NO! Ahhhh. Someone else has to do it.“

The passengers looked around at each other, averting their gazes.