The police dogs entered the cave. Jeremy and Corinne followed suit.


    The cave was enveloped in darkness, and there was the smell of burning wood in the air. As the police illuminated the space with powerful shlights, they saw the dog cage in the cave and the ashes of burnt firewood.Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    At the sight of the dog cage, Corinne''s eyes stung with tears. "They must''ve kept Joey in this dog cage! D*mn it! How could they treat a child like this?!"


    Jeremy''s expression did not look good either.


    The police dog, sniffing around, barked twice after catching a peculiar scent.


    Sunny moved forward to investigate with the police. He saw a puddle on the ground.


    ''Is that...the kid''s pee?'' thought Sunny.


    The intuitive connection between mother and son allowed Corinne to grasp the situation immediately upon seeing the puddle. "That must be Joey''s pee. He left it as a scent trail for us! Since it''s still wet, it means they haven''t gone too far!"


    "Yeah, they shouldn''t be too far. Men, have the police dogs get familiar with Joey''s scent and intensify the search!" added Jeremy.


    "Yes, Mister Jeremy!"


    On the other side of the mountain, the balloon seller-looking visibly exhausted-trudged down with Joey on his back; his breaths bing heavier with each step he took.


    They were unaware of the search happening on the opposite side of the mountain and remained oblivious to the approaching danger.


    Finally, the balloon seller decided he could not go on. He set Joey down and said, "Anya, I''m telling you: You''re overthinking this. No one will find us up here in the middle of the night! I can''t go on. I''m done!" Anya immediately panicked after seeing him stop. "How can you stop?! Pick up the child and get down the mountain this instant!"


    The balloon seller waved his hand dismissively. "I can''t carry him anymore! You''ll have to carry him yourself if you want to get him off the mountain! I skipped my dinner today just to drag him up the mountain, and you expect me to carry him down again? Not only did he get his sweat all over me, but he peed all over me as well!"


    Anya''s ominous premonition intensified. "So what? I''ll give you money to buy new clothester. Just pick him up right now and go!"


    "I really can''t move anymore. I''m going to die if I take another step."


    "Do... Do you still want the money or not?"


    The exhausted balloon sellery sprawled on the ground. "In any case, I can''t go on anymore. If you don''t pay me because of this, I''ll go to the police and report you for forcing me to kidnap someone''s child! I''m not going down for this alone!"


    "Why you!" Anya gritted her teeth. Left without a choice, she carried Joey herself. "Fine, I''ll carry him myself! Stay here and get caught for all I care! Don''t me me for not helping you then! Hmph!" After saying that, Anya carried Joey briskly down the hill. It was only when she held Joey that Anya noticed his pants were all wet.


    Anya frowned in disdain. "Useless kid. How is it possible that you can''t even hold your pee at your age?"


    Joey, tightly bound and exhausted from crying, hoarsely spoke, "Why did you take me back if you hate me so much?"