Awakening to the knowledge that Peony’s plague has progressed to stage three, and experiencing physical discomfort from moving the gasoline-powered car to the parking garage the previous night, Cinder goes to the quarantine area to visit Peony.

Cinder locates Peony, who exhibits symptoms of the disease. Cinder covers her with blanket, and while looking at the child in the nearby bed, returns her gaze to Peony, who wants to go home. Peony looks for signs of the plague on Cinder, assuming her presence in the quarantine indicates her letumosis illness. Cinder explains her immunity to Peony and the hope of finding an antidote. Peony conveys other desires to Cinder: a portscreen to communicate with her mother and sister, and the desire to attend the ball and meet the prince. Peony says, “I love you, Cinder. I’m glad you’re not sick” (150).

While leaving Peony and the quarantine, Cinder stops at the sound of her name being called. Chang Sacha—the baker from the market—asks Cinder to bring her son, then dies after relaying her request. Following Chang Sacha’s death, Cinder observes what happens to those who die of the plague: a med-droid removes their ID chip, leaving the person without an identity.