Hey everybody (The few of you there are), I wasn't going to update until next Thursday, BUT you can thank AngelicVollyball for the early update. Their kind words got me in the mood to write.
This is a really fun chapter, I actually really like this one and, SPOILER: Randy gets owned! Sorry, couldn't help myself.
I don't own Trollhunters. ENJOY!
Chapter 6: Human Crowd Control; Skinner To the Rescue With "Breakfast"; And A Dr. Who Was Nice But Then Turned Into A Nosy Jerk
I hate internal alarm clocks. But, I did get some sleep. I get up, tiptoeing around Claire. I stretch my arms, back and neck, while they make loud popping noises. Priority one, get some beds and pillows. Entering the kitchen, I turn on the sink, warm running water. I cup some in my hands and splash it in my face. Then take a sip. Water, don't take it for granted.
New life; new body, new city, new house. I walk out on the ledge and view the New Trollmarket. New everything. I notice a pile of stuff out of the corner of my eyes, that's new too. I move to dig through them. On top, a not broken in half glamour mask, and a note.
Jim,
I thought Claire might get hungry, she told me how much you like to cook so I got some ingredients. Ran into Merlin, asked me to give this to you. Said he didn't want to converse with you. Whatever that means.
Blinkey showed me where to find you, he was bringing Claire's and your stuff back. He also poked me with a horseshoe. What's that about? We came in but you and Claire were asleep. Nice house? I didn't want to wake you, seems it's been a long summer for you both. I wanted to talk with you and Claire about something important. Here is my cell (775)-282-5937. Hope you slept well.
Ryan Skinner.
I dig through the rest of the bags to find some traditional groceries, eggs, milk cereal, fruits and veggies… the usual. One bag full to the brim of smashed soda cans. I chuckle to myself. The last bag, YES! A bag full of scones. Written on it 'save Claire some'. I roll my eyes, the man just met me and he already knows me this well, no wonder he's a detective.
I move the bags inside, and set them on the counter tops, along with the glamor mask and the note. Then begin unloading them into the fridge. How am I going to cook anything without pans and utensils. How am I not going to eat the cooking utensils? I pull out my phone and check the time, thinking I might be able to go out. 6:38 pm. Wow, I slept for almost 12 hours. My eyes glance to the date. Friday August 1st. What? We slept for almost two days. I went to sleep on Thursday morning. And wake up a day and a half later. And Claire is still asleep to. Man that girl needed more rest than I thought.
Taking a smashed soda can out of the bag and eating it, I place the rest in one of the cupboards. I gather up Claire's stuff and bring it inside, trying to be as quiet as possible. But when I go back in Claire is already waking up. "Hey," she says groggily.
"Hey yourself." I grin through my fangs.
"You look like your feeling better." she says rubbing her eyes.
"So do you, sleep good?"
"Yeah, your comfy. I feel like I slept a whole day."
"Ha ha, a day and a half." I walk down into the empty half of the cave crouching down in front of her.
"Very funny Jim. What time is it?" She checks her phone. Why do we do that? Ask the time then check it ourselves? "Oh wow, A good 12 hour sleep."
"Check the date." I muse.
"Oh, WOW! A good 36 hour sleep." she stretches her arms.
"Glad you're well rested. Skinner brought food and breakfast."
"Breakfast? It's 6:30 at night."
"But aren't scones really a breakfast food?"
"Scones?" The sleep in her eyes disappears immediately. Jumping up and pushing past me, accidentally shoving me to the floor. "Oh! Sorry Jim." she helps pull me up.
"It's all good, I put them in the oven to warm them up."
"Mmm, I can smell them. Oh good, Merlin fixed it." She picks up the glamor mask, then sees the note. "Oh, Skinner brought food?"
"Yeah, just a couple things. I'm curious when he brought them by though. Considering we were out cold for a while."
"He said he wants to talk to us about something important."
"Yeah, I didn't want to wake you up, so I decided we could just visit once you got up." I lean against the counter.
"I wonder what about."
"Your guess is as good as mine." The oven timer goes off. I open it wide the warm air brushing our skin, the smell of pastries filling the air.
"Oh, those smell so good." Claire says.
I pull out the oven rack, having not had a pan, and set it on top of the stove.
"No oven mitts? Isn't that like, I don't know, hot?"
Putting my hand in front of her face wiggling blue fingers, "Stone for skin…" I smile at her sarcastic glaire, raising a brow. "Oh no! It hurts so bad! My flesh it's burning!" I scream. "Oh wait, I don't have flesh. It's stone." I grin, two inches from her face.
"You need a toothbrush." she says waving a hand in front of her nose. I open my mouth to speak but she interrupts. "One you can't eat."
"Well, for now these delicious scones will have to suffice. And aren't trolls supposed to have bad breath?" I nag.
"Jim, half trolls don't count. And you haven't brushed in months." She takes a bite of a scone, giggling. I take some off the oven rack, leaving some for Claire. And move to put the last in the paper bag folding the bag up, I take a bite of the wrapped up scone tearing the paper with my large -apparently smelly- teeth.
"You ready to go babe?"
"Babe?"
"Uh… Claire. I definitely meant to say Claire." I say nervously running my hand up my right horn. Oh great, now I've created a nervous habit.
"Yeah, I'm ready to go. Don't forget the glamour mask babe." she smirks tossing me the mask. And walks out of the cave. "Don't want to keep the Detective waiting. Oh, stairs. Nice touch Merlin."
Before leaving, we grabbed a Horngazle from Blinkey making sure that he knew where we were, as to not worry him. We passed Merlin on our way out, he avoided every form of acknowledgement.
I never knew apologizing could be so hard.
Now, after another high speed piggy back ride, we were walking down the sidewalk to the police station, the Glamor Mask securely on my face. Which I had a hard time not fidgeting with. I know that it's only magic, but it's always weird when I can feel the mask pressing up against my face and rubbing on my lower canines that protrude from my mouth. Claire noticed me licking my upper lip and rubbing my squishy face.
"You're drawing attention to yourself, and people are staring." She whispers leaning over, and pulling my arm down from my face to hold lovingly with both of her hands to lean on my shoulder.
"I'm sorry, but it's just weird." I moan quietly.
"I know you don't like the mask, Jim. But it's early, and there are still people out. We're almost to Skinners office. Just a little longer?"
"Alright," I whine. "I bet you like me better this way, huh?"
"Nope, I do like that you're shorter, and you're easier to reach, but I love you anyway you look. Even if you do unintentionally growl. Those new instincts are a bit strange, but I like them. Make you a bit more…"
"Impulsive, angry, uncontrollable, animalistic?" I run down the list, which includes more than just those few.
"Real." She says it quietly, and hugs my arm tighter. "And I love the horns." she giggles running a hand across my hair, a sentimental look on her face.
"Ya know, a couple days ago, I would have been glad to be back in my regular, human skin. But know, It's uncomfortable, and I'd rather be back in my own skin." I stare at my human hands opening and shutting them. "Also, my pinky is starting to make me fumble and drop things 'cus it kinda gets in the way."
We laugh as we walk down the street, hand in hand. Getting a few odd glances here and there.
"Why do the keep looking at us weird?" I whisper in Claire's ear.
"Because, the population here is just barely over 500, and I'm sure they don't get a lot of new people here. Especially ones who stay for more than a week."
"Have we been here a week already?"
"Just about. And it's not like they've seen any adults with us, other then the good Detective, and no adults that they didn't already know. So, I suppose that we will be the center of gossip over the next few months."
"Well, if we weren't already back at home, at least we can be so here." We laugh some more as we get more strange glances as we enter the police station.
Walking inside, we see Skinner at his desk, with a bunch of people yelling, pointing, and screaming at him from all sides. Our previous jovial nature gone within seconds. The look on his face showed stress and fatigue, he's extremely overwhelmed. A protective growl rising in my chest. Claire taps the top of my head where my horns normally reside, with a stern look reminding me of the Glamour Mask that hides my trollish nature. Struggling to bite back the rumble rising in my throat.
The crowd around his desk yelling about a strange creature, they wanted him to do something about it. Describing it for the poor officer who just wanted -and desperately needed- a break from all of this.
"It was tall, huge and dark!" One man yelled
"It had huge teeth!"
"It had long horns like a goat."
"It was a blue demon." Chimed in Mrs. Reid.
Claire looked up at me, with a look that said, How could you be so carles as to let this many people see you? But then we heard the rest of the comments rolling in.
"It looked like a gigantic bat, with bat wings and everything!" A woman yelled.
"No, it looked like a bird with a pitchfork tail. And it stood on two legs."
I look back to Claire with a smirk, a look saying. I'm not that reckless, and I don't have wings and a tail so there's no way that's me. So ha!
Skinner, holding his head in his hands looking down at the paperwork on his desk, looks like he's going to pull his normally clean combed side swept hair from their roots. Even though now, it was standing on end in every direction, the man truly frazzled.
The room was painted a grey, and the station in whole was small. With doors to the holding cells off to the left, and Skinners desk on the right. And the booking station directly in front from the entrance with the interrogation room behind it.
Looking up from his messy papers, he finally notice's Claire and I standing at the entrance.
He looked at us like we were godsend. Ignoring the thronging crowd, he pushed through and ran at us, grabbing us each by a wrist, and pulled us into the interrogation room as the crowd rushed at us Skinner slamming the door and locking it behind us.
He lets out a long, deep sigh. Leaning his back against the door, sliding to the ground, he looks up at me and says, "You have no idea, how long I've been waiting for you."
"I swear I didn't do it." I say quickly, putting my hands up in defense, and taking a step back.
He holds his index finger up to stop me, "I know," he says in a deep breath, letting his hand down. "But I'm sure you can help me." He runs his hand through his messy hair combing it back into order with his fingers.
"Is this what you wanted to talk to us about? The important thing?" Claire asks. Holding a hand out to help the Detective up, he takes it, straightens his cloths, then replies.
"No, but that matter will have to wait. For now, I need Jim's help."
"With what?" I say.
"Well... last week," He gives me a stern look. "I believed the fastest man alive could run a mile in 4 minutes, that humans were the only intelligent life on earth, that trolls didn't exist. I believed those things. And then I found you digging through the dumpster." his tone flat at those last words.
"Sorry?"
"No, no… It's my own fault for looking for trouble." he sighed. Massaging his eyes.
"So what do you need Jim's help with?" Claire asks.
"The point being, now if somebody says stuff like that." he points at the large crowd outside the door banging and screaming about a creature. "I'm more inclined to believe it."
I nod my head. Trying not to laugh at his frazzled posture and crazed eyes. Trying and failing. And so is Claire.
He just stands and glares, before speaking again, more or less speaking then yelling.
"This is serious! And I don't know what to do. It wasn't until you and your group showed up, that this thing decided to come out of hiding. So far no one's gotten hurt, but it's only a matter of time." he raises his hands in the air frantically, throwing them around.
"Alright, I'm sorry, we shouldn't have laughed. But have you seen a bed recently? Or… ah… maybe a mirror?" I say cautiously.
He walks over to the large one way glass, and losses it. He starts laughing like a… well, a crazy person. Turning back, he rubs his face squishing it in between his hands. I look over to Claire, she seems just as concerned as he did just moments ago.
I take his wrists in my smaller than normal hands, he tries pulling away, still having my strength he is unable to break free. Using the leverage I have I lower him to the floor forcing him to calm down.
"I don't know what to do. I haven't slept. Jim, please just catch this thing." He moans shaking his head, bearly awake. I let go of his wrists taking the keys from his belt and turn to Claire.
"I'm going to go talk to the angry mob outside the door, and maybe calm them down, see if I can find out where this thing -what ever it is- is." I unlock the door, holding my body against it and the pounding fists on the other side. I toss Claire the keys. "See if you can't get him home, or at least get him some sleep." She nods, trying to get Detective Skinner to his feet.
"Oh, Jim. Don't forget that you're wearing the Glamour Mask, and that humans don't snarl." Claire says, a reassuring smile on her face.
"Thanks for the reminder." I roll my eyes and rush out of the door, not letting anyone in.
A slight pang in my chest stings as I leave her.
Now surrounded by screeching people. I can barely make out anything they say.
"Hey, we want to talk to the detective!"
"He has to do something about this."
"It was a demon. A BLUE DEMON!" Mrs. Read screams at just the right frequency, I cover my ears and dropping into a crouch I fall onto my side in the fetal position, my ears ringing in pain. I have bite my tongue to stop from roaring in pain, and I can taste the blood in my mouth. Luckily I don't actually roar, but I do scream like a human. And they finally stop yelling
After a minute the ringing dissipates.
"Are you okay, son?" I hear distantly, I look up to a man, with reddish brown hair that stands spiked and long, with dark eyes, he helps me up to my feet.
Unconsciously, I shake my head like a dog. And I get strange looks from the group.
"Um… Yeah, I just have really uh... sensitive eardrums. Thanks for asking." The group looks at me wearly. "I… um… Detective Skinner just needs a minute to clear his head, He hasn't slept in a couple days. You'll me talking to me for the rest of the night." I move to a confidant tone.
"Why you? And I don't mean it to be rude, but…" the man who had helped me up spoke.
"No, no. I understand your concern, after all I'm just a kid. Right?…uh, what's your name?"
"Randy."
"Alright Randy, think of it this way. What's your job?"
"I don't see what this has to do with anything." he says firmly, but respectfully.
"Entertain me." I deadpan, crossing my arms, and acting like a moody teen.
"I'm a Doctor." he stands straight.
"And that's why you asked if I was alright?" he nods. "Okay, say I wasn't alright. And would you feel ok, if someone who wasn't a doctor, tried to revive me?"
"No, but I still don't see the point." Everyone at this point looks confused, but intrigued.
"So It's Detective Skinner's job to protect people?" everyone nods. "And if there is a specific emergency that he doesn't know how to handle on his own?"
"He gets an expert?" a young boy about my age speaks up. Short with dirty blond hair. And bright brown eyes.
"Yeah, so he doesn't know much about this creature you talk about. And he probably doesn't know about anything supernatural. Witch is fine, and that's why he brought in an expert."
"You?" Randy asks.
"Yes."
"Ok, again I don't mean to be rude, but your just a kid." He laughs nervously.
"Yes." I say trying not to show my anger. "But you would be surprised at what I can do, and what I know. And If you had seen what I've seen. You wouldn't be able to sleep for a month." I accidentally snarl. Keeping my composure, I continue to stare Randy down, getting a bit tired of his doubt.
"Alright. What do you need to know."
I sigh, keeping a growl from slipping out. I smile cleverly and begin pacing with purpose.
"I've heard you say what It looks like; tall, blue, horns, bat wings, big teeth, and a tail. Correct?"
They all silently nod and stare intently. I quickly glanced down at myself to make sure the glamour mask was still working. It is. Making me curious what has all these people so entranced with me.
"I can only guess it's behaviors, but I am new to this area and I don't know places it could be hiding. So, what I need from you is... first a map."
"There is one in the bottom desk drawer." the boy spoke up again.
"Thank you! Some progress. What's your name?"
"Justin." he says, looking eager to please.
"Go grab it for me will you Justin?" His smile widens as he nods and runs over to the desk. He runs back and his sneakers screech on the tile as he skids to a stop in front of me.
"Here you go."
"Thanks again."
"Uh… what's your name?" Justin asks. Watching me roll the map out on the floor.
"Oh, duh." I facepalm. "James Lake Jr., but just call me Jim."
"So, you're here in Corbin City, because Detective Skinner contacted you?" Randy asks, still skeptical.
"No, he caught me digging through the auto shop's dumpster for food, then arrested me. Only to find that I was a large troll with horns." I say it with a completely straight face.
"But there's nothing edible in the auto shop's dumpster…"
"And I'm not a troll. And I don't have horns." I remark snidely.
"But you just…" Randy starts but I cut him off.
"GOSH! Don't you know how to mind your own business? Even Justin knows how." He backs down, embarrassed. And in the corner of my eye is see Justin feeling proud of himself.
"Alright, so… ugh, I need a sharpie or a pen, Justin could you…" before I could finish he was back with a black marker in hand. "Keep this up and you may just be joining my team." His eyes light up like a kids on Christmas.
"You have a team? Awesome."
"Now, one by one -and if someone screams I will find this demon and let it loose on you- tell me where you saw this thing, no embellishments just where you saw it. And don't start talking over each other. Please."
"Right here," one man pointed. I draw a dot where he pointed.
"Over here by the edge of town." another dot.
"Here."
"Right there." a few more dots.
"I saw it right here in front of my caffe." I look up to see Mrs. Read. "Why aren't you drawing a dot there?" I kinda just stare and contemplate for a moment when I hear a quiet moaning.
"Mrs. Read, you did not see a demon. I was right there. And there was no demon." I turn my head to see Claire supporting Detective Skinner. As do the rest of the heads.
"Humph… Fine," Mrs. Read says. She walks past Claire and leves.
Under my breath I say "And take your high pitched screaming with you." Witch only Justin heard but chuckled at.
"Jim, I'm going to drive Skinner home. I'll won't be back for a while, because it's his car. So text me if you leave the station or if you need to know where to pick me up."
"You got it. Drive safe babe."
"For sure, but Jim. Again, remember the mask. I heard you from the interrogation room." I nod and everyone just switches staring at Claire or me as she walks out. Suddenly I get punched in the shoulder.
"Dude?" I say turning to Justin. Restraining myself from punching him back. I didn't hurt, but at least I'm squishy with the mask, otherwise he might have broken something.
"Yeah, dude. That's your girlfriend?"
"And my partner." I say firmly. Making sure he backs off a bit.
"That's awesome that you have such good friends." he says, almost sadly.
I shrug it off for the moment. Turning back and finishing the map.
"Are these all the places you all saw it?" they nod. "You may leave unless you have further questions or want to delay me dealing with this thing." everyone but Randy and Justin leave.
"Ok, now if I can figure out what it is, I can make a plan."
"You don't know?" Randy gets brave again.
"No, I can't say I do. As I said, I'm not familiar with this area." I say calmly standing. I brush my pants off. Waiting for him to get to the point.
"Some expert you are." he huffs. And I lose it.
"Look RANDY, do you know how to get rid of it?" I yell.
He marches up to me rolling his sleeves, probably having had enough of a 16-year-old kid tell him how it is. And he looks ready to fight.
"Have you battled ancient monsters that snack on humans, have you dealt with infestations of gnomes, or hordes of goblins?" I Don't give him time to answer. My trollish voice no longer hidden my the mask. "No, I don't think you have, unless you're a changeling. But if you were a changeling you would already know who I am, and what I'm capable of. I'm an expert because I have experience and ability. I've learned because I needed to know and I needed to know because I was forced to adapt. I've dealt with dark dimensions, grumpy wizards, evil sorceress, people getting possessed and the end of the world. Don't think for a second that you could take me down, anyone who underestimates me loses. So if you want to fight me, go ahead. I'll even let you land the first shot." I deadpan, staring him down for a full three minutes before he backs off. Walking away. I turn to Justin, who looks at me like he's about to pee himself. His eyes flitter over my shoulder, and I hear footsteps charging toward me.
I turn on my heel, catching his fist in what would normally be my four fingered hand. The former determination and rage on his face is gone, replaced with shock and terror. At eye level with the guy I would normally be towering over, I can see sweat beading on his brow. His fist still firm in my slowly increasingly tight grasp.
"Doctor, do you really want to fight someone who's seen the end of the world?"
He lets his arm relax and looks at the floor, sighing in defeat. I pick him up by the back collar of his shirt, he looks at his dangling feet and panics. I walk over to the door and literally drop him outside. Locking the door behind me.
"Well he went from nice guy to jerk real quick." I say then turn back to the last person. "You seem like a nice kid Justin, how old are you?" His smile restored and Randy forgotten, he lights up.
"I just turned 14."
"You seem a lot smarter than an average freshmen." I chuckle taking out the sharpie from my back pocket. And setting myself on the floor next to the map.
"Well I'm going to be a junior this year, I skipped a couple years."
I raise my eyebrow, eyeing him closely. "Why are you here at the police station? Did you see the creature?"
"Yeah, but I don't remember where. Sorry."
"You don't have to be sorry. Half the time I forget where I'm going." he laughs at that.
"Oh, but I do know what it is." He says excitedly.
"Really? What is it?"
"Well most of the people know what it is they are just too afraid to say it."
"So, what is it?" I ask again,
"The Jersey Devil."
"Why is it that it's always something so obvious?" I breath out. Justin sits next to me and watches my every move. I circle clumps of dots where the Jersey Devil could be hiding. He sits on his hands, trying and failing not to look to figity.
"You have a questions," I sigh.
"Yeah, but I'm trying to mind my own business." he smiles sheepishly. I snort out a laugh, nodding my head.
"Well, It's just you and me. So it should be fine, I'll either answer it or say pass. If I say pass don't push the question. Got it?" He nods furiously. "Ask away then."
"Ok, so did you really do all those thing you say you did?"
"The things I told Randy? Yeah, and a lot more."
"Who's your team?"
"Well, right now it's basically just Claire and I. Normally there's Claire, me, my best friend Toby, Strickler I guess. And a few others."
"You're all pretty tight then huh?" a pang of sadness shows through his smile.
"Yeah, I guess we are." I realize now that he is the Eli of Corbin City, and without friends. "But, like I said, right now it's just Claire and I, so we could use an extra hand. Maybe in time. I'm going to be in town for a while though, so we should hang out sometime, I don't have anything else going. And maybe we could see if you are good enough to be on my team."
"Oh that would be the coolest."
"Ha ha, alright next question?"
"How old are you?"
"I'll be 17 next month."
"Oh cool, we'll be in the same grade. Are you going to enroll at Corbin high?"
"I don't think so."
"Shame. OK, so here is what I'm dying to know. How did you get all of those adults to listen to you?"
"Oh, well? Um… I had their attention, after I collapsed for a second. Then I addressed the issue they all wanted to hear about, but because they didn't want to listen I made it personal, I got Randy's name and his job, used some logic made myself sound intelligent and bam. I was able to command the room, it also helps if you keep a tone of mystery. Keeps them interested."
"Where did you learn that?" he asks.
"Claire, my girlfriend. Her mom is basically mayor back where we live. I've also had a lot of experience with crowd control."
"That's awesome."
"I haven't used it a lot though, because I'm in a group that only responds to authority and brute strength."
"Witch you apparently have."
"What, have you seen these noodle arms?"
"Yes, but I also saw you lift Dr. Cross with one arm. Like it was nothing, you also stopped his punch. Like a brick wall or something."
"And? He's not that strong."
"He used to be one of the best boxers in the world, he is that strong."
This might end badly.
"What are you getting at?" I press cautiously.
"Just that you're really strong. Probably from fighting monsters."
I let out an internal sigh of relief, then I hear a rapping at the window. I turn and see Claire. I pick up the map and roll it up. Justin scrambles to his feet. I shut off the lights and walk outside.
Claire giggles, "Who's the shadow?" I can't help but laugh.
"Claire this is Justin." she holds out her hand for him to shake. Which he does, vigorously. "Justin is going to show us the places that the creature was spotted." He looks at me like I just gave him a million dollars.
"REALLY?"
"I don't see why not. You know your way around, but Claire and I have only been here a week. Care to show us around?"
"Oh my gosh. I won't let you down. Follow me." he walks ahead skipping. Pretty much singing his excitement.
"You basically just fed a homeless dog." Claire whispers in my ear.
"Don't worry, It's not like we're gonna keep him. That would be weird."
"Well, as long as we find that thing."
"You won't believe what it's called."
"Oh really?"
"It's the freakin' Jersey Devil."
"How do we miss these things?"
"I don't know."
"So how long are we going to follow him before he decides to look at the map?"
"Let him have his minute."