Trolls: Fade to Gray

Lead

Branch spent the next week lounging around at Poppy's house, slowly but surely getting better. He'd slept most of the days away, only waking up to spend time with Poppy when she returned. She hadn't told anyone that the fire was intentional as she didn't want to start a panic. The day after the news, Poppy employed Hatchet to search for the tampering troll, knowing he was close to the case. He had interviewed nearly the whole village, asking them where they were that night, and if they had any electrical experience. But so far, no one seemed guilty. Little did they know it was all Branch's doing.

~Branch's POV~

I had just gotten done doing the dishes when Poppy burst into the house and faceplanted onto the couch, groaning.

"Everything ok?" I rested my arms on the back of the couch, looking down at her.

She mumbled into the cushions, and I rubbed her back, figuring she just had a hard day. She rolled over and fell onto the floor.

I knelt by her side "Ok, know I know somethings wrong. What happened?"

She sighed loudly. "I wasn't going to tell you, but I should probably get your perspective anyways." She sat up, slouching, "So you know the fire at the rescue party? Apparently, it was deliberate. And we can't find any evidence of who it was!"

My heart dropped into my stomach, and I felt my face go pale. "Oh uh, that's weird haha! How do you know? And who's 'we'?"

"It's Hatchet, he's been leading the investigation. Once he finds that troll who nearly killed his family, it'll be all over for them. In fact, they almost killed several trolls! Even you!"

Visibly sweating, I asked, "Wh-what will you do to them?"

"Probably just exile them... I don't know, who would do something like this?" She looked back at me, "Whoa Branch, are you feeling ok? You look horrible."

"Yup! All good! In fact, I think I'm gonna go pack, can't stay here forever, right?" I laughed awkwardly and headed to my room. I facepalmed, That wasn't suspicious at all.

"Branch?" Poppy said, following me. "Do you know something we don't? Oh wait! You saw the electrical panel that night, didn't you?"

I stopped in my tracks, figuring I just got busted. I was never going to see her or anyone else ever again, which was probably a fair punishment. It was by my doing that the central garden was destroyed and trolls got hurt. I deserved to spend the rest of my days wandering the forests alone.

"Poppy, it's not what it looks-"

"You must have seen who did it!" She interrupted me with a smile beaming across her face. "Come on, let's go find Hatchet. We finally have a lead!"

Sorry for the short chapter, I've been busy lol. I think I'll wrap up the story in the next chapter or two! Thanks for reading!