592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxDEHOdG2v
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtYbApnEtY
"Mummy, look!" 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2o2oLGmKe
Tap, tap. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWrxlrHWMh
"Mummy I will make you proud!" 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGhEc5n5Zv
Tap, tap.592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyu8kA4r9X
"Mummy, save me."592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5LiEEoPDu
Tap, tap.592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcH8w5YnUc2
"Alright you better shut592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrISlNJi3U
it with the falling tapping!" David shouted as he opened his eyes and 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHz98skzs9
got up. Waking from his dream, for what else could it have been? 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRVrUULagQ
David was about to 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPR8wbis9T
complain more but then he remembered what happened, how he fell from the592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXgZfMAwjY
ship, to his apparent death. But right now he was in the middle a city 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlMV3YlJ0K
or at least a shallow imitation of one. With the buildings and the 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp42o1bGMTU
people just being shadowy reflections of the real world, but still 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BAm7AseIB
eerily lifelike.592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEBW9UBiTJ
Then it clicked, the 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcRdC984ap
ramshackle buildings, the crooked streets, dark alleyways guarded only 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36OVZOJ1ft
by footpads and thieves. Shadowy humans begging and fighting. Stumbling 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLixaDGnpK
around drunk. David was back in the Havenport slums, his home. A home he592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡplxdzNF9KL
left around 20 years ago when he boarded his first ship. Why was he 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVabNWtSfut
back? Was he dead after all? 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmJAJ8mYF9
All of those thoughts, 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhd4SEEylXv
and more, were racing through Davids mind. As he was trying to gather 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Pw0WwG1nP
his wits, he heard laughter from...not behind exactly but everywhere.592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTyZP06b6j
"Ah! Perfect you finally awoke!" David tried turning towards the voice but couldn't quite pinpoint where it was coming from.592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1K1y8PBWm
"Ah, apologies. The ether world makes everything quite fuzzy." 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1chWSIwaDY
David fell backwards out of fear as a figure appeared out of thin air in front of him. "Spirit! G..ghost! Demon!"592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡha8042FC6G
"There, there. Get it 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJ4yvkHYRR
all out." The being said in an amused voice. Was it even amused? David, 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlQqLgC5f2
again, could not pinpoint the exact tone of voice. It sounded as if it 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAMfuV14vs
was echoing both in his mind and in this city. Hitting the walls making 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡws31oPhzk5
the voice both louder and yet quieter. The voice had both male and 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2BltUuTFs
female aspects to it as some parts sounded quite high pitched while 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkl0d2OR2MW
others sounded low pitched. Both happy and sad, amused and disappointed.592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwYSAraICe
It was quite disconcerting. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7GnCpVp94
"All done now?" The 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdLTj7cmxd
apparition asked, smiling. Or was it smiling? As David got back up he 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhlyjetvee
got a better look at his new friend. Or at least at the parts that he 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosh3lB7w4i
could see. Its face was covered in... something that looked like mist. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zHrJSPtQC
David was unable to properly distinguish the features. Whether it was 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVx1SKyivxG
smiling or crying David would never be able to tell.592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOIPlpCWNa
Its clothes were quite 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivAG24vEyY
weird as well. Wearing a top hat which seemed both as tall as the person592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrDUn00BVo
wearing it and as short as Davids own pinky. Its body was covered in a 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCEhPBV72h
dark shroud going from the shoulders to feet and every time it moved it 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76ahX8Mi6i
changed both color and shape.592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszomv6c6wH
The figure tilted its 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtGaiO0UTe
head and moved his hands as the tapping noise continued. Concentrating 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPz6yubrxBF
on the lower part of the body David could see a thin shape of an object 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0rRn9SVoo
that looked like a stick. A cane? A walking stick? Who knew?592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMltvm6mR8
"The tapping, was that you?" David said as the tapping noise surrounded them again echoing as if they were in a cave.592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEN55XT33h
"Indeed" 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuAJybVHTW
Tap, tap, tap.592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9qRaFYfat
David flinched at the 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9FqOGSt2h
sound. He wanted to shout at the ghost to stop the tapping. To answer 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68Fs8ubp64
where he was and what was happening. But there was a power dynamic here,592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIB5UMxM6x4
as in everything else in life. During the years he learned that there 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAr6oetlKvG
are three types of people: Leaders, followers and parasites (a handy 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEebeDzcyZy
word he learned from a scholar, turned pirate, in his earlier forays 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEXWmzfKdj
into piracy)592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJN8hTyHz4q
Leaders and followers 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30r8XtM0ef
were self-explanatory. David, meanwhile, considered himself a parasite. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEhrleqb9v
Parasites attached themselves to either a leader or a follower. Making 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ810hXgF5j9
them believe you were on their side, that you were one of them. And then592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2TkISLil1
when that person gives you everything you need you leave and attach 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefkMWPscmc
yourself to someone else.592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitkzpT8ARZ
This was not so 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkSX4yWXiJ
different, David was the parasite and the person in front of him was the592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBzMJ2Pn71
leader. He was in charge of the situation so David had to attach 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEAVDQ4tK1
himself to him or her. Had to make them believe he was on their side or 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MYhDm1lG8
harmless or whatever the situation called for. After all no one is 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpC0WoJygS
immune to flattery, be it gods or ghosts.592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyaTxr6AM1
"I'm sure I'd have the pleasure of your acquaintance, if I knew your name?" He ventured slightly bobbing his head.592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2qELmc6d4
The figure gave a 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPm2fTzwrF
chuckle, which sounded as if glass shattering. "Ah yes, you will suck up592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohvLU0dh2t
to me trying to win me over and then hopefully gain an advantage. I've 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5TpeJRZUa
been watching you, David Oxtorne, lying and never revealing your true 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvYVX52hwY
self. Being a friend to some, an arrogant bastard to others whatever 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtB4cULFS0
would get them to like or accept you." A pause and the figure looked to 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3mZU9XmD8
the side. "I've no time for your games; otherwise I would've loved for 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUzf6kfyfM
you to grovel and try to win favor. For now call me...Jester." Jester 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcOeYW7XqK
laughed, as if saying a grand joke that David wasn't part of.592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNiiI0Kqqz
David looked at him 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtBnqXSxHS
puzzled adding his own awkward laugh to Jesters. This...Jester certainly592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUuTGf7AMwJ
liked to laugh a lot, although David was failing to find any funny 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLMAHbGZQt
jokes. "Nice to meet you Jester." David was about to say more but he was592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdWFfzzXWm
interrupted by a raised hand.592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjUwJZSj9k
"Yes, yes you're a slow 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ601eYh2faj
learner aren't you? We will need to change that. You want to ask where 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54hCjNRscr
you are and whatnot. So let me answer that for you. You're in the ether 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9F7b8Avvwq
world. You're not dead because I saved you. Your body is laying asleep 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLo14UE4TT8
so you're here only in your consciousness. Not a lot of giftless can do 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmRkzxRcs5
that, you should feel dead honored"592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETWLRkxdGq
David was having trouble592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdnjfSz6zP
following jester. But one thing he understood was that you didn't save 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6Kj9cytD1
someone's life unless you got something out of it."wha..."592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tW3V4hISQ
But David didn't get to 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKAuc24s29
finish as jester continued." Not done yet was I? Your next question is, 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohaykBCC01
probably: 'what do you want in return for saving my life?' Which 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyOr6gt75E
honestly David hurts, just hurts. Don't you think I'm a generous soul?"592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRoZkh6gKNK
A pause, David was 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGfSlnuN7m
unsure what to do and begun to answer but the figure kept on talking." 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKysPAyLzp
Of course I'm not. Suffice to say I will need you to find something. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnyivEboDMH
Can't tell you what yet but others will be hunting for it too" 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgU5ORsgiaO
Jester made a clock 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡar49NpO2yb
appear in front and nodded...probably." Well that's all from me. We'll 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsDgUmnQX1
meet again once you've met the other chosen ones. I'll explain more 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pZFUj3ght
then, hopefully you'll be better company by then. Or else I've chosen 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEvF50Fq49
quite wrong, quite wrong indeed."592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcSxl2Sr0d
David was about to ask 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwG567ygKJ
more questions but then he heard a whisper. He looked at jester first 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4fyCAQqH2
but as far as David could tell it wasn't his doing, which didn't 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmV4drJKiRf
convince David at all.592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ULnWgwFeX
"Hey I...body..." a voice echoed. Sounding human. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTQFeznSUF
And then his world shook, all the shadows dissipating, as if swept away by the wind.592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUZwmipjid
"I am watching, my chosen. Make it interesting for me." Jesters voice resounded within Davids head as darkness fell again.
ns3.141.33.133da2
