As soon as they got out of the forest, the bike came to a halting stop.
Heaving a sigh, Jean used this little moment of respite to study their surroundings.
Right in front of them, there extended an extensive grassland that stretched in all directions as far as the eye could see.
The fields of the grasslands were in a plain with no single mountain or hill around. The grasses were approximately a meter high and of the same species. From a distance, someone could easily mistake it to plants due to its uniform nature.
Wind blew along the fields towards the forest thus resulting to the swaying of the trees that bordered the grassland.
A narrow road that could barely accommodate two vehicles extended right from where they were standing into the depths of the grassland without branching.
For a moment, Jean was agoraphobic.
He gritted his teeth and clenched his fist as a thought of the kidnappers spotting him from a distance within this area manifested in his mind.
During this moment, he understood how important the forest had been during the first phase of the journey. It could at least conceal him from his adversaries despite the dangers that it also harboured.
All that was now running through his mind was how they could get to their destination before the kidnappers could show up. Albeit there could be some chances that they might not meet since it had already passed some days after the escape incident, overlooking the matter would be suicidal.
Just as he was still deliberating on the matter, Casper resounded.
"Now from this point, we have thirty minutes to get to our destination. And since this environment isn't that rugged, we are going to move across the fields in a high speed. That's the only way we can make it to our destination within the thirty minutes."
Without waiting for Jean's response, Casper sent the bike forward.
In the next moment, the bike had already reached almost its maximum speed. Due to the speed they were traveling in, it was difficult for Jean to perceive the surroundings as everything had turned into a blur.
Considering the gale of wind that was hitting them from the front, Jean found it hard to understand how Casper was able to see through it despite not having a helmet to shield his eyes from the wind.
During this time, the clouds had lessened and the sun was now visible in the sky.
Their hair danced in the wind as the wind whistled in their ears.
Moving at a speed of 112 miles per hour, the bike left a cloud of dust behind as it cut through the grassland like an arrow.
During this moment, Jean's breathing had become enraged due to the speed they were traveling at. Although he could trust Casper's abilities in such situation, he still couldn't stop himself from being paranoid.
'An accident doesn't announce its cameo. In such situation, anything can happen...what if a stray animal crosses our path out of the blue? Damn it! What am I even thinking? After all, it is Casper... probably he must be aware of such possibilities.'
Jean mused as he struggled to look at the guy through squinted eyes.
Twenty minutes later, the speed of the bike started reducing. When the speed was slow enough for one to see clearly, Jean raised his gaze and looked past Casper.
Suddenly, he noticed something unique in the distance.
Standing on the left side of the road at a distance of about a kilometer away from their current position, a herd of cattle could be seen grazing in the fields. It was possible for him to notice this from such a distance since the part of the field they were currently in was somewhat raised as compared to where they were headed.
Since the presence of the cattle signified the presence of human settlement, Jean popped his eyes wide in the effort of spotting a house within the surroundings.
Just at that moment, his eyes caught a fenced homestead that was just like a hundred meters away from where the cattle were grazing.
This was the same moment they were arriving at this spot. From a close distance, he was able to tell that the cattle was also encircled in a wooden fence that joined to the fence of the homestead.
There was a separation between the two fences that marked the end of the fence of the cattle and the start of the homestead fence.
Since people's residents was the question that Jean had intended to ask Casper all this while, when he saw the chance he didn't hesitate even for a second.
"Is this the human settlement you told me about?"
Jean asked out of curiosity.
Since this was the only home he had spotted so far, he doubted if the human settlement that Casper had told him about while still in the forest was within the area. After all, a settlement couldn't be composed of only a single homestead.
"It is still far from here, approximately fifty miles from here."
When Jean heard this, another question formed in his mind.
'If it is that far, how comes this person has been able to survive the attacks yet he could have been the first victim whenever the beasts could attack?'
With that thought in mind, Jean asked.
"Why is it that this homestead has survived in this area despite the beast attacks in the past years?"
With a gulp, Casper responded.
"You have to remember that the beast attacks ended a long time ago. And that was the period the owner of this homestead set up this home."
Immediately Jean heard Casper's response to his question, he face-palmed. He was embarrassed for not putting such consideration in place before asking his question.
'Damn! I must say that I was just focused on asking the question.'
A minute later, Casper stepped on the brakes of the bike and the two stopped at the gate of the homestead.
Suddenly, Jean was confused.
'Could this be the...'
Just at that moment, he was forced to leave his thought midway.
"Finally, we are here."
Casper said with a sigh as he gazed at the black metallic gate on their side.
Upon hearing this, Jean didn't need an explanation to realize that they had arrived at their destination.
Giving Casper a dubious look, Jean lingered.
"So, this is your friend's home?"
Jean asked with a glint of curiosity flashing in his eyes.
But before Casper could answer him, the gate creaked and opened.
Suddenly, Jean was in a stupor. Reason being, he didn't see the person that opened the gate.
Just as he was still in his dazed state, Casper sent the bike forward as the two passed through the open gate and entered the compound.
As soon as the were in, Jean turned back and saw a young man that was in his early twenties waving at them.
'So, this was the guy that opened the gate?'
Jean mulled over.
Now turning his attention to the house that was standing thirty meters away from them on their left. Jean marvelled.
The house had a red roof, bricked walls with a walk way running from the gate and around it.
It was a far cry when compared to the forest stall when it came to structure and size. It was simple but everything about it confirmed that its owner was a wealthy individual. It occupied an area of 8000 square meters, with a small house of the same make at its furthest edge.
There was a small veranda that formed an extension from the main door.
The compound was covered by lawns that were well trimmed. At the edges of the fence, there were a few flowers that added to the beauty of the compound.
While he was still studying the compound, the bike stopped. And just at that moment, someone resounded from their back.
"Hi Mr. Newton? Long time no see."
Without waiting for Casper's instruction, Jean came off the bike and immediately turned in the direction of the approaching man.
'I must say that this guy likes making friends with young people.'
At this moment, all Jean was thinking was that the man that opened the gate for them was the friend that Casper had told him about. So, the moment he heard the guy address Casper, he immediately thought that he was the friend that they had come to visit.
The man was 5.9 feet high and was putting on a green overall that barely reached his knees and a brown trouser.
He had a lean body, black hair and brown eyes.
"I am fine, Mr. Wedge. Just to ask, where is my friend?"
With that, Casper came off the bike.
Jean was stunned for a moment.
'So, this isn't the friend we came to see?'
Jean pondered.
Just at that moment, Mr. Wedge pointed in the direction of the veranda with his index finger.
(^∧^)