'Thanks for the help in there' Gabe grinned. 'But what ARE you doing here exactly, Naomi?'

'I brought Alyssa for a check-up. I was hoping I could find the doctor that operated on her so he can look at how her wounds are healing up…'

Cunningham smoked the rest of his cigarette, then immediately put a new one in his mouth.

'Yeah, that kid's not here anymore. Rumor has it he's doing surgeries at Portland'

'Rumor?'

'Yeah… He's not exactly easy to keep contact with'

'I see…'

'Dr. Tachibana assisted with the surgery, though. Maybe she can help'

Gabe lit his cigarette up and started walking.

'Where are you going?'

'To that girl's mom'

Naomi sighed.

'So what do you think?'

'Well, I can't tell you what it is, but I can tell you what it's not – it's not like anything I've ever even heard of'

'Do you think an epidemic may start?'

'It's possible. But nothing's for certain until we meet that mother. Her condition appears to be worse'

'Do you think this disease is fatal?'

'It's very possible, yes. And apparently, it affects both the mind and the body' the diagnostician thought for a few moments. 'Just like Rosalia'

'Not quite… The Rosalia victims still kept their reasoning abilities. I could hardly call someone that would bite their own daughter a reasoning person'

'I see…'

'And there was one more detail that caught my attention'

'Yes, the fact that a bedridden woman suddenly jumped on her feet and attacked her daughter'

'Exactly. This is another reason to think that this is a disease not known to man. Getting up like that sounds completely impossible'

Naomi started thinking. She desperately tried to recall a similar case from her career as a surgeon, but failed.

'Gabe, let me come with you'

'Huh?'

'I can help you with the examination'

'Well… Naomi, it's not like I doubt your skills as an examiner, but… will you be alright?'

'What are you talking about? Of course I will be'

'What about Alyssa?'

'I'll leave her to Dr. Tachibana. We shouldn't be absent for long'

'I see… Well, if that's what you want, then I don't think I can stop you, even if I tried' Gabe grinned.

Naomi nodded and went to check on her daughter.