The Black Swan Behind (Beauty of Fire)

Chapter 1: New Life

Hills, houses, trees, as well as electric poles were passing swiftly the train windows. Those beautiful sceneries were making two beautiful eyes framed by thick, curved lashes like a Chinese dancer fan, felt amazed. The shoulder-length brown hair with a little wavy at the bottom was the perfect frame for a beautiful face that could make everyone refuse to blink.

That girl was holding a pair of faded pink ballet shoes. The name of the beautiful girl was Emma Hilland, the eldest child of the Hilland family who decided to fly away from her golden cage. Jazz tunes were playing in her headphones, which was waving sweetly on her ears. She was lost in her thoughts. In the memories from when she was a child, until a bitter events that recently happened, everything was mixed up like a cake dough that was ready to be baked. She felt a throbbing pain in her chest, she was sick inside, her heart was aching. Pain that really could make her cry, but her pride was too high to let that happen.

The engineer pulled the train brakes when the destination station was almost at hand. Slowly, the train slowed down and stopped completely at the Ren Otis station, the largest station, as well as the main station in the city of Handway. Emma tied up her hair in a ponytail and wore a baseball cap to protect her fairy face from the scorching sun. She grabbed a large leather suitcase and pulled the handle of the trunk lengthwise and then pulled that four-wheeled box to move. She kept saying ‘excuse me’, as she walked past the other passengers who were also making their way to get off the train.

Emma stepped down and dragged her suitcase out of the station and stood at its grand exit gate. She smiled thinly. This city is beautiful for a city that is not too big, she thought.

Perhaps her decision to move to the city of Handway was a right one. Thanks to the Dartboard game arrow that she threw carelessly on the map she put on the board. The arrow was landed on this city. Although she didn’t have a chance to find much information about the city, it was a very decent city to live in and had a pretty good university too.

A blue taxi stopped in front of Emma, after the driver saw her waving her hand at the taxi area. Too lazy to walk there, better pay a bit more. It seemed like the taxi driver could saw the styles of the upper class society from the clothes and objects that attached on her body.

“Good afternoon.” The driver greeted her as soon as he got out of the car and immediately helped Emma put her suitcase into the car trunk.

“Where are you going to, Miss?” Asked the man in a friendly manner.

.....

Emma was carried away by the positive atmosphere of the middle-aged man, “I want to go to Rose street, Sir.” She read from her cell phone.

“Ok.” Answer the driver.

On the way, Emma watched out of the car window to see how the town was actually doing. As she expected, this city looked peaceful and tidy. There were markets and many small unique stores. You could say this city was also quite busy and active.

“Sorry for asking this Miss. But, are you not coming from this city?” Asked the man, realized that the passenger looked excited looking out the window.

“Huh? No, I’m on my vacation to my friend’s house here. But this is the first time I have come to this city.” Emma replied lying. She never let strangers know where she lived or what she do. Living alone in a new place? She would be an easy target for predators.

“Oh .. No wonder you keep looking at the window. The City of Handway is very beautiful, the people here are also friendly and the food is delicious. Hopefully, you feel at home on this vacation.”

“Really? Good then. I happen to like travelling and my hobby is snacking.” Emma laughed.

The driver laughed happily, “Is that so, the city of Handway is the perfect place for your vacation, Miss!” He talked like a tour guide.

The car continued to move until it got out of the city crowd towards the residential area. Before entering the area, a strange scene caught Emma’s eyes. They passed a group of tall men who were huddling around. The men were wearing a black uniform jacket with a logo on the back.

“You brats have nothing to do! Always gather there!” Muttered the driver in an annoyed tone.

Emma turned her attention back to the driver. “Who are they? Are they a bunch of gangsters?”

“Gangsters? I don’t know what kind of name people like them to be called. All I know is that they are a bunch of brats who have nothing to do but fight.”

“So .. They’re not gangsters, are they?” Emma repeated. She didn’t want to fall into the same hole that she obviously avoided at this point. Living a normal life, that was the goal.

“I didn’t call them gangs, because they weren’t gangs. Just a bunch of stupid teenagers.”

“Oh .. So they are just teenagers? I didn’t have time to see their faces.” The girl leaned back in relief. Yes .. It was impossible for a teenager to become a gangster and do a gangsters job. They must be just a bunch of teenagers who were seeking attention and fighting like toddlers. It was just natural that kids at their age are competing to show off who is the strongest and coolest guys in the area. The classic life of a boy group.

“Here we are, miss.” Said the driver, awaking Emma from her reverie.

“Ow.. Fine. Thank you.” She opened the car door and got out of there, while the driver pulled her belongings out of the trunk.

“Thank you, Miss. Have fun!” Said the driver before driving away.

Emma smiled widely as she gave a small wave at the blue car that was getting away. Then she turned to face a closed high grey gate behind her back.

“Okay! So, this is my house now. Please be nice to me, hey new house ..”

Emma pulled out a key with a plastic doll hanger in the shape of a beautiful white swan from her orange sling bag. Then she carefully opened the large gate with a strong design and was faced with a small, beautiful garden behind it. It was obvious that the garden had just been refurbished. A house with a vintage style was stood there. Emma smiled sweetly. So sweet as if could make all the flowers in the garden bloom.

“Thanks, Jonas! You’re the best ever!” She muttered in excitement.

She stepped into the house and found how beautiful the inside house was. The house was not large with its medium size. There were not too many things inside, so it felt spacious and chilly. All of the furniture was new and had a minimalist style mixed with pastel colours. She truly felt that this house is a reflection of her real self. When compared to her former house, this place is like the earth but with a feel like heaven.

Emma reminded herself, that this was her first day in her new home, her new city, her new world. It was already night when she finally finished tidying up all her belongings and turned the house into a more ... like ‘her truly self’. Emma picked up the cell phone and pressed the number 5 button for a speed dial. It didn’t take long for the call to be answered.

Emma smiled “I think I’d like to give you half of my inheritance.”

The man behind the phone laughed “I will not refuse. Even willing to kill to get it. But you will regret it later.”

The girl also laughed “You’re still underestimating me, huh? For your information, I’ve been wandering around in the middle of nowhere for 15 hours and I’m still alive and even able to laugh.”

“If Barbie’s house can be called as nowhere, how about the Amazon jungle?”

Again, Emma laughed hard. Jonas is the best at joking around. Slowly, her laughter subsided “I want to give a big thanks to you, Jonas.” Her tone became soft.

“No need to thank me. This is part of my job. Don’t forget, your father has paid a fortune for me.”

“Whatever you say..” Emma replied as usual. She knew that man was just joking. He always made jokes since the girl was a child.

“Are you sure you can survive alone there? Should I give a visit at least once a week? Or I’ll send someone to clean your house.” Jonas asked, trying to cover up his worries with a joking tone.

Emma shook her head firmly “No! Hey, don’t you dare to do that. I have sworn to dad. And most importantly I have had sworn to myself.”

“Fine, if that was what you wanted, young lady. Then, when do you start college?” Jonas asked.

“The day after tomorrow, I guess..” Answered Emma unsurely.

“I guess?” Jonas repeated in a high voice. “Should I check it out for you, Miss Emma?”

“Alright .. Alright .. I’ll check and take care of it by myself. Don’t you dare to interfere with my business!” Babbled that girl.

“I promise as long as you’re more serious on taking care of all these important matters, Emma. Is this what you called ‘being independent’?”

Emma rolled her eyes carelessly “I know! So, please stop worrying about me. Believe me, I can do it. I’m just like any other normal girl. It’s just my dad who always makes me look different. Because of that, I’ll show you people that I could and find my own way.”

There was a moment of silence from across the phone “Okay. I respect your decision and will not interfere with your new life anymore. But remember this, if you need me pr..”

“Hit the 5 button!” Emma cut off the text, sent a laugh to Jonas’s throat.

“I’ve left a present for you.” Told that man.

“A present? What present?” Emma asked curiously.

“Go to the kitchen, there’s a white door next to the refrigerator.”

Emma got out of bed and followed the instruction by walking into the kitchen to find the door Jonas had meant. She opened the door and there was a ladder down there. It turned out to be a basement.

“Is there a basement here?” Emma asked as she turned on the light switch beside the inner door.

“Yes, turn on the light and go downstairs.”

The girl immediately came down because she had already turned on the light. The basement was quite wide. Maybe half the house size. The basement had a smooth wood floor, light grey walls and one side of the wall was covered with a full mirror. It was just a large, empty room. Had not furnished yet. Emma immediately thought that the room was a great place to practice ballet.

“Wow !! Thanks, Jonas! It will be awesome to practice ballet here!” Exclaimed Emma with joy.

“Wait a minute. That was just only a little present. There’s a grand prize waiting for you behind the pink door.” Jonas answered. He sounded like he was holding back laughter.

Emma grew more excitement. She immediately ran to the door that Jonas meant, when she saw it “Found the door! I’ll open it, can I?”

“Sure.”

Emma opened the door slowly and the present behind the door really surprised her, was shocking enough to make her jaw hang down.

“J ... J ... Jonas !! MOK YAN JONG ?! Are you seriously doing this? !!” She ranged.

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* Mok Yan Jong / Mu ren zhuang : Wing Chun wooden dummy for Chinese martial art (kung fu)