In Casey's mind, it was all Jasper's fault they'd gotten so behind. Pacing back and forth in front of the truck, he focused on thinking of ways to make up for the time lost, but all his deductions brought him to the same conclusion.

They'll have to hold their own, for now.

It wouldn't have mattered if they knew exactly where to go to find their women, there was still plenty of time for the mercenaries to kill them before they ever showed up. He could find himself hovering over the mutilated body of yet another person he loved if they didn't get there in time.

"Ya' want something done right, never let an easterner do it," a familiar gruff voice grumbled, getting clearer as the man approached.

Charlie.

"I'll agree with that," Evan spoke up, just a few meters behind the older man. "Brought us all the way out here just to find out that bloody tracker is exactly where we started. Why'd you let him?"

The sharp question was directed at Casey, and while he knew the recent disappointment stoked the flame of fear burning in each of them, he couldn't let it show if he wanted to keep their emotions in check. An emotionally unstable soldier was a liability in the field, and this certainly felt like a battle, only they were late for the fight.

Great, I'm even thinking like her, now.

He wondered if he'd ever get her off his mind. Perhaps if her life wasn't always in death's grasp, but then again, he doubted even a sense of normalcy would satiate him. Their time in LeHorn was as simple as it could get, and even then he couldn't fight the pull. Finding out she was an easterner should have ended whatever was brewing between them, yet despite his will to ignore it, passion only burned stronger, brighter as he finally saw the real her.

"Look, right now, Jasper is our best chance at finding the girls. Regardless of what I think of him, we don't know anything about this region. We need him," Casey redirected, attempting to get the two men's anger down. If they decided to unleash some of that on Jasper, it would only delay them further.

"Hey! Fellas!" The call of his best friend grabbed Casey's attention, along with Charlie and Evan's. Turning around, they watched as Reid jogged over, his eyes wild with hope. "They found something. A place the mercenaries camp could be."

The skepticism wasn't missed by Reid as the three men eyed him warily.

"Really?" Casey questioned. "How?"

His tone was not mocking, or ill-tempered. Rather, he sounded hesitant, cautious, and righteously so. The group of westerners may have been significantly smaller when compared to the original numbers that left from LeHorn, but the men still viewed Casey as their leader. They were depending on him to set the tone that they would copy, so he didn't want to seem too optimistic, but he also did not want to trample on their hopes.

Neutrality is what he would strive for—at least until he knew something for certain that he could base his efforts and reasonings on.

"On the map, there's a section if untraveled land, forbidden to the public. It's where they think they may have taken them," Reid explained.

"So, they don't know for sure?"

With a waver in his smile, Reid shook his head but clasped his friend's shoulders. "No, Case, but it sounds possible. Very possible. It's only a few hours away. We could get to them before the end of the day."

Casey was silent, still, soaking in everything. It wasn't that he didn't want to follow this lead wherever it took them. If it brought him to the people that had terrorized his home region for decades, then he'd cross the horizon to get there. His only fear was that the clue would take them nowhere, the woman would be harmed, and his people would blame him for the failure.

Trapped in his thoughts, he only came to when Charlie patted his back, coming to face him.

"Look at me, son," the older man said, his voice rough but gentle. "We are with you. You know this. But, we have to see this through."

Blinking away his rational fears, Casey nodded in agreement. "I know. I just... don't want to let you all down, again."

With a comforting chuckle, Charlie shook his head. "You'll only do that if you give up, and frankly son, I just don't think you have it in you to do that."

Charlie's words did what they were intended to, and in perfect time since that was the moment the easterners came out of the communications tower. Jasper walked in front,  followed closely by his uncle and Baron. When there no longer remained distance between the two groups, and they became one again, Chip spoke up.

"I personally delivered Sydney to the west with every hope and intention of seeing her again." Casey wondered what he meant by that, but tucked his questions away for another time, if ever such a chance presented itself. "The location on that map-" Chip continued, pointing at the stark white scroll in Jasper's hands. "-is your best bet at finding her and whoever else you're searching for. I wish you all the best of luck."

No other words were exchanged, other than a short farewell between the two relatives before Jasper got in the driver's seat of his truck and everyone else piled into their respective seats. A new sense of direction gave everyone something to hold onto, something to distract them as they traveled down the road they came. With the previous hostilities and frustrations aside, Casey decided now was as good a time as any to inquire on the many things he still found a mystery.

Despite how much he felt for the eastern woman, there was still so little he understood.

"Jasper?" Casey asked just as they reentered the perimeter of Galdon University. "Can I ask you something?"

If the pale man driving was surprised by Casey's inquiry, he didn't show it. "Yes."

"How did Sydney get to the Western Region?"

"My uncle owns a few airplanes. He flew her over."

"Because it wasn't safe for her here," Casey stated moreso than questioned. "I take it you had something to do with that."

"I did," Jasper answered, making eye contact with Casey through the rearview mirror. Steel blue met rich brown as he continued, "I was prepared to do whatever it took to keep her safe...even if it meant sending her to you, unknowingly."

A wave of respect washed over Casey at the easterner's confession, and he was sure he wasn't the only one affected. Though neither Reid or Baron commented on their less-than-private conversation, it was clear they felt the sincerity if Jasper's words.

The moment was broken by Baron of all people, as he let out a hiss of a curse before pointing out their surroundings. "It looks like all hell is breaking loose."

In some fashion, he was correct. A growing congestion of people filled the paths and sidewalks as the group drove by. Faces of pain, hysteria, and confusion filled their view as the citizens processed what had been revealed mere hours ago. A very small percentage of these people, however, displayed a different emotion—one that Casey found he himself would relate more with.

Anger.

If he'd been one of the ones betrayed by his people and forced to suffer a loss as great as the death of a loved one for political gain, he was certain he wouldn't simply be vandalizing buildings and arguing with anyone he could, much like he observed now as they grew closer to the very place Sydney and Brooke were taken. No, Casey saw himself setting buildings aflame and shouting to the heavens until his cries of brokenness were heard and justice served.

Nothing more than busted windows and minor street violence was notable as they passed, but Casey had a dark feeling that this was barely a scratch on the surface of what was to come. As they drove off the campus, he turned back to watch it shrunk from sight, wondering how the place that stood so grand would look upon their return.

"There's the castle," Jasper mentioned as they drew closer to the monumental structure.

Turning in his seat so he faced forward, Casey soaked in the sight of a place he'd only heard of in stories and seen in his mind. He never thought he'd ever lay eyes on the very castle their forefather, Isaac Freeman, spoke so dearly of. The tales were passed down through generations of the place the founder of the west came from, but none gave the structure justice.

The rich taupe bricks of clay were vibrant, even after centuries of neglect. Moss and ivy twisted and molded around the bottom, the vines slithering up its intimidating height. The sunlight seemed to soak into the very foundation of the place as it sat, alone, untouched, on a hill all to itself. It's former glory not lost in time, but somehow preserved.

In any other circumstance, Casey would stop whatever he was doing just to go in and explore the birthplace of his region's hero, but a glimpse was all he could have. His eyes were greedy as they took in the sight, but as soon as it was behind them, he focused back on finding what he truly wanted to see.

Unfortunately, that wouldn't be for another few hours.

A few hours too many. All it takes is a second to kill someone.

In the few months he'd known Sydney, she was not one to take captivity without a fight. He'd seen more than enough proof of that in New Dawn. But, now she wasn't just taken by some villagers in a secluded settlement—she was captured by the very people responsible for her best friend's death. A woman she considered a sister. He had yet to witness how she'd react when provoked by those she had a vendetta against.

She could get herself killed if she fought back. Maybe she won't...

Who am I kidding?! Of course she's gonna fight back!

Darnit, why aren't we there yet?!

In an attempt to silence the restless voice in his head, Casey leaned forward in his seat, planting his forarms on the inner shoulders of both front seats and volunteered, "I can navigate, if you'd like."

He pointed toward the map Jasper had stretched out across his lap and waited for his response. The easterner raised a curious eyebrow, as if to ask why Casey would offer his assistance.

"I need something to distract myself from my thoughts. Right now, it's a...dangerous place for me to be," he explained hesitantly, partially ashamed at his negativity.

With a glint of understanding in his icy blue eyes, Jasper nodded and handed him the paper with the land of the east printed onto it. A thick red line marked the path they were to take, and for the entirety of the trip, Casey tracked their movements, adamant on being the best navigator he could be.

The task proved to be affective. Not once since he started had he fallen into a pit of helplessness. Now, he had tunnel vision with one goal in mind. And, when the miniscule outline of buildings appeared on the horizon, a place umarked on the map, a small grin of relief curved on his lips.

"There it is, boys," Casey proudly announced. "We're almost there."

We're almost there.