Night came, as it always had. Nina got ready, as she always did. She was careful to gather her radio, her flashlight, and her gun, as she always did. (With the gun in her possession now, she left her baseball bat behind. Carrying them both was too cumbersome, not to mention unnecessary.)

She moved with a slightly resigned determination that had become characteristic of her now. She didn't know what to expect. They were steadily making progress now, at least.

[To here.]