A Graduation Gift

Cassandra was the person Dylon least expected to see here. The situation had been so dangerous, with aftershocks seizing the location every other minute. It boggled him how Cassandra managed to drive up here despite the risk.

"I can't go back now. I need to find Maggie's uncle and his family!"

Cassandra said stubbornly.

Dylon looked at Maggie whose eyes were red and swollen. Her hand was being held by Cassandra tightly. He frowned slightly before answering, "Park the car at the town hall nearby and get on the ambulance with us!"

Dylon pointed at the vehicle he just got out of.

Cassandra smiled at him, grateful with his offer.

"Thank you so much, Dylon!" she exclaimed as she hurried over to the car and drove towards the town hall.

Once she was done, she and Maggie ran to the ambulance and rode with Dylon on the way to A City. Everything was in ruins. The roads were all destroyed, and buildings kept crumbling apart.

"My team was dispatched to the site near the home of Maggie's uncle. You two can come with us. But you must follow me closely,"

Dylon explained to Cassandra and Maggie. They had started to formulate a plan just to ensure all their safeties.

Maggie's uncle lived near the school, where he and his wife worked as teachers.

The house was crumbling and bound to fall any time soon. It was just a good thing that her uncle and his family weren't there. However, some necessities in the house were gone.

Cassandra noted that the towels and quilt were gone. "Your uncle must've come back to take them out somewhere else. Don't worry, Maggie. They probably went to an emergency shelter nearby,"

Cassandra reassured. Maggie's face softened upon hearing her manager's words.

"Thank you, Manager Qin. I'll go and search around in a bit. I saw some tents by the playground when we passed,"

Maggie said excitedly, trying to look for a few supplies before heading out herself. Cassandra followed suit.

The playground was crowded with people. Maggie searched around several times but failed to see her uncle and his family.

Cassandra, however, was determined to find him. She took Maggie to the broadcast station and asked the broadcaster to page Maggie's uncle for them over the loudspeaker.

It only took a few minutes until a middle-aged man peered out of one of the tents. Maggie immediately recognized him and ran towards the tent. The man smiled as she rushed over to him.

"Maggie! What are you doing here?"

The man's eyes were watering from happiness. He never would have expected for Maggie to appear in A City.

"Uncle!"

wailed. She was so happy

family reunion. She revelled in the comforting feeling of bringing the family together, trying to dispel the ache

Edith, was the

Manager Qin. She came

at

kind face and a gentle stature. He wore a pair of glasses to frame his face, which shifted downwards as he looked at Cassandra, holding his hand

way to bring Maggie here. Your journey must have been so dangerous. From the bottom of my heart, thank you

well aware that it wasn't an easy task to accompany someone to such a dangerous place. It also was a rare sight to see a manager going at such

truth, Maggie's uncle had been just as worried about Maggie's well-being, especially when he lost contact with her.

my dear cousin brother

cousin brother had contacted his father

Who? I have

mere mention of his son's name made him immediately feel unpleasant.

tongue back. She didn't want to spoil such a good reunion.

cousin sister are not far from here.

tugged at it. However, he stopped and turned to Cassandra, nearly forgetting her

food and water here at the evacuation center. We do have enough food with us, however.

immediately shook her head and declined the offer.

to intrude on such a nice family reunion. Please, I insist. Maggie, just go and spend time with your family. I'll go to see

to the rescue teams not far away from them, who were strategically planning their entry into one of

then headed to look for Dylon, who she found waiting in front of a ruined

basement. Cassandra noted that because of the storm and earthquake, the area was covered in a sludge of dirt and mud. It seemed that there was going to be

shattered everywhere. The scaffolding seemed to still be intact but only barely, which was why the search and rescue teams were

extremely focused and diligent with their work; a complete

there people still

as she approached. He was worrying a

were only a few business centers inside. However one of the evacuees warned us that the building's security team was still trapped inside.

rescue

the ruined building, so that if the rescue team managed to retrieve people, he would be able to

a day already? The aftershocks

about ready to go inside; and Dylon and Cassandra patiently waited by

We're not even sure if the building's stable enough to do a rescue operation. But it's a risk we have to take. We can't just

sighed. He was silently praying

if there'll be another collapse? It's so risky to bring them down there, it

her bottom lip

That's why we're all nervous. It's such a risky operation but