Marie took the lead position without hesitation. She broke into a run, her feet kicking off the cracked earth as they left the fallen trees behind. Reinhard followed behind while holding onto Joseph's body and feeling the arms wrapped around tightening.
They cleared the remaining Area 9 boundary within minutes, the dense forest giving way to open grassland that stretched toward the north. The change in terrain was dramatic as they moved from the shadow vegetation to the opening plain of grass. With the sunlight shining down and the breeze drifting around, the grass sways.
The grass flew past beneath their feet. Marie maintained a punishing pace, but Reinhard kept up easily, his legs moving swiftly.
As they continued moving, they saw a cobblestone path on the side. But they ignored it as they continued rushing through the grass. Then, after a couple of minutes, a carriage appeared ahead, moving on what looked like a rarely-used road cutting through the grassland.
