3Below: The Adventure Continues

Chapter 10: Things Become Clear

Chapter 10: Things Become Clear

2 Weeks Later....

"I don't understand! We've been at it for 2 weeks now and we haven't found anything since that night we got attacked! What gives?!" Steve yelled out in annoyance as he paced back and forth in Toby's room while Eli and Toby looked over the map while ARRRGGHHH! watched him, "And how is it that we can't find that clearing again!? We have a map! Oh man, we only have a month left of summer before school starts, what're we gonna do?!" Steve added as he grabbed his hair in frustration. That's when Toby finally slide off his bed to stand, "Steve, calm down. We'll find those aliens again. How? I don't know," he said as he began to rub his chin, thinking of how to go about their current situation. It was that moment that Eli, too, slide off the bed, "Or maybe we can just ditch the woods altogether. At least for now," Eli suggested leaving the boys and the giant troll dumbfounded, "What? Why?" Toby asked him in confusion. Eli fixed his glasses before he spoke, "Well, I've been thinking and what if these aliens aren't as bad as we think they are?" Eli asked them. Toby and Steve looked at each other with confused but thoughtful looks on their faces, "Go on," Toby said to him as he turned back to Eli, encouraging him to continue. "Well, instead of going, what I consider, the classic theory of aliens invading and taking over the planet, may I consider the alternative theory?" Eli offered to them, almost cautiously. The two boys and the giant troll looked at each other for a moment, confused as to where Eli was going with this, "What's the alternative theory?" Steve asked him, confused. "Well, what if these aliens are not invading but trapped here? I mean what if they crash landed here and have no way of getting back home?" he offered once more. After saying this the boys and the giant trolls looked at him with a cocked eyebrow in confusion, "What makes you think that they're stuck here?" Toby asked him, confused as to why Eli thinks this theory after what the aliens have put them through but at the same time, he was willing to give them the benefit of a doubt. "Remember that night when that one alien came after us?" Eli ask them. They nodded in response, encouraging Eli to continue, "Well, I don't know if you guys noticed but that alien looked like he was firing shots at us randomly," Eli said to them. Toby eyes widen slightly. He was about to say something before Steve beat him to the punch, "Wait, wait, wait, hold on second. You think that alien was just trying to scare us away?" Steve asked him in disbelief, unsure of whether that he should take this theory in consideration as Eli nodded. However, the gears in Toby's head were working at a fast pace. At first, this theory doesn't seem plausible but looking back, even if he wasn't paying half attention as Eli, he couldn't help but feel that there's a possibility that he maybe right. Sure, the alien shot at them directly but what if that was just a warning shot to just show them that he has impeccable aim and then the rest of the shots were just to scare them? Again, sounded far-fetched but it could be possible, "Even if the "Stranded Alien" theory was right, why should we consider ditching the woods?" Toby asked him, still confused as to why they should abandon the woods. "Well, they got to be getting their resources somewhere, right? Where else can they get it other than town?" Eli offered, leaving Toby to think. However, Steve was having a hard time understanding what he's implying, "I don't know, Pepperbuddy. That seems far-fetched to me, besides I would think someone in town would notice two blueish-greenish four-armed aliens and their giant bodyguard," Steve said to him, revealing his doubts, "No, no, he maybe on to something here. Remember Strickler?" Toby offered, "Our history teacher that turned out to be a troll, how can I forget?" Steve said to him sarcastically, "What does Strickler have to do with any of this?" Eli asked him confused. "Strickler is a changling. They're trolls that have the ability to change from fully human to fully troll," Toby explained to them. Eli began to ponder while Steve was still confused, "So?" he said, no sure where he was going with this. "So, what if these aliens can do something like that? Change from human to alien," Toby explained farther. At that, Eli's mind clicked, "Which means there's people here that aren't who they say they are," Eli added, getting somewhat excited as Steve began to understand what they were talking about. Toby smile in somewhat relief after finally making some sort of breakthrough. That is, until he thought of something and pretty soon his smile was replaced with a frown, "The only thing is, how do we figure out who's human and who's not? I highly doubt a Gagletack can help us," Toby said to them. The boys looked confused when they heard the word "Gagletack" unsure what it was as they peered up to the giant troll in the room, "A horseshoe made of pure iron, help find changling," he said to them, simply, "Ooooh," the two boys said together and with that their looks change from confusion to thoughtful, "Yeah, how do we figure that out?" Eli asked, confused as to go about this. The small team stood there in silence for a moment before Toby suddenly had an idea, "Well, they're aliens, right? Which means they're using some highly advance technology," Toby started as he suddenly glanced to his desk, "And technology gives off a magnetic field," he added, walking to his desk as everyone's attention was drawn to what he was doing. Toby made it to a side drawer, pulled it out, and started to rummage through it. He did this for a few minutes before moving to another drawer when he couldn't find what he was looking for, pulled it out, and started to rummage through that one. After a minute more, he pulled out a small object, smiling when found it. He closed the drawer and turned to face his friends, "I think I know how we can find them," he said as he walked back to the group. When he returned to his spot, he revealed the object to them. As the group looked down at the saw a compass, everyone cocked an eyebrow in confusion, "A compass?" Steve said in confusion while Eli's look change from confused to thoughtful as he scratched his chin, "How's a compass going to help us find the aliens?" Steve asked him as his arms dropped to his sides. That's when Eli's mind clicked as he started to understand what Toby was getting at, "No, no, no, Toby maybe onto something here. Go on, Toby," Eli encouraged as the group sat there ready to listen to what he has to say, "Well, everybody knows how a compass works, right? The needle is attracted to the Earth's magnetic pole," Toby explained as he pointed to the needle. However, while Eli was putting the pieces together, Steve and ARRRGGHHH! still looked at him in confusion, "I still don't see how that helps us," Steve said while ARRRGGHHH! nodded his head, confirming his own confusion, "Like I said before, technology gives off a magnetic field, right?" Toby ask them as Steve and ARRRGGHHH! continued to stare at him on confusion while Eli tried to understand how a compass was going to help them, "Yes, but magnetic fields that come off from TVs, phones, and other devices aren't strong enough for a compass to detect," Eli said to him, "Maybe so, but what about highly advance alien technology? Surely whatever's keeping them hidden gives off a strong magnetic field, right? Maybe it's strong enough for the compass to detect it," Toby explained farther. After that, Eli scratched the side of his face while Steve and ARRGGHHH! as they finally somewhat understood what Toby was getting at, "Hmmm, it might work. I mean it certainly wouldn't hurt to try it," Eli said to him, "Yeah, but how do we know what to look for?" Steve asked, "Simple, we just follow North. That is, if the magnetic field is strong enough to be detected by compass, otherwise we might end up on the other side of town," Eli explained as he pointed to the "N" on the compass. "Well, then I suggest we get started. Sorry, Wingman looks like you're going to have to stay here this time," Toby said to ARRRGGHHH! "That's okay, I can play Go-Go Sushi," ARRRGGHHH! assured him with a smile on his face. Toby return the smile before turning back to Steve and Eli, "Alright, men! Let's move out!" he said to them with a determine smile on his as he led the way downstairs as Steve and Eli followed him. "Okay, I think our best bet is to start at the square then work our way around town," Toby said to them as he thought out the plan of action. However, before they could get out the door, "Toby-Pie! Can you come in here for a second?!" Nana yelled out to her grandson, her kind voice ringing through the air. Toby stopped immediately and without a second thought, he gave the compass to Eli, "Sorry, guys, I have to go see what she needs. Go on ahead get started without me," he said to them as he headed for the kitchen, "Ok. Come on, Steve, let's go," Eli said to his friend as they walked out the door with the compass in hand.