Story 4:Trolls And The Haunted Castle

Chapter 5:Jack and Joanna

Later that night. Poppy and Branch along with Twig who is sucking on his bottle is sleeping peacfully. Branch gets up and yawns. He looks over to see Poppy and Twig sleeping and smiles. He gets out of bed and goes to the kitchen.

"Gee, A long trip sure makes a troll thirsty." He grabs a glass and opens the fridge.'' Oh great no milk.''

"If it's milk you want, then you'll have to get yourself a pufalo.'' A voice says.

Branch's eyes widen. "Who said that? He asked looking around.

"I did." Branch looks up to see a blue ghost floating 👻.

"Hey ya Blue face." Names Jack."

Branch was stunned and the color drained from his body.

"Wow now you're white face now Get it? "White face." Jack laughs.

Branch suddenly screams."POPPY!" He runs out the kitchen.

"Well geeze can't someone take a joke?"

Branch runs through the hall. He kicks the door open. "POPY WAKE UP!"He yells starling His wife and Baby. Twig cries.

"Look at what you did Branch." She picks Twig up and begins to rock him back to sleep.

"Now, what's going on?"

"G-G-Ghost." Branch shivered.

Poppy cocked an eyebrow.

"I saw ghost in the kitchen." Branch says shaken. He was blue and his jokes were just corny."

Poppy just rolled her eyes as she tries to calm Twig down.

"You've got to come and see this for yourself." Branch please." It's a little late for Ghost stories."Poppy asked 😔

"But I'm not making this up." And I can prove it to you come on." Branch goes back downstairs as Poppy gets out the bed with Twig in her arms.

"Braannch." She moaned tiredly following her husband. In the kitchen, Branch and Poppy use there hairs as light to see. (Similar to the episode Lost in the woods from TTBGO)

"Well where's the ghost?" Poppy asked in a slightly annoyed tone.

"He's here Branch tells her as they look around.They suddenly here a noise coming from the pantry. The door opens. Branch jumps. It was a box of Pufa'O's.

Poppy looked at Branch. "So this is your ghost?" A box of Pufa'O's?"

"What no." I'm telling Poppy there were ghost in this kitchen." Branch says. They here another sound and look to see Troy who is getting a glass of water.

"I'm sorry." Did I desturb your slumber?" He asked.

"No." No." You didn't." Poppy replies. "My husband thought he saw some ghost in here." She gives him a look. I'm sorry if he woke you."

"It is quite alright." After all we all can't handle our imagination running a muck can we?" Troy asked with a smile.

Come'on Branch back to bed."Poppy says pulling Branch by the arm. "Goodnight Troy."

"Goodnight to you to Ms.Poppy." As they leave, Troy's smile drops."JACK!"

In the hallway. "Why can't you see.there is something not right with this place."Branch says now holding a sleeping Twig."I'm not making up what I saw!"

"Shh." You're gonna wake the kids." 🤫 Poppy says as she opens to door to find Hazel and Harley still asleep 😴.

"Look Branch. I know you don't like being in unfamiliar terrorises, but please. Don't ruin this for the kids. "They've been looking forward to spending time with you and I just don't want to see them disappointed 😞 because they're father seen a ghost." Poppy tells him and goes back to bed. Branch was silent.

In another room, Joanna is dusting a statue. Suddenly Troy slams the door open.

"Where is he?" He asked in and furious tone.

"Where's who master?" Joanna asked.

"Your brother."

Joanna points to a cabinet that Jack is hiding in. Troy opens it and the ghost smiles sheepishly.Troy grabs him.

"What the blazes do you think you're doing?" He asked.

"I was board." Plus it's been centuries." Jack replies. You can't blame me for trying to to be a good ghost host." He laughs 🤣 but no one is laughing.

"Are you trying to ruin this for me?" Troy asked. I don't want them to know that we're ghost just yet." Not until I have her to myself."

"Well I don't know if you've noticed chief, but uh, That's not Judith!" Jack points out.

"It it so." Troy shouts. I know the pretty pink eyes and rosey red cheeks when I see them."

"Ok so if that is Judith, then how she hasn't recognized you yet huh?" Jack mentioned.

"Maybe she does remember who I am."Troy retorted. "She just needs more time with me and less time around that fool of a husband of hers."

"And how are you going to keep them separated?" Jack asked.

"Let's just say I have something instored for our guest. Troy smiles deviously. "And that's where you come in."

"Oh dear." You're not got to hurt the man are you? 🤕 Joanna asked in concern.

"I can't make any promises." Troy replies.Joanna smacks her forehead.

"Oh for good Tolls sake. "Master.Troy please don't hurt anyone." Especially those children."

Troy sulks. "You know how to take the fun out of everything." Fine." I won't hurt anyone." We'll just have to do what ghost do best."

"What?" Jack asked.

"Scare them away." Troy replies.

"Oh good grief."Joanna walked away.

Branch is seen staring at the moon and he sighs.

"Maybe Poppy's right.''

"Having a tough time sleeping Master Branch?"

Branch turns to see Wilfred.

"Oh Wilfred it's you.'' Branch says as he sighs once more. "Yeah I gusse I am having a tough time trying to sleep.''

"What seems to trouble your mind sir?" Wilfred asked.

Branch rubbed the back of his head.

"It's just...I feel like I'm failing Wilfred. As a husband and a father."

"What makes you think that Sir?" You seem to be an excellent father to your children and husband to your wife." Wilfred points out.

Branch scoffed. "I don't know about that." Seeing as how I put working around the village more then spending time with my family." This vacation is the only way to make it right and I don't want anything to ruin it for me."

Wilfred felt bad and wanted to tell Branch something. But he was soon called By Troy

"Wilfred your assistance is needed at once." Troy called.

"Coming Master Troy. He puts a hand on Branches shoulders.

"You will get the vacation you deserve with your family soon Master Branch. I can't promise it but I will try to make sure of it." And with that he left.

Branch was a little confused 🤔😕 by what he meant but then looked back out the window.