The Traps of Black Swan

At eight in the morning,

Ava Kelly was so exhausted she hadn't woken up even once the whole night. She woke up when she felt a strong nudge on her shoulder.  She opened her eyes to bright sunlight entering the bus. Due to the pain, she felt like her whole body was being pricked by the thorns.

She had no idea the bus had reached the destination three hours earlier. Since she was lying down, the cleaner and the driver had left thinking every passenger had alighted. The bus was again on the next trip, the passenger who had booked that seat was waking her up.

"Excuse me, this is my seat. Could you please show me your ticket?" A young, chubby, cute girl asked Ava, thinking to help her with the seat. Anyway, she gasped when she saw the blue and green bruises on Ava's pale soft skin.

Ava thought the girl would run away from her or scream but she moved Ava's unkempt hair to look at Ava's face clearly. Anyhow, Ava who remembered the lady cops touching her and choking her, shrunk away from the touch.

Her lips trembled as she stood up to leave quickly, "I-I am sorry." A hoarse voice sounded that hurt her throat.

Ava ran out, but the college girl followed her close and caught Ava when she groaned in pain and swayed back.

"Let me help you." The girl insisted and held around Ava's shoulder tight.

Even though some of Ava's energy had recovered, the bruises and wounds were hurting a lot. Ava couldn't shrug off the girl who pulled her hood to avoid the eyes on Ava and helped her to the bus stop. Ava tried to leave but she kept her stronghold.

"Let me go." Ava again hurt her dry throat but the girl was strong and adamant. She forcefully took her to the medical shop.

It was a small bus stop that could hold about ten buses. The small shops and a few people were walking here and there. The life of the people looked calm and relaxed but it wasn't enough to put Ava at ease.

Sensing Ava will run away, the girl didn't leave her. She held in a strong grip, yet gentle. Careful enough, not to hurt her.

Ava was already garnering too much attention, she didn't want to be called a thief in her appearance. The girl handed her the oral rehydration drink and urged her, "Drink up fast."

"Let me go." Ava wanted to leave but couldn't. Having no choice, she drank and paid the medicine bill by scanning the code through her mobile without taking favor from another one.

She was again dragged to the ladies' washroom. To send the girl away, Ava became obedient. She washed her face and the girl helped her apply medication.

The girl looked at her with a mixture of emotions. "You are so beautiful." She had thought Ava might be homeless until she had removed the jacket. Looking at her beautiful face filled with bruises, "Which bastard did this to you? Let me help you complain at the police station."

Ava looked at her reflection in the mirror. She looked a lot fine after doing her hair and washing her face. But the dark bruises still looked ugly on her. She snickered hearing cops, "The cops."

"Huh?" The girl let out a confused hum before she gasped, "The cops did this to you." She exclaimed in utter shock.

Ava sighed, "You will miss the bus. Go."

"But..." The girl was flustered.

"I am really thankful to you. I will manage from here." She sounded resolute.

The girl had already sensed Ava wasn't liking her touch so she could understand Ava didn't want anybody around her. She checked the time on her wristwatch, her bus would be leaving anytime soon so she hesitantly looked at Ava before she ran out.

Even though she wanted to help Ava, she was powerless too. She genuinely hoped Ava would be fine.

Ava wore the slipper that the girl had brought for her from outside, then she went to the toilet. She had just taken a minute but when she came out, her jacket was stolen. The mobile, and cash were taken away.

Ava panicked, she ran out to check. She looked around but found none suspicious or anybody holding her mobile or jacket. She wanted to ask the people but was afraid to go near them.  Dejected, she sat down on a bench thinking about what to do.

She was making her mind to ask for help from someone and try calling somebody. She didn't know who she would call, but she had to make her mind first. She had to calm her erratic heartbeats when her heart was hammering against her chest just by the thought of speaking with a stranger.

While looking around she noticed two cars, not far away. Her eyes widened, the fear crept back in. She had thought she was safe for now but didn't expect Leon's men to reach the village.

She got up and quickly ran to the corner. Her legs started to tremble at the various thoughts that were arising which were making her weak. Before she could run in any direction, a name board caught her attention. Luxembourg was a small town. She had never been there other than hearing about it.

Who had told me about this place?

She tried hard to find out. "Brother Nico." She mumbled to herself. Nico Burton's military base was near there. Her dull eyes slightly brightened with a little hope.

Nico was calling her sister, he was in the military. So she thought he would listen to her irrespective of his close friendship with Vance Hays. But she had no mobile to check the location, no money to go by any vehicle.

She frantically asked the old man who was passing by, "Sir, how to reach the military camp from here?"

The old man tried to look at her and recognize her but failed due to his short-sightedness. He turned right and pointed to a road. His aged voice was damn slow while he responded, "It's four miles from here. You can-"

Ava cut in as she bowed, "Thank you, sir." She clenched her teeth to bear the pain and ran as fast as she could. Four miles were nothing to her. She had started walking that distance from the age of six.

Nevertheless, she had overestimated herself and she knew that. Her body wasn't in the right condition and the pain was making her suffer more.

The poor-quality slipper was torn apart soon. Yet, she threw it away and ran barefooted, without stopping anywhere. She didn't want Leon's people to catch up with her. She was ready to endure the pain and even die instead of getting r.a.p.e.d.

After a pretty distance, the area was silent and uninhabited due to the restrictions of the military. To the far distance, Ava could clearly see nothing was there. No house, no farmland, no building. She was least scared by it.

The sun wasn't very hot so she was able to keep up for a very long distance before pausing to catch a breath and running again. The cycle repeated.

After a course of distance, she noticed the restricted area where there was a warning board. [No trespassing] She ignored it and entered inside. The area was densely filled with trees which avoided the sun burning her wounds

As she got closer to the premises, her hopes were also increased thinking Leon's men couldn't do anything to her even if Nico Burton won't be in the base.

She didn't know she was expecting too much.