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!"

arms and wailed. She was so happy to see

She revelled in the comforting feeling of bringing the family together, trying

was the type to

is Manager Qin. She came with me all

beamed at Cassandra

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 out to her. Cassandra immediately accepted it and

bring Maggie here. Your journey must have

accompany someone to such a dangerous place. It also was

well-being, especially when he lost contact with her. At least he could rest easy now, since they were

dear cousin brother contacted you

cousin brother had contacted

Who? I have no

The mere mention

tongue back. She didn't

cousin sister are not far from here. I'm sure you'd want to see them, don't

uncle quickly took her arm and tugged at it. However, he stopped and turned to Cassandra, nearly forgetting her presence.

center. We do have

Cassandra immediately shook her head and

I do not wish 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 if Dylon needs

planning their entry into one of

who she found waiting

two floors. The first floor had sunken so far below that it caved into a basement. Cassandra noted that because of the storm

still be intact but only barely, which was why the search and rescue teams were under crucial

the thermal imaging to find missing persons underground. They were extremely focused and diligent with their work;

what's wrong? Are there people still trapped

was worrying a pen in between his teeth.

few business centers inside. However one of the evacuees warned us that the building's security team was still trapped inside. We're trying to find a way

was pain in his eyes, and it tugged at Cassandra's heart to see such an expression. The rescue teams hadn't rested since they arrived, because they were all too busy trying

so that if the rescue team managed to retrieve people,

means they've been stuck for a day already? The

exclaimed, growing anxious over the lives at stake. The rescue team was just about

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 have to take. We can't just let the people die

and sighed. He was silently praying

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

lip between

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