[hr][h1][i][color=dodgerblue]Lihua Vuhong[/color], & [color=red]Meifeng Vuhong[/color].[/i][/h1][sub][@Spoopy Scary][/sub][hr]


Eyes shot wide open, Lihua awoken in not the best manner. Shaking, and she felt her pillow soaked. With... sweat. Her own sweat. Cold sweat. It had the distinct odor. She knew exactly what that means. She was no stranger to the sensation (Nor was she a stranger to waking up screaming). She knew that it was just further proof that she wasn't right in the head. Not that she was ever going to admit that fact to someone else. All they need to know is that she's completely fine. Though... She just can't stop thinking about that [i]thing[/i]. That horrible [i]Aberration[/i]. Every word he said, how she was no [i]different[/i] from REAPER, began to resonate with her. Before she acted proud, like it wouldn't bother her. Now that she has time to think on what he meant... it made her realize that there was, most likely, a lot more similarities between them than she would like to believe. How human, is the question. Lihua was panting, and her eyes shifted to the night table where she saw the only respite.

Alcohol.

A bottle of whiskey was resting on her nightstand. She didn't even hesitate, the second her eyes locked with it, she grabbed onto it, and twisted the top off. Lihua simply omitted the cup and shoved it right into her mouth and started drinking. She drunk more, and more, and more of it. Until she had to stop and catch her breath. She started breathing as she thought on what PR-1 said some more. Her eyes drifted over to the side, looking for her alarm clock. 2:22 PM. It's two o'clock and she's drinking her kidney away. How fitting. Lihua grinned. 

It was just a downward spiral from here.

[hr]


It was a challenge pulling herself out of the bed. Even for a woman with her willpower and discipline. Yet, she managed to stand up, and walk over to her door. Lihua was sleeping in underwear that'd be less than appropriate with two other people in the house. She kept a white bathrobe hanging from her door. She grabbed it, and pulled her arms through it, before tying it nice and tight together. She grabbed onto her doorknob, stopped for a moment and groaned, before she opened it, and stepped out onto the hallway. The house was oddly quiet. Usually Meifeng is working out, playing the game, or listening to music. Not even bickering with Mika? Now, Lihua was a bit worried. She stepped up to Lijuan's room, and opened the door - There was no Lijuan in her crib. Lihua's heart started racing. She hung her head, and put her fingers to her forehead. Everything's okay. She just needs to have a look around.

"Girls?" Lihua called out in English as she regained her posture. She put her hands on the railing, and started walking down the stairs. She saw that her flatscreen TV was on, and Meifeng was obviously playing a game on it - she had paused it. Where the hell was that child? The first thing that came to mind was looking into the kitchen. She turned, and began walking forward. Upon walking through the doorframe, the first thing that Lihua saw was Meifeng sitting at the table, and Lijuan was placed into her high-chair. Eating some babyfood out of a bowl.

The first thing that Meifeng did was look up at Lihua. Leaning forward in the chair. "[i]Oh, you're [/i]finally[i] awake.[/i]" Meifeng said, and Lihua could just sense the venom in her daughter's voice. "[i]I fed Lijuan for you since you [/i]forgot." She rolled her eyes.

"[i]Apologies.[/i]" Lihua said as she sat down at the table. Right across from her daughter. Lihua folded her hands. "[i]I haven't exactly been feeling well - but thank you for taking up responsibilities for me in my absence.[/i]"

"[i]Your welcome.[/i]" 

"[i]Now, if you would excuse me, I'll take it from here.[/i]" Lihua said - only to get Meifeng out of here so she can safely drink with impunity.

Meifeng merely nodded her head, before standing straight up, and stepping out of the room. Lihua could hear her going back to playing her game. Until Dawn, or something. Lihua didn't know or care.

All she knew was the sound of videogames being played was her cue. Lihua immediately stood up and walked over to the refrigerator. She pulled out wine, and - this time - got a glass. She came back, and slammed the bottle on the table. There, that's where she began drinking.

[hr]


Lihua was so damn caught up in her drinking that she barely noticed that the game had paused again. She managed to empty a couple glasses before Meifeng decided to return to the room. Walking up, and slamming her hands on the table.

"[i]Okay, you've been drinking an awful lot, don't you think,[/i] mom." Meifeng said to her in Chinese. Staring her right in the eye. "[i]Are you sure that this is just a[/i] vacation? [i]That[/i] nothing [i]else happened?[/i]" Meifeng questioned.

Lihua was quick to double-down. She placed the glass back down with a ding, and looked Meifeng right in the eye. "[i]I don't remember saying that it was any of[/i] your [i]business.[/i]"

"[i]It[/i] is [i]my business.[/i]" Meifeng growled. "[i]You've been acting mopey as all hell the second you came back that night. And I'm not stupid. You're going to tell me what actually happened between you and Uncle Jiao-Long,[/i] if [i]something even hap-[/i]"

"[i]Enough.[/i]" Lihua said, slamming her fist in the table, staring Meifeng in the eye. "[i]Have you forgotten who you're talking to. I told you I'm on vacation.[/i] That's [i]the end of it.[/i]"

"[i]Like hell...[/i]" Meifeng growled again, looking away for a moment. Trying to gather what she's trying to say - and realized that she was being... indirect. That was probably the problem from the start. "[i]Look, Mom, I'm trying to help you here. I should have said that from the start, but[/i] I [i]care[/i]-" Meifeng put her hand on her chest, trying her damn best to plead with her. "-[i]I care so much. Even Mika cares. But we can't help you if you don't tell us what's wrong[/i] - Why [i]you've been drinking yourself to death lately.[/i]"

Help. Every time that Meifeng said that word, Lihua got more and more agitated. Her hand holding was shaking, trying to contain herself. "[i]... There's nothing to help with. And even if there was, I don't need any.[/i]"

"[i]Okay, you're trying to go lone-wolf[/i] again? [i]Come on.[/i]"

"[i]I don't need this.[/i]" Lihua said, before she started downing the glass of wine. It spontaneously slipped -no, was pulled - right out of her hand. It hit the ground, and shattered. The glass of wine right next to her was also pushed over.

Meifeng shook her head as she turned around.

It took every once of willpower for Lihua to avoid screaming that girl's head off. Yet, now she's realizing how self-destructive she's being.... She needs to talk to someone - [i]Anyone[/i] - who'd understand. She didn't know who, because her circle of friends was very small. 

Then it came to her.

Lihua reached into her pocket, and punched in a phone number. It was supposed to be a secret, but she really needed this. Lihua put the phone to her ear, and patiently waited for the person on the other end to answer. Once he did, she didn't even give him a second,

"Mr. Moreau-" She was aware that wasn't his real name, but she barely cared, "-can we arrange for a meeting? I need to talk to you about something."

It was selfish, and a complete waste of his time.

But she was looking for someone who'd [i]listen.[/i]