The Two Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia Book One: Just the Beginning

Chapter 14: The Battle of Two Bridges

 "Maybe you should stay in bed Arcadia," Arcadia's radio announcer spoke over every radio in town, "Looks like this storm is sticking with us for a while. If you're willing to stay high and dry, the local High school is putting on Romeo and Juliet tonight."

"Master Jim, Mistress Raelynn. You both must listen to me very carefully. They've captured Lyonna and I and want you to come to the bridge... alone. Don't come, it's a trap!" Blinky spoke urgently through a message on Jim's cellphone.

Now Strickler's voice spoke through the speaker, "Give me that! It appears things have grown awkward, Mr Lake. You and Miss Stone must meet me in the alley beside the theater if you ever wish to see your friends again."

Lyonna began to shout before the recording ended, "Do not open the bridge! Under no circumstanc-"

"I've listened to it a hundred times now." Jim muttered as he lay on his bed that he woke up in that morning at the hospital, "and I still don't know what we should do."

I sighed as I sat in one of the chairs next to Jim's bed, "This is a really tough situation."

"You guys don't have to do this alone, you've got me, Arrrgh, Draal." Toby trailed off as Jim and I shook our heads.

"No, Toby. They made it clear, we have to be alone." I told him sharply. He nodded but still didn't seem like he wanted to accept it.

"And if we're not, we have no idea what they'd do to Blinky and Lyonna." Jim also brought up that factor that made me grimace, drawing my knees up close to my chest.

"Lyonna made that clear too, 'under no circumstances." Toby pointed out and I shook my head adamantly.

"Enough people have gotten injured on our behalf," I stated and Jim agreed.

"No more." He said.

"Well, it's your call. You're the Trollhunters." He sighed before he handed us our amulets, "Here, I picked them up in the woods after they dragged you away. I thought since we found them together, we'd always be in it together."

All of a sudden, Barbara walked in and Jim and I quickly hid our amulets away. He put his behind his back and I shoved mine into the pocket of my skirt.

"Hello Toby," She smiled at him and he returned it.

"Hey Doctor Lake," He replied casually, "I was just leaving, they're all yours." He went to walk out of the door before he turned around and said, "Can you believe it? Coyotes!"

Barbara shut the door behind herself and turned towards Jim and me, "You two are lucky you have such good friends. Raelynn refused another room when she woke up before you Jim, you should feel pretty good."

Jim chuckled as he glanced in my direction, "Yeah, there's no one like her is there? Toby even stayed all night too."

I blushed and looked away from him, chewing on my lip in embarrassment. He just chuckled again at my flustered state.

"Actually, it wasn't just Toby." She told us, and I looked back up, Jim and I shared twin looks of confusion, "A girl stayed and slept all night in the waiting room. She said Claire was her name."

"Claire?" Jim and I chorused. I knew she'd probably stayed more for Jim's health than mine. I could tell she liked him, and it put a bitter taste in my mouth. My thoughts were interrupted by the door opening and footsteps tapping across the tile floor.

My gaze slowly rose to meet eyes just as blue as my own. I flinched and my gaze lowered again. Jim and Barbara stopped their conversation, I didn't even hear what they were saying, I was too zoned out.