The Traps of Black Swan

At a cafe,

Dylan kept his third empty coffee cup on the table while reading the second magazine. Even though he was reading it, his focus was somewhere else. In between, he looked around and searched the way to the men's restroom. He got up and went towards it.

He completed his work and was washing his hands when he saw two men behind him through the reflection of the mirror. Before he could turn around or say something, they knocked him off.

----

After twenty minutes,

'Splash,'

Dylan gasped for air and coughed as he opened his eyes. It took him a few seconds to come to his clear senses. He was lying on an old unmaintained road. He wasn't tied so he was able to sit and look around.

It was a secluded area and he had no idea there was such a place like that around the city. The road was old and narrow, there were rows of trees on either side of the road. The fallen leaves were lying without a touch of tidiness.

There were two cars and five men, standing silently. Their focus was on two sides, the road waiting for somebody and him. He knew Aarvi was coming. He was also certain that she wasn't alone this time. Her brother and husband might end up killing him. Yet, he was too calm.

Rather he wondered if Aarvi wasn't scared of anybody recording them in public, instead of taking him between four walls. His hand reached into his pocket for his mobile, to check his location, then realized they had seized his mobile.

Even if he says, will Aarvi and others believe that he had no plans to create evidence against her? Probably she won't, they won't.

He stood up and stretched his numb legs discerning he was thrown into the trunk of the car.

Soon, a car came to his vision. Shortly behind it, another car followed it. He had never seen Aarvi use those low-end cars. Both cars raced towards him yet Dylan stood unfazed.

Zain got down from the first car. He looked like a grim reaper who wouldn't leave without taking his life. Zain started marching towards Zain.

The second car came to alt. The first and quick one to alight was Roach. He held the door for Aarvi while Aaron got off from the other side.

'Pow'

Zain struck Dylan without a hint of mercy. Dylan tried to hold the blow but fell to the ground. He groaned in the pain holding his painful jaws.

Aaron turned to Aarvi, he had asked her to sit in the car. But she wanted to get off. Dylan may not have laid a finger on her and hurt her physically, he watched her beaten black and blue. His little act to keep her alive wasn't because of kindness but to fulfill his motive.

Now the time has changed. She will watch Dylan thrashed but alive. She had failed to solve the puzzle and mystery called Dylan so she had repeatedly tested him. She genuinely hoped he could be a good person, but he was rotten inside. She had no kindness or compassion for him whatsoever.

She wasn't a god to decide the fate of anybody. Yet she took control of so many lives. Likewise, she decided the end of Dylan too.

She saw Aaron kick Dylan in the gut, sending him rolling on the ground. Dylan spat a mouthful of blood yet he didn't stay on the ground, he slowly tried to get up.

There was no one to pity him. Zain and Aaron's silent coordination was brutal and murderous. A small circle had formed on the road, Dylan was a bag that was kicked, tossed, slammed, punched by two men.

And there she stood, without flinching as she used to. She stood there like a goddess of destruction who delivered a decree of Dylan's death sentence. She felt Dylan deserved every pain those two men were bestowed on him. It wasn't just because Dyan used her. Aarvi had thought long and deep to understand and come to a conclusion.

Dylan didn't just use her as a pawn in his sick game, he fed numerous girls to Leon and tried to save them at the brink, hoping those girls could stand back and fight Leon. However, no one managed to stand up to his expectations. She was the last and she was ending his game including him.

Beaten black and blue, Dylan was losing consciousness when Aarvi looked behind. The Shadow team came with water and splashed over Dylan.

There went another round.

Aarvi's attention shifted to her husband and brother. The more they vented, they were furious. Probably they wouldn't calm down until they see him dead. This time, Aarvi didn't alter their thoughts because that's what she chose for Dylan but with a twist.

After what felt like forever, Aarvi stopped the two men, "Ronron, Apple Pie." She wanted to know the reason behind Dylan's sick game.

She helped the two wash their hands and treated the little wear and tear of their skin on their backhand. Meanwhile, Dylan was gaining his strength, other security men helped him to drink water as he needed to speak.

Aarvi blew Aaron's knuckles over and over again, moving his fingers to make sure he hadn't fractured. Even a tiny fracture could stop him from entering any simple surgery. Zain wasn't cooled off, so he went aside for a smoke.

When Dylan gathered some energy, his body was begging him to let go and faint but Dylan held back. He opened his swollen eyes and looked at her. He noted her worry yet icy coldness. She had indeed changed to a woman he doesn't recognize.

Aarvi chose to speak only when Zain returned and Aaron relaxed. "Dylan Harmon, your sister's story was very heart-touching." Although Elder Harmon confirmed they didn't get the body of his granddaughter, Dylan doesn't hate Leon for his sister or parents.

Aarvi took a file from Alex and grabbed a set of pictures. She threw photos on his face, causing the pictures to spread everywhere. It was a picture of Dylan with a beautiful girl when he was in his early twenties.

She placed the file on the car hood and said "I will tell you a story." She continued to speak as she circled Dylan who clutched a picture in his hand. "There was a little cute orphan boy named Elias from Little Stars Orphanage. He always saw many couples arrive and take his friends away. One day he was also adopted.

He came to a big house that fascinated him. He got a new name Dylan Harmon and people to call as family, an elder boy to play with. Yet he was always scared, 'What if my parents send me back if I misbehave?' So he became the most obedient child and everyone loved him.

There was one who was pushing him away. Little Dylan would cry in a corner but never complain against his brother. He admired his smart brother. He followed, tried harder to be a good kid in everything.

One day, he was recovering from a fever so he had everyone's attention. The elder brother got angry and scolded the younger one and reminded him that he was adopted. The fear slapped him stronger than ever.

That kid hated Leon so much that when his adopted parents and other elders expired he didn't feel bad. Why? They were never his own parents to start with.

Among all these, he got one person who could call his own. He loved that fact more. But one day, unfortunately, he finds his girlfriend on his brother's bed, laughing, giggling, enjoying her time.

Thus he started hating every woman because of her. So his enemy wasn't just Leon, every woman who was catching Leon's attention."

Aarvi took a deep long breath and asked a question standing in front of Dylan who was clenching his teeth "So, Dylan Harmon, how is the story of the obedient boy turning into a coldblooded monster?"