I recommend twice as much discretion as in the previous chapter.

----O----

King Gristle: - That was... !DELICIOUS! - He shouted with a euphoria never seen before.

Chef: - Wonderful! -

Chef clapped twice and a band of bergen mariachis invaded the room playing a joyous tune that warmed everyone's hearts. King Gristle watched in amazement as the band surrounded him and danced around him. Showing genuine happiness on his face, like that of a child who had just discovered a new passion. His face even showed tenderness, despite the yellow sauce that dripped from his mouth and stained his shirt. Complemented with some terrifying bloodstains.

Although from the euphoria that was capable of shaking the castle from the table, Branch couldn't even turn around. He was so scared that his muscles did not respond to him, and he could barely control his bladder. The chilling scene played in his mind over and over again, driving him to the brink of madness. Finally, a strong blow brought him out of the state he was in.

King Gristle left the room with little happy hops as the mariachi band followed him. The loud noise caused by the doors closing was what managed to get Branch out of the shock he was in. With much effort, he managed to move his hands, then his feet, and finally, he was able to turn around, only to see that Chef was left alone in the room.

At this point, Branch had given up all hope. Every cell in his body was screaming for him to run away as fast as he could. His brain was pushing him to the limit, trying to contain the urges to jump up and run for his life. But that was not the time. One misstep was all it took for his life to suffer the same fate. So, he decided to stay hidden on top of the chandelier until everyone left, but:

Chef: - It's so lovely to see a child smile for the first time. - She said after a long sigh. - Don't you think so... Princess Poppy? -

At that moment, a ray of lucidity crossed Ramón's brain from one end to the other. Hearing Poppy's name was all it took for the fear to leave his body. His extremities stopped shaking uncontrollably, his muscles were already reacting to his will and his appeased heart began to beat again with force.

Poking his head out, Branch could see Chef rummaging through the fanny pack he was wearing, pulling Princess Poppy out of the bag, holding onto it with her big hands. Poppy's face was torn with grief. She had seen from the front row how Creek had been devoured, as well as heard his dying screams and the crunching of his bones. She could barely move, Chef's fingernail brushing her neck. In addition, her muscles did not react due to fear either, tears ran down her face without being able to say a word, doing everything possible not to burst into tears in front of her predator.

Chef: - Oh... Don't cry little one... Because if you do... "I won't be able to enjoy my happiness." -

Chef's last words took Poppy's breath away, and she couldn't do anything before the bergen hid her inside her fanny pack again. Having secured her prey, Chef turned and stalked out of the room, ignoring the beast that had awakened behind her.

Branch, who was able to see every detail, lost much of his self-control. Chef's ruthless face when looking at her prey, Poppy's anguish and suffering, as well as how her wobbly legs, and her death-threatening neck, were the trigger for all the frustrations and spite that Branch had had in his life.

More by instinct than will, Branch managed to sneak among the staff, following Chef closely without her noticing his presence. He used his hair to jump from one place to another, hiding behind anything, leaving behind the Berten servants who transported ornaments and vessels from one place to another.

Finally, Chef reached a room, ignoring the shadow that was following her closely. The door to the room was open for just two seconds, but it was enough for Branch to slip away and climb the walls until he reached one of the lamps that hung from the ceiling. It all happened so fast that he barely had time to analyze the situation, but only then, he could realize where he was.

It was an extremely dark room, lit only by the flames of a chimney lying down in a of the walls. Right in front, a huge velvet armchair took orange and yellow tones to the beat of the fire dance. On the right side, a huge library with several books, on whose shelves it said: "Cooking knowledge about Trolls" or "How to skin a Troll." To the left, a rough collection of butcher's knives and hatchets, neatly arranged and sharp. Without a doubt, the ideal place for a psychopath.

Chef: - It's good to be home. - She said stretching her body, and then she dropped onto the comfortable velvet seat in front of the carved stone fireplace.

Once comfortable, Chef reached back into the fanny pack and pulled Poppy out by grabbing her hair. The princess didn't have the courage to say a word, she just clung tightly to a strange being that lay in her hands. It was Mr. Dinkles.

Chef: - Hmm. I see it comes with dressing. -

The bergen laughed cynically for a few seconds, but then he refocused on her prey, looking at it with the same eyes a tiger looks at a deer. Her expression did not show any kind of compassion or pity, despite Poppy's face, which would be able to bring tears to even the most ruthless beings in the forest. But for the bergen, she was nothing more than simple food.

Chef: - You know? After so long, I consider myself a specialist preparing delicious dishes with you. - She told Poppy without any remorse and then showed a macabre smile. - But... The truth is that... the best way to devour you... Is by swallowing them alive. -

At that moment, Poppy's sanity snapped. Clinging to Mr. Dinkles with all her might, she began to scream desperately as Chef placed her on his head, her mouth wide open, ready to gobble her up. And when Chef released her, Poppy saw her entire life flash before her eyes in less than a second. The next thing he saw, it was absolute darkness.

Chef closed his mouth, swallowing the princess like a snake swallowing an egg. For an instant, you could even see his bulging throat, but then he just leveled out. The bergen was preparing to lie down to enjoy her appetizer to the fullest, but something was not in his plans.

????: - ¡NOOOOOOOOO! -

A piercing scream was heard from above. It was Branch, who rushed to catch up with Poppy before she was devoured, jumping from lamp to lamp while swinging with his hair. But it was too late. The bergen looked up to discover the source of the scream, but when she raised her head, she could see nothing but a shadow rushing over her body.

Branch fell hard from the heights, and with his sharp knife, he ripped Chef's neck in a single clean cut, cutting his windpipe perpendicularly. On impulse, the bergen jerked violently, causing the enormous velvet chair to fall backwards, throwing Branch several meters rolling on the ground. Feeling her neck open, Chef couldn't help but squirm and move his hands desperately trying to lose blood, but to no avail. Not even ten seconds passed before the huge beast collapsed to the ground on a huge stain of its own bodily fluids. After the chilling scene, perfectly embellished with the darkness of the place, a series of screams made death itself scared.

Branch: - POPPY! POPPY! POPPY! POPPY! - He yelled repeatedly over and over again.

Without wasting a minute, and despite having a dislocated shoulder after the hard fall, Branch stood up and ran to where the bergen lay. At that point, not a drop of sanity remained in the troll's mind.

He did not hesitate for a second to cut the garments that the bergen wore, and his hand did not tremble as he ripped the beast's abdomen with his knife. Slash after slash, Branch worked his way up the thick foot, until finally the monster's guts spilled over him when the membrane could no longer support the weight. Taking a second breath, and without stopping to shout the name of the princess, Branch pierced the stomach, opening it as if it were a pumpkin. It was only then that a small streak of pink gave him a glimmer of hope.

Branch hailed hard and managed to get Poppy's body out of the disgusting bag, who was still clinging tightly to Mr. Dinkles. Despite being covered in blood from head to toe, Branch's skin burned when the beast's gastric juices made contact with his body. Noticing, she grabbed some of the torn clothing and dried every part of Poppy's body, who already had some chemical burns from exposure to strong stomach acids. When she was finally "clean", Branch continued to call her.

Branch: - POPPY! POPPY! - He screamed in agony.

Poppy's body contracted violently. First one, then another. Finally, her mouth fell open and a foul yellowish fluid began to ooze from her throat, followed by an uncontrollable cough.

Branch: - POPPY! POPPY! - This time he yelled with joy as he wiped his face.

Poppy made a very slight recovery. Every part of her body, whether it was inside or out, burned like hell. Her skin showed burns, but nothing really severe, and her hair and clothes were a mess.

Poppy: - Bra... anch. - She said with hardly any strength.

Branch: - Yes. Yes. It's me. Branch. - Said while he held her hand.

Poppy didn't have an ounce of strength to speak. Instead, she couldn't help but show a slight smile of thanks, while a tear ran from her right eye. But barely five seconds later, Poppy's eyes closed one more time, never to open again.

Branch: - Poppy? Poppy? - He asked fearfully. - POPPY!? - He screamed in agony.