Curse of the Weretroll (rewrite)

Chapter 34

     Branch frantically looked through the books he had taken from the library, searching desperately for answers about what was going on with him as he paced anxiously back and forth, his eyes carefully scanning each and every word on the page...

     Why was he turning into a monstrous beast at random times? And how does he get it to stop!? He didn't want to hurt anyone... not again...

     Truthfully... the little troll had already read through all the books several times... but he was hoping to find something that he may of missed...

     Nothing... just the same words he had already read over and over again...

     "Ugh!" Branch screamed out in anger, chucking the book he had been holding across the room in absolute rage at coming up empty handed yet again...

     The young boy shuttered as the book suddenly smashed into one of his picture frames that hung on a nearby wall, shattering the glass on impact as the photo fell down to the floor...

     "No, no, no!" the little gray troll shouted out in dismay, quickly running over to the now broken picture frame, the survivalist shuffling through the shattered glass in slight panic before finally lifting the photo safely into his hands to look at with sad tear filled eyes...

     It was a picture of him and his Grandma back when he was only one year old... the two happy trolls not even looking at the camera as the old women playfully blew onto the giggling baby boy's stomach... He missed her so much...

     "I'm sorry, grandma..." he whispered, hugging the photo close to his chest as the village grump shut his eyes, allowing his tears to flow down his gray cheeks. "It's my fault you're gone... it... it's all my fault..."

     What would she think of who he's become? Would she even love him anymore?

     The young boy's heart broke at the thought. He was a monster... how could anyone love a monster...

     Finally, the little troll took a deep breath, placing the precious picture safely into his hair before heading over to his closet to grab a broom...

     As he went to sweep up the mess he had created, his heart filled with overwhelming sorrow... the young boy suddenly noticed something buried under the shattered glass of the picture frame...

     "What the..." he muttered softly, placing the broom against the wall before slowly getting down onto his knees to get a better look at whatever this mysterious item was...

     It was... a piece of paper?

     Slowly, Branch lifted the folded card into his gentle hands, opening it up to look at...

     Wait a minute... this wasn't just any ordinary piece of paper... it was a note... from his grandma...

     'My little peach fuzz... If you are reading this... it means I am no longer with you...'

     Branch couldn't help but tear up as he read that first line, the gray troll sniffling slightly as he wiped his tears away before continuing...

     'I'm sorry I have left you alone with no explanation... but what you are is not a monster...'

     The survivalist gasped, his eyes widening slightly in shock...

     He... he wasn't a monster? But then... why was he turning into one?

     'You are a weretroll. Similar to a werewolf, except you have the power to control when you change... it may be difficult at first to contain your instincts... but I know you'll figure it out...'

     A small smile coming to his face, Branch wiped away more tears before continuing the note...

     'Branch... you need to know that weretrolls are special creatures the world can't know about no matter what... this is a secret you'll have to keep from everyone... including your closest friends... No one can know what you truly are... or bad things will happen...'

     He definitely already knew that... especially since the trolls were currently hunting him down at this very moment...

     'Weretrolls also have a set of different powers... along with heightened senses like hearing and smelling... weretrolls can also do some incredible things... Healing being one of them... you will be able to heal any injuries other than your own... including death within a specific window of time... Intelligence... you've always been a smart troll, Branch. You take after your mother with that... but weretrolls are naturally smarter than any other creature in the universe... you may find yourself mysteriously knowing things you had no idea even existed... And finally... caring... you care deeply about those you love... and the weretroll side of you will only increase that...'

     Branch made a mental note of what he was reading so he wouldn't forget... some of those things could certainly come in handy...

     'Unfortunately... there is one last power... a power only very few weretrolls posses... and for good reason... It is the most dangerous of them all and can do a lot of damage if used improperly... control...'

     Control? What does that mean?

     'But... I know you will figure out how to use your powers for good, Branch. Just like I did...'

     Branch gasped in shock at what he had just read... His... his grandma was a weretroll too? She... she was like him?

     'I love you, Branch. And I always will. Love... your grandma...'

     Again... Branch couldn't help but tear up at the note he had found... now knowing he wasn't a monster... he was just special... he was... like his grandma... they were connected deeper than he ever thought...

     "I love you two, grandma..." the little gray troll whispered with a light smile, wiping the tears from his eyes once more. "I'll make you proud... I promise..."