699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFftT9zWs9
699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1u9Zjww3NL
"Mummy, look!" 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzQOCfQpr5
Tap, tap. 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TsScFKBIg
"Mummy I will make you proud!" 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaBWmdQE3t
Tap, tap.699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMDIbIDruD
"Mummy, save me."699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HSwN9rRnb
Tap, tap.699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDDI0dmFyH
"Alright you better shut699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mLujUGhZ2
it with the falling tapping!" David shouted as he opened his eyes and 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXgnvCgfNw
got up. Waking from his dream, for what else could it have been? 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBaDGxpkzZB
David was about to 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPMCRo14U1
complain more but then he remembered what happened, how he fell from the699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ze02l7h5h
ship, to his apparent death. But right now he was in the middle a city 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqelqre1mZ
or at least a shallow imitation of one. With the buildings and the 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPYr8OtaGQ
people just being shadowy reflections of the real world, but still 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBrEr56WXv
eerily lifelike.699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxBcQaJKO2
Then it clicked, the 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7IRsaXH5Oo
ramshackle buildings, the crooked streets, dark alleyways guarded only 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOk9nG4hq4N
by footpads and thieves. Shadowy humans begging and fighting. Stumbling 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8IYOxoN7W
around drunk. David was back in the Havenport slums, his home. A home he699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJZ69kioYY
left around 20 years ago when he boarded his first ship. Why was he 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnptgueOECh
back? Was he dead after all? 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrehKyNOQkb
All of those thoughts, 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfS5tt1PTe4
and more, were racing through Davids mind. As he was trying to gather 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAWTsY9NwW
his wits, he heard laughter from...not behind exactly but everywhere.699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfJKQLny7T
"Ah! Perfect you finally awoke!" David tried turning towards the voice but couldn't quite pinpoint where it was coming from.699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejD196JRtQ
"Ah, apologies. The ether world makes everything quite fuzzy." 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kJjOlsMCJ
David fell backwards out of fear as a figure appeared out of thin air in front of him. "Spirit! G..ghost! Demon!"699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBSxPEmchS
"There, there. Get it 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ncR9sapwV
all out." The being said in an amused voice. Was it even amused? David, 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiT5pQkpJO
again, could not pinpoint the exact tone of voice. It sounded as if it 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIz6gLcjCD6
was echoing both in his mind and in this city. Hitting the walls making 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd20Xofqchl
the voice both louder and yet quieter. The voice had both male and 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVFIlwBYtd
female aspects to it as some parts sounded quite high pitched while 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiS6OzTVyJQ
others sounded low pitched. Both happy and sad, amused and disappointed.699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGItFuGiIwB
It was quite disconcerting. 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmRMbIIapT
"All done now?" The 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVWgNeRf1D
apparition asked, smiling. Or was it smiling? As David got back up he 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27FLQckw0M
got a better look at his new friend. Or at least at the parts that he 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjmhrSevQ7g
could see. Its face was covered in... something that looked like mist. 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ettKD0eif
David was unable to properly distinguish the features. Whether it was 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWYGhLxleI
smiling or crying David would never be able to tell.699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMGsakjqCW
Its clothes were quite 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1zgkFzs2h
weird as well. Wearing a top hat which seemed both as tall as the person699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4KWbwq7pI
wearing it and as short as Davids own pinky. Its body was covered in a 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetiRpJCSGg
dark shroud going from the shoulders to feet and every time it moved it 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt83Muhjmws
changed both color and shape.699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHrrvzZ6UY
The figure tilted its 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdtV3sThzm
head and moved his hands as the tapping noise continued. Concentrating 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6ZB0eXLIJ
on the lower part of the body David could see a thin shape of an object 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeoxbmDtIfq
that looked like a stick. A cane? A walking stick? Who knew?699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPeGUiE51O8
"The tapping, was that you?" David said as the tapping noise surrounded them again echoing as if they were in a cave.699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8su0Uarlf
"Indeed" 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuICC0dhzRj
Tap, tap, tap.699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVe6Y5SEBX
David flinched at the 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSELnaxt34Y
sound. He wanted to shout at the ghost to stop the tapping. To answer 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRIzzth2OJ
where he was and what was happening. But there was a power dynamic here,699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtL3QXwVug
as in everything else in life. During the years he learned that there 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡff9Hu0ZAqT
are three types of people: Leaders, followers and parasites (a handy 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SLyJPzWzf
word he learned from a scholar, turned pirate, in his earlier forays 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCoFOcqTYn
into piracy)699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieX478rpMD
Leaders and followers 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvyHiJmqGJ
were self-explanatory. David, meanwhile, considered himself a parasite. 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVW1mtkJpxc
Parasites attached themselves to either a leader or a follower. Making 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9lnwZFlRC
them believe you were on their side, that you were one of them. And then699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVcP9xgNvE
when that person gives you everything you need you leave and attach 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMN0Nc8Z0K5
yourself to someone else.699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCv6CyEfhA
This was not so 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVw4PfFJw55
different, David was the parasite and the person in front of him was the699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXKGl52GjJ
leader. He was in charge of the situation so David had to attach 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbvQWDgHz1
himself to him or her. Had to make them believe he was on their side or 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ709J6rfWm7
harmless or whatever the situation called for. After all no one is 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7P6OqGIhC
immune to flattery, be it gods or ghosts.699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHpSUilwXu
"I'm sure I'd have the pleasure of your acquaintance, if I knew your name?" He ventured slightly bobbing his head.699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2kS3fkxIK
The figure gave a 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVpiOjZ4IK
chuckle, which sounded as if glass shattering. "Ah yes, you will suck up699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkPx3Wjcoh
to me trying to win me over and then hopefully gain an advantage. I've 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVm3Rhsrw7
been watching you, David Oxtorne, lying and never revealing your true 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46rb0DpWOS
self. Being a friend to some, an arrogant bastard to others whatever 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqX20YgHiJy
would get them to like or accept you." A pause and the figure looked to 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupyNHtJkiQ
the side. "I've no time for your games; otherwise I would've loved for 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGdClybQrF
you to grovel and try to win favor. For now call me...Jester." Jester 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuNZsroUUP
laughed, as if saying a grand joke that David wasn't part of.699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnsnvAaS9X
David looked at him 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIDWKN1GzB
puzzled adding his own awkward laugh to Jesters. This...Jester certainly699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iL5gVsr74
liked to laugh a lot, although David was failing to find any funny 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSYLqFSXaJ
jokes. "Nice to meet you Jester." David was about to say more but he was699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoOlLTJftj
interrupted by a raised hand.699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgucS2oL0LH
"Yes, yes you're a slow 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡix8KRQ9QZv
learner aren't you? We will need to change that. You want to ask where 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tlPUNBWHL
you are and whatnot. So let me answer that for you. You're in the ether 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YRhrbFM5y
world. You're not dead because I saved you. Your body is laying asleep 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbI3OTUuipg
so you're here only in your consciousness. Not a lot of giftless can do 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35wzFjLNIX
that, you should feel dead honored"699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92rN3iIUNI
David was having trouble699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczeqlSLQvQ
following jester. But one thing he understood was that you didn't save 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixffuPPsgB
someone's life unless you got something out of it."wha..."699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PduFnEAFb
But David didn't get to 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GXGaidbjy
finish as jester continued." Not done yet was I? Your next question is, 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vCkyCuNYt
probably: 'what do you want in return for saving my life?' Which 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRczwIVWf6
honestly David hurts, just hurts. Don't you think I'm a generous soul?"699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUbQrbREKk
A pause, David was 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4oKttaLj6F
unsure what to do and begun to answer but the figure kept on talking." 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QtfdNol6W
Of course I'm not. Suffice to say I will need you to find something. 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLW8hufr6k
Can't tell you what yet but others will be hunting for it too" 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkXdm5wjdo
Jester made a clock 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIU18GcqbI1
appear in front and nodded...probably." Well that's all from me. We'll 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmexaUrmBWc
meet again once you've met the other chosen ones. I'll explain more 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sujD7WthZ
then, hopefully you'll be better company by then. Or else I've chosen 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZsPsnvDmY
quite wrong, quite wrong indeed."699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3QgufuGsX
David was about to ask 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7jLFMa9cM
more questions but then he heard a whisper. He looked at jester first 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAiK1k8tgS
but as far as David could tell it wasn't his doing, which didn't 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERfRsQMrO5
convince David at all.699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vAxYAwyhQ
"Hey I...body..." a voice echoed. Sounding human. 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAsOeyedEj
And then his world shook, all the shadows dissipating, as if swept away by the wind.699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvB9WGDxXz5
"I am watching, my chosen. Make it interesting for me." Jesters voice resounded within Davids head as darkness fell again.
ns216.73.216.8da2
