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.

reunion. She revelled in the comforting feeling of bringing the family together, trying to dispel the ache in her heart because she knew that this would never happen to

Edith, was the type to hug her

her thoughts. "Uncle, this is Manager Qin. She came with me all the

beamed at

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 out to her. Cassandra immediately accepted it and shook hands with him.

thank you for going out of your way to bring Maggie here. Your journey must have been so

place. It

just as worried about Maggie's well-being, especially when he lost contact with her. At least he

has my dear cousin brother contacted you

her cousin brother had contacted his father

Who? I have no son like

uncle suddenly cursed in a cold and angry tone. The mere mention of his

her lower lip and held her tongue back. She didn't want to spoil such a good reunion.

Your aunt and cousin sister are not far from here. I'm sure

her arm and tugged at it. However, he

here at the evacuation center. We do have enough food with us, however. Would you like to join us

immediately shook her head and

on such a nice family reunion. Please, I insist. Maggie, just go and spend time with your family. I'll go to see if Dylon needs anything, or

glanced over to the rescue teams not far away from them, who were strategically planning their entry into one of the abandoned buildings. Maggie smiled and thanked her once again, before turning

look for Dylon, who she found waiting in front of a ruined building.

What was once a tall building had been reduced to two floors. The first floor had sunken so far below that it caved into a basement. Cassandra noted that because of the storm and earthquake, the area was covered in a sludge of dirt and mud. It

scaffolding seemed to still be intact but only barely, which was why the search and rescue teams were under crucial time pressure.

was using the thermal imaging to find missing persons underground. They were extremely focused and diligent with their work; a complete opposite from the frowns and worried expressions on their faces.

there people still trapped

as she approached. He was worrying a pen

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

Cassandra's heart to see such an expression. The rescue teams hadn't rested since they arrived, because they were all too busy trying to rescue the others who were

stationed himself outside of the ruined building, so that if the rescue team managed to retrieve people, he would

been stuck for a

was just about ready to go inside; and Dylon and Cassandra patiently

to do a rescue operation.

He was silently praying for everyone's

collapse? It's so risky to bring them down there, it might hurt

lip between

as well. That's why we're all nervous. It's such a risky operation but there's not much else