Killing time.
I'd cooked, done laundry, scrubbed the kitchen counter twice, and fallen down a rabbit hole researching the technological development of Arcadia Oaks—which, honestly, wasn't much to brag about even in this new time period. Still, anything to keep my mind busy while I waited for him to show.
When I finally heard a familiar knock, I was halfway to the door before the sound even faded.
I swung it open, stepping aside."Hey, come in, man."
I kept my voice casual, adding a reassuring smile, but I could tell the second I saw him—Toby was wound tighter than a drum. His eyes were wide, his hands twitchy, and there was a fizzing energy coming off him like he was about to explode into words.
He stepped in, opening his mouth, then closing it again. For a second, I thought maybe he'd forgotten how to speak. But then—
"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… that's not exactly how—"
And then, before I could finish, the front door creaked again.
Blinky and AAARRRGGHH!!! stepped inside like they owned the place.
The reaction was… predictable.
Toby's eyes bulged. His hands went for his phone so fast I swear he broke the sound barrier. "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 my very non-human guests, "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.
Blinky didn't miss a beat. "And not merely any Trollhunter, young Tobias, but the first human Trollhunter in history."
I watched Toby's face shift from suspicion to awe, and for a second, I thought we might actually be making progress. But then—
"Jim?" My mom's voice cut through the air, followed by the sound of keys on the kitchen counter. "I forgot my phone!"
Panic set in instantly. 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—AAARRRGGHH!!! barely fit—and shut the door.
"Uh, just a sec, Mom!" I called, stepping back 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.
As I turned back, I noticed a faint glow spilling from the crack beneath the bathroom door. My pulse jumped. Opening it again, I found Toby staring at the Amulet of Daylight like it was the Holy Grail.
"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. "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 I 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 admitted, "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. She handed 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. This whole secret was getting harder by the minute.
Once the coast was clear, AAARRRGGHH!!! lumbered out of the bathroom and, predictably, started knocking things over in 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, like he could just hand back 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, but I knew—whether he liked it or not—this was only the beginning.