In short, the crowd tried everything they could think of. But Celestial Lake was simply too deep. Without a proper flotation device, no one dared to risk going in after the child.

Old Mrs. Somerset sat on the ground, a smirk on her face. "I'm telling you, don't waste your energy. That little brat is as good as dead today."

It had been too long. Even if they pulled him out now, he would already be gone.

The thought filled her with a perverse sense of satisfaction. Her precious son wouldn't be lonely anymore.

"You evil old witch, how can you be so vile?" a bystander snarled, looking ready to strike her. "Let me tell you, people like you never come to a good end!"

Old Mrs. Somerset didn't care. As long as someone was accompanying her son to the grave, she was content.

"Mom! Mom!"

Just then, Flossie came running from the side. "Something's wrong! Something terrible has happened!"

"What is it?" Old Mrs. Somerset looked up at her daughter.

Flossie was gasping for breath. "Dragon... Dragon's gone."

"What!" Old Mrs. Somerset shot up from the ground. "Where's Dragon? Where did he go?"

"I don't know," Flossie said, frantic. "He said he wanted ice cream, so I went to buy him some. When I turned around, he was gone."

She was still clutching a cone of ice cream in her hand.

The news hit Old Mrs. Somerset like a physical blow. She seemed to transform, her previous apathy vanishing. She turned to the crowd, her voice shrill with panic. "Has anyone seen my grandson? He's missing! Dragon! Dragon! Where are you, Dragon!"

Her eyes were turning red with unshed tears. Her son was sentenced to death. Her grandson was her last hope. If anything happened to Dragon, she wouldn't want to live anymore.

The onlookers took a collective step back, looking at her with disgust. This old woman was truly repulsive. She had watched with indifference as another family's child drowned, but now that her own grandson was missing, she was a mess of hysterics. It was karma, plain and simple.

"Well, well, well. I thought you didn't have any grandchildren."

"Look at her now. So you do know what it's like to be worried."

"When the old don't live righteously, the young suffer the consequences..."

Flossie was too panicked to understand what was happening. Finding Dragon was the only thing that mattered. She addressed the crowd again. "My nephew was wearing a blue t-shirt and black cargo pants. He's about eleven or twelve. Has anyone seen him?"

"Was he also wearing a sun hat with a little fan on it?" someone asked.

"Yes! Yes!" Flossie's face lit up with desperate hope. "That's him! Please, where did you see him?"

The onlookers exchanged uneasy glances. One of them finally spoke up. "The boy who just fell in... I think he was wearing a blue t-shirt and one of those fan hats. You should check by the lake."

Old Mrs. Somerset's eyes widened in horror. "No! That's not possible! My Dragon wouldn't fall into the lake! You're mistaken, you must be!"

A fortune-teller had told her Dragon was destined for greatness. The Somerset family was counting on him to restore their name. Nothing could happen to him. Dragon would be fine.

"Mom, let's just go look," Flossie urged, grabbing her mother's hand and pulling her toward the lakeshore.

The crowd followed.

By now, a large group had gathered at the edge of the water. "That poor kid," someone was saying.

"Just a case of bad luck. I heard some tourist had a swimming ring, but she refused to lend it."

"Refused to lend it? How could someone be so wicked? Doesn't she have kids of her own?"

"A person like that? Definitely has no family."

Hearing the whispers, a cold dread filled Old Mrs. Somerset's heart. She couldn't bear to think... if the child in the water really was Dragon, what would she do? It couldn't be. Her Dragon was protected by God; he would be fine she repeated the

mantra to herself as she hurried toward the water.

The child in the lake had stopped struggling. He was floating facedown, only a patch of blue fabric visible above the surface.

Seeing that blue cloth, Old Mrs. Somerset's heart stopped. Could... could it really be Dragon? No, impossible. So many children wore blue shirts. It wasn't just her Dragon.

Just then, Flossie spotted a hat on the bank. "Mom, look! Isn't that Dragon's hat?" she cried.

Old Mrs. Somerset's head snapped up. Sure enough, it was the exact same hat Dragon had been wearing.

All the strength seemed to drain

from her body. She stumbled forward and picked it up. "It is! It ist It's Dragon's hat it's his Even if she wanted to deny it, she knew the faint, familiar scent of her beloved grandson clinging to the fabric.

Realization crashed down on her, and she let out a gut-wrenching wail. "Dragon! Dragon! Somebody, please, save our Dragon!"

Flossie turned to the crowd, tears streaming down her face. "Is there anyone, any kind soul who can swim? Please, save my nephew! My brother is gone... he's the only nephew I have!"

An older woman nearby sighed. "The water in Celestial Lake is too deep, dear. Who would dare? Don't panic heard someone went to borrow. swimming ring. If they can get t here in time, maybe there's still a chance for the boy."

Even a strong swimmer wouldn't risk diving into a lake known to be hundreds of feet

deep in places without a flotation device.

A swimming ring! Hearing those words, Flossie grasped at the sliver of hope. She

turned to her mother. "Mom, didn't we bring a swimming ring? Quick! Go get it!"