Troll Daddy's Arc

Chapter 5 of 13

The fire burned low as dawn light crept through the high windows. Troll Daddy stood and stretched his stiff back. The kids were still asleep, huddled together under the sleeping bag. Troll Mother watched him with tired eyes. He walked deeper into the change room, past the rows of rusted lockers and broken benches. At the far end, behind a partition wall, he found a small storage shed built into the corner. Vines had grown through cracks in the concrete, wrapping around the wooden door frame. The hinges had rusted orange. He pulled the door open and coughed at the dust. Inside, an old locker stood against the back wall, moss creeping up from its base. The paint had peeled away in sheets. He tried the handle. Locked. He looked around for something to pry it open and found a broken pipe on the floor. The locker door groaned open. Inside sat a canvas bag, stiff with age. He opened it carefully. Coins spilled into his palm, each one heavy and cold. Some were silver, others bronze. They had strange engravings he didn't recognize. He turned them over, studying the worn faces and symbols. Someone had hidden these here decades ago and never came back. Maybe they'd planned to return. Maybe they ran out of time. He thought about his father's compass in his pocket. Things left behind. Promises broken. Troll Brother appeared beside him, rubbing his eyes. "What did you find?" Troll Daddy showed him the coins. "Someone left these here a long time ago. They meant to come back, but they never did." Troll Brother touched one of the coins, tracing the design. "Why not?" Troll Daddy closed his hand around the coins. "I don't know. But we're different. We're going to make it home together, and I'm going to teach you everything I know. Starting today." He poured the coins back into the bag and stood. The cache wasn't treasure. It was a warning. He wouldn't leave things undone anymore.