Trolls and the Alternate Dimension

Chapter 21

     "Ok, guys," Molly said, running out of her house, with a backpack. "Sorry it took so long, but I had too..." She froze, when she saw the exterminator spraying the bushes.

"No..." she whispered, her eyes wide.

"Hey! Hey stop!" she yelled, running over to the exterminator. He stopped spraying, looking at her.

"What do you want, kid?"
"You need to stop!" she yelled, frantically.
"Nope. I'm getting paid for this, little girl," he said, beginning to spay the bush again.

     Molly looked at the bush, seeing Branch's blue hand, slightly sticking out. She had to get rid of that exterminator fast.

     "AHHHHH," she suddenly screamed.

     The exterminator stopped spaying again, looking at her.

     "What? What is it!?"
"A rat!" Molly cried out, pointing off into the distance. The exterminator smiled, evilly.

     "Got you now, you little pests," he said, quietly, as he ran off in the direction Molly was pointing.

     Quickly, she ran to the bush, gasping, as she saw all the trolls on the ground, Poppy and Branch still holding onto each other, limply.

     "No..." she whispered, bending down to scoop them up in her arms.

     "Guys? Guys, wake up," she said, crying softly. "Poppy? Branch?"

     She lay them down on the ground, away from the bush, and ran to get a leaf to fan them with. Maybe if they got some fresh air...

     Quickly, she knelt down on the ground, fanning the trolls, rapidly.

     "Come on, guys," she said, quietly. "Wake up. Please wake up."

     "Cough! Cough! Cough! Cough," Branch coughed rapidly, slowly waking up, as the breeze hit his face.

     Molly gasped, smiling, as she continued to fan the trolls.

     Slowly, Branch sat up, grasping his head, as he kept his eyes shut.

     "Ugh..." he groaned. "Wha... what happened?"

     His eyes blinked open, as he caught sight of Molly.

     "You!" he yelled, jumping to his feet in fear. "You betrayed us!"
"No, Branch. I promise I didn't."

     She reached for him, but he backed away.

     "No!" he said, his voice shaking in fear. "Stay back! Stay..."

     As he backed up, he suddenly tripped over something, falling back down to the ground.

     He looked at what he had tripped over, his eyes widening, as his heart sank.

     "P... Poppy? Poppy!"

     Quickly, he crawled over to her, placing her head in his lap.

     "Poppy?" he whispered, tears forming in his eyes.

     "Branch... I..." Molly said, reaching for the two trolls.
"No!" Branch yelled, holding Poppy tight to protect her. "Don't touch her! I won't let you hurt her!"

     Molly backed away, as Branch looked back at Poppy, rubbing his hand gently across her cheek.

     "Come on, Poppy," he cried. "Wake up."

     "Cough! Cough! Cough!" Poppy coughed, as she slowly opened her eyes, looking weekly up at Branch.

     "Branch?" she said softly. "What's going on?"

     It was then that she remembered everything.

     "Cooper! Synth! Prince D!" she yelled, jumping to her feet to run over to them.

     Quickly, she plucked a blade of grass out of the ground, beginning to fan the three trolls. Branch ran over, plucking his own blade of grass, so he could help.

     Soon, Prince D, Cooper, and Synth began to wake up, coughing.

     "Oh no!" Cooper yelled, as he became fully conscious. "I'm dead! I see the light!"

     The four trolls turned to see what he was pointed at, sighing with anger, as they turned back to him.

     "That's the sun, Cooper," Branch said, dryly.

     "Ooooohhhhhh!" Copper said. "That makes way more sense," he laughed.

     "Guys? Are you all ok?" Molly asked, reaching for them again.

     "No!" Branch yelled, jumping in front of Poppy with his arms out. "Leave them alone!"
"Branch..." Poppy said, quietly.
"No, Poppy. I won't let her hurt you again," Branch said, tears in his eyes, as he thought about losing Poppy.

     "But... but I didn't..." Molly started, reaching for them again.

     "Stop!" Branch yelled, causing her to flinch, and pull away. "You betrayed us! You're a traitor! Go! Leave us alone!"
"Branch..." Poppy said again, a little louder. He pushed her back a little, continuing to protect her.

     "Go!" he yelled, whipping his hair at Molly.

     She jump back a little, Branch stepping forewords to whip her again.

     "I said, go! Get out of here!"
"Branch!" Poppy yelled, trying to stop him.
"Leave!"

     He whipped her one last time, as she began to cry, turning to run away.