Trolls and the Alternate Dimension

Chapter 28

     The front desk lady used her key card to open the front door, and was about to go back to her desk, when the lights suddenly shut off.

     "Oh, great..." she mumbled. "Now I have to go fix the circuit."

     She started to walk away, towards the electrical room.

     Branch, after shutting off the lights, ran back to the main room, using his hair to climb up onto the doorknob.

     Slowly, the door slid open, as Molly walked in.

     "Nice work, Branch," she said, both of them fist bumping each other.
"You too," he said, smiling. "Now... let's go save Poppy and the others."

     They ran into a back room, searching for the other trolls.

     "Poppy!? Prince D!? Cooper!? Synth!?" they both yelled out, looking around the dark room.

     Suddenly, the lights turned on, the room lighting up immediately. Branch froze at the sight, of traps hanging on the walls, some of them with animals still stuck in them.

     "I'll never set another trap again..." he said, softly, his eyes wide, as he looked around.

     Then he lowered his head, thinking.

     "What... what if..."

     Molly stopped, looking back at him, seeing his fear and sadness.

     "They're fine, Branch. We'll find them."

     He sighed, closing his eyes. He wanted to believe they were fine. He wanted to believe they could save them, but a voice kept ringing in his head, telling him it was too late.

     "Branch?" Molly said, softly, walking towards him.

     "I messed up..." he said, sadly. "They were captured because of me... it's my fault..."

     He started to cry, as he fell down to his knees, covering his face with his hands.

     Molly, knelt down beside him, putting her finger on his back to comfort him.
   
     "We got into a fight..." he said. "All because I was too paranoid. I should have listened to her..."
"Branch... it'll be ok," Molly said, softly. "We will find them... I promise."

     He looked up at her, and smiled slightly.

     "You're right... we will find them."

     Slowly, he rose to his feet, wiping his tears away.

     "Let's go," he said, determined, as he began walking again.

——————————

     Out in the main room, the man who had taken the trolls walked by, something catching his eye.

     "What the..."

     He walked over, bending down to look at what he had found. Tiny footprints.

     Quickly, he ran into the security room, checking the cameras.

     His eyes widened, as he saw Branch running through the halls, checking in cages to see if the other trolls were in there.

     As he watched Branch, his confusion turned into anger.

     "Rodent..."