The Traps of Black Swan

Brodie Powell, a man in his mid-forties working as a chief of police for the past five years. After much struggle, connections, he was promoted to the position where he was.

He was working on a case waiting for a reporter who wanted to take his interview, especially on the recent case he had solved about money laundry.

He was excited to earn a separate section in the news so he didn't mind waiting even though he was pissed off thinking the reporter is disrespectful of him and his work position.

Anyhow, he had to press down his irritation and waited for ten minutes until he heard a knock on his office door. He had ordered everyone to give him privacy during the interview so he knew the reporter is the one who knocked on the door.

He quickly sat in poise straightening his back and corrected his arm position and composed to look like a man who holds power and bears the position.

He purposefully didn't raise his head at first but showed like he was deeply concentrated on his work to make it look like he wasn't desperate to appear in a newspaper or magazine.

However, his hunger for popularity as the best cop was soon going to be replaced. He started his words when he heard no voice, "Ms. Sali…" 'mone' Rest of the words went down his throat and his eyes widened gazing at the lady entering the office room.

'Why does she look so familiar yet... different?'

He forgot about greeting her or breathing some air, staring at the girl who gracefully took off her sunglasses and... narrowed her black orbs.

'Thud.' Chief Powell jerked up in horror causing his chair to fall back and his lap struck the edge of the desk.

But he ignored the pain and stared at the lady. 'How could it be?' He thought remembering he had personally checked that girl when she had stopped breathing. He had even closed her lifeless eyes before leaving the warehouse.

He tried hard to remember her name but failed. He never heard her name in the first place. How could he even remember now?

Aarvi was pleased to see him identify her and the beads of precipitation appearing gradually on his forehead.

Even though she sometimes becomes curious how they could remember her so easily, she didn't fret over it. Doesn't she remember them killing her? Why should they forget the girl they killed?

Chief Powell's hand raised without having any idea he was trembling profusely, "V-Vance Hays f-fiancee?" He was completely disoriented to mention 'ex'.

Aarvi's single eyebrow slightly raised at him while her lips were in an evil smirk yet her face was calm as though her lips weren't hers.

Unhurriedly sitting on a chair, she didn't bother to ask him to have a seat, "Long time… Chief Powell."

Chief Powell's jaw dropped, he felt his knee weak and dizzy. He swayed almost causing Aarvi to furrow her brows but he held the desk quickly to steady himself and taking deep long irregular breaths.

If he had heard people saying she is dead, he would have thought she wasn't dead and it's false news but he had personally checked she was dead. How is this possible?

Instead of afraid of being avenged, he couldn't believe what was in front of his eyes and what was going on. Dead can't be alive but he knows she is the same girl hence he couldn't make out what and where it's going wrong.

He stammered to ask, "H- how could you be alive? I- I..."

Aarvi waited but he continued to stutter 'I' repeatedly. So she completed for him, "You checked I wasn't breathing?"

Chief Powell had an urge to nod but he didn't other than staring right into her eyes. He wanted to scream and call others inside but he didn't dare to move.

Aarvi was happy he was trying to collect himself. He should stay sane for her plan to have a clean and clear end. "Who said I am alive?"

Chief Powell's jaw couldn't down that what he had opened but her eyes were widened as wide as he could, "You- You- You are not alive?" 'Then what am I seeing?'

Aarvi crossed her legs leaning back on the chair without averting her eyes from him. "Didn't expect my return?"

The more tranquil she appeared, Chief Powell was exactly opposite to it. A little more push might even cause him to faint. He tried his best to keep his wobbly legs on the floor.

Aarvi wasn't expecting his response anyway so she continued after a pause, "I have a surprise for you."

Chief Powell wanted to blink his eyes and see the lady disappear into thin air. He wanted everything to be his nightmare. 'Surprise.', he wasn't able to handle the bombshell herself so he wasn't expecting anything good either.

Aarvi's right hand raised and pointed to the desktop he was previously working on, "It's in your mailbox."

But he didn't see the computer screen. Was he afraid? Definitely, he could guess she has returned to avenge them. She wouldn't be an idiot to appear in front of him without full preparation. Else why will she dare to step in a police station?

Nevertheless, he tried to stand his ground without knowing he had turned pale and jaws were shaking. "W-What do you want?" His shaky voice sounded.

Aarvi lazily leaned her head on her knuckles supporting her elbow on the arm of the chair. Then she gave him a serene smile which didn't reach her eyes, "I thought you will want me. I am here before your need. You should be grateful."

Chief Powell didn't get a word of what she meant but desperately wanted to get rid of her so he threatened without thinking, "If I call President Harmon, he will kill you again."

Aarvi guileless asked as though she didn't know, "President Harmon? Why will Leon Harmon kill me?"

Chief Powell immediately fell for her trap. He assumed she was still the same helpless girl seeing her panicked eyes and trembling hands. He laughed maliciously thinking he got her weakness.

Aarvi's trembling hand uneasily tucked her hair lock and Chief Powell responded, "Who do you think you are? When he took you to bed, you should have kept quiet. Now you just have to suffer. Came alive? He will kill you more brutally, this time I will make double sure you are dead."

[Got it.] A voice heard in Aarvi's ear. Aarvi had a spy camera on her leather jacket between many silver and black studs.

She didn't know fooling Chief Powell would be that easy but she had expected some actions like reaching to hit her and doing stunts like calling or shouting. This wasn't exciting at all.

Chief Powell noticed her smile shaking her head then lazily pointed to the desktop for him to check. Feeling something amiss, he quickly checked the mailbox but had no new email.

He was about to turn to her for a new nameless email received. He was confused about how there could be no sender address, it looked more like a draft shifted to inbox.

Perplexed, he opened it and saw a video attachment. He glanced at her warily and clicked on the play button. Soon the room filled with the girl's voice.

"Let me go… Let me go… My Dad is chief of police, he will put you behind the bars. Let me go, you bastard… Don't touch me… Ahhh... "

Aarvi clenched her fist, her serene expression was dark glaring at the Chief Powell's face whose eyes turned red and held the desktop in both the hands and yammered looking at the screen, "My daughter… My daughter... " He roared as though the man could hear him, "Leave my daughter you scoundrel, I will kill you…"

In the video, there was a young man with Chief Powell's daughter. Unlike her father, she was pretty, a little short in height but had a cute face that was streaked in endless tears.

The young man had cornered her to the wall and started touching her. He brushed his hands on her arms, sniffled her hair without being bothered by her pushes and punches.

His hand started to rub her bare legs and tried to kiss her. When she pushed him away, he held her long dress and tore it off mercilessly.

Incensed, Chief Powell cursed and yelled at the man in the video causing Aarvi to glance back if anyone rushed in due to his loud voice.

Aarvi heard voices in her AirPods, [Ms. Evans, He might harm you.]

[I am at the door.]

Aarvi said a word for those who were on the call and Chief Powell, "Wait."

Chief Powell rushed to her understanding she was taking off her revenge on his daughter but Aarvi threatened like passing a comment, "Touch me, forget your daughter."

Chief Powell froze, his anger replaced with a heavy heart, and burst into tears, "Let her go, what did she even do to you? vent your frustration on me if you want, please let her go, I beg of you. She is innocent, she is very young..."

His continuous beg only met with Aarvi's blank gaze and a question back, "Why should I?"

Chief Powell slumped on the floor and started slapping his head, "Punish me all you want, let my daughter go… You are a girl, how could you do this to another girl?"

Anyway, Aarvi looked at his face and bluntly responded, "I can. You all are the ones who taught me."

Stumped, Chief Powell stared at her. He didn't stop others when Aarvi was in danger, why will she stop them for his daughter?