21#21

21

Denver escaped the orphanage with Travis securely fastened to his back.

They made their way to the agreed-upon meeting point at the intersection where he had told Kiana they would reunite.

Several hours had passed since they were separated, and he was worried about her well-being.

He feared the worst might have happened to her, just as the director had warned—wild animals or kidnappers. Denver would never forgive himself if anything happened to her.

He sprinted to the meeting location, but upon arrival, Kiana was nowhere to be found.

Panic-stricken, he shouted her name repeatedly, only to be met with eerie silence.

For the first time, he felt truly frightened.

The director's warning resonated in his mind: "You might cause her death!"

This phrase would haunt him for years to come, like an inescapable nightmare.

Meanwhile, Kiana had been waiting at the intersection in the darkness for what seemed like an eternity.

She was determined to stay put until Denver came for her.