The Doctor

We travel to Inner London. I see row after row of buildings standing alongside the city's outer wall.

"Ah, it's so lively here!" As Nemo notes, the streets are jammed with people, even at this early hour.

I was attacked in a part of town like this.

The main thoroughfares are filled with people, and shopkeepers calling out to potential customers fill the air with sound.

However, I also see suspicious people standing in shadows, talking with one another in hushed homes. Perhaps my experiences yesterday have opened my eyes to something I wouldn't have noticed before.

Dorian has remained at the mansion while Lupin, Nemo, and Victoria accompany me on this excursion.

I swear to myself that I will not lose them. "Victoria, is it all right for you to leave the mansion? You're a wanted woman."

"Yes, but apparently we don't need to worry. Lupin says that they have given up on searching this area for me." Victoria says.

"Many of the people in this district aren't registered citizens of London. They're pretty tolerant of criminals here." Lupin says. "Looking here for any one person is a waste of time and money. The Yard is aware of that, so they don't search it thoroughly."

The Yard. Officially, it's Scotland Yard. That's the name of London's police headquarters, people call the police higher-ups 'the Yard'.

Victoria nods in agreement. "And it seems the Yard's current attention is on the theft of some treasure from a influential lord. Thanks too that, I'm much freer to roam the streets than I was even yesterday."

"A lord's treasure, eh? What were you doing, Lupin?" Nemo asks.

"Unfortunately not. It seems there's someone in London pretending to be a phantom thief, despite my presence here." Lupin says. "He's more a thug than a burglar, though. I can't believe he's getting more attention than me with such crude methods."

"Hey, don't start getting all weird and competitive." Nemo says.

"Besides, isn't a thief supposed to try to avoid police attention?" I ask.

While we're talking, Lupin comes to a stop.

"Is it around here?" I ask.

"The street address is, yes." Lupin says.

"I'm sure there's something you're not telling us, if you put it like that." Victoria says.

"The going gets a little rough from here. It's a bit of a climb, you see." Lupin points ahead, to the rooftops of a line of buildings along the outer wall.

The buildings are 40 to 50 meters tall.

For a while, we have to scale a rickety bare staircase to climb up the buildings. Finally, we reach the top.

The cityscape here is completely different from down on the streets. This area is quite a lot less lively. It's quieter, and there are fewer people going to or fro.

Victoria gasps and wheezes. "Why aren't any of you out of breath after all those stairs?!"

"A lady thief most have strong legs. I make sure to stay in peak condition." Lupin says.

"I guess I was just born this way. I'm a physical and mental prodigy!" Nemo says.

"Should I be gasping for air like you?" I ask.

"Wow. You people. Why on earth would any doctor be up here?" Victoria asks.

"Because I'm quite selective about my customers. No one would think to find a clinic in such a remote location." We turn towards the voice from behind us and see a middle-aged woman in a white coat. "Well, well, isn't this a big group. And do I see a familiar face? What are you doing here, Lupin?"

"Hello, Doctor. I'm honoured to see you again. There's someone who needs a checkup, and we don't care to leave a paper trail." Lupin says.

"So I'm your neighbourhood black-market sawbones, is that it? I decide who I see. Is it the beanpole having an asthma attack?" the Doctor asks.

"No. Not me." Victoria says.

"Um... Why don't you want anyone to know about your clinic here?" I ask.

"It's because I'm too good. If people find me, I'll be bombarded with patients and I'll never get to go home to sleep." the Doctor says. "I became a doctor to help those I want to save. And I will save only the people I want to save."

"Whoa. Talk about your awful bedside manners." Nemo says.

"Is this boy the patient, then?" the Doctor asks.

"Yes, it's me. How did you know?" I ask.

"I know Lupin and the long-haired one well enough. You can't kill 'em if you tried. And if it's not the other kid, it's you." the Doctor says. "Hurry up and follow me. I can't do anything for you out here."