Synan, Zoe, James, Syrus, Veronica, and

Kail stand around the cylinder, hands joined.

“I will now send Synan, Zoe, James, and

Syrus to Earth. I will return Kail to the future.”

Veronica says. Before anyone realizes what happened,

Synan, Zoe, James, and Syrus sit in a grassy field

back on Earth.

“We’re back!” Zoe yells.

“Yes! We survived!!” Synan adds.

“I haven’t been on Earth for years.” James says.

“Kids...” Syrus says.

They walk to the city. The place is much more

lively this time of day. What time is it?

Zoe and Synan walk into the Ideya Shop.

“Hey, kids! Welcome back!”

“Umm, hi.” Zoe says.

“Hello.” Synan says.

“So, did my Warp Marbles help you at all?”

“You have no idea.” Synan and Zoe say

together.

“Well, I’m sure I do have some idea.”

“Nope. None.” Synan says.

“What do you mean?” The old man says.

Zoe points out the window. The old man

looks out.

“Oh, that’s The Land of No Return. I’ve been

there before. What, do you think I invented those

marbles?”

“You acted like it.” Synan says.

“Hey, look at all this.” Zoe says, standing by

a newspaper rack. All the head lines are covered in

stuff about The Land of No Return.

“Floating island puzzles investigators”

“Strange monsters beam down and attack

civilians.”

“The entire thing is a hoax -Vatican Police”

Synan picks one up. It reads “Three missing

kids are reported to have been beamed to the

floating object.”

“Looks like people will believe our story

after all.” Zoe says.

“You bet they will.” A girl walks into the

shop. She has blond hair and blue eyes.

“I’m Sarah Croft, bookwriter of Vatican

City.” She shakes Synan’s hand.

“Sarah....” Zoe says.

“I have written a story based on you two.

I have all the descriptive facts about you.”

Zoe gets a worried look on her face.

‘Does she know that I like Synan?’ Zoe thinks.

“Yes, she does, Zoe.” A thirteen-year-old

girl walks up behind Zoe.

“What? Can you read my thoughts?” Zoe

asks. The girl replies.

“Yes, Zoe. I know you like Synan. I’ve always

known. You liked him since first grade.”

“Zoe?” Synan asks.

“No! Stop it! It’s not true!” Zoe yells.

“Please, Zoe. Stop it.” She says.

“Make me then.”

“Ahem... allow me to introduce myself. My

name is Veronica. I know everything there is to know

about everything, including your little secrets about

Synan.”

Zoe’s face is beet red.

“Hehehe!” Synan says.

“Oh my. I gotta go, a future boy is returning

again. He’s after Sage.” Veronica says.

“Kail, right?” Synan asks.

“How did you... oh wait, I forgot to brainwash

you. Well, I really gotta go!” Veronica vanishes in a

flick of light.

Synan and Zoe go back to the neighborhood.

Synan and Zoe first go to Zoe’s house. Zoe’s mom

greets them.

“Zoe!” The mother says, “Where were you??

You have been gone for days!”

“The Land of No Return.” Zoe answers.

“The what of what?”

“The Land of No Return. We have a professional

book writer making a story about our quest.”

“Oh. And is this the boy you always talked about?”

The mother says, looking at Synan.

“Mom......” Zoe gets red again.

“He’s cuter than you said he was.”

“Okay. Well, I’ll be back.” Zoe says.

“You promise?” Her mom says.

“Yes.”

Synan and Zoe leave the house. They walk over

to Synan’s house.

“Hey, Synan. I thought you were going

to go shopping for me.” Synan’s mom says.

“Yeah, well. I didn’t.”

“Then you better go and finish shopping.”

“Okay. Whatever.” Synan and Zoe go

outside.

“I don’t feel like shopping. How horrible.”

Synan says.

“Awe....” Zoe says.

Synan looks evilishly at Zoe.

“Then let’s go somewhere.” Zoe says.

“Like where?”

“Follow me.” Synan follows Zoe. They

stop by some boulder just outside the city. Synan

looks at The Land of No Return. A helicopter flies

to it.

“Synan...”

“Yes?”

“Will you...umm...”

“What...?”

“Go out with me?”

“Sure.”

Zoe seems relieved.

“Okay. Good. I was too embarrased

today, so I thought I should go and ask.”

“Oh.”

Zoe sees a group of Monks throwing

helicopter parts over the edge of the island.

“Take that you dirty humans!” a Monk

yells.