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!"

immediately ran into her uncle's arms and wailed. She was so happy

her throat. It was so precious to see this family 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

father, Vernon, nor her mother, Edith, was the type to hug

Qin. She came with me all the way to A City to

at Cassandra gleefully.

old man who had a kind face and a gentle stature. He wore a pair of glasses to frame his face, which shifted downwards as he looked at

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

uncle was well aware that it wasn't an easy task to accompany someone to such a dangerous place.

worried about Maggie's well-being, especially when he lost contact with her. At least he could rest easy now,

my dear cousin

asked, curious about whether her cousin brother had contacted his father to check about his

Who? I have

and angry tone. The mere mention of

her tongue back. She

go. Your aunt and cousin sister are not far from here.

tugged at it. However,

center. We do

sincerely. However, Cassandra immediately shook

reunion. Please, I insist. Maggie, just go and spend time with your family.

one of the abandoned buildings. Maggie smiled and

headed to look for Dylon, who she found waiting

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

to still be intact but only barely, which was why the search

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

there people still

as she approached. He was worrying a pen in between

the other areas since this was a pretty old building and there were only a few business centers inside.

an expression. The rescue teams hadn't rested since they arrived, because they were all too busy trying

ruined building, so that if the rescue team managed to retrieve people,

for a day already? The

the lives at stake. The rescue team was just about ready to go

knows what's it like inside the building now. We're not even sure if the building's stable enough to do a rescue operation. But it's a risk we

He was silently praying for everyone's safety.

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

bottom lip between her

all nervous.