As Andrew, Lisa, and William pushed open the creaking door of their decrepit shelter, they braced themselves for the inevitable confrontation with Danzo and his men. The dim interior was thick with shadows, and for a moment, the trio stood frozen on the threshold, hearts pounding in their chests.
But as their eyes adjusted to the gloom, they realized something was different. The usual oppressive atmosphere of fear and tension was absent. Instead of Danzo's menacing presence or the lurking figures of his thugs, they saw only the familiar forms of their fellow street children.
"Where is everyone?" Lisa whispered her voice a mix of confusion and tentative relief.
A small figure detached itself from the shadows, revealing itself to be Penny, one of the younger girls. Her dirty face was creased with worry, but there was a hint of excitement in her eyes. "They're gone," she said in a hushed tone. "Danzo and all his men. They left in a hurry about an hour ago."
