Trolls and the Alternate Dimension

Chapter 13

"Mommy! Mommy! Look what I found!" the giant yelled, running over to an even bigger giant. She held out Branch, who stared up at this new giant, his ears drooping in fear.

     She looked at Branch, slightly disgusted.

     "You shouldn't touch rats, Molly," she said, scrunching her nose.
"He's not a rat. And look! He can talk! Say something."

     Branch looked up at the giant, wide eyed, as he whimpered in fear.

     "Come on. Talk," Molly said, but Branch didn't say a word.

     "Yeah. Yeah. Very nice deer." She pulled a small device out of he pocket, beginning to poke the screen with her finger.

     "Mom! Put down the phone! I'm serious! He talks! I heard him!"

     She looked back down at him, giving him the stink eye, and he gulped.

     "Ok, sweetie. No more candy for today."

     Molly looked down at Branch sadly. Why wouldn't he talk? She knew he could.

     "Can we keep him?" she finally asked her mom.
"Please, Molly. It's a rodent. You know how I feel about rodents." She slapped Branch out of her daughter's hands, and he immediately began to run, but Molly picked him back up, before he could get anywhere.

     "Please, mommy. You got me that hamster cage for my birthday, but never got me a hamster to put inside of it."
"That wasn't a hamster cage. It was a cage for your pet rock."
"Rocky is boring. All he ever does is sit there. Please, mom. Let me keep him. Please."

     She looked back at Branch, as he gulped, trying to get away.

     "Fine. But I better not ever see it running around my house, or it's going to meet the bottom of my foot." Branch whimpered, shrinking down a bit.
"You won't, mom. I promise. I'll take good care of him."

     Her mother looked back at her phone.

     "I'm late for work. Think you can get home on your own?"
"Umm... well..."
"Take a cab."
"But, mom... I'm eight. How will I pay?"
"Here." She handed her daughter a stack of money. "Keep the change."

     She walked away, leaving Molly alone with Branch. Molly sighed, and then smiled slightly at Branch, who was still terrified.

     "Guess it's just you and me," she said, as she started walking towards the street.

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     Meanwhile, Poppy had befriended the hawk, and all the trolls were now flying on it's back, looking for Branch.

     "Look! That's the girl who took Branch!" Poppy yelled, pointing. The girl was climbing into a taxi, Branch still in her hand.

     "And there's Branch! We have to follow them! Thanks for the ride, Mr. Hawk," Poppy said, patting the hawk gently on the head. "Now let's get down there."

     They all jumped off of the hawk, using their hair as parachutes to gently float down to the roof of the taxi.