694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGszGkmsre
694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChn9E7y0ON
"Mummy, look!" 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qbWntjdkk
Tap, tap. 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJ1OiLoR0z
"Mummy I will make you proud!" 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhPo2LXXmo
Tap, tap.694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nI55ufYgK
"Mummy, save me."694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeEwqgExJk1
Tap, tap.694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwC7ResydP
"Alright you better shut694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsxdV5R8lG
it with the falling tapping!" David shouted as he opened his eyes and 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMGcgig6jh
got up. Waking from his dream, for what else could it have been? 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvf4ZQTg0j1
David was about to 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdaq2CdtYgo
complain more but then he remembered what happened, how he fell from the694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9G1lcpTrOt
ship, to his apparent death. But right now he was in the middle a city 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmOL25a8hj
or at least a shallow imitation of one. With the buildings and the 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbuWc0SPUD
people just being shadowy reflections of the real world, but still 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKKpRLTUlZ
eerily lifelike.694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRcr65wTD3
Then it clicked, the 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uvsu5RTjz
ramshackle buildings, the crooked streets, dark alleyways guarded only 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshWrAPqqkI
by footpads and thieves. Shadowy humans begging and fighting. Stumbling 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhoUFKTjwN
around drunk. David was back in the Havenport slums, his home. A home he694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6INnT1dZpt
left around 20 years ago when he boarded his first ship. Why was he 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDl8vbJhyE
back? Was he dead after all? 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOdAYbcYj7
All of those thoughts, 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtZOIn1Zv2
and more, were racing through Davids mind. As he was trying to gather 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9jyWb56Bh
his wits, he heard laughter from...not behind exactly but everywhere.694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVR6MpuODu
"Ah! Perfect you finally awoke!" David tried turning towards the voice but couldn't quite pinpoint where it was coming from.694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHLW3vvfGv
"Ah, apologies. The ether world makes everything quite fuzzy." 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4IZwgYG5K
David fell backwards out of fear as a figure appeared out of thin air in front of him. "Spirit! G..ghost! Demon!"694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBIAHjNSXi
"There, there. Get it 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRfH2BU969
all out." The being said in an amused voice. Was it even amused? David, 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoblcDtMBuO
again, could not pinpoint the exact tone of voice. It sounded as if it 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5unWIuWUUh
was echoing both in his mind and in this city. Hitting the walls making 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPOPPlqPA3
the voice both louder and yet quieter. The voice had both male and 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePhZZxgKIr
female aspects to it as some parts sounded quite high pitched while 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBI5Ml2pq4K
others sounded low pitched. Both happy and sad, amused and disappointed.694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9cVeLBBcn
It was quite disconcerting. 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tqxriFef3
"All done now?" The 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KrAl8y8t9
apparition asked, smiling. Or was it smiling? As David got back up he 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6Swyg42Gw
got a better look at his new friend. Or at least at the parts that he 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tP0KDIwar
could see. Its face was covered in... something that looked like mist. 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHIZgE1kIj
David was unable to properly distinguish the features. Whether it was 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmb26DmYzo
smiling or crying David would never be able to tell.694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdGw63G6AL
Its clothes were quite 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZ071oO5L4
weird as well. Wearing a top hat which seemed both as tall as the person694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0UuoIRYui
wearing it and as short as Davids own pinky. Its body was covered in a 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQa5YJTXSCw
dark shroud going from the shoulders to feet and every time it moved it 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLK7ujkiiiu
changed both color and shape.694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkuwLmFdox
The figure tilted its 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPFq4KadtL
head and moved his hands as the tapping noise continued. Concentrating 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMDwEKxXx2
on the lower part of the body David could see a thin shape of an object 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxq4hMdp6v
that looked like a stick. A cane? A walking stick? Who knew?694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfom1W5RN4t
"The tapping, was that you?" David said as the tapping noise surrounded them again echoing as if they were in a cave.694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2sLJ16HnP
"Indeed" 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLs3en02eX
Tap, tap, tap.694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuR7D4QKn0l
David flinched at the 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhuoX4qHbb
sound. He wanted to shout at the ghost to stop the tapping. To answer 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpos4winoF6
where he was and what was happening. But there was a power dynamic here,694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYqNorsFV9
as in everything else in life. During the years he learned that there 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTU3MNmTA6i
are three types of people: Leaders, followers and parasites (a handy 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvT6zbVrcTI
word he learned from a scholar, turned pirate, in his earlier forays 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKkBkhROTjo
into piracy)694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1e5EPyGAi
Leaders and followers 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEitE8cVv3
were self-explanatory. David, meanwhile, considered himself a parasite. 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4WiFmNSJi
Parasites attached themselves to either a leader or a follower. Making 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkga2NR2BnU
them believe you were on their side, that you were one of them. And then694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaMjWGG1VA
when that person gives you everything you need you leave and attach 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOuJIYPW48
yourself to someone else.694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynAOOvbYef
This was not so 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcwBEBL7dK
different, David was the parasite and the person in front of him was the694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy17cexLUHM
leader. He was in charge of the situation so David had to attach 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoDIRFNFRz
himself to him or her. Had to make them believe he was on their side or 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOgiWQ7pF2
harmless or whatever the situation called for. After all no one is 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhaPJSmkJC
immune to flattery, be it gods or ghosts.694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK28heD0Vmk
"I'm sure I'd have the pleasure of your acquaintance, if I knew your name?" He ventured slightly bobbing his head.694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrdHk2nndk
The figure gave a 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡds0KHAhR2b
chuckle, which sounded as if glass shattering. "Ah yes, you will suck up694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhsDJdIMqT
to me trying to win me over and then hopefully gain an advantage. I've 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCn00DAyBy
been watching you, David Oxtorne, lying and never revealing your true 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemAjVZflBM
self. Being a friend to some, an arrogant bastard to others whatever 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwLF3gNMQM
would get them to like or accept you." A pause and the figure looked to 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUn10qdhVe
the side. "I've no time for your games; otherwise I would've loved for 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8DVxzT8te
you to grovel and try to win favor. For now call me...Jester." Jester 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqn6AWkMTz
laughed, as if saying a grand joke that David wasn't part of.694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8ic1vyjet
David looked at him 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhs6jz9B1E9
puzzled adding his own awkward laugh to Jesters. This...Jester certainly694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFY77csY2z
liked to laugh a lot, although David was failing to find any funny 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXihRvNyN2e
jokes. "Nice to meet you Jester." David was about to say more but he was694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmUAOSyoIQ
interrupted by a raised hand.694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvbQK4pHU4
"Yes, yes you're a slow 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2lBTanuXY
learner aren't you? We will need to change that. You want to ask where 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUA27RXY92c
you are and whatnot. So let me answer that for you. You're in the ether 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEQj4onusk
world. You're not dead because I saved you. Your body is laying asleep 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XloRDXKyM
so you're here only in your consciousness. Not a lot of giftless can do 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP794kxP7FJ
that, you should feel dead honored"694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz651L6A1D0
David was having trouble694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOiDOFvlx8e
following jester. But one thing he understood was that you didn't save 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyce8eLufC5
someone's life unless you got something out of it."wha..."694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZ9cWhbFUq
But David didn't get to 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDXallzErH
finish as jester continued." Not done yet was I? Your next question is, 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTH2ybvuEs
probably: 'what do you want in return for saving my life?' Which 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOCdX1ew86
honestly David hurts, just hurts. Don't you think I'm a generous soul?"694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFejeVcx73
A pause, David was 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHKuHWxhUR
unsure what to do and begun to answer but the figure kept on talking." 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47Q2G1HY4v
Of course I'm not. Suffice to say I will need you to find something. 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdSx4f0rNm
Can't tell you what yet but others will be hunting for it too" 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgXT1JR6Oj
Jester made a clock 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6iP27Ypj9
appear in front and nodded...probably." Well that's all from me. We'll 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgZaULulCZ
meet again once you've met the other chosen ones. I'll explain more 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Kd5sNgJl7
then, hopefully you'll be better company by then. Or else I've chosen 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ028uA219iL
quite wrong, quite wrong indeed."694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRBH0vSWO4
David was about to ask 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmtCVLEWpI
more questions but then he heard a whisper. He looked at jester first 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYD1WPgFUcE
but as far as David could tell it wasn't his doing, which didn't 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8PNJi5zvF
convince David at all.694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7CKZA3zv9
"Hey I...body..." a voice echoed. Sounding human. 694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRvRQNHuHX
And then his world shook, all the shadows dissipating, as if swept away by the wind.694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk38VvoIzlx
"I am watching, my chosen. Make it interesting for me." Jesters voice resounded within Davids head as darkness fell again.
ns216.73.216.41da2
