Chapter 4 I'm Not a Thief

Author POV

Jade stared out the window of the car that would take her to Vlanistone. Of all the trips to Alaska she had ever taken. Jade felt that this trip was quite short. In fact, they departed from Brooklyn without using an airplane at all. Instead, it was a matter of hours. Now they were passing through the vast expanse of Canada. In fact, the speed of the car she felt was no faster than the racing cars she used to see on the television.

Jade had thousands of questions for the driver. However, from the moment they met. His face looked fierce and showed a flat expression, not wanting to be disturbed. So Jade chose to keep it to herself. She promised to question the doctor about everything after she got home. Jade smiled as they passed by a small village where she used to live. Afognak.

"Sir. Can we stop for a moment? I want to meet someone here?" Jade asked bravely.

"We can't stop at random, Miss. Or you'll run out of time to get to Vlanistone." The man replied as he glanced at Jade from the rearview mirror hanging in front of him. His serious face looked like he didn't want to be contradicted. Jade again chose to undo his intentions.

"Alright," Jade replied in a disappointed tone. Then she looked out of the window again while contemplating her mother's current condition.

'I promise I'll be back soon, Mom. I hope I can return this amulet and make you well again.' Jade said to herself as she clasped the bundle containing the Great King Caballeron's Fladerhood amulet. It sounded strange that Camila's illness was caused by the curse of keeping this amulet. However, for Jade, who comes from a village in the interior of Alaska. All illogical things sometimes happen based on the wonders of nature and magical knowledge.

Elsewhere, a girl continued to run through the crowd of people. She kept shoving people out of her way while occasionally looking back. Her face looked panicked and very scared. Especially when she saw several men dressed in royal bodyguards running over.

"Stop, thief! Glade, don't run!" the men shouted in unison. Of course, the girl immediately moved her feet even faster. Despite the fact that her breathing was already labored and cold, sweat was already pouring out. When passing through a narrow alley. She couldn't stop her steps for a second. Suddenly, someone pulled her hand to the side. The girl reflexively pulled out her claws to attack. However, her hand was immediately restrained.

"Glade, stop! It's me," the man said.

"Jimmy," Glade muttered. Then she hugged the man tightly.

"Don't be afraid, you're safe with me," Jimmy said. His hand returned to her hug tightly. Jimmy turned his body around while glancing at the royal guards who were confused looking for Glade. Then his body turned into black smoke and carried Glade's body away.

In the evening, the car Jade was traveling in arrived at the destination city. Jade got out of the car while carrying her backpack. She was stunned by a large monument that read 'Welcome to the city of Vlanistone'. Jade was silent for a long time while looking around. The small and traditional town that had been in her mind suddenly disappeared. Because, in front of her, was a modern city with luxurious buildings that towered high and were filled with lights on every side.

"It's really amazing. I never thought a city this beautiful could exist in the middle of the Alaskan forest. In fact, it's even better than Anchorage," Jade muttered. She was too focused on the surrounding scenery. She didn't notice how the car left her in the blink of an eye. When Jade turned around, she could no longer find any trace of the car.

"Where did the car go? I haven't even said thank you yet. He left so quickly." While she was looking around for the car, suddenly a group of people came and caught her.

"You're caught now! You can't escape anymore!" said one of the men.

"What the hell? Why are you arresting me?" Jade looked confused.

"Don't pretend anymore Glade! We'll never be caught in your charade again!" The man immediately dragged Jade out of the place.

"No! I don't understand what you're saying! Let go of me! Help! Help! I'm not Glade!" Jade rebelled while screaming loudly, but everyone just watched her without any intention of helping. However, one of them drugged her until Jade fell unconscious.

Jade was doused with a bucket of ice water that brought her to her senses. She looked panicked and tried to take as many breaths as possible. Like someone who had just drowned.

A handsome man with a well-built body and a cruel face slammed the bucket hard in front of Jade. The girl was reflexively shocked. So were the people in the luxurious room. The man squatted in front of Jade with a face full of anger.

"You think you're that good?" he asked. Jade was getting confused.

"I don't understand what you're talking about?"

"Don't try to trick me again! It won't work this time."

"I've never fooled anyone here! In fact, I had just stepped foot in this city when your guards caught me earlier!" Jade joined in the shouting.

"Shut up!" Lewis Bradford, the man, snapped. "You can't dodge it anymore. Look at this. This is the thing you stole from us." Jade was wide-eyed as she saw the semicircular object with her mother's strange symbols carved into it in the man's hand. She tried to take it back, but her hands were tied behind her back.

"Give it back, it's my mother's!"

"What are you saying? Your mother's? You obviously stole it from us." Jade shook her head quickly.

"No! It belongs to my mother. Give it back right now or-" Jade instantly stopped her sentence.

"Or what? You want to threaten me? You still think you can trick me? You can no longer fool anyone here?"

"It's mine. I never knew you and never stole anything from you. Let alone deceive you!" Jade explained firmly.

"Hahaha!" Lewis laughed discordantly as he got up from where he was squatting. "No need to beat around the bush anymore! Take her to the dungeon!"

"What?!" Jade was even more surprised. Two guards immediately dragged her again. "Let me go! I'm innocent! Let go! Let go!" Jade continued to rebel. Unfortunately, she couldn't do much. Because both her hands were tied quite tightly.

"Brad! Are you sure you're going to lock her up in the dungeon?" Peter asked the man. Lewis seemed to realize that he continued to stare at the departure of Jade, who was dragged like an animal. He blinked his eyes a few times as if to brace himself.

"Just do it! I already don't care! And stop calling me Brad," he retorted, and left. Lewis and Peter had been friends since childhood. So they seemed very close. However, Lewis hated his childhood nickname. Because it would only remind him of the girl who left him for no reason.

Jade continued to struggle until she arrived at the basement, which was quite dark and the air felt quite stuffy. The ropes on her hands were opened, and she was thrown unceremoniously into the cell with several other prisoners.

"Let me out! I'm innocent! Get me out of here!" screamed Jade.

"Shut up!" said one of the guards, while hitting the iron bars that separated the two of them. "Don't think you can trick us! You're nothing here but a thief! Better enjoy your punishment. Because Mr. Lewis will never love you again!"

"But, I'm innocent! I never did what you're accusing me of?"

"Then why is the palace amulet in your bag? Do you think it can move by itself?" Jade shook her head quickly.

"I've told you many times. That thing belonged to my mother. I have to return it to someone to cure her of the curse!"

"Never mind. Don't listen to him! We better leave now! Or we'll get in trouble with Mr. Lewis," the others said. Then they left the place immediately.

"No! Don't go! Get me out of here! I'm innocent! Let me out! Let me out now!" Jade continued to shout loudly.

"Shut up!!!" shouted a woman from inside the same cell. Jade instantly fell silent. She turned her body slowly. Then her eyes widened to see the woman, who looked very scary.