The trip through the winding tunnels was a long one, but before long Devon reached the human city. The humans had spent months tunneling out a huge cavern from the sewers of the original city. There were a bunch of design flaws due to the rushed nature of constructing the city in the short time in order to escape the aliens. The city could hardly be called that; it was nowhere near as grand as the cities that had once stood above ground. There were no skyscrapers, in fact there were few houses that even had a second floor. Roofs were a thing of the past as it had proved too risky to leave such a large gap unsupported. Still, the builders had given the rocky houses something similar to the homes they had once inhabited. Overhangs hung above the doorways to offer something that could give a small appearance to a roof. The workers had put designs around the doorways to give it a more homely appearance. Many rooms were connected to each other from the inside and could be traversed without having to enter the "streets".

Devon knew his best shot to wonder the city unquestioned was to go at night. He had waited painstakingly for the day to end so he could hopefully find Ali the help she needed. Unfortunately that meant he was having trouble finding help, seeing as no one was around. He didn't know what he had been hoping for when he decided to come to the city, but now despair was taking over. He wasn't going to find the help he needed. Ali was going to die. He was about to be alone once more.

"Devon?"

Devon was shaken out of his thoughts by the sound of his name echoing out across the deserted streets. Even though the voice had come from behind he still glanced down at Ali to see if it was her, but she was still unconscious. Slowly, Devon around and found himself staring at an old woman. She was hunched over, supported by a cane, had short white hair and wore wire-rimmed glasses. Something about her was very familiar, but he couldn't put his finger on it.

"Devon," the woman said again.

"How do you know my name?" he questioned, trying to sound intimidating.

The woman, instead, laughed. "Oh how silly of me! I shouldn't expect you to remember me, you were just a boy last time we saw each other."

At those words, Devon knew how she was. She had been a lot younger, with hair just as short, but chocolate brown instead of white. The glasses must have come recently due to old age, but those shining brown eyes were just the same. She had been there when he was told he had been banished. She had spoken in his favor. She had tried to stand up for him.

"Ms. Pierce," Devon said.

"It's Dr. Pierce now," Dr. Pierce said.

"Doctor?"

"Yes, I got my certificate shortly after you left. I know now a days that doesn't count for much, but I do what I can to help people." It was then that Dr. Pierce's eyes went down and noticed Ali in Devon's arms. "Who's this?"

Devon suddenly remembered Ali was in his arms as well. "She needs help," he said.

Dr. Pierce nodded. "Follow me."

She led him back to her office, which wasn't too far away, and held the door open so he could get Ali inside. He didn't remember ever going to the doctor's as a child so he didn't know what to expect. There were only three beds with doctor's equipment next to them that might have been salvaged from the hospitals above. Devon brought Ali to the nearest bed and laid her down gently.

"Why don't you tell me what happened," Dr. Pierce said as she picked up a blank chart attached to a clipboard and press a small button that let out a buzzing sound.

"She was poisoned by something," Devon said.

Two nurses came into the room, pushing a cart of more doctor supplies. The cart had needles and syringes and vials. One of them started taking Ali's vitals.

"Do you know what kind of poison?"

Devon shook his head. "She won't tell me."

"We can run some tests," Dr. Pierce said, "And see if there's anything that turns up. How long as she been in this condition?"

"I don't know. She's been hiding it from me, but it was only yesterday that she lost consciousness."

The nurse let out a gasp when she pulled back the sleeve to Ali's shirt, revealing the nasty wound on her arm. Dr. Pierce set the clipboard down and rushed over to Ali's side in order to study the wound up close herself.

"Get some blood samples to the lab quickly," she said.

"No wait—," Devon started to say, but he was too late.

The nurse slowly inserted the needle into the crook of Ali's elbow on her good arm. Devon waited for the sizzling to start, but nothing happened. Apparently the toxin the Hunter had used to torture Ali had some sort of nulling effect on her blood. Most likely to ensure that it spread throughout her bloodstream.

"We'll run some test and see what the toxin might be, but until then I want you to try and get her stable," Dr. Pierce said, talking to the nurses.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Can you help her?" Devon asked.

"I'm going to certainly try."

She disappeared in the back for a few minutes, leaving Devon alone with Ali. Without the two nurses hovering over her he could finally see the wires and tubes sticking out of her. There was an IV tube in her arm and several other wires stuck to her chest. The tubes and wires all lead to a machine that made beeping and humming noises. A breathing tube crossed beneath her nose, supplying her air through a machine that made whooshing noises as the accordion-thing inside a clear tube rose up and down. Pulling up a chair, Devon sat down at the spot next to Ali's bed.

Dr. Pierce finally returned almost an hour later. Her face was grim, telling Devon the news wasn't going to be good.

"Devon," she started, another bad sign, "We were able to determine the kind of toxin in her system."

"You were?" Devon asked, surprised.

"Yes, it's a strange form, not quite like anything I've seen before, but it bears similarity to a toxin that had been part of an epidemic twenty years ago."

"What does that mean?"

"It means we think we might be able to come up with a cure for it," Dr. Pierce replied. Relief swept through Devon, but Dr. Pierce wasn't finished, "However, there's no guarantee she'll make it in time. Her vital signs are very weak and she seems to be hanging on by a thread."

"No," Devon whispered.

Dr. Pierce put a hand on his shoulder. "We're going to do everything we can."