696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NVZTo4sxr
696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70b2i6ML3n
"Mummy, look!" 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8AB1KDzE3l
Tap, tap. 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0ZjrIRfSr
"Mummy I will make you proud!" 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8YQwWh4vT
Tap, tap.696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRufH1x1VR
"Mummy, save me."696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkc99Qs48z4
Tap, tap.696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqTgYIT48Y
"Alright you better shut696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvjonqbGbi
it with the falling tapping!" David shouted as he opened his eyes and 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡki7M7hLwtJ
got up. Waking from his dream, for what else could it have been? 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOEhD2ZqV3
David was about to 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3fv41VOVh
complain more but then he remembered what happened, how he fell from the696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigi9TF5pXP
ship, to his apparent death. But right now he was in the middle a city 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91C542izfx
or at least a shallow imitation of one. With the buildings and the 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1f07NEjr30
people just being shadowy reflections of the real world, but still 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0JnpBjjID
eerily lifelike.696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGDGKGv1fd
Then it clicked, the 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumOjpgDiEu
ramshackle buildings, the crooked streets, dark alleyways guarded only 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDTxj6xMKV
by footpads and thieves. Shadowy humans begging and fighting. Stumbling 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡca8HAirbYs
around drunk. David was back in the Havenport slums, his home. A home he696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlm3e5Jy7QQ
left around 20 years ago when he boarded his first ship. Why was he 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfOyBwi7TF
back? Was he dead after all? 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qSao4C3Gm
All of those thoughts, 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kxYbMiC3K
and more, were racing through Davids mind. As he was trying to gather 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG46gqsXSrg
his wits, he heard laughter from...not behind exactly but everywhere.696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHAVk90NZc
"Ah! Perfect you finally awoke!" David tried turning towards the voice but couldn't quite pinpoint where it was coming from.696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kOOcu3Aq5
"Ah, apologies. The ether world makes everything quite fuzzy." 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjO8IurQ30
David fell backwards out of fear as a figure appeared out of thin air in front of him. "Spirit! G..ghost! Demon!"696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZkdmrcUjA
"There, there. Get it 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0rNy0SalW
all out." The being said in an amused voice. Was it even amused? David, 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvwPfkWKyw
again, could not pinpoint the exact tone of voice. It sounded as if it 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjs19LRh2c
was echoing both in his mind and in this city. Hitting the walls making 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsC1DirX0c
the voice both louder and yet quieter. The voice had both male and 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATN5dJAgSj
female aspects to it as some parts sounded quite high pitched while 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07pDUiqUjc
others sounded low pitched. Both happy and sad, amused and disappointed.696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0QIjp8EQk
It was quite disconcerting. 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfZptyuk8w
"All done now?" The 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKb12UklQgN
apparition asked, smiling. Or was it smiling? As David got back up he 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYYQBRVDWe
got a better look at his new friend. Or at least at the parts that he 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2pNQEgU7x
could see. Its face was covered in... something that looked like mist. 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rvmHd7c08
David was unable to properly distinguish the features. Whether it was 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOLe8w4oDK
smiling or crying David would never be able to tell.696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3nXtD02js
Its clothes were quite 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XC3qqn3dX
weird as well. Wearing a top hat which seemed both as tall as the person696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAJWLRMcIB
wearing it and as short as Davids own pinky. Its body was covered in a 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUeD3FxQqV
dark shroud going from the shoulders to feet and every time it moved it 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnF8z68YwA
changed both color and shape.696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVOIsGl5jP
The figure tilted its 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVk81d70fZa
head and moved his hands as the tapping noise continued. Concentrating 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeY0m0Engya
on the lower part of the body David could see a thin shape of an object 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJeF6pOcrHv
that looked like a stick. A cane? A walking stick? Who knew?696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQ7HXaqJgW
"The tapping, was that you?" David said as the tapping noise surrounded them again echoing as if they were in a cave.696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVN19erVHfo
"Indeed" 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEmtcWXbWK
Tap, tap, tap.696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCqPfnq6w7
David flinched at the 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrV48HnOpUL
sound. He wanted to shout at the ghost to stop the tapping. To answer 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7ql1wanfF
where he was and what was happening. But there was a power dynamic here,696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkjB40yltN
as in everything else in life. During the years he learned that there 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8SdOf636X
are three types of people: Leaders, followers and parasites (a handy 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6iFAK00krv
word he learned from a scholar, turned pirate, in his earlier forays 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebQbOnOqa1
into piracy)696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ831O9y0IQp
Leaders and followers 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CeLZ0Ra5o
were self-explanatory. David, meanwhile, considered himself a parasite. 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKM8P63S3px
Parasites attached themselves to either a leader or a follower. Making 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03Y4pabI5F
them believe you were on their side, that you were one of them. And then696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83oJxkTfiY
when that person gives you everything you need you leave and attach 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2DBTihfxG
yourself to someone else.696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhgQutVUmA
This was not so 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUX588Zc32Y
different, David was the parasite and the person in front of him was the696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKlFR3UnME
leader. He was in charge of the situation so David had to attach 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDvKDwZZa1
himself to him or her. Had to make them believe he was on their side or 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdF1xkc6lw
harmless or whatever the situation called for. After all no one is 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDOmVok3W0
immune to flattery, be it gods or ghosts.696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqL1y48rad
"I'm sure I'd have the pleasure of your acquaintance, if I knew your name?" He ventured slightly bobbing his head.696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWeYuLfjk1
The figure gave a 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVXNC1iyhR
chuckle, which sounded as if glass shattering. "Ah yes, you will suck up696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYi8tHFfmDx
to me trying to win me over and then hopefully gain an advantage. I've 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDN2WJutZKQ
been watching you, David Oxtorne, lying and never revealing your true 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs74AF4IPRX
self. Being a friend to some, an arrogant bastard to others whatever 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkHArmATkx
would get them to like or accept you." A pause and the figure looked to 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIvuR4ypXy
the side. "I've no time for your games; otherwise I would've loved for 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPH8AYtgCe
you to grovel and try to win favor. For now call me...Jester." Jester 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFvf4Sjpd3
laughed, as if saying a grand joke that David wasn't part of.696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyJAvM3zwq
David looked at him 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsl4xpS5lV
puzzled adding his own awkward laugh to Jesters. This...Jester certainly696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDYSuUM10x
liked to laugh a lot, although David was failing to find any funny 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBT9eAQ8qSm
jokes. "Nice to meet you Jester." David was about to say more but he was696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9IMcUA1LD
interrupted by a raised hand.696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPh5dEo9Kt6
"Yes, yes you're a slow 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWEppat04q2
learner aren't you? We will need to change that. You want to ask where 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReXDzBoWiV
you are and whatnot. So let me answer that for you. You're in the ether 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB95l0W8qFo
world. You're not dead because I saved you. Your body is laying asleep 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CyXi79zLG
so you're here only in your consciousness. Not a lot of giftless can do 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58NK6Gj88W
that, you should feel dead honored"696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMSaJL5VEE
David was having trouble696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoADnRoho0Q
following jester. But one thing he understood was that you didn't save 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSecMENd1C8
someone's life unless you got something out of it."wha..."696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPfmI8KkTV
But David didn't get to 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiytfjzfBDO
finish as jester continued." Not done yet was I? Your next question is, 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4etWKsDWnY
probably: 'what do you want in return for saving my life?' Which 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGr99DqJA2
honestly David hurts, just hurts. Don't you think I'm a generous soul?"696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeq55Mp0BO
A pause, David was 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYlzRCGYZj
unsure what to do and begun to answer but the figure kept on talking." 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCYCz3gBqH
Of course I'm not. Suffice to say I will need you to find something. 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNvq21FZnQ
Can't tell you what yet but others will be hunting for it too" 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveN4z8YmdY
Jester made a clock 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqyg5rJvAg
appear in front and nodded...probably." Well that's all from me. We'll 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7BFhegR2E
meet again once you've met the other chosen ones. I'll explain more 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcJzRk2fKC
then, hopefully you'll be better company by then. Or else I've chosen 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIPtGPm1GY
quite wrong, quite wrong indeed."696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQ7kfMaU0N
David was about to ask 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAFPqbojTW
more questions but then he heard a whisper. He looked at jester first 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqB3bMhOlLy
but as far as David could tell it wasn't his doing, which didn't 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFFY1Oblm3
convince David at all.696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXLrhN5sKU
"Hey I...body..." a voice echoed. Sounding human. 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZU3XZDh36
And then his world shook, all the shadows dissipating, as if swept away by the wind.696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGKZN1z0dt
"I am watching, my chosen. Make it interesting for me." Jesters voice resounded within Davids head as darkness fell again.
ns216.73.216.1da2
