An interpretation of the journey to the end of the night:

The sun was setting on the Embarcadero as we embarked. A crew of four, initially at least, we boarded the trains to our first destination. The cars filled quickly. Shoulder to shoulder we stood. Quickly we noticed how many of our fellow passengers also wore the blue armband of wanted men (and women). The discussions on board soon turned to those of betrayal. Who would be our friends? Who would be our foes? At least with the reds, we knew where we stood.

A group of Blues got off a stop before our intended stop. Did they know more than we did? Were they just trying to throw us off? We decided, hesitantly, to stay on board and try our luck at the next stop.

Apparently, they weren't trying to throw us off. A peril of using a GPS is the lack of notation for elevation. We weren't equipped with climbing gear. Our goal was within reach, if only we had brought our pitons.

We took the long way around, but in doing so ended up not seeing a single Red. The climb up the hill was rough and I, being the least burdened, sprinted on ahead, bearing the deliveries for the entire crew. The top was a welcome respite, inhabited by many fellow Blues and lorded (and ladied) over by a kindly couple who distributed much needed refreshments and signatures. Here, I waited for my teammates.

After nearly 20 minutes of waiting, I began to ask the Blues who had been ascending the peak if they heard news of my beleaguered colleagues. "A man with a stick was seen sprinting down Kearny. He may have been Red already." That was my man with a stick.

On that note, I decided it was folly to wait any longer if the Reds had already gotten to the rest of the team. It was a mistake, I decried, to have left them! Now, they were in those vile clutches!

During my descent, I encountered what remained of my team. Jason, the man with the stick, was gone. I informed the others that their evidence was left with the kindly couple and that I would wait for them to retrieve it.

Spying my first Red in the distance encouraged me to leave. I felt bad about leaving the others again, but my own safety was at stake! It had to be done! I had no choice!

On the trek through Chinatown, I heard an ominous cry. "Red Robin! Red Robin!" A flash of red, only the width of a street away! I sprinted away. The fear of the Reds had caused me to miss my one opportunity to save myself.

At the next safe house, I didn't stay long. I felt if I kept my momentum, I'd be one step ahead of that scarlet horde. But one block from the safe house, while passing in front of a garage, a man stopped. He was right in front of me, not more than two paces. He stepped left. I stepped left. I saw his arm. A Red!

I turned! I sprinted! I ran! My heart raced! But I made it. I just smiled at him as he returned to whatever sort of hideous lair those monsters keep.

I decided to make my way through the alleys. I felt it safer than keeping to the main thoroughfares. I worked my way down to Broadway, ducking between cars, pressed up against walls. Everywhere I looked I could see Reds. I stared. They looked back. It seemed like a Red tassel was always occupying a corner of my vision.

Walking down Broadway, I started to relax. I changed to a slower gait, trying to regain some energy, sure that I would be safe, if only for a few blocks. Then I heard a familiar sound. Thump..thump...thump thump thump thump. Falling footsteps! Faster and faster! I turned and saw his awful mug. I was off! A crowd of civilians clogged the sidewalk. Deftly sidestepping, twirling and twisting, I bound between them. A group of elderly women was ahead, but like Moses at the Red Sea, they parted, allowing me to slip through to salvation. And like that crooked Pharaoh, they sealed up and swallowed my pursuer. "The tunnel! The tunnel!" I heard him cry. His mistake to reveal his intentions. I ducked up the stairs to avoid whatever awaited me in the dark.

So proud of myself, I smirked, flipped my hair back, and fell in to a stroll. My pursuer defeated, I had little to worry about.

I dusted myself off and started making my way towards the third destination. I was close, not more than three or four blocks away, when I once again heard that awful sound. He was already at full speed, and I was winded from the previous chase. I felt my legs give. No pain, just a revolt from my lower half. They would not operate. I turned in to a driveway behind a large brick wall and hunched down. His footsteps slowed, and he came around the corner. A look of defeat crossed his face. He was staring up the street, hoping to catch a glimpse of me. But then, as he turned away, he drew his vision up the driveway and saw me crouching. I ran up the driveway. Where else could I have gone?

We ended up on opposite sides of a parked car. We began to circle, like some sort of sick parody of a 1940's cartoon. A nervous banter began. "The next destination is a grocery store" I mentioned "and I bet they have bagels. You look like you need a bagel." "I would like a bagel." "How about a deal: One bagel for my salvation?" I was naïve. You can never make a deal with these cretins. "Let's shake on it." He extended his hand across the car. I laughed at his sorry attempt to deceive me. Their reputation for deception most certainly did not imply cleverness.

We continued to circle around the car. I peered over the brick wall and realized that a 35 foot drop to the cement would be as perilous as his catching me. But as we came around and around, he ended up stuck between the bumper and the wall. My nimbleness allowed me to slip between the two, but he didn't have that luxury. While he was stuck, I sprinted down that driveway.

He had extracted himself and began after me. I soon remembered my initial reason for hiding behind that wall. I ducked into an alley, attempting to lose him by ending up on another block. No chance. The alley ended in a solid brick wall. I was devastated, but not yet ready to give up. There appeared to be a path leading left, behind a building! I ran in, but instead found myself in an alcove not more than the size of a square meter. I heard his breathing. He had followed me in to the alley, and it would only be a matter of time now. When he caught up to me, I was clawing at the walls, trying my best to climb up the sheer surfaces. Everything faded to black...