The Shadow's Bane

Jims POV: 
24 Hours Earlier...

"Good morning, Arcadia. If you are still in bed then you are missing the most beautiful sunrise."

"Over there," I said while running through the forest in Arcadia early that morning when it was still dark enough to be outside and not get burned. Claire ran behind me. Not as fast enough ever since I became a troll.

"Jim?" She said just as something came rushing past us.

I ran after it. Not wanting it to escape. "We can't let it get away again," I said.

With those words, I put on a burst of speed. Using the trees to my aid to make me go faster. Alas all that effort was for nothing when a force from out of nowhere suddenly knocked me down just as I departed from the forest out onto the edge of the canal where Bular had tried to slay me all those months ago back when I had first found the amulet.

What the...? I thought.

Then from out of nowhere, a familiar cackle suddenly filled up the night air. Making me panic for a second because I had heard that laugh before. "So you finally embraced it," a voice answered in reply.

As for what the voice meant, that I didn't know. "Jim!" Claire called again, startling the red glowing figure standing before me. As that's what I could see when I looked up from where I was.

"What are you?" I asked.

"Better luck next time, Trollhunter. You can try and hide me from your friends. But you of all people should know that secrets have a way of coming out in the end. You can't hide me forever," he said.

Then in a blur, he fled away so fast that when Claire finally reached me, the Red figure was nowhere to be seen anymore.

"Jim. What was that?" She asked while helping me up.

"I'm not sure," I lied. Because deep down, I did. "For weeks this thing has been causing mayhem all over Arcadia. If we don't catch it soon, who knows what kind of trouble it can cause."

"I know," she said. "That's why we should probably get back to Toby and AAARRRGGHH!!!. They can help us-"

"It's nothing that not just anyone can help us with," I blurted out.

"Jim?" Claire said. Noticing my anger when she saw my hands curl up into fists by my sides. "Is everything okay?"

To be honest, not everything was okay. Ever since I had had that conversation with Strickler about my time in the Deep, that red blur has haunted me not only in my dreams, but Arcadia as well.

My biggest fear which was no longer just in my head anymore. Ever since Strickler and Numora had taught me to embrace it, it's been like a constant battle between him and me.

Evil Jim and myself. Now finally ever since I became a troll, that part of me has escaped and is now causing trouble in Arcadia.

The only reason why I haven't told anyone yet is because I've been too scared to admit what is actually happening myself. And also because I don't understand it yet.

"Jim?" Claire said again. Suddenly I remembered where I was and when I did, I let out a deep breath and clasped onto her hand tightly.

"Yes. Sorry," I said. "It's just, you know how much I want to find this thing that we've been chasing for the past weeks."

"I know, Jim. Which is why we should get back to Toby. They can help us. You know I'm right."

"I know," I said. "Then lets go."

As we made our way back to the bridge however, the only words that seemed to pass in my mind were those of Strickler's back when he was training me for Gunmar.

"Good. You're learning. There's a little more fight in you today," Strickler had said.

"I don't want to talk about it," I said back.

"Still feeling bad about hiding our lessons from Blinkous-"

"I don't think he would approve of your methods."

"Blinkous wouldn't understand."

"Hey, you call this training?"

"I'm not trying to train you. I'm trying to kill you. To kill Gunmar, you will need to fight like Gunmar."

And he had been right.

"You won't win by playing fair. Again, what is the code of Changelings? Rule one?"

"There is honour amoung assassins," I said as we continued to fight.

"Jimbo!" Toby's voice suddenly called as we approached the bridge.

"Rule two?"

"Rule one is a lie. There is no such thing as honour."

"Hey Toby," Claire said.

"Gosh. Where have you guys been? Another Halloween party?" Toby asked.

"Hi AAARRRGGHH!!!"

"Rule number three?"

"Everyone and everything is a tool to get what you want. And what I want, is to kill Gunmar!"

"Jim? Jim! Jimbo, you're there?"

"Maaaaster Jim!" AAARRRGGHH!!! said louder, this time snapping me out of my reverie.

"Sorry yes. Hey Tobes. Hi AAARRRGGHH!!! I was just thinking of something," I said.

"Okay... anyways. Have you been able to find it?"

"Not at all," Claire said. "It's too fast for us. Only Jim managed to get a good look at it as far as I know."

They all turned to me at that. "Jim?" Toby asked.

"What?" I asked. "Even then he was still too fast to catch-"

"He?" Claire asked. "Jim. Just now you were calling him an it and now you're calling it a him? What aren't you telling us?"

"Yeah," Toby agreed. "Ever since Donmar, you've been pretty distant lately. What's going on? Are you in some kind of trouble?"

I sighed. "I'm not sure," I eventually said.

"Well, whatever it is you know we're here to help you," Claire said.

"Thanks guys. I know you are."

"We better get back then," Claire said. "The sun-"

"Don't wait for me," I told her, surprising both her and Toby.

"But Jim?"

"It's okay. I will meet you back at Toby's place. I just... need a minute by myself."

"Well. You're the Trollhunter," Toby said. Not happy with my words, but not objecting to it either.

As they left I took a minute by myself to take in the scenery of the canal and forest before me. Blinky was right. At night it was all so different. The most important thing right now though was whatever was going on with me, I had to find out soon because now that my friends were beginning to question me it would only be a matter of time until they found out what I had told Strickler and my secret too.

Strickler.

If there was anyone I had to talk to right now, it was him. I only couldn't because just as I began to head back towards Toby's house, something hard wacked me on the head and I blacked out.