Their mysterious companion having vanished and left the three of them alone there on the beach right as the sun set, left Jared and Ian with little choice other than to set up camp there for the night. Kyle was still very slowly trying to climb back to a full recovery and obviously could not even attempt to begin their trip back in his current state. In light of the other man’s disappearance, and Kyle’s still weakened state, Jared and Ian went about preparing to wait out Kyle’s recovery, or the other man’s return, by digging in for the night. The two silently set up a fire for the evening, not out of a need for heat, as the night was still quite muggy there atop the still sun-heated sand, but rather for a source of light and to ward off any further predators, aside from just the serpent that had shared it’s venom with Kyle that day.

Once the fire was blazing and the two tents were set up and Kyle carefully moved into one, Jared took a seat against a rock, first carefully scanning around it with the lantern, just in case Kyle’s attacker, or one similar to it, was hiding away underneath. With a sigh, he reached for Kyle’s computer as he took a seat, proceeding to make an attempt at viewing the most updated version of the map, as Kyle had been planning to do earlier that day.

As he powered on the computer, he glanced from the screen back over at where Ian had scouted around and found his own rocky seat for the evening, “You sent me a message?” Jared asked the oldest of them in the dim light of the fire that was a few feet off from the tents.

“Yeah, well I didn’t realize you were about to magically appear. Figured that was the only way I could tell you what happened.” Ian answered, though with a lack of much volume.

Jared narrowed his eyes as he looked back at the screen and the blinking cursor that was still awaiting his response, “She never answered.”

“What?” Ian asked, not quite catching the words that Jared had almost stated to himself rather than anyone else.

“The computer beeps when you send a message.” Jared swallowed slightly as he continued to look down at the screen worriedly as Ian relinquished his own seat to come and inspect whatever it was that Jared was referring to as he looked down at the screen, “We usually keep it by our---” he glanced back up at where Ian was now next to him, “by the bed.” he corrected before trying to ignore the slight crack in Ian’s demeanor at being reminded of the reality that he himself had been away from their shared lover’s bed for nearly five long months, “And she never answered.”

“Maybe she didn’t hear it. Was she even awake when you got yanked away by our little ghost or whatever he is?”

Jared swallowed again, “No, but even the wind wakes Lili up.” Jared returned as he sighed again as he moved from the message screen to access the map instead.

“Yeah, I remember.” Ian stated, though his voice was barely a whisper as he moved a few feet away to watch the water, as well as the expanse of beach for any sign of their ‘ghost’s’ return, as he called him.

Jared bit his lip again as he glanced up at where Ian remained turned away to hide any of his own feelings in regards to their slightly awkward conversation. Another sigh as Jared moved his eyes away again to go back to his plan of studying the map and trying to determine their best route back to her side, hopefully, before that vision of his did officially come true, as doubtful as that possibility really was, considering the mere distance that was now between the three of them and Lili. Little did he know that that vision of his had already started to come to pass.

Ian and Kyle having only brought two tents along on their trip, and Kyle recovering in one, left Jared and Ian to decide to take shifts watching the beach that night for any companions who may arrive, be they animal, or other. Though, neither of them did much more than go through the motions of sleeping that night, as both were too worried to even attempt to get any actual rest. It was Jared who was keeping watch as the sun finally began to struggle to crawl back above that far off horizon. He sighed sadly as that sun began to ascend, and cast a glance at the tent Ian had tossed and turned inside of throughout the night. He then pushed himself up to make another check on Kyle, inside his own tent, when he was startled once more by movement at the corner of his field of vision.

He turned to see their ghostlike companion having appeared without warning once more. But what was more shocking than even his continued ability to appear and disappear at will, was his red stained hands as he took a step toward Jared.

Jared swallowed hard as he found himself unable to tear his eyes from those hands as he stood upright once again. That was when the young man spoke again in his unsure, now slightly ragged voice, “Stopped pain, some while. Can’t stop blood. You help.” he attempted, his tone almost seeming sad and worried, though it was difficult to tell, as him speaking at all was still so rare.

“Blood?” Jared swallowed again as he quickly glanced between the man’s hands and his face once more. That was when Ian finally emerged from his tent, the conversation easily stirring him from his own attempt at slumber that morning, “Whose blood?” Jared asked, his voice breaking more than a bit through the question as Ian just looked between them, obviously a little startled by the other man’s appearance, as well as what little conversation had just passed between them.

“Had to leave to get you. Pain back now, and blood. Much blood. You help.” he repeated again, more forcefully.

“Who…who did you leave to get me?” Jared asked shakily, even Ian seeming a bit too shaken by the statements to make any of his own.

“No question time. Must help.” the man repeated with more force as he moved forward quickly and once again clasped a now bloodied hand over Jared’s arm, causing both of them to vanish into whatever nether he seemed to be able to step through so effortlessly, once again.

“Motherfuck!” Ian growled under his breath as the two vanished from sight right before his eyes, causing him to angrily kick some sand toward the nearly dead fire. He shook his head in continued annoyance and moved over to claim the computer that had been resting on the rock where Jared had been keeping watch before dawn, which was now upon them. He typed in a simple message to send to Jared’s computer: ‘WTF?’ Though he wasn’t even sure if and when Jared would even see that message.

Though he didn’t have time to dwell on that question as he dropped the computer back onto Kyle’s bag and was interrupted by the younger man’s voice, “Ian?” he called weakly from inside the tent.

Ian turned quickly at the sound and moved to enter Kyle’s tent, “You’re awake?” he stated the obvious as he moved to Kyle’s side where the youngest of them weakly rubbed at his eyes.

“Either that or this is a really shitty dream.” Kyle returned hoarsely, almost causing a tiny smile in Ian, almost.

“We can hope.” Ian shrugged with his own sigh.

“What happened anyway? Was Jared here? That can’t be right. I’m dreaming about Jared now? Also, not right.” Kyle grumbled as he slowly pushed himself to his elbows, his body still obviously weakened from the venom that nearly claimed his life the previous afternoon.

“Told you you had a boy-crush.”

“Oh shut up. You’re the one who dates guys.” Kyle mumbled.

“I think you’re delirious. I don’t ‘date’ anyone. Even before there was less than five people to choose from.” Ian smirked, attempting to sound lighthearted, despite his current worries.

“So, Jared wasn’t here?” Kyle then shook his head, answering his own question before Ian could, “He couldn’t have been here.”

“Oh, I should keep teasing you, but yes, Jared actually was here.”

“What? How?” Kyle asked, attempting to sit up more straightly as he pushed long curls from his blue-gray eyes.

“I don’t think you’d believe me if I told you. Still havin trouble, myself, and I was conscious.” Ian returned.

Kyle narrowed his eyes at that statement, “Now, you have to tell me.”

“I have no idea where to even begin.” Ian sighed again.

“I feel like I’ve been hit by a train. I’m not going anywhere anytime soon.” Kyle complained as he squinted at the remaining pain in his ankle, not to mention how weak he still generally felt all over, and exhausted, despite his extended vacation from consciousness.

Ian let out another deep sigh, “Remember the ghost of this planet’s past?”

“Excuse me?” Kyle narrowed his eyes once again.

“The kid, or former kid, who probably grew up here, all by himself, as insane and completely impossible as that sounds?” Ian attempted to clarify.

“The one from the pod?” Kyle returned.

“Yeah, turns out you were most likely right.”

“About?” Kyle asked with continued skepticism.

“About him probably being the oldest of the e-brats.” Ian managed, watching closely for Kyle’s reaction to the statement.

“Um…ok….” Kyle took a moment to find his breath, “And, how did you determine that, while I was unconscious for the last day, and what does it have to do with Jared, somehow being able to be here, when he’s supposed to be thousands of miles away, and, he’s obviously not here now?”

“I told you you’d have trouble believing me.” Ian repeated.

“You haven’t told me anything yet.” Kyle pressed.

Another long breath before Ian attempted to find a way to explain what he didn’t even quite understand yet, “I guess you were right, he did shut you out. Cause I’m pretty sure he’s been around a lot more than that day you sensed him at the pod.”

“Go on.” Kyle asked, trying to keep his own unease out of his voice at the sound of that statement.

“It seems like this ghost of ours, he’s been paying a hell of a lot of attention to us, without us even knowing it.” Ian began.

“Ok…” Kyle repeated, then continued, “And why do you keep calling him a ghost? I don’t generally hear their thoughts.”

“Been around a lot of ghosts, have you?” Ian retorted.

“Ian.”

“I call him that cause I watch everything around us, every single day and every single night. It’s what I do. It’s my job, remember? And I never once laid eyes on this guy ’til he wanted to be seen. Among other reasons I call him that.” he added more quietly, then moved on, “And he’s obviously been watching us for a long time. And I somehow never caught a glimpse of him before? Sounds pretty Casper-like to me.” he finished in a mumble.

“I’m so lost.” Kyle answered in his own mumble, “But why do you think he’s been watching us all this time?”

Ian just scoffed, “Cause he knew, the second you got hurt, he knew. He was obviously following us, watching us.”

Kyle swallowed again, “I didn’t see anything.”

“Isn’t that what I’ve been saying?” Ian returned bluntly.

“What do you mean, he knew the second I got hurt?” Kyle asked with his own worry a little less well-hidden than a moment before.

“Cause he’s the one that got Jared.” Ian finally admitted.

“Pardon?” Kyle asked, his eyes searching Ian’s face for some clarification to the statement.

“When you got bit, he apparently went, and got Jared, and brought him back here, to help you.” Ian stated somberly.

“Wait, how long have I been unconscious?” Kyle asked with a slight panic to his tone.

“About nine, ten hours.” Ian answered, allowing only the slightest smile.

“That’s not possible, Ian. In nine hours, the furthest he could have gotten was maybe thirty miles, and that’s pushing it. That wouldn’t even get him from the shack to the second pod.” Kyle denied.

“I told you that you wouldn’t believe me.” Ian reminded, then continued, despite Kyle’s scoff, “Like I said, our little ghost saw when you got hurt and then brought Jared here.”

Kyle scoffed more loudly, “How? He got his own little rocket ship now?”

“I wish. Then maybe we could’ve gotten back to the shack last night, and she wouldn’t be alone.” Ian returned quietly.

Kyle swallowed again at the words and the obvious sadness to them, “That still doesn’t tell me how it’s even possible.”

“I wish I knew. But, like I said, I’m pretty sure you were right about him being one of you. The oldest one of all of you.” Ian stated in the same quiet tone.

“And you came to this conclusion, how, exactly?”

“Cause, he can do shit that neither of you can.” Ian stated with another deep breath.

“Like?” Kyle asked worriedly.

“Like, appear in one place, and then, a moment later, disappear, and reappear in another place…thousands of miles away, even. He can even take someone with him. That’s how he got Jared here.” Ian finally admitted to the truth that was still difficult to fathom even though he had indeed seen it with his own eyes.

Kyle’s silence continued for several long moments as he tried to find any reaction to what Ian had just explained, “And when I got hurt, he brought Jared here, to help me?”

“That he did.” Ian admitted a bit grudgingly.

“So, he actually helped us?” Kyle asked for further clarification to calm his own anxiety about the fact that there did seem to be someone there who could very well be just as powerful as he had feared aloud all those months ago.

“Jury’s still out.” Ian admitted his own distrust.

“Meaning?”

“Yeah, he brought Jared here, to save you, but…”

“But, what?” Kyle pressed.

“But, at what cost? I mean, If Jared’s not with Lili, then she’s all alone. And that would be pretty bad, even without extenuating circumstances.”

“Meaning, the baby?” Kyle asked, his own voice nearly a whisper.

“Among other things.”

“Like?”

“Like, I don’t know.” Ian admitted, “But he showed up here again, right before you woke up, and he had what looked like blood all over him. He said he needed Jared to help someone else. But he didn’t say who, or how, or why, or where, and he grabbed him, and they disappeared, again. Without a trace.” Ian finished in an even more somber tone.

“So he took Jared somewhere else?” Kyle repeated, though Ian only nodded, “Where? And to help who?” Kyle asked.

“How I wish I knew either of those answers.”