The journey back to the extraction point took nearly forty minutes.
Marcus deliberately avoided the direct route.
Although the mysterious group had left the ruined watchtower before Atlas emerged, he refused to assume they had abandoned the area entirely. Anyone capable of locating the hidden entrance so effortlessly almost certainly understood the surrounding terrain better than Atlas did.
Cole took point while Selvar remained near the center of the formation.
The operators advanced through the forest using staggered movement, stopping every few minutes to listen before continuing.
Only the sounds of nature accompanied them.
Birds had begun returning as the afternoon slowly gave way to evening.
A cool mountain breeze swept through the towering pine trees, carrying with it the scent of damp soil and wild moss.
For the first time since entering the Hollow Road, Marcus allowed himself to appreciate the ordinary sounds of the surface.
No rhythmic vibrations.
