637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5XFfBCPxe
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNepzu0QYn
"Mummy, look!" 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVHUeEM1ek
Tap, tap. 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wFGQ056S2
"Mummy I will make you proud!" 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbABtJrOBd
Tap, tap.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmno619g6Er
"Mummy, save me."637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRib3ZTAbVK
Tap, tap.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMqozkM7Ye
"Alright you better shut637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJunqTY5uj
it with the falling tapping!" David shouted as he opened his eyes and 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxfqrDJ9QK
got up. Waking from his dream, for what else could it have been? 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGs5oe8Tfd
David was about to 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyfWQH0Yne
complain more but then he remembered what happened, how he fell from the637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiB2gUFWGkk
ship, to his apparent death. But right now he was in the middle a city 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrBZUqhkj0
or at least a shallow imitation of one. With the buildings and the 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKU8GunMMAr
people just being shadowy reflections of the real world, but still 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF25QMp9A8R
eerily lifelike.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRbEUzFAGT
Then it clicked, the 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhMQlLLW9D
ramshackle buildings, the crooked streets, dark alleyways guarded only 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PSQg6gbSx
by footpads and thieves. Shadowy humans begging and fighting. Stumbling 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKq7eSEkYm
around drunk. David was back in the Havenport slums, his home. A home he637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEVXKTZoHo
left around 20 years ago when he boarded his first ship. Why was he 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDPVZUWHsy
back? Was he dead after all? 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdWuLdmzjY
All of those thoughts, 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOAXg0RxaD
and more, were racing through Davids mind. As he was trying to gather 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgCwFctlDa
his wits, he heard laughter from...not behind exactly but everywhere.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmWPP0Bb1S
"Ah! Perfect you finally awoke!" David tried turning towards the voice but couldn't quite pinpoint where it was coming from.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwnfvgodsa
"Ah, apologies. The ether world makes everything quite fuzzy." 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4SNIFBsGq
David fell backwards out of fear as a figure appeared out of thin air in front of him. "Spirit! G..ghost! Demon!"637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHs72pVhG2Z
"There, there. Get it 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvTOBjiNng
all out." The being said in an amused voice. Was it even amused? David, 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtLvttsEz0
again, could not pinpoint the exact tone of voice. It sounded as if it 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNQHXK8RJF
was echoing both in his mind and in this city. Hitting the walls making 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWntGrWzKNs
the voice both louder and yet quieter. The voice had both male and 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQnIqGMpRS
female aspects to it as some parts sounded quite high pitched while 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjWWoL0aAQ
others sounded low pitched. Both happy and sad, amused and disappointed.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWQhBQk1oG
It was quite disconcerting. 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdljXAHHQW5
"All done now?" The 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykifiwliw1
apparition asked, smiling. Or was it smiling? As David got back up he 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmM8BFennR
got a better look at his new friend. Or at least at the parts that he 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPA9rHHSd5e
could see. Its face was covered in... something that looked like mist. 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3KCJPrJuh
David was unable to properly distinguish the features. Whether it was 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCDh8xjn93
smiling or crying David would never be able to tell.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZm1h44591
Its clothes were quite 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27cyeCBEEa
weird as well. Wearing a top hat which seemed both as tall as the person637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuaNG7pD05
wearing it and as short as Davids own pinky. Its body was covered in a 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiK8kBHthRZ
dark shroud going from the shoulders to feet and every time it moved it 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevtAamyTFS
changed both color and shape.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vzdiJrewk
The figure tilted its 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtxwb9XExv
head and moved his hands as the tapping noise continued. Concentrating 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9C8toOvE33
on the lower part of the body David could see a thin shape of an object 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡheHn9BmOb7
that looked like a stick. A cane? A walking stick? Who knew?637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBkqk5GvI9
"The tapping, was that you?" David said as the tapping noise surrounded them again echoing as if they were in a cave.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGYUhMoP9M
"Indeed" 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lyoLg4Bws
Tap, tap, tap.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXo6RgmXzJQ
David flinched at the 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vKtgMfIZm
sound. He wanted to shout at the ghost to stop the tapping. To answer 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5Xihg2XS4
where he was and what was happening. But there was a power dynamic here,637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6W527vYKiG
as in everything else in life. During the years he learned that there 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAr4ZdnzwFS
are three types of people: Leaders, followers and parasites (a handy 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUWCc3zbqe
word he learned from a scholar, turned pirate, in his earlier forays 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRWbxt8nhh
into piracy)637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqorLjpR5g
Leaders and followers 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KzkAL2f3a
were self-explanatory. David, meanwhile, considered himself a parasite. 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlC91ANwE1
Parasites attached themselves to either a leader or a follower. Making 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1I8oRN9bAJ
them believe you were on their side, that you were one of them. And then637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sbaCxiqiW
when that person gives you everything you need you leave and attach 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdw7IY62htu
yourself to someone else.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3InC4dXun2
This was not so 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2I8AwK8sqw
different, David was the parasite and the person in front of him was the637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMAJlbNjtX
leader. He was in charge of the situation so David had to attach 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrM6XLpSvK
himself to him or her. Had to make them believe he was on their side or 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwkkCnKCP4
harmless or whatever the situation called for. After all no one is 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8Qb8fCGkS
immune to flattery, be it gods or ghosts.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZC790OPYnK
"I'm sure I'd have the pleasure of your acquaintance, if I knew your name?" He ventured slightly bobbing his head.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4H1a726bh8
The figure gave a 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYgoCnI9Yw
chuckle, which sounded as if glass shattering. "Ah yes, you will suck up637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYOJ1MsSZN
to me trying to win me over and then hopefully gain an advantage. I've 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrqEiWgHyy
been watching you, David Oxtorne, lying and never revealing your true 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz72NzLmdUe
self. Being a friend to some, an arrogant bastard to others whatever 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhSoFPvzFq1
would get them to like or accept you." A pause and the figure looked to 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeC1iRjo9TW
the side. "I've no time for your games; otherwise I would've loved for 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakDVzGwTrP
you to grovel and try to win favor. For now call me...Jester." Jester 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmaOR2MdbB
laughed, as if saying a grand joke that David wasn't part of.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNfbx5AO8j
David looked at him 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hVvHVtGkg
puzzled adding his own awkward laugh to Jesters. This...Jester certainly637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEUD9xDFnl
liked to laugh a lot, although David was failing to find any funny 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTjGhwtX2C
jokes. "Nice to meet you Jester." David was about to say more but he was637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ17VnefQQj
interrupted by a raised hand.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5uL3NYS0pv
"Yes, yes you're a slow 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJiKyIHJnb
learner aren't you? We will need to change that. You want to ask where 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYnORb3ljp
you are and whatnot. So let me answer that for you. You're in the ether 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi98YMPpAeP
world. You're not dead because I saved you. Your body is laying asleep 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCOn5aSNbr
so you're here only in your consciousness. Not a lot of giftless can do 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsY7rE5Idv
that, you should feel dead honored"637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWjz65Df1A
David was having trouble637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fmTaKu664
following jester. But one thing he understood was that you didn't save 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYL3q3sOTx6
someone's life unless you got something out of it."wha..."637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbmIC8zk8t
But David didn't get to 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wVHvNaFbP
finish as jester continued." Not done yet was I? Your next question is, 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxY6Q1KdZEa
probably: 'what do you want in return for saving my life?' Which 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWotLeWQ6X
honestly David hurts, just hurts. Don't you think I'm a generous soul?"637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Hg6LRJjSq
A pause, David was 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgeYTiqCHt
unsure what to do and begun to answer but the figure kept on talking." 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4qQCmt5CC
Of course I'm not. Suffice to say I will need you to find something. 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPeYIfLNff
Can't tell you what yet but others will be hunting for it too" 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSa2nHoAH7
Jester made a clock 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9z0rfoop6k
appear in front and nodded...probably." Well that's all from me. We'll 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3XQO2VO5R
meet again once you've met the other chosen ones. I'll explain more 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfulPogMGG
then, hopefully you'll be better company by then. Or else I've chosen 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCxQDx1I4i
quite wrong, quite wrong indeed."637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdopWXhsDe
David was about to ask 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCIyJR5GDp
more questions but then he heard a whisper. He looked at jester first 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGx9QWstg4p
but as far as David could tell it wasn't his doing, which didn't 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLQaXTJvtj
convince David at all.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0D68fN86hC
"Hey I...body..." a voice echoed. Sounding human. 637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡez9L7krbdw
And then his world shook, all the shadows dissipating, as if swept away by the wind.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8pdsaZiRzL
"I am watching, my chosen. Make it interesting for me." Jesters voice resounded within Davids head as darkness fell again.
ns18.216.69.239da2
