The Adventures of Azalea and Twig (book 5)

Chapter 19

     The head hunter was in his office, playing darts, but instead of a dart board, he was using a picture of Branch's face.

     He threw the dart, hitting Branch right in the nose. "Bullseye!" he shouted in victory.

     "Boss! Boss! Boss!" all of the hunters shouted at once, barging into the head hunter's office.

     "What did I say about bothering me, when I'm in my office?" he said, throwing another dart at the picture of Branch, hitting him in the eye. "Now... one of you. Tell me why you dare disturb me during my alone time."

     All of the hunters looked at each other, backing away a little, too scared to tell their boss the devastating news. They knew he would be mad, and knowing him, he would take it out on whoever gave him the message.

     "Well?" he said. "Anyone gonna speak up? How about you?" He pointed to one of the hunters, all of the others moving away from him, knowing he was about to be in big trouble.

     "Umm... sir... we... we just needed to tell you..."
"Spit it out!" the head hunter shouted, throwing another dart, this one hitting Branch in the forehead.

     The hunter gulped, looking to the other's, hoping one of them would take his place, but no one did.

     "Well... you see, sir... the... ugh... the blue troll..."
"Yes. Yes. What about him?"
"He... uh... escaped... sir."

     The head hunter was about to throw another dart, but froze at the other hunter's words.

     "What!?" he finally shouted, throwing the dart at the other hunter. The dart flew past the hunter, barely missing him, before sticking into the wall.

     He shuddered, looking at the dart.

     "How did he escape!?" the head hunter demanded, standing up out of his chair.
"He went through the vents, sir."

     The head hunter sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose with his thumb and pointer finger. He was a very unique hunter. All the others only had three fingers, but he had four.

     He sighed again, plopping back down in his chair.

     "I will deal with the blue troll," he finally said. "Now everyone get out of my office."
"Yes sir," they all said nodding, as they left the room, happy to still be alive.

     Once they were all gone, the head hunter stood, screaming loudly in anger, throwing another dart as hard as he could at the picture of Branch.

     He began to pace, muttering to himself, as he scratched at his neck.

     "Idiots. I'm surrounded by idiots!" He continued scratching his neck, getting even angrier.

     "Ugh! This stupid thing is so itchy!" he yelled.

     He stopped pacing, beginning to pull at his face.

     Slowly, his face began to peal off, revealing that it had been a mask the entire time, and under the mask... was Creek.