University Mulan

After the drilling questions of the FBI asking me all about my step-father, I felt more exhausted than usual. I walked back slowly thinking about everything that had just happened in these few hours. He's finally gone from my life, but why do I feel like nothing has changed? I lied to the FBI agents telling them I had a very neighbor I could stay with. Of course they checked them up, but I had given the name of someone I knew before moving to the dorms. I wonder if they'll check in on them? I shrug thinking it wasn't my problem at the moment. When it comes then I'll deal with it, but now I just want to find my mother. 

I didn't know where I could even start on this whole mission. Do I go to the hospitals and ask for copies of birth certificates? Do I check the orphanage that I once came from? The Foster system? Then, I felt a weird realization dawn onto me. Should I research the village? Maybe, that was the best hope for me. I feel all the orphanages and systems would have false records of me, knowing my father, he would have tampered with the information. I guess the library it is... I sigh not even wanting to step foot in the school yet. 

I was more afraid of Aurora than anything or anyone else. I didn't want to bring her into a life that was difficult. But, even with all my nerves and anxieties, I made my way into the library without anyone realizing I was back. Yet. 

I'm sure someone will find me eventually... 

I storm off angry with Merida's snark comment toward me when I began to walk away. Of course I said goodbye to Aurora! I huffed my frustration beginning to run off the campus grounds and into the woods. A trail I had followed back and forth from my Father's hideout to the school. How dare she bring this personal situation up in front of that girl, Anna. 

It took me hours to finally arrive at the hideout. The overgrowth of the vegetation around the massive cabin became excessive obviously signifying that Father didn't stay here as often as before. I stood in my spot staring at the cabin, noticing the glare of the sunset shining off the tinted windows. Now or never, Mulan. I walk up to the cabin knocking on the door until I hear a groggy voice ask, "Are you needing some wood?"

"Just the red wood for now." I reply knowing that was the secret saying to be able to have the door open. The door creeks open and I see men in suits scattered chatting around uncaring that I have arrived. I looked around for a moment until I saw my Step Father enjoying himself around the company of strangers mostly women. I rush through the crowd coming up to him until he spots me and shoos away the women like pets. Disgusting. 

I had never enjoyed the company of these women, especially because how my Father treated them, but I could never say anything. "You came just in time. We were celebrating your--"

"Who is she?" I ask cutting him off. That had been a first. His eyebrow twitches, but he keeps his smile

.

"Who, Dear?" Dear? Just because you're men are around?  Pathetic piece of--

"My mother." I snap knowing he had to know who I was referring to.

"You don't have a--"

"I remember my village, out in the rural areas of China. Don't play dumb with me." I sneer tired of his lies. He had been lying to me for years and now I was fed up and angry. He slowly rises from his chair and stretches his tired limbs

. 

"This is how you repay me after getting you out of jail?" He quietly asks trying to keep his temper in check. This was the opportunity I had been waiting for. He wouldn't hit me here, not in front of all these people. This was my chance.

"Getting me out of jail because of your charges?!" I scream wanting everyone to hear us. "You fled the scene where you partook in murdering those people!" Everyone hushed and looked over to where Father and I stood, conversing. He looked around nervously with a forced smile trying to keep his composure. I smirked knowing he had nowhere to hide now. "You stole me from my Mother, and now I want to see her! You're no Father to me!" I yell turning on my heel shaking with pure rage. 

I noticed a man or two strangely looking toward my Father's way, particularity staring at him with interest. Before I knew it, screaming ensued and everyone was down on the floor, even my Father. People in black busted down the doors with guns and began yelling, "Everyone down! This is the FBI!" I stood relieved and in shock. Did I lead these people to my Father?! I couldn't believe it. He was actually going down. 

A female FBI agent came up to me wearing avatars to hide her eyes, but flashed a smile and told me, "Good job, Kid. If it wasn't for you getting released that easily in jail, we could have never caught him."

She was about to walk off to watch the rest of the crowd get handcuffed, but I asked her, "H-how long have you been searching for him?" 

"19 years." She replies leaving my presence. 

I leave without another word, or glance to anyone around. I didn't care who had gotten arrested or not, but the one person I did stick around to see leave was my Step Father. I watched as he was escorted into a black van, but before he stepped in he glanced at me, for once with sadness. I turned away not wanting his sorrow and guilt to get to me. But I did wonder, Was this the right thing to do? 

I had given up on searching for my Father. Only because he had vanished after the chaotic fight had been shut down by the police. But it still bothered me that he still bailed me out.

I awake from a voice calling toward me; rather loudly. I dart my eyes open to see a blurry image of someone standing cross-armed in front of the jail cell I was staying in. I get up from the uncomfortable bed, that felt like sleeping on rocks, to see Emma watching me. "You got your bail, and all charges dropped..." Emma says sighing to the unusual situation she was put in. She opens the cell door letting me leave saying to me, but more to herself, "This doesn't feel right," I watch her as I slowly step out telling her, "Thanks."

"Yeah, I'l be having my eyes on you though." She says seriously, no hint of jokes.