Lush land spread as far as the eyes could see. Large herds of livestock roamed about, shaking up the dirt. A group of curious cows and sheep gathered by the broken fence. One poked its head in, investigating the strange man on the ground.

"Moo!" It said.

"Goddamn it..." Edgar turned around to the clueless animal who was sniffing his loose wires.

The cow sniffed a few times before eagerly chewing on the bundle of red-and-blue plastic 'grass'. It must be satisfying as the cow slowly became oblivious to the man.

Edgar exhaled and turned back toward his cabin. He pressed himself as flat as he could to the ground. Tall grass provided some needed cover, but Edgar must move. Soon.

A mysterious sweet smell swelled in the damp air, mixing with the helicopter's exhaustion. It irritated Edgar's nostrils.

He held back a wicked sneeze with all his might. Sweat prickled Edgar's body. His heart beat harder than a bass drum.

Maybe I could take them down.

Edgar imagined himself creeping up on the nameless, faceless trespassers before knocking the wind out of them.

Stop being delusional! They are here. You're done.

Edgar gnawed at his lower lip. He had expected this day forever, but it felt unreal now. The truck was in the shed behind the cabin. It would take Edgar about ten minutes to crawl there. Then another minute or two to start. The noise would draw them over, but by then, he would already be out on the dirt road, never looking back. They would open fire at him, but he could be fast...

"Are you sure he's still here? The place looks deserted to me..."

"I'm sure. His truck is still here."

"I mean, he could've left on foot."

"Damn flies everywhere!"

"No jokes, Dad. The whole place stinks of cow dung."

"I think you just stepped on something..."

A group of people emerged from behind the cabin and marched to Edgar's front door. Five total, four men and one woman.

Robert looked exactly the same as the last time Edgar had seen him. On edge. The guy had a depressing aura that rivaled Edgar's. Maybe that was why they could become friends. Or maybe that was another delusion.

Robert might wear the same outfit as the last time, too, but Edgar wasn't sure. That was also besides the point. Edgar just couldn't understand why Robert decided to show up here again after all these years. With these strangers.

He knew better than that.

Unless he sold me out.

Edgar touched the handle of his knife on the utility belt. The thought of Robert's possible betrayal left an acidic taste in his mouth. Edgar should not have left the gun on the kitchen counter this morning. He didn't like the thing, but having it now would make a life-or-death difference.

One guy in the group, who was bald and dressed in a dirty hospital gown, interrupted Edgar's thought by kicking the porch post and then falling on his back like a big dummy. He cried out in pain, looking like a freshly escaped mental patient that somewhat reminded Edgar of his father in the old man's last days-nothing but a ghost desperately clinging to the living world.

The memories put Edgar in an even worse mood. He watched the group's other members glare at Dirty Hospital Gown before a young guy with a ridiculous-looking bun on his head and a red-haired girl stopped their heated conversation to rush over and help Dirty Hospital Gown up.

"As I said," Man Bun dusted Dirty Hospital Gown's back. "I don't think you know what you're talking about, Lou. You just like to prove that you're right all the time, and that's the problem. You can't be right all the time! Right now, you're not."

"And you are? Seriously, Vince, sometimes, I wonder how you go through life with that kind of attitude! But again, not everyone has the luxury to have their head buried in their ass like you do!"

"Oh, I have my head in my ass? What about you? Thinking you're hot shit with that cubicle job and your one-bedroom apartment! Give me a break!"

"At least better than you! You and your no-AC-in-the-middle-of-the-desert van can kiss my ass!"

"What's wrong with my van? You're just being jealous, Lou. That looks really ugly on you."

"Fuck you. Every year, you run back home with your tail between your legs, looking and smelling like a dead skunk. I sent you money for the bus more than once, did you forget that? When are you gonna grow up and get a real job?"

"Fuck you, Lou! You sound just like Dad... "

"What is that supposed to mean? Vince! Watch your language!"

"... There I thought you actually supported me! You're just a jealous, self-righteous, two-faced bitch!"

"You're a bitch too!"

"Guys! Guys! Please, just cut that out! What the hell? Apologize to each other right now! I'm dying here, and you guys are killing me faster!"

"Yes, I don't think arguing here is a good ide- "

"Shut up, Robert! No one is talking to you! "

...

Edgar lay back down. This was the weirdest, most miserable group of travel companions he had ever come across. If these were the ones they had sent to "deal with" him, they must have lost their damn mind.

Maybe he had jumped to the wrong conclusion?

Edgar had two choices: Announce himself or get the heck out of Dodge. The latter option looked as good as ever.

But I owe him.

No, whatever Robert has gotten himself into, it's not my problem. My plate is full as is. Robert can save himself. He's capable.

But what if he can't? Just as I couldn't back then. He helped me. When no one did.

He would be just fine. Plus, I still don't know the reason he's here. It could be the end of me.

Robert would never do that.

How do I know?

Edgar broke a blade of grass and slowly put it in his mouth. He chewed it for a long, hard minute before spitting it out. Edgar then picked up a pebble and threw it at the cabin's side window.

The small stone hit the glass with just enough force to create a loud "clang" that stopped everyone in their activities.

"What was that?" the red-haired girl asked.

Edgar watched the group move in unison to where they thought the sound might have originated. Besides an clad-in-khaki old man had pulled out a gun, no one else seemed to carry any weapon.

That was a good sign, I suppose, but never a guarantee.

A familiar pain shot up Edgar's lower back. It increased by the second, reminding him he needed to make a decision.

Edgar stood up with one hand on his knee, supporting his body. "What are you doing here? Who are these people?"

"Oh, my God! Edgar! Thank God, you're here!" Robert ran down the steps. "Wait a minute... Have you been there the whole time?"

"Answer my questions, Robert." Edgar gritted his teeth. "What are you doing here? Who are these people? You're not supposed to be here."

"Can we go inside first?" Robert pleaded.

"Absolutely not. Either you answer my questions, or we can stay right here. I have all day."

That was a damn lie. Edgar's hand was firmly on the knife handle, but it took him everything not to shake like a drowning rat. The fall a few years back had shattered his hips. Edgar had escaped, but the hefty price he had paid changed him forever.

Edgar scanned the unfamiliar faces and stopped at the old man who was still holding the gun.

"Calm down, young man. We didn't mean to intrude." The old man slowly raised both hands in a surrender gesture and put the gun back in his pouch.

"But you did anyway," Edgar snarled. "All of you need to get the hell out of my property!"

"Edgar, please..." Robert took one step forward. "We need to talk to you. I need to talk to you. About Z."