The road was visible every few yards where gaps between the many trees gave way to a small stretch of empty pavement. Allison didn't understand why Torsten wouldn't want to walk alongside that, rather than slowly make their way through the forest. The doctor wasn't cut out for this type of environment, and knowing that forty more miles lay ahead of them was daunting when she realized that she herself was the reason they were moving so slowly. Her running shoes offered little sturdiness on the uneven forest floor, where dips in the landscape were covered by fallen branches and other bits of natural debris. In the short time they had been walking, Allison had already grown envious of Torsten's strides, confident and easy while she stumbled along behind him.

For the life of her, Allison couldn't imagine what could have happened in Portland. As far as she knew, the city was safe and peaceful, just waiting for her to arrive. Although she thought it would have been faster, Allison didn't think that she was in much of a position to complain since Torsten was continuing to be so generous with her. Had the roles been reversed, she highly doubted that she would have personally walked some stranger into the city. Besides, continuing the hike was a guaranteed way not to worry herself half to death over what could be happening below the mountain, or rather, who they were keeping their distance from.

The next few hours were slow, but the pair made progress and soon, the woods began to thin out. Allison didn't know what she was looking for, and she thought the sights of the open fields and small town in the distance seemed quaint. Truthfully, the dark-haired woman was looking forward to a break from walking, her feet already somewhat sore from her improper shoes and her legs hadn't been worked this hard in years. Before she could mention taking an extended break, Torsten had his hand out, and a serious expression on his face that caused Allison to worry at her lower lip. He had been laughing and joking for the majority of their hike and the sudden change in attitude was cause for much concern.

“Maybe they're resting,” she proposed, not understanding that the Amish weren't the type to take a break. “Or--” Allison stopped herself, listening to Torsten's frenzied warning. “Wait, what? Run where? What's wrong?” She didn't know where she was supposed to go, or who she was running from. Everything seemed normal enough, and she wondered if the Finn's time in the army had made him unnecessarily paranoid. 

Looking to the settlement in the distance and back to Torsten, Allison shook her head. “I'm not going anywhere by myself,” she decided, “I'll go with you and you'll see that everything is fine.” It would have sounded convincing if not for her own apprehension and tendency to trust this man who was merely a stranger the day before.