The Adventures of Azalea and Twig (book 6)

Chapter 37

It was getting dark, as the three trolls and teenage girl walked down the deserted road.

"Who! Who!" a cry suddenly rang out, through the desert.

Branch jumped, startled by the noise.

Molly looked around, nervously, hearing sounds of different animals calling out, one being a rattlesnake, and another being a coyote.

"It's not safe out here at night," Molly said.
"I don't think it's safe out here during the day..." Branch added, looking around, nervously, as he gulped.

"We need to find some place to stay," Molly advised.

"Oooo! What about there!?" Barb pointed out.

Off in the distance a little ways was a small, rundown building with trash lined up outside of it.

As they approached, the sounds of screaming and fighting could be heard.

There where several motorcycles lined up outside, all of them with either skulls or flames on them.

"I don't think this place is such a good idea," Branch said, not liking the looks of it.

Suddenly, there was a loud scream, and a person came flying through the window, shattering the glass, before falling to the ground unconscious.

Branch's eyes widened at the sight of it, as he froze.

"Let's go in!" Barb shouted, smiling wide at the violence.

"Absolutely not," Branch denied, grabbing Poppy's hand and trying to drag her away from the danger.

"Come on! This place looks sick!" Barb said, running towards the front doors, but Molly quickly scooped her up.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," she said.
"Hey! What's the big idea!?" Barb complained, trying to escape her grasp to no avail.

"When we go in there... you guys can't be seen," Molly stated.

"What!?" Branch yelled. "What do you mean when we go in there!? There's no way we're going in there!"

"It's our only option, Branch," Molly said. "Otherwise we get eaten by wild animals."

Branch gulped, looking back at the building.

     Molly grabbed him and Poppy, placing all three trolls into her backpack.

     "Now, stay hidden. We don't need another airplane incident on our hands."

     "In my defense..." Branch said, poking out of the backpack. "I stayed hidden like I was told. It's these two that where the problem."

     "Hey!" Poppy and Barb complained, crossing there arms. Then Poppy shrugged.
"He is right though..." she admitted.

     "Just... stay in there. Don't make a sound," Molly said, pushing Branch back down into the backpack, before continuing. "I'm talking to you Branch and Barb."

     She walked into the building, a glass being thrown, and shattering against the wall, right next to her head.

     Molly gulped, gripping the straps of her backpack.

     "Whoa, whoa, whoa. You can't be in here, kid," the owner of the building said, walking over to Molly. "21 and older."

     "But... I have nowhere else to go," Molly said. "It's dark, and the wild animals are coming out."
"Not my problem," the owner replied, crossing his arms. "Besides... not much safer in here. Especially tonight." He gestured towards all the fighting.

     Barb poked her head out of the bag, smiling wide.

     "I gotta get in on this," she said, beginning to climb out of the bag, but Poppy and Branch pulled her back in, before she could be seen.

     "What is going on in here?" Molly asked. "What's with all the fighting?"

     "Live band canceled at the last minute. Everyone is upset about it, but I couldn't find another group of singers on such short notice."

     Poppy smiled, hearing what the owner had said.

     "No. No, no, no, no, no," Branch said, crossing his arms, as he glared at Poppy.
"I didn't even say anything yet," Poppy objected.
"You didn't have to. I know that look on your face. You have a crazy plan that'll probably get us all killed."
"No I don't," Poppy chuckled, waving her hand through the air. "Ok... yes I do. Just trust me."

     She started to climb out of the bag.

     "Poppy, no! Wait!" Branch called after her, but it was too late. She was already out of the backpack.