Trolls and the Alternate Dimension

Chapter 22

     Branch breathed heavily, as he watched Molly running away. He was still crying softly, thinking about how he almost lost Poppy. He couldn't let that happen... he just couldn't.

     "What are you doing, Branch!?" Poppy yelled. "She was going to help us!"
"She was going to kill us! You saw what she did! She told us to wait in that bush, so that giant could poison us!"
"Than how are we alive, genius?" Poppy said, sarcastically, as she crossed her arms, glaring at him.

     "Well... I... uh..." Branch said, looking away from her, as he tried to think of an explanation of how they made it out of that bush.

     "We're alive, because she saved us, Branch," Poppy said. "She saved us, just like she saved us from that motorcycle. Like she saved you from Barb. She wasn't trying to kill us, Branch. She was trying to protect us. And you just made her leave."

     He looked away, sadly, listening to what Poppy was saying.

     Could it be true? Had he misunderstood the situation? Did she really save them?

     Poppy glared at Branch, starting to walk away.

     "Wa... wait," Branch said. "Where are you going?"
"To find Molly, and apologize on behalf of you."
"B... but..."

     He was so confused. He didn't know what to believe. Did he believe Poppy? Or did he believe his own eyes? Had Molly tried to save them? Or kill them? He just didn't know.

     "Please, Poppy," he said, trying to stop her. "It's not safe."

     His head was racing with thoughts. Poppy really trusted Molly, but he just couldn't... after everything that's happened... how could he? He just wanted to keep Poppy safe.

     Poppy didn't stop walking, as she spoke again.

     "We need her, Branch. We need her to help us find the wormhole."
"We can find it on our own. We don't need anyone, but ourselves."

     She froze for a moment, lowering her head, as a single tear fell out of her eye.

     "Well... if you don't need anyone... then you don't need me."

     Branch's eyes widened, as he backed up a little.

     "That... that isn't what I..."

     "Go, Branch. You don't need us, and we don't need you. You find the wormhole by yourself, and we'll find it with Molly."
"But... but Poppy..."

     Poppy shook her head, and then started to walk again.

     He watched her go, his heart racing, as he breathed heavily, tears in his eyes.

     The others looked back and forth between Poppy and Branch, and then finally lowered their heads, following Poppy.

     Branch stood in disbelief. He couldn't go back to being alone. He need his friends. He needed Poppy.

     "Poppy! Wait!" he yelled after her. "I do need you! I love you."

     She stopped again, not looking back.

     "You have a funny way of showing it."

     His heart shattered at her words, as she began to walk again.

     "No..." he whispered, crying as he backed away slowly.

     "Poppy! Poppy, please!" he cried out, but Poppy didn't stop.

     The others looked back at him, sadly, but continued following Poppy.

     "P... Poppy..." Branch whispered, falling to his knees, his heart throbbing painfully, as he grabbed his hair in his hands, pulling on it. "POPPY!"

     She still didn't stop. She didn't even turn to look at him.

     Suddenly, a cage dropped over the four of them, Branch gasping, as he saw the exterminator standing there, smiling maliciously down at them.

     "Gotcha," he said with an evil smirk.

     "Poppy!" Branch yelled, running towards them.

     The exterminator picked up the cage with the four trolls in it, placing them in the back of his truck, before climbing into the driver's seat.

     "No! Poppy!" Branch yelled, running as fast as he could.

     Slowly, the truck began to roll away, Branch jumping to grab onto the back of it.

     "I'm coming, Poppy! I'm com..." he yelled, clinging onto the back of the truck, trying desperately to pull himself up, as he dangled.

     Suddenly, the truck hit a bump, sending Branch flying through the air.

     "AHHHHH!" he screamed, as he fell to the ground, rolling, as he his the cement.

     Finally, he stopped rolling, laying on his stomach in the middle of the street, his face pressed up against the pavement.

     Slowly, he lifted his head, looking up at the truck, as it disappeared into the distance.

     "Poppy..."