Journey into the darkness (closed)

[JadeKnight]

The second American civil war was started with not one, but several bangs. Non-nuclear, high yield bombs were detonated in several locations to cause the most damage to the American infrastructure on April 6, 2075. The culprits were militia groups that had been funded by Korea, fed up with the current way of handling by the government. The reasons why or how such a feat was able to be pulled off aren't really as important as the events that followed.

Caught unawares at first, the American military was slow to organize a counteract against the militia as they came out of the woodwork. It was a bloodbath that took it's time moving across the nation, innocent life caught in the cross hairs.

A black site underground laboratory was operating during this time to create cutting edge technology, located in the heart of California. Despite the sudden outbreak of civil war, this black site suddenly switched gears to try and create a group of super soldiers the government could use to combat this war, despite it being against it's very own citizens. It took several failed attempts and five years before the site was able to make even one tank grown human that was viable.

Despite the success so late, most of the staff had lost hope and tried to leave. However, due to the secretive nature of the lab, they were killed to keep the location a secret. The civil war had also worn down to nothing, the country left mostly in shambles. There was nothing left of the original government and most of the major cities were left in ruin from the fighting. Since there didn't seem to be any more reason for the staff to stay and finish their work, they fled the site. Without even shutting anything down, the abandoned laboratory was left running on autopilot. The soldier awoke and freed himself a few months later.

Using the large database left behind, the soldier quickly familiarized himself with the working of the world as it was. With his purpose no longer that to fight on the battlefield, he had to find something else to survive and thrive on. Thus, he turned to becoming a thief in the new world.

-------

It has been ten years since the end of the civil war and the survivors of America have been trying to find a new foothold in the current world environment. The rest of the world powers had watched in horror, not really sure if they should step in to help. In the vacuum of power, five families came forward to grab large patches of strategical located land to grain power. They controlled five of the large militia that had fought and came through the civil war in tact.

Despite knowing how powerful the five families were, they were often targets in some way of Jacob, the tank born soldier. He had earned the reputation of a very elusive thief, getting nicknamed "Nightmare." He didn't just operate within America, but also within Canada and South America. He often toyed with those he robbed from, giving them a notice ahead of time of what he was going to steal. Though he ran into armed resistance, he didn't his very best not to kill anyone. He had made enemies of the five families, but they did find it amusing and played along with his little game. It was often a catch and release type of game, where he would steal a very valuable item before selling for profit later. The items often ended up back with their owner, at a very steep price.

His current target was the daughter of the Gabetty family, head of the Black Hawk militia. They controlled what had once known as the 'Rust Belt'. Their family home was located in Youngstown, Ohio, smacked dab in the middle of the zone. He had sent them notice that he was planning on stealing their most prized family member, their eldest and only daughter in only a week.

Five days had past since he had given noticed. As it was, he was waiting in a little cafe in Youngstown, sipping a glass of water at a small table in the back of the cafe. No one really knew what he really looked like, as he always had a disguise of some sort. Since he wasn't on the job so to speak, he didn't have any sort of disguise on. As it was, he wore a plain white t-shirt and a pair of jeans, his hair slicked back. He leaned back against the back of the booth, watching the patrons of the cafe as they went about their day.

 

[Drobabes]

Suki Swan felt terribly out of place as she entered the cafe. It wasn't just the two huge men that flanked her on either side and were acting as her body guards for the day. Nor was it the task she had been given-to act as a replacement, a phony, for the royal daughter of the rich Gabetty family until this whole thief business was over. No, more than all of that, it was the stares she was receiving.

Suki hated attention. She had spent so much of her time trying to hide it, trying to mingle among the common house maids and wear the more plain clothing so that she wouldn't be noticed, but on more than a few occasions her beauty had gotten her into trouble. Her long, thick and wavy, raven locks could frame her petite face like an artists portrait if she were not careful to hide it, and the light freckles that dotted the tops of her cheeks always seemed to draw the gaze of men down to her luscious red lips, and then back up to her gemstone green eyes. And once they had had their fill of staring at her face, their own eyes often roamed to other places. Such as her long, slender legs, delicate little hands, and petite upper body that was hardened from years of physical labor. They wanted her. Once they got a good look of her, they all wanted her, and she hated that.

Now, as they walked through that little cafe, she was receiving the one thing she hated because she was on full display. She had to play the part, of course, to receive the payment she had been promised. So... they had dolled her up.

Make-up had been applied appropriately to outline her most impressive features without taking away from her creamy coffee colored skin. Her hair had been pulled free of it's long braid so that it could cascade down her back in endless waves, and her bangs had been done up with intricately jeweled brooches so that it would not fall into her eyes and distract from the mascara that the artist had so carefully painted upon her long lashes. And the dress. Oh, the dress. She hated it the most.

It was long and wavy, a deep, rich, midnight blue that accented every curve of her figure and tapered off just after her knees so that her delicate little ankles were on full display in those, prissy heels. Heels that she could barely take a few steps in without having to reach her white silk gloved hands out to one of her 'guards' so that she wouldn't fall and break her ankle.

What was she doing here? She didn't belong here, in this role, trying to play the part of some noble princess that had confidence and a lustful air about her. But if she didn't...then she would be back out on the street again. And that, she couldn't have.

Taking a deep breath, she gripped the little purse in her hands tightly and walked slowly to the counter so that she could order the fanciest drink they had, assuming that that's what a rich girl would like. She was so focused on not falling and making a fool of herself, that she almost walked right by him.

There, at a booth in the back sat a man that seemed to be separate from the world that she had just walked into. He was nothing like the patrons that were so obviously gawking at her, and as she let her eyes roam his features, she felt her chest begin to tighten with a new kind of anxiety.

She tried to look away. She tried not to be rude, staring at him in the way that the other people around her were staring at her, but she found that as her eyes slowly made their way up his chest, and then met his own gaze, she was momentarily swept away. She couldn't move. She could barely even breathe.

"Ms.Gabetty..."

One of her guards touched her elbow very gently, and she sucked in a small breathe, the spell seemingly broken as she looked away with a small blush.

"Yes? Oh I'm sorry Steven."

She cleared her throat and put her shoulders back, trying to look confident.

"Right, my drink. I think I will have..."

She went on to order her drink, trying not to give in and look back over her shoulder at the mysterious man.

 

[JadeKnight]

When Suki walked in with the two bodyguards, it made him smile inside. It didn't surprise him that the daughter of the family would be out and about like she was. After all, he could tell that despite striking some fear into the family, they would have to put on a show that they were doubted his abilities that he could do the job he set forth. He felt they were probably thinking that this possible show would be something to try and deter him from going through with the whole job.

No, this only made him curious to see what actions they were going to take. Watching her walk in, he got the feeling something wasn't quite right with things. After all, he had learn how to read people over the years. She didn't seem steady on her feet, like she had barely learned how to walk with heels. Something she should have been familiar with before now.

When her eyes meet his, he simply smiled back at her. She had beautiful green eyes, very enchanting and beautiful. He didn't break his gaze from hers to look her over yet. Instead, he held her gaze steadily until she looked away. The blush she had was a nice touch. Though she seemed unsteady and innocent, he felt it was a good starting point that he could use.

His eyes did roam over her figure, finding it very pleased to him. However, his look was not that of lust, but that of admiration. She was like a large piece of marble, the beautiful masterpiece waiting to be molded and chipped into being. He soon finished his drink, leaving a couple of dollars beneath his cup as a tip. He made his way outside, keeping away from her while still keeping an eye on her in the reflective front glass. Things were going to be a blast for him and a wild night for the rest of the town when he struck.

 

[Drobabes]

After they had received their drinks, they all sat down at a little table to enjoy them. They chatted idly, but Suki let the guards do most of the talking, as suggested by the master of the house. If she were to try to get into any serious discussion, it could possibly reveal just how ignorant she actually was.

She sipped on her drink with as much aristocratic air as she could muster, only ever looking around the cafe for a brief few seconds and enchanting a few patrons with a polite smile here, or a small acknowledging tilt of her chin their. She kept her back straight, her shoulders back, and her legs crossed. She didn't fidget or twitch, nor did she ever interrupt.

When they were done, and she felt as if she had shown herself enough, she looked to the guard on her right and politely requested that he find them a ride home. Suki was feeling rather tired after the long day they had had out, and she wanted to go home and rest and take a long, luxurious bath. Something that she had never done before and something that she was actually quite looking forward to.

With surprise and amusement, although she was careful to keep it from showing on her face, her guard hailed down a horse drawn carriage for the three of them after they made their way out of the cafe. She held her hand out to him, her face remaining quite neutral as he helped her step up, and once inside, she crossed her legs once more and sat the purse down in her lap. And then they were off, heading back home.

...

The ride back had been, admittedly, rather bumpy, so by the time they escorted her back to her room, she really was tired. She shut the door after thanking her guards for such a lovely evening out, and then she simply rested her forehead against the grand wood for a moment as she let out a long breath. When she breathed back in, she could smell the lavender of the bath, having already been prepared for her. With slow movements, she turned around, intent on stripping down and getting in as soon as possible.

 

[JadeKnight]

He had hidden his ride on the outskirts of town, so Jacob had "borrowed" a bicycle to use while he was here in the town. He didn't know whose bike it was, probably some little brat of a kid who didn't take very good care of it. It was beat up, but still working despite the damage. It had been left against a lamppost when he got to town unsecured, so Jacob helped himself to it.

Even though he knew where the Gebettys lived, he had decided to wait outside across the street. He picked up a newspaper that was left on a nearby bench, reading it as he waited. Peering over the top of the newspaper, he watched the trio emerge from the cafe and climb into the carriage. Once the carriage was further down the road, he folded the paper up and dropped it back on the bench. Keeping a reasonable distance behind them, he followed after on the bike.

Shortly after the carriage entered the property, Jacob was stopped at the front gate guarding the family property. He feigned about being lost, which the guards bought. Turning back around on the road, he traveled a short distance before disappearing into a large plot of trees that was a short distance from stone walls surrounding the family property.

Climbing up a large willow that was at the edge of the forest, Jacob pulled out a pair of binoculars to look through. He pretty much knew the layout of the property, the rotation of the guards, the comings and goings of the family, so this was just a little more fun spying for him. He slowly focused the lenses as he checked each window of the house to see what was going on.

 

[Drobabes]

Her eyes traveled the room slowly, taking in the luxurious furniture. It was all so beautiful and sleek, and every small thing seemed to draw her emerald gaze. Well, everything except for the small crack between the curtain that she really should have been smart enough to shut. As it were, however, she wasn't used to even having something luxurious as an actual glass window, so it didn't even cross her mind to look at it.

She walks to her bed slowly, gripping her gloves from the tips of her fingers and pulling them off with grace, as she had been instructed, rather then just roughly shoving them down and off of her wrists like she might have been inclined to do. And once they were off, she laid them down neatly on the bed, not wanting to damage wrinkle them. They were much too beautiful, and if she could ever be in a position to afford such luxuries, she thought to herself that soft velvety gloves would be one of the first things she bought herself.

The next thing that she does is carefully remove the brooches from her hair, letting her bangs fall down to their natural position of framing her somewhat sharper cheekbones and adding a bit of softness to them. After they, too, are laid down on the bed, she finally begins to unzip her dress from the side. Once the little metal zipper is all the way down, past her hip, she let's the dress go and watches as it pools on the ground at her feet, and then, finally, she bends forward to take those godawful heels off. When she stands back up, her hair has fallen over her shoulders and has covered her petite, perky breasts. Now, completely free of her clothing, Suki at last turns and walks to the bath, her wide hips swaying with each natural step.

She dips her foot in first, testing the temperature of the water and finding it quite to her liking. She then climbs over the lip of the tub and slowly sinks down into the deliciously warm water, letting out a groan of pleasure as she closes her eyes and leans her head back.

 

[JadeKnight]

Jacob almost laughed at himself as he scanned the different windows of the house. He had gone from being a thief to be a peeping tom it seemed. Well, it was something to do for him to pass the time till he stole his prize.

He stopped his scanning on Suki's window as she stood in front of it with her back towards him. Her dress was in the middle of sliding to the floor, the only part of her body that he could see was shown by the opening in the curtains a few inches wide. He moved down over her plump ass as she bent over to take off her heels.

He enjoyed the little show she was unwillingly giving him, one he was looking forward to being repeated closer and in person. It seemed Suki and the Gebettys' eldest daughter were so similar that they could be considered twins and Jacob couldn't tell the difference. He was unaware that Suki was even an imposter at this point. He did give a little whistle as she turned for a moment, giving him a better view of her body for a moment before she moved away from the window.

He was a bit disappointed by her leaving the window, so he continued to scan the other windows. Most of the other windows were covered and the rooms dark. A handful of the closed curtained room s did have lights on and he watched the shadows move across them occasionally. He did move back towards Suki's window, checking to see what she was doing.

 

[Drobabes]

Suki let out another little groan as she sank down a bit further into the water, her hair pooling around her in long, dark, tendrils. Her nose was just above the water now, her eyes hooded. The water felt absolutely heavenly, and Suki wondered how she had gone her whole life without feeling something quite so amazing.

A soft knock on the door startled her out of her musings, and very quickly, she sat up. Clearing her throat, she said "Come in!"

A moment later, one of the maids, one of the up stairs maids as she liked to call them, came in. Suki knew her name was Lillith, but not much else. She rarely mingled with the maids who did more of the grunt work, cleaning and tending to the garden and grounds, and the only time that Suki had ever really had seen her was when messages or orders needed to be delivered. She got paid more then Suki, was given better sleeping quarters then Suki, and did more 'privileged' work than Suki. For this reason, the false daughter felt a tad nervous to speak to her when she came in.

"I have brought you a fresh towel, sleepwear, and come to ask if you require my assistance with bathing."

The women looked older, perhaps mid forties or early fifties, and by the tone in her voice, she could tell that she really didn't want to help bath her. Lillith would barely even make eye contact with her, standing there stiffly, as if she couldn't wait to be done with this lowly duty.

What was Suki supposed to do here? What was the correct action? After a long moment of staring at Lillith quietly, she finally decided to give the older maid a dismissive wave, as she had often seen the noble daughter do when she had stared at her from afar.

"No, I'll be quite alright on my own."

"Very well. Enjoy your evening."

Was Suki just imagining it, or had that maid just gave her the most haughty reply in the history of man kind? Oh well, it didn't matter now. All that mattered was this lovely scented water, and how many more of these luxurious baths she would be able to afford once this was all over.

After a time, and long after the water had grown cold, Suki finally decided to leave the tub. The skin on her fingers had become wrinkled, she noticed, like how they often did after long hours of washing vegetables or clothing. She stood and let her soaked form drip directly onto the floor, delighting in the fact that someone else would be cleaning up her mess for a change, as she reached for the towel. Once her wrinkled fingers touched it, she paused.

She stared at it with wonder for a brief moment, and then slowly pulled it up to her face so that she could bury her skin in it. It was so soft and plush, so unlike the rough, tattered rags that she used to dry herself. Gods, it was absolutely lovely, and she couldn't help but breathe in the fresh, clean, scent of it before slowly and sensually drying herself off, delighting in the feeling of the fluffy cotton against her skin.

When she had gotten the water off of most of her skin, she wrapped her hair up in the now damp towel, then walked naked to the bed. Once there, she pulls the covers back and climbs in, letting out a little giggle as she stretched out onto the mattress. Even the bed felt like it was made from heaven's hands, and as she pulls the covers up over herself, she smiles with contentment before closing her eyes.

For the time being, wrapped up in soft cottons and luxurious pillows as she fades into sleep, she completely forgets the real mission of what she is doing here, and the fear that it had originally instilled when she had been tasked with the job. It is only in her dreams that she remembers the mysterious man from the cafe, or wonders what might happen if the thief does not feel up to returning his stolen treasure.

 

[JadeKnight]

He remained in the tree, watching as Suki moved around the bedroom after the bathe. The opening in the curtain didn't give him much, but it was enough to satisfy him for now. He continued to watch her room and the rest of the house till just after midnight. Putting away the binoculars, he climbed down from the tree once more. Knowing that it was only a skeleton crew to watch over the property at night, he made his way back towards the property.

He didn't try and climb the stone wall, but skirted along the perimeter. He had planted some timed explosives along three of the walls in little niches so they wouldn't be found. They already had the timers going, set to go off on the evening of his chosen attack. What made things even better to help cover his tracks was the large celebration that was planned.

The day he had chosen to take his prize was the same day as when the remainder of the former American citizens had banded together to finally drive the South Koreans out of the country for good and the end of the civil war ten years prior. Their Second Independence day as it was dubbed. Every city have big plans to hold a massive fireworks show, funded by the five families. It would be glorious for him to strike then.

Once he was sure everything was in place, he returned back to his hotel room to get some rest. As his room overlooked the main street, he was only able to get a handful hours of sleep. The city preparations for the festival were started early and the noise soon woke him up as the city folks got busy putting up decorations.

 

[Drobabes]

Suki was awoken rather rudely, by the same maid from the night prior, and the blinding light of the morning sun as her curtains were drawn fully open. After a quick breakfast and a change of clothes, something equally royal and prissy as the day prior, she was led out by the guards once again. She was told that they expected her to play a part in the festivities, to simply be there for the public image, but she would be taken back to her room well before midnight struck.

If she was being honest with herself, Suki was beginning to grow a bit impatient. She loved the luxurious lifestyle, but the clothes were simply a pain, and on top of it, while she did enjoy the guards company, she hated being watched every moment. She couldn't even use the bathroom without the both of them standing outside the door! It was just downright embarrassing. How did that little princess live like this?

Just before they head out the door, Suki takes one moment to stare at herself in the long mirror. Even though Lillith had assisted with her make-up and hair this morning, she still wanted to make sure her nervous habits hadn't done something to mess it up, like smudge the mascara or pull her hair out from it's intricate braid.

https://www.deviantart.com/wlop/art/Invitation-763192223

https://www.deviantart.com/wlop/art/Aeolian3-725282641

Even though she felt very uncomfortable in the revealing garb, she had to admit, she did look quite good all adorned with pretty jewels. Not to mention, the silky, raven black cloth matched her hair quite well and made her emerald eyes rather striking. Never before had she seen the resemblance between herself and the royal daughter.

With a little sigh, she let's one of the guards take her hand and lead her out the door and into the waiting carriage, and to, wherever it was that they were going.

 

[JadeKnight]

Despite their grudge against the former government, no one could bring themselves to try and adopt a new flag for the fractured remains of the country. So the former American flag was hoisted everywhere possible, along side the confederate flag which had been the newly adopted symbol of the Gebetty family. It didn't take long for decorations to go up, hanging in every store front window, from power poles, and the tops of the city buildings. Stores and restaurants cut their prices in half for the day only, drawing in locals and visitors alike.

The first major activity of the day was a parade to go down the center of the city, looking to be at least four to five miles long. A viewing platform had been erected for the Family in the city center. The city was turned into one bit fair, booths everywhere offering games, crafts, and various other activities.

BY the time the parade was ready to start, both sides of the street was filled with onlookers stretching from the start point to the end point. Jacob had found himself a place early, sitting on top of a statue of The Thinking Man. The statue was one of several that had been randomly placed throughout the city for no reason other than pure decoration. This statue was right across from the family's viewing booth, so he would be able to see and be seen easily. He was sitting on the statue's right leg and leaning back, his hands folded behind his head as he waited on both the parade and the family to show up.

 

[Drobabes]

She had only ever attended the festivities about three times in her life. Most of the time, she had been working, her chores piled too high for her to find the time to leave the royal housing. But this year, not only was she going to be able to see all the action, the beautiful decorations and fancy get-up of the towns people, but she also wasn't here on some important task. She was free to sit and watch from the carriage as the sights and sounds rolled by her, and, ask about a million questions from the guards.

Despite living in this town from the time that she was so young she could barely even stand yet, Suki knew very little of it's history. Her life had been chores, chores, and more chores. Very occasionally her mother would have the time to teach her some basic lessons, like how to read and write, and some very basic math, but other than that, she hadn't had much excitement at all.

"Have we arrived yet?" she asks for the fifth time, this time receiving an eye roll and a bit of a dirty look over the shoulder from her guard.

"Yes, this time, we actually are here."

Suki all but bounced with excitement, immediately getting to her feet even before the carriage could come to a full stop. Before she was able to hop out, the guard stood and stopped her little escape, reaching out his hand for her own and escorting her from the carriage in the proper manner.

"Remember your roll, Ms.Suki. Stand tall. Proud. You are not a little girl, but a royal daughter. Now, take a deep breathe, that's right. Are you ready?"

She nodded, putting her shoulders back and lifting her skirt with one daintily jeweled hand, but try as she might, she could not keep the excitement from her eyes.

As they stepped from the carriage together, she let her eyes roam over everything, being careful not to let her jaw drop open in wonderment. It was like a whole new world, filled with colors and sounds and the bustle of people still getting ready for the days events. And, the decorations were beautiful, flags and statues and insanely hot mysterious men...wait a minute.

Her sharp emerald eyes snap back up to the Thinking Man statue, and there, sitting back as if he didn't have a care in the world, was that man again. The one that she had seen in the cafe.

This time, instead of becoming entranced and overcome with wonder, she dares to stand her ground and stare at him full on. She didn't know who he was, but Suki didn't believe that the thief for which she had been hired, would be so bold as to simply show himself out in public, so she was simply in wonderment of who this man could be. This man who's dark eyes seemed to hold her own with a gravity that she had never felt before...

"Daughter!"

Suki was pulled out of her trance as a large man stepped up to embrace her, kissing her cheek with affection as he wrapped his arms around her. If it weren't for the fact that she actually found the man to be a bit of a pleasant person, from the few glimpses she had been able sneak whilst spying on them from time to time, she might have squirmed from his embrace. As it were, however, she simply hugged him back with a small smile, and then let him take her hand and lead him to where they would be sitting and enjoying the days events.

"How am I doing?" she asks with an easy smile, staring up at the older man with feigned affection. Not that it was really hard to fake it, the man had a very lovely, gentle, smile of his own.

"You are doing absolutely fine my dear, but I would suggest you stand just a big taller and watch were you place your feet. Yes, like that. Now, about your payment..." he says, bringing her to their seats.

As they continue the discussion, Suki can't help by look back to the statue once more, trying to catch a glimpse of the man again.

 

[JadeKnight]

As the carriage pulled up, Jacob couldn't help but grin. And he wasn't disappointed when Suki stepped out dolled up in the wonderful little outfit that she had put on. It did make him wonder what made her choose such an outfit, but he wasn't going to complain at all.

When she turned to look at him, he simply smiled. His dark green eyes met her emerald ones without flinching. He could almost feel her trying to stare into his soul, but he didn't attempt to pull his gaze away. No, it was only when her own attention was pulled away that he took a moment to blink.

He took a moment to take in the whole scene in front of him while he had the chance. In addition to the two guards with her, four more were situated in plain sight around the little stands. He picked out four more in plain clothes, just by their look and demeanor as they were constantly scanning for threats. Well, they seemed to miss the most obvious threat in front of them, but he wasn't going to correct them.

It wasn't much longer before loudspeakers set along the parade route announced that the parade was about to start. Looking down the road, a large red, white, and blue banner was being carried by three young men, "Freedom Day" written in large white letters upon the banner. Behind them, a large forty piece marching band was playing music as the start of the parade.

 

[Drobabes]

"...will receive it once you return to the estate."

Suki was pulled from her trance of watching the festivities and occasionally glancing up at the man when she heard she would not be paid until she returned.

"What?" she asks, looking over at the man.

"That wasn't part of the deal. You said I would be paid half now, put into my personal safe in my room, and then the other half when I return. Not all of it once I return."

She was beginning to get a bit worried. Suki hadn't had the chance to return to her room yet, and she had assumed on good faith that she had been paid.

"We just want to make sure that the job is done right. If you convince him of the fact that you are indeed my daughter, and you don't screw it up, then you will be paid my dear. Nothing to worry about."

Her emerald eyes stare into his darker ones for a moment, and then, grasping her skirt beneath her hands with a bit of a white knuckle grip, she growls.

"But that was not what we agreed on."

"Well," he says, turning away from her and sitting back.

"Things have changed. Now, enjoy the show. I doubt someone in your position might ever get to see it like this ever again. After all, there is the matter of your rent to be paid. Your housing, your cost in food and water. Oh? What? You didn't think those were all free, did you?"

Her face changed from anger to shock, momentarily taken aback by what he was telling her. So even if she got paid for this job, which it was quickly sounding as if she might be scammed out of it, then he was still going to find a way to gouge the price significantly. Find a way to keep her there, working as his little maid.

She turns away from him, attempting not to pout.

"I work hard for you sir. Every day, from the time the sun comes up and until it goes down, I work very hard."

"You work, Suki, to stay off the streets" he growls.

"I took your little whore of a mother in only because she had a strong back and another worker on the way. But you do not have her strength, nor seemingly, her tenacity. You do however, have a pretty face. Use it, and maybe I won't kick you back out on the streets."

The words cut straight through to her core and caused tears to well up in her eyes. Despite her best efforts not to, a few spilled down her cheeks and she has to dab them away carefully lest she smears her mascara. The parade no longer held the same magic for her as it had, so she simply sits stiffly and looks out over the band.

 

[JadeKnight]

Though he couldn't hear what was happening over the music of the band, it wasn't hard to tell that something was wrong in the stands. Jacob leaned forward a bit on his perch, focusing on the little argument between father and 'daughter'. Since he didn't know about the whole switch, everything seemed to be just a normal spat to him. He watched intently until his view of them was obstructed by the first of the floats coming through, a giant pink birthday cake with a large pair of white numbers '10' with yellow bulbs lit up to signify candles.

When the view cleared for a short time, he saw she was still back in her seat. He wasn't able to tell that she had cried a little, but she didn't seem to be enjoying herself. He was a little disappointed at not being able to see her smile, but there was nothing he could do at this point.

As the parade continued, he leaned back against the statue to watch. At this point, the only thing he was hoping went right would be seeing them at the large fireworks show tonight. That was where the magic was going to happen, so to speak.

"You will be mine tonight."

 

[Drobabes]

Throughout the day, and especially after her 'father' had left, she was able to regain a bit more of that happy wonder at the festivities. The guards were much better company, treating her to all the best games and showing her all the best food stands, seemingly really enjoying her company. One of them, who had introduced himself as Kyle, even leaned in at one point to whisper in her ear, that she was much more fun than the real daughter. It had gave her a bit of a warm feeling to hear that, but, even with all the fun, she still couldn't quite be rid of the worry now nagging at the back of her mind. If she didn't get paid properly, what the hell was she going to do with herself? She didn't want to live at that place for the rest of her life.

It was this thought that she was lingering on now, somewhat spacing out, as she sat and waited for the fireworks to start. She had heard of fireworks, of course, but she had never actually seen them and she had no idea how beautiful they could be.

 

[JadeKnight]

The viewing area for the fireworks was setup at the edge of the city in a large open park. The Family's viewing area was setup in a large gazebo decorated with red, white, and blue ribbons. There were even vendors going around handing out free drinks and food to enjoy to watch the show. Since Suki was the bait, it seemed that her 'parents' had decided to let her enjoy the show by herself in the park.

Jacob joined in as one of the vendors as the fireworks started, but he didn't do much to stand out. He did watch the fireworks from time to time, but roamed the crowd handing out bottle soft drinks. It was nearing the grand finale when he finally made his way to the gazebo. Instead of normal drinks, he had spiked three bottles with very potent fast-acting tranquilizers that would keep the drinker out cold.

Keeping his distance from Suki, he handed the three bottles to one of her bodyguards. The bodyguard thanked Jacob for a moment before taking them to Suki and his partner, handing one to Suki and the other to his partner. Jacob just smiled as he stood a few feet away in the shadows watching the three just as the fireworks show was beginning to climax.

 

[Drobabes]

The fireworks were absolutely gorgeous, more beautiful than anything she had ever seen in her life. How had she gone so long, trapped in those halls and cleaning those walls, without ever having tried to go out and see something like this? It made her hurt to think about it, just how much of her life she had wasted being a maid.

When the guard came back with the drinks, she stood up to take her own, and then she directed them both to sit with her to better enjoy the show. They were so tense all the time, and she got the feeling that they didn't get to enjoy themselves much either.

As the three of them sat there, sipping on their drinks and occasionally letting out little noises of appreciation, Suki began to fill just a little lightheaded. She brushed it off, however, as she hadn't eaten much that day and she figured it probably had something to do with that. However, not a moment later, she looked down to see that one of her guards was slumped over where he was sitting on the bench, his chin resting on his chest in a very uncomfortable looking position. Her brows begin to knit a bit in worry, something about this not seeming right at all. With the earlier stress of the day, and then the events of the parade and lovely evening, she had all but forgotten what she was really doing here, so it didn't even cross her mind until she felt her second guard all but fall on her shoulder as he too passed out.

Her mind began to panic, fear bubbling up in her, but before she could really even acknowledge it, her world began to go black. The last thing she saw was an explosion of red, white, and blue.

 

[JadeKnight]

He smiled as he watched the drugs take effect on the three. Waiting till they had fallen asleep, he crept forward as the fireworks continued to go off. He carefully pulled the two guards to the side so they would be in a more comfortable position. He picked Suki up carefully, draping her off his shoulder. With everyone focused on the last of the fireworks, he was able to carry her to his hovercar without notice. He strapped her inside just as the last of the fireworks went off.

Right on cue, the explosives he had set at the manor went off. There was instant chaos at the property as the guards and the Family were trying to figure out what was going on. Sirens were soon heard in the distance, drawing closer to the park and then away as the hatch closer on his car.

His fingers flew over the controls of the dashboard in preparation of leaving the city. The car seemed to vanish as his active camo system powered up and it lifted up from the ground into the air silently. By the time Suki woke, they would be out of the state heading west halfway across Michigan through farmland.

 

[Drobabes]

Her head was pounding and she felt as if she were moving. Suddenly a strong wave of nausea rolled through her stomach and forced her to sit up, lest she give in and make a mess on herself. She breathes deeply, letting it out slowly before opening her eyes and holding her head with one hand.

"What?..."

Her emerald eyes look all around rather groggily, trying to figure out just where the hell she was was. When they travel over to her side and see the man sitting beside her, she lets out a little gasp of surprise and fear, instantly trying to melt into the side of the side farthest away from him.

Though the family had told her that she would need to act surprised and frightened, she quickly found that she didn't need to act at all. She was surprised and frightened, much more so than she thought she would be, as suddenly a million questions and worries bombarded her thoughts.

Who was the mysterious thief? Where was he taking her? Would she be safe? What was he going to do with her?

Suddenly her 'payment' was looking not so much worth it. She hadn't thought this through, she hadn't put nearly as much thought into this as she should have. What if he hurt her while she was with him? And what if he didn't take her back?

She freezes on that thought, her eyes going wide as panic and adrenaline quickly begin to kick the last groggy feelings of the drugs out of her hazy mind. Turning away from him, she starts to look for the latch on the door, intent on jumping from the moving car if she has to. She simply couldn't stay here, money be damned.

 

[JadeKnight]

The hovercar did have a steering wheel, but it also was fully capable of autopilot. As it was currently on autopilot when she woke up, he was leaned back in his seat immersed in a paperback copy of 'Tom Sawyer'. He didn't notice her awake until he heard the soft little 'thunk thunk' as she tried to open the door.

"That's not exactly the best option to do at the moment."

He paused for a few moments as he finished the chapter he was on, using his finger to bookmark as he closed it. He didn't look towards her yet as he glanced at the dashboard.

"We are about fifteen feet in the air and traveling at just under a hundred miles. It wouldn't be a pretty landing, mostly just a large red stain."

He chuckled for a moment as he looked over at her with a little smile.

"The locks don't disengage until we stop sweetie. We'll stop for a place to rest shortly."

He glanced out the window at the night sky, the dash clock reading a few minutes before midnight.

 

[Drobabes]

Her big green eyes looked back at him with shock, taking in what he was saying. Her hand, still on the door, begins to tremble a bit, as does her bottom lip.

"Where are you taking me?"

As she looks him over, really looks him over, realization dawns on her.

"You...you were at the diner! And then earlier at the...the parade..."

Suddenly a fire lights up her eyes as she sits up straight, pointing an accusing finger at him.

"Stop this vehicle and let me out. Right now."

Though there was anger in her voice, she was clearly still very shaken. She didn't notice it herself, but she had begun to shake a bit with fear, and even though she sat straight with her head held high, she was still leaning as far away from him as she could.

 

[JadeKnight]

He gave a little chuckle at her question, deciding to play with her a little.

"I'm taking you to the largest slave auction and selling you off for a big profit."

He paused for a moment before laughing.

"I am kidding. That's not my style. I'm just taking you to someplace a little more free than you were."

He didn't actually know how close to the truth he was, figuring that as the eldest daughter, she was going to be under some great obligations that she probably didn't want. He smirked a little as she finally recognized him, but just smiled. And her yelling really didn't do anything to help her out.

"Sorry, the flight plan is already programmed in and it'll be another hour before the next stop. I suggest getting some sleep, or reading one of the books in the glove compartment."

With that, he opened up his book and settled back to reading. He was paying attention to her at the same time, though not directly looking at her.

 

[Drobabes]

Suki had been so wrapped up in her combination of fear and anger that she had all but talked over the man sitting in the drivers seat, although when he had mentioned the slave auction, her eyes had gone as wide as saucers and she had quickly shut her mouth after her little outburst. Even though he had laughed and said it was merely a joke, Suki still couldn't let it go so easily. What if he found out she wasn't the real daughter, and then really did take her to a slave auction? She didn't say anything further, instead choosing to try and settle herself down in the seat properly and take a better look around.

"Why did..."

Her words seem to get caught in her throat a bit, so she turns her attention to the man sitting beside her and clears her throat. Trying for a different approach, seeing as her anger has gotten her nowhere, she lowers her voice and tries to speak more calmly.

"Why did you take me? And what do you mean by 'more free?'"

 

[JadeKnight]

Hearing the calmness in her voice, he closed his book to focus on her more fully. He gave a little smile and chuckle.

"Such questions tell me that you've lived life in a gilded cage beautiful. I am a thief, simple as that. I enjoy taking beautiful treasures that belong to others and freeing them to the world. Granted, I have kept some to myself. Much as you are a wonderful treasure that needed to be lifted."

He looked over her for a moment before smiling again.

"And I mean 'more free' in that you won't be confined within those four walls that your family called a home. I saw how those bodyguards of yours were with you everywhere you went. Tsk, not giving you a chance to be by yourself and enjoy the finer things in life. Such a pity."