"I've always thought this place was better from a quality of life standpoint," Thomas said, reaching down and dragging his fingers through the sand. He wrote his name and then stroked it away before drawing a ridiculous looking stick figure.

"Going back has never been about going somewhere better. It's always been about my friends and making sure they were alive and that WICKED didn't keep killing people," he said, sighing. "This place is better. If I had my way, I'd bring all my friends here instead of going back there."