[This chapter contains scenes from Episode 12: Claire and Present Danger from Trollhunters]
"Master Jim, pray tell, where exactly did you acquire this device?" Blinky stood across from Jim in Toby's room, holding the Fetch in one of his four hands.
"That's not important right now." Jim deflected, avoiding the troll's six-eyed gaze as Toby and AAARRRGGHH had started playing games once again, trying to distract themselves in the wake of Gnome Chompsky's departure.
"Master Jim, I do not mean to question your drive or your commitment to saving the child, but I fear you are being reckless and hiding things from us." Blinky spoke in a low tone, addressing Jim across the room from the others. "I would like to believe I have done my best to be there for you, as a mentor and confidant. So please, tell me the truth."
Jim felt his chest tighten up as Blinky confronted him. It was hard not telling the troll everything, but he had to do what he had to do. At least for now, he couldn't afford to change things too much by letting Blinky know about his and Strickler's plans.
Blinky gave him a continued imploring look but, before Jim's resolve could crack, there was an urgent knock at the window. All four of them turned and noticed NotEnrique hunched there,
"Open up! Let me in!" The little Changeling demanded gruffly.
"Oh no…" Realization struck Jim as he rushed over and flung open the window, letting the hairy little green creature crawl in.
"A goblin came at me. I made mincemeat out of him, but now, the rest of 'em want their pound of flesh." NotEnrique squealed, scrambling up onto a nearby table to weave his tale. "I'm lucky to have escaped with only a soiled diaper!"
"You've drawn the ire of goblin vengeance and have led them here!" Blinky grabbed NotEnrique by the scruff, slamming him into the desk.
"Relax! They think the girl did it." NotEnrique squirmed in Blinky's grip, doing his best to escape. "Now, they're after her."
Jim felt his stomach sink as he remembered how events unfurled the first time and immediately turned and rushed for the door. He knew this was going to happen yet, once again, he forgot about it.
"They're after Claire. I've gotta go!"
"Wait, Master Jim! Wait!"
Jim ignored Blinky, sprinting out of the room and down the stairs at lightning speed. He quickly made his way across the cul de sac, grabbing his helmet and leaping onto his bike as he started furiously pedaling down the street towards Claire's house. It was far, but he made the trip once before. He just hoped nothing else changed.
Standing outside Claire's house, Jim considered his approach. He couldn't just walk up to the front door, even when Mr. and Mrs. Nunez didn't hate him, he couldn't exactly tell Claire a horde of goblins were after her with her parents in the room. He could climb up to her window like he had the first time. As he thought about how he would tell her what was happening, another thought crossed his mind.
What if he just told her everything?
His hand was forced the first time around as he was so desperate to save her from the goblins, but now there was more than just the world of the Trollhunter that he was keeping from her. There was a lot he wanted to say but there was risk involved as well.
As he was standing there, thinking to himself, he felt something strike him in the head, making him jump in surprise. He looked around, ready for battle, half expecting the goblins or maybe Bular or Nomura to be there, ready to pounce. However, as another coin flew through the air, glinting in the moonlight, Jim glanced up and saw Claire leaning out her window, waving her arms and trying to get his attention.
"Psst! Hey! Earth to Jim!" She waved again, realizing she had gotten his attention. "What are you doing here?"
Jim was caught off guard and didn't know how to respond. He hadn't even gotten his thoughts together and now Claire was there, waiting for his answer.
"I… um… hold on." Jim quickly ran up to the side of the house, scaling it quickly as he hopped up onto the roof by Claire's window.
The punk girl seemed surprised at his acrobatics, blinking a couple times while looking back at the spot Jim had been standing literal seconds earlier.
"Wow, I didn't realize you could do that." She laughed nervously. "But seriously, what are you doing here? I know the whole window scene is nice, but now is hardly the time to practice."
"Practice? What– oh, the play. Right." Jim tried to focus his scrambled thoughts. "Uh, can I come in?"
"Sure." Claire nodded though she did raise an eyebrow curiously before moving aside and letting Jim crawl in through the window.
Her room was just like he remembered it. Neat and tidy with some posters hanging on the wall and an overall sort of purple theme. It had a cozy atmosphere with the head of her bed pressed up right next to the window overlooking the woods in her backyard.
Memories flashed through Jim's mind as he couldn't help but remember all the time he and Claire spent together. How deeply they had come to know and love each other. It took everything he had just to remind himself that things were different now. They hadn't been through everything they'd been through yet. Things couldn't be the same. Not yet.
"Jim, are you alright? What's wrong?" Claire asked, slowly walking over to him, putting a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"I… I need to tell you something." Jim searched for the words, trying his best to keep a clear head.
"Now? Jim, it's the middle of the night. I'm not supposed to have boys in–" Claire stopped, looking at him for a long moment before taking a step back and sitting down on her bed. "What do you need to tell me?"
"It's… it's complicated. And it's gonna sound crazy…" Jim wrestled with his emotions, starting to idly pace back and forth before he heard a creaking noise from outside. He didn't have time.
"You're usually so put together, Jim." Claire continued to stare at him, her dark eyes brimming with worry. "It's like you know everything and have everything figured out. So what has you so worried?"
"Alright. It's gonna sound crazy, but I need you to listen to me." Jim took a deep breath as his eyes darted to the open window, seeing a shadow skitter by. "Your little brother has been switched with a Changeling, and that Changeling got a bunch of goblins super mad at you and now they're on their way to take revenge."
The room was silent for a long minute as Jim closed his eyes, not wanting to see how hard he bungled the explanation. He eventually had to open them though and saw Claire staring back at him, wide-eyed and surprised. It looked like she had been expecting something, but it was clear what Jim said was not it.
Immediately she rushed out of her room, darting down the hall to Enrique's door and throwing it open. Jim followed close behind, just in time to see her throw back the blankets of the crib and find it empty, Enrique nowhere in sight.
"Enrique!" Claire gasped, covering her mouth in shock before turning back to Jim, her mind clearly racing. "Where is he? Where's my brother?"
"Claire, I'll explain everything. For now, we need to get out of here." Jim glanced to the window as he saw another skittering shadow dart past. "Your brother is in the Darklands, but he's safe. If you want to find him, we need to go. Now."