" Just kill me.. "

" W-What? Branch.. You can't be serious. "

He'd glare at her, with grey eyes, soulless inside. " I now know what happens when you die so.. Just, beat me to death. "

" No. " Pana answered truthfully as she stared at him, afraid of what he'll do.

She was expecting him to yell but.. He  cried with tearings dripping on the cold concrete floor.

Pana walked over, bringing Branch in a hug as she let him cry
on her shoulder, but didn't hug back. " It's okay.. Shh.. "

He'd remain silent, just crying softly on her shoulder.

* * *

The next morning, Poppy felt energetic today - but still depressed.

She was following Flint as the others stayed behind her. " P-Poppy..? " Cooper stuttered, rarely ever stuttering. " Hm? " She turned her head, not ready for what Cooper had to say. " Didn't you think Key looked a lot like Branch? He sounded like him too.. "

Poppy stopped in her tracks, thinking.
" N-No, that's impossible. Branch d-died and I think Key is the reason behind this. " She continued following  Flint. " Cooper has a point. " Chenille said, making Poppy sigh.

" Listen, guys.. Branch is probably still alive but, it's impossible to think Branch is Key. I mean, why would he hide from us? "

" Because he was afraid. " Flint turned his head towards Poppy, locking eyes with her. The gray troll's eyes widen at that, her heart nearly skipped a beat.

" He's alive.. For now. " Flint turned again, continuing to walk.

Poppy and the gang were just standing there, a little traumatized of what he just said. Yet, Poppy snapped out of it and ran towards Flint, putting a hand on his shoulder.
" What do you mean, Flint? " She sounded serious, but afraid.

Flint chuckled. " You'll know soon. " He'd pull out a box cutter, immediately sitting Poppy's wrist.

She screamed in pain as she fell to her knees, staring a the blood slowly gushing out of her wrist.

Cooper then charged, not letting his friend get slashed on his watch. Chenille and Fuzzbert joined in, using their hair to trap Flint.

Flint used his knife to cut their hair, as Chenille backed with even shorter hair then before, same with Fuzzbert.

Cooper was being dangled upside down by Flint's hair gripping on to one of his hooves, feeling the blood rush to his head.

He did the same with the rest of the trolls, as he continued walking towards the tower - where Branch was being held hostage.

The trip was somewhat simple, since Flint knew where he was going.

He'd stop infront of a huge rock, knocking on it. The rock divided into two and slowly - and loudly - gave him a entrance for him. Flint gladly walked through the door as the rock divider into one again.

Poppy was half-awake, she felt like she was about to pass out, but wanted to scream.

After a while, a large troll walked over, wearing a leather tuxedo as he took the gray trolls and carried them by his silver like hair. The troll then tossed them into seperate cells.

Poppy weakly stood, walking over to the rusty bed and ripped off a piece of the fabric and wrapped it around his wrist and tied it into a tight knot.

It hurted her more but at least it wouldn't spill out.

She'd put her forehead against a bar that had been divided into a replica of an prison cell, being just like it.

She'd silently cry as the gray troll fell to her knees. It was hopeless.. She had no chance of finding the rest of the trolls and finding the goddamn Hoon..
The Hoon wasn't mentioned once, as it probably wasn't even one..

Flint stepped infront of Poppy's cell, his grin evil yet hypnotizing. Chenille then weakly pressed herself against the bars. " WE'RE GONNA FUCK YOU UP, FLINT! " Her voice echoed around the room.

Cooper and Fuzzbert were unconscious, as Branch and Pana ignored the voice, not recognizing it.

The large troll stomped over to Chenille's cell, punching the bars which created a dent used to threaten her, which it did.

Poppy then cried out. " LEAVE CHENILLE ALONE, YOU MONSTER! " You could hear her voice crack as she said it.

Then another voice came 5 cells down them. " Queen Poppy, is that you? " She saw a white troll, picking her head out. Her eyes widen slightly. " P-Pana? "

Then, she heard a male voice coming from Pana's direction. " Poppy..? " She squinted, not immeditately recognizing the voice. " Yes? " She gripped the bars with her hands, biting her lower lip nervously.

Then, Branch poked his head out through the bar. He looked more grey and more dirty.

Then, her heart stopped

It was him..

It was Branch.

And it was no dream this time.