"Good Work Everyone. We have prepared a feast for you. Please enjoy yourself to the fullest." Master Zhang said as he lifted his wine glass.
*Clap Clap*
Zhang Yuxi thanked everyone, before moving towards her parents.
Seeing that, Master Zhang said to his wife "I can't believe Our Yuxi has matured now. She handled the questions fantastically. Just a few years ago, she would stutter even in the scripted interviews."
Madam Zhang wanted to say something yet stayed silent, just nodded her head. But she felt an eerie feeling, making her shudder.
It was like someone was eyeing directly on her soul. She felt suffocated. Subconsciously, her gaze landed on Yuxi who was talking to someone on her way to them.
"Honey, are you okay? You look pale." Master Zhang asked as he patted her shoulders, noticing her abruptly trembling.
Startled by the sudden touch, Madam Zhang dropped her glass of wine.
"Honey!" He made her back away to prevent it from cutting her legs.
The piercing sound from the shattering of the glass, made them focus on attention. Zhang Yuxi hastily moved towards them.
She asked worriedly "Are you both okay?"
"I am sorry for startling you, I am fine. I think my pressure got down. Don't worry." Madam Zhang smiled to assure everyone.
"Honey, Let me take you to your room. Get some rest." He suggested, grabbing her hand. Madam Zhang nodded her head.
Zhang Yuxi suddenly spoke up "Dad, I think it's best if you stay here handling the guest. I will take mom to her room. *Grabbing her other hand* I also have a lot of things to talk about with her."
Master Zhang chuckled heartily "Sure Sure, I will leave you, mother and daughter, alone, then."
When he wanted to part his hands with her, He felt slight unwillingness from Madam Zhang's side. Kissing her head, He gently spoke "Don't worry about anything here. Just take some rest." Then, Yuxi took her to her room.
---
"Mom, Your meds," Yuxi spoke as she passed her meds and glass of water.
The lying Madam Zhang sat up in the bed, taking her medicines quietly.
"Mom" Yuxi called out.
"H-Hmm?" Madam Zhang looked at her, a single sweat trickling down her forehead.
"Isn't it strange you were so excited when I returned home earlier, It looked like you had so many things to say to me, Now that I am finally in front of you, You are unusually so quiet?" Yuxi said, grabbing the glass from her.
"It's n-nothing like that. I am f-feeling a bit u-unwell. W-We will talk after taking proper r-rest." Madam Zhang spoke, lowering her head to avert meeting her eyes.
Midway, she felt an enormous pressure causing her head to stare straight at Zhang Yuxi. "T-This.."
"Why are you doing this, Mom? Why are you stuttering all of a sudden? Are you afraid of something? Or, Someone? Is it…me?" Yuxi pointed at herself, acting innocent.
The peculiar feeling Madam Zhang was facing from before, returned. But, It was gradually growing at a rapid pace. The room felt bizarrely small and dark. She felt so smothered that she began to gasp for air.
Clutching her chest, she wanted to move but she couldn't. Her back drenched in sweat, her throat was itchy and dry, she felt like her body was burning.
Yuxi shook the glass of water in front of her "Do you want some water?"
"W-Who are y-you? W-Why ar-"
"Shhhh!" Placing a finger on her lips, Yuxi shook her head.
"Who am I? I am your daughter, Mom. Why are you suspecting like something is wrong with me? You even wanted to talk about it to father. Didn't you?" She whispered in her ear.
Widening her eyes, Madam Zhang sensed goosebumps arising all over her body.
"Don't be surprised yet. Since your memories would be erased anyway, let me tell you a story. You can rest while you listen." Zhang Yuxi said as she backed away.
Madam Zhang comprehended that the eerie feeling was subsiding slowly. But the overwhelming pressure on her remained which made her unable to move on her will. Still, her body was moving on its own, before she realized she was already lying in the bed.
"Once upon a time, there was a happy family. A sweet married couple and their one & only daughter. Even though they were poor, they adjusted well. "
"Unusually, they had to move every now and then. There was no permanent residence. Still, they were joyful. Until…Their daughter reached the age of twenty." Zhang Yuxi stared at her birthmark as she spoke.
She lowered her head and suddenly fell silent. Madam Zhang who was trying her best to move, upon sensing abrupt silence, couldn't help but look at her.
There was a long moment of stillness which made Madam Zhang tensed. Unable to hold it anymore, She eventually called her out "E-Excuse me?"
Sensing no movement or sound, Madam Zhang took this chance and shouted "Help me!! Please, help someone!"
"Hehehe..Hahahaha.." The sound of laughter rang in the room as soon as Madam Zhang began shouting.
"I am sorry; I got carried away while telling you the story. The story is..*Lifting her head* quite emotional."
Horrified by what she was seeing, Madam Zhang screamed " AHHHHHHH!"