The Traps of Black Swan

At the main entrance of the military base, Ava was huffing for each breath. There was a kind of relief from the thought of being in a safe place.

The brown walls and forest green wall-like gates were tall and sturdy. They kind of evoked a sense of protectiveness. Her eyes shifted to the small door that opened at the gate and saw two men exit in the uniform.

Ava wanted to lean on something and calm herself but there was nothing to hold. Standing in front of tall burly men, she had to lift her head to look at their faces.

She realized their eyes were looking at her skeptically. She noticed a group of two on either side of the gates were looking down at her standing on the tower.

All she could feel from them was distrust and suspicion about her appearance. Their eyes traveled from her head to toe. She was in a copper brown short A-line dress that reached above her knees. Even though it was an expensive branded dress, after going through the series of events, it was wrinkled and looked dirty.

The boat neck pattern clearly gave them the view of the bruises around her neck. They noticed her slender legs had wounds that were disinfected.

Even though the ugly marks on her skin screamed of the violation she had been through, it didn't hide her exquisite skin, the beads of sweat and her exhaustion failed to cover her natural charm.

Her outlook, her situation didn't match and that was enough for them to raise the mistrust. 

The two in front of her looked at each other and nodded. One of them went inside and the other one spoke, "Miss, what are you doing here? The public isn't allowed here and you can be imprisoned for trespassing."

Ava didn't leave her hope, she tried to speak while catching breath supporting herself pressing on her waist.

"I need to meet Captain Burton. Nico Burton. Could you please let me meet him?..." She saw his brows furrow hearing Nico's name. She thought they might be thinking of her as a trickster, She tried another way, "Or please inform him that I am here and in need of help…. My name is Ava Kelly."

However, she didn't get to see the reaction she was expecting. His cold sharp gaze was trying to tear her apart. It was obvious he was very much wary of her. 

Soon the man who had entered inside returned with a lady soldier. The lady scrutinized Ava before she proceeded towards her. "Miss, cooperate with me for the security check." Her rough and slightly annoyed voice sounded.

Ava felt her hopes waiver. 

Why do people doubt the one who is true and in need of help?

Anyway, she clenched her teeth and nodded as her eyes moistened. Thinking in their shoes, she felt it was the right thing to do before letting her enter inside. Being careful of the danger was what they were trained for.

A tear rolled down on her cheek when she squeezed her eyes shut, her body quivered when the lady checked on her by touching her body.

Ava didn't see when the lady soldier shook her head towards the other two comrades. She obliquely mentioned that Ava has nothing on her.

"Don't repeat this. Take this as a warning, leave from here." The man who had heard her reason for presence commanded her. He sounded like he was showing mercy on her by letting her go.

Ava opened her eyes and pleaded, "I really need to meet him. I will wait for him here, please notify him, please."

"Him?" The lady soldier curiously asked.

"Captain Burton." The male soldier answered, shaking his head in resignation. "I had heard girls flock around him. Who would have thought somebody would dare to get attention from him in this way?" He snickered.

Ava: "..."

The lady turned to Ava. Her eyes graze traveled on the wounds of Ava, "I can't believe she got real wounds for it."

Ava shook her head vigorously, "No, no. Brother Nico knows me… I mean we know each other. Please contact him, you will know."

The male soldier took a step towards her intimidatingly. Ava who was already afraid of men stumbled back. "Look, Miss. Leave from here if you don't want us to hand you over to the cops. We are too busy to watch your drama."

Ava pleaded and the soldiers debated for more than ten minutes. They pushed her away with the rifle yet she begged them to believe her once and check with Nico Burton. She had even tried to convince them that she will silently wait at the gates in a corner till Nico comes out but they were adamant about shooing her away from the premises.

Ava sniffled for a long time hearing them say if they write a suspicion report on her, she would be torture to death asking if she was a terrorist. She had to leave when a soldier sent another one inside to call the local cops.

All she needed from them was a call to Nico Burton but she was sent empty-handed away from the place she had thought it to be safe.

There were two roads, one which she came from, Leon's men would have checked the village and coming in that way. Another road leads to a place where she didn't know.

Despite knowing she had no way to escape, she chose the unknown destination with almost no hope of survival.

---- Present ----

"Then?" Nico, who had held his breath hearing her, pressed her to continue looking at her back. He wanted to know what happened as Leon's men had reached there shortly and he was definitely sure she was caught.

Aarvi who was sitting and briefing the incident had choked on her words. She had thought she would be fine narrating this part but as soon as the family came, she knew she lost it there. So she had walked away to the glass wall to hide her expression of hurt and tears.

Aaron stood by her the whole time trying to comfort her. He was good at masking his expression in the presence of others. But it was obvious he was angry, helpless, and in pain hearing her.

Leaning on Aaron, Aarvi took several deep long breaths of his scent, relaxing in his warmth. She was quick to compose back to her serenity. She didn't want to tell any other part to Nico Burton, She won't have anything else connected with him.

She first looked at Aaron who cared nothing but her well-being and comfort. Noticing him relaxed after seeing her, she faintly smiled, "I was so pathetic, wasn't I?"

Aaron carefully wiped the moist corner of her eyes, "The world is pitiful." The world which always looked positive to her became a world she was disgusted with. So the world was awful.

Aarvi involuntarily smiled at his words. She then turned to Nico who was used to the ignorance of the couple."Then? Ava Kelly rested in peace."

Nico was no more confused with her words of Ava Kelly as a different person. He understood her personality named Ava Kelly is dead. 

He couldn't believe the girl who used to giggle over a call and always sounded happy was actually living a life worse than an orphan. At least orphans would know they have no parents but she had them, yet lived like an orphan enduring the agony they were putting her in.

'Why do I feel like her parents were with Leon just like Vance?' Nico had a question.