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[center][h2]Zengzhou, Hunan Province, China[/h2]
[h3]13:12, local time[/h3][/center]

Nicky's head was buzzing with the effort of trying to remember everything Wang had taught her in the bus. Basic phrases like “hello” and “Can I get some lunch?” were about all she could handle, though her pronunciation was apparently pretty good for a white girl who started learning today. She brushed her hair back in the humid air and stared at the interior of the shop they had stopped at. Next door was apparently the house they were going to stay in, and also the home of the owner of this place. As far as she could tell, they sold things to wizards. There were all sorts of dried animal bits in glass jars, racks upon racks of dried herbs hanging from the ceiling, and a case of tiny boxes behind the counter she sat at.

However, she wasn't waiting on ancient Chinese medicine. She was waiting for the owner of the shop to finish forging her papers so she could legally travel in China. Apparently the guy had lots of experience with American passports, though she wasn't sure why. However, waiting as [i]not[/i] Nicole's forte, and the smell of this place was beginning to get to her, as well as the jar of what looked like eyes staring at her. She climbed off the stool and wandered outside into the daylight.

Except for the style of some of the buildings, Zengzhou looked like any other city to her. She guessed that was what she had heard called globalisation, though she wasn't sure and didn't really care. At the moment, the street she was on was a tiny side street, more like an alley than anything else. Across the way was apparently an apartment complex, with a grocery store on the ground floor. At least nothing looked glaringly neon like Beijing had when she had ridden through on the first night here. She felt a pang of guilt about running off from the Temple and Alex, but it wasn't really a place for her. Not that anywhere she had been since the Incident had felt like home.

She didn't notice the three men approaching her until they spoke. She shook her head, to signify that she couldn't understand.

“Ohhhh,” said the largest one, wearing a jean jacket and torn shirt. “American girl come to China, think no learn Chinese? Typical [i]gwailo[/i] bitch!”

The baseball bat came from behind and slammed into the back of her head, knocking her torso forward. She straightened up and grinned. It hit again, this time her upper arm, and she turned to her assailant. Another two men behind her. They all looked like rough types. As the bat swung again she caught it cold and kicked the man in the crotch as hard as she could. His grip fell off of the bat and he crumpled, groaning. Another hit behind her, low on her back and small, a knife or something. She didn't bother flipping the bat around just spun and struck out with the handle. The man who had just tried to grab her arm from behind took it to the temple and dropped like a stone.

An arm wrapped around her neck and hauled backwards, and the two still in front of her both held what looked like needles, though one of them was missing the needle part now. He threw it away and said something in Mandarin, scowling at her. She whipped the bat behind her head and smashed it into her captors elbow, making him scream and let her go. She hurled herself forward into the other two and began swinging wildly. Several times she was hit, but since it had no effect, she didn't really bother to pay attention. All of them were yelling now, and then they scattered.

As she stood there, roaring her defiance, the old man from the shop stepped up and patted her on the shoulder. She jerked, then looked at him. He gave her a smile. 

“It is good you fought them off, or else you would have ended up kidnapped and sold to some opium den and no one would ever see you again.”

[color=azure]”Holy shit, that actually happens?”[/color]

His smile faded, and the look of pain in his eyes was intense enough that even Nicole noticed. “Yes. All too often, I am afraid. Even worse along the coast.” He sighed, then straightened up and smiled again. “Come, young girl. Your papers have been prepared, and you are now a legal traveller in China!”