After about eight hours of killing time, by cooking , doing laundry, and researching the technological development of the place Toby finally arrived.
It was time to talk.
I opened the door, stepping aside. "Hey, come in man." I had a reassiring smile but I could feel Toby about to pop.
He hadnt said a word, stepping in he opened his mouth, then closing it again. For a second, I thought maybe he'd forgotten how to speak.
"Dude," he blurted.
"do you have any idea what we could do with this new power of mine? I mean, forget everything else, we could finally kick Steve Palchuk's butt all the way into next week!"
I blinked at him, my brain stalling.
"Uhh I don't think—"
And then, before I could finish, the back door creaked again.
Blinky and AAARRRGGHH!!! stepped inside like they owned the place.
Toby's eyes bulged and his hands went for his phone faster than any other trollhunter.
"ANIMAL CONTROL! Yeah, hi, there are—" He glanced at the trolls, voice climbing. "Big, uh, mutant lizard thingies, no, not a prank! Hey—hello?!"
The click on the other end said everything.
"Tobes," I said quickly, stepping between him and the trolls, "calm down."
"Calm down?!" he yelped. "Those are literally the trolls who came looking for me!"
Blinky raised both hands in a very diplomatic gesture. "Fear not, Master Tobes. We mean you no harm. Quite the opposite. You, young man, have been chosen—nay, destined to become the next Trollhunter."
Toby froze, still holding his phone. "The… next what now?"
"It is your noble obligation," Blinky said warmly, "to protect mankind from nefarious creatures. bad trolls, goblins, gruesomes, rogue gnomes—"
"Also pie-stealing squirrels," AAARRRGGHH!!! added, as if it was a real epidemic.
Luckily Toby was rational enough to listen to fictional creatures explain his destiny.
"And not merely any Trollhunter, young Tobias, but the first human Trollhunter in history." Blinky said, not missing a beat.
I watched Toby's face shift from suspicion to awe, and for a second, I let out a small smile, with toby by my side we cou—
RATTLE RATTLE
We all turned towards the door. And panick set in.
"Its my mom! Upstairs, now!" I whispered
I shoved Toby and the trolls up the stairs, herding them like cats until we reached the bathroom. I crammed all three of them inside with my back trying to push AAARRRGGHH!!! who was barely fitting in the middle class bathroom.
Jim?" My mom's voice cut through the air, followed by the sound of keys on the kitchen counter. "I forgot my phone! Are you doing okay hun?"
"Uh, just a sec, Mom!" I called, somehow squeezing him in and shutting the door., stepping into view as casually as possible.
She appeared at the bottom of the stairs, eyeing me. "What's going on up there?"
I tried to look mildly sick. "Stomach problems. Y'know… bad leftovers."
She gave me that mom-look that could see through any lie, I could only give sheepish smile but the back of my skull felt the guilt twisted in my stomach. The jim side of me didn't like lying to her. Maybe, someday soon, I'd tell her the truth. But not today.
"Alright you wait there"
Haa I got keep cool once shes gone hopefully we can change his mind. Leaning on the stairwells handle I noticed some soft of glow behind me. Tobys amulet began to abrighten the entire halls, I could see the flood of light pouring in from the bathroom door.
I opened the door and saw toby, eyes mezmorized by the amulets powerful glow.
"So," he said slowly, "am I really the first human Trollhunter? Who was before me?"
Blinky's tone softened. "The mantle of Trollhunter has been passed down for centuries, from warrior to warrior."
"And the last guy?" I asked, though I already knew the answer he had to know what it takes. "Retired or something?"
AAARRRGGHH!!!'s gaze dropped to the floor. Blinky's voice turned heavy. "Kanjigar the Courageous fell in battle against a ruthless troll named Bular."
Toby gulped loudly. "O-okay, but maybe he just got lucky, right?"
"Bular," Blinky said gravely, "is no mere opponent. Even Kanjigar, the most vigilant and skilled Trollhunter of them all, could not best him."
Toby's nervous laugh was brittle. "So… the best of the best got taken out, and now you're sending me in? That's basically a death sentence."
"Death," Blinky lowered his head, "is a possibility. But with proper training—"
"Uh-huh," Toby cut in, "and that's where I'm out. Deal breaker."
Barbara's voice drifted from downstairs again, this time with the sound of footsteps on the stairs. "I brought you some ginger ale for your stomach!"
I yanked the shower curtain back and shoved everyone inside just as Mom reached the top. I poke my head out of the bathroom and she stopped right in front of me handing me the drink, kissed my cheek, and left again for the hospital. I kept my smile in place until she was gone, but my chest felt tight.
Once the coast was clear and I saw her drive off I let out a relieved huff which was apparently a signal.
AAARRRGGHH!!! lumbered out of the bathroom and, predictably with his towering figure, started knocking things over heading back down into the living room. I began picking up the mess while Blinky turned back to Toby.
"Are you ready to begin your training?"
Toby's answer came with a shrug. "It's a school night... Also, that whole thing with Kanjigar being, you know, killed by a ruthless troll? Yeah, kinda not feeling that."
He held the amulet out, attempting to hand back his destiny. But Blinky shook his head. "The amulet chose you, Tobias. It will not choose another."
"Then maybe it chose wrong," Toby muttered.
I stepped in before Blinky could push harder. "He needs time to process this. Trust me."
Blinky hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Very well. We will return tomorrow night to begin your training."
Toby exhaled in relief. I didn't say anything, ushering him to take a seat with me but I knew, whether he liked it or not, despite my own knowledge and potential for power, this was only the beginning for him.