The Traps of Black Swan

People get tired of climbing a few steps whereas Ava Kelly didn't give up even when she fell down, even when her body was begging her to pause and take a deep breath.

She reached the fifth floor and pulled the heavy door open using all her strength. Her body was exhausted yet she was moving. But when she entered the lobby, she was welcomed to the devastating truth.

She saw two making out at the door of the elevator. The man's back was facing her while he had pinned a lady at the elevator door socket.

The man's back? Ava Kelly knew he was Vance Hays as she had seen him in the same outfit in the club. Without caring they were out in public, his hands were reaching and caressing the lady under her dress.

The dress? Ava Kelly identified the layer of the dress that was on the arms of Vance Hays. She couldn't believe Grace Wells, who was cursing Vance with intense hatred, was letting him kiss her.

For a moment, Ava thought Vance must be forcing on Grace Wells. That's how stupid and positive she was about her close friend, Grace Wells. However, it didn't take a split second for her to see the cruel reality. Grace let out carnal sounds in the silent lobby while wrapping her arms around Vance Hays.

Ava at least deduced Vance Hays didn't come to the wedding because of Grace Wells, whereas the latter was actually with her in a bridesmaid dress.

It didn't cross her even once he was her ex-fiance and cheated her with her own close friend.

'You guys could have just told me you liked each other.' She thought. She would have happily let them be together even if her family would have thrown her out.

She wasn't in love with Vance Hays, she never would have coveted her friend's love.

Ava felt Grace must have been guilty hence Grace wanted to take her out, make her feel alive and help her move on. Her innocent brain still didn't think anything fishy about the events that were happening with her for a few hours. That's how much she had trusted Grace and was even ready to forgive them for her suffering.

She guilelessly thought her suffering from the past few days was worth it if it was for the well-being of Grace Wells.

Probably her life and fate didn't have any mercy on her. Those didn't want her to breathe a sigh and relax.

Just when Ava was thinking whether to talk to them or leave to give them privacy, they had broken the kiss, and Grace's pitiful voice filled with worry and concern reached her ears.

"Vance, what if Ava takes the favor of Leon Harmon and tries to get back from us? That's why I wanted a piece of proof so that I can keep you safe."

Ava had frozen in shock, breath had clutched in her throat suffocating her lungs painfully. Her body went numb to all the physical pain whereas her heart had shattered. She vaguely heard their conversation while she didn't know what to even think.

She stumbled back to the darkness of the lobby still trying to digest nothing was a coincidence. Everything happened as they planned against her.

She didn't know when she had entered back the fire exit and collapsed on the floor. She felt no energy while she tried to think about what she did to Grace and Vance? What was her mistake?

'H-how could she do this to me?' Ava thought before she burst into tears biting her hand. She knew if she makes a sound, Vance and Grace would do anything to send her back to the businessman Leon Harmon.

She cried hard, she wept her heart out. She didn't stop even when she tasted the metallic in her mouth. The flaming emotional pain was numbing her superficial pain. The cold floor failed to remind her about leaving from there.

...

Her tears had dried out. She was sniffling, hugging her knees when a security man of the apartment slammed the stick on the stair startling her. He was on inspection and under the dim lights, he assumed a homeless person was secretly sheltering there.

"Hey, who are you? Get out of here. Get up from there. Fast…" He rashly bellowed at her.

Ava jerked aside when his hand was reaching her to pull her up. She stumbled while standing up with the support of the wall and nodded at him. She wanted to apologize for sitting over there and troubling him but the words didn't leave her throat,

She reached for the handrail for support to alight the stairs when the security man noticed how weak she was. "Go in the elevator." He ordered her. "Don't fall here and die. It will become another headache." He muttered, opening the door for her.

Ava Kelly was feeling dizzy due to weakness. She didn't have any strength to argue or take steps so she walked to the elevator with the security in tow.

The security guard continued to mutter but she wasn't in a state to listen to them even if he was irritated about her. He followed her until he made sure she left society.

Ava walked aimlessly without knowing where she should go. She had only one place to call it hers. Skylar where she had stayed for four days without going out.

Without checking the board, she climbed the bus, placed a currency note, and took a seat without responding or speaking to the driver who was asking where she wanted to go.

He drove the bus while she aimlessly gazed at the passing by street lights. She wasn't sure what was hurting her the most. If it was Grace's betrayal or Leon Harmon or the cops trying to r.a.p.e her or she was tired of her life filled with pain.

When she thought about her family, her dried eyes moistened and a tear rolled out. When everyone runs to their family when they face problems, she always wants to avoid them.

She wanted to close her eyes. She didn't want to open them until she could make sure everything was a nightmare. Nevertheless, she wasn't ready to close her eyes in the fear of waking up somewhere surrounded by beasts and monsters.

The bus was passing by the area which was well known to her. The way she used to walk every day for twelve years to school and home… No, a house. She never had a home.

She didn't know what took over her. She stood up and reached the bus door when the bus stop neared. She alighted without taking a change from the driver. It was like she couldn't hear anything.

The bus driver saw her walking towards the high-end regency. He shook his head in resignation thinking of her as a spoiled brat and drove away.

Ava felt her heart lurch, she didn't want to go there but a part of her still held the last string of hope to get a home in that house. Hence her feet took her to the house where she never had a place for her.

She was thinking to go straight to her room but as soon as she stepped inside, she heard the hearty laughter of her parents and younger brother.

Although they didn't know if the daughter of the house was alive or not, they were in the mood party all night with expensive wines and tasty snacks.