681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPO3pHNphQ
681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkS7Zy0Iaw
"Mummy, look!" 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgm1BbRpcff
Tap, tap. 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ywsCHN7pn
"Mummy I will make you proud!" 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTJXLxzqRY
Tap, tap.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekcQutGcqz
"Mummy, save me."681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8K5YADQWkQ
Tap, tap.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCnTPCqzTx
"Alright you better shut681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Xunrz2pfU
it with the falling tapping!" David shouted as he opened his eyes and 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLPLoXoYqC
got up. Waking from his dream, for what else could it have been? 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvExZGqaefR
David was about to 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0m7d4TceiQ
complain more but then he remembered what happened, how he fell from the681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8jFG4pHFN
ship, to his apparent death. But right now he was in the middle a city 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1kZp1Qlts
or at least a shallow imitation of one. With the buildings and the 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgpljN0MVR
people just being shadowy reflections of the real world, but still 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3Lf7JXGEp
eerily lifelike.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKBN2UCw8l
Then it clicked, the 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFehIAwEM0m
ramshackle buildings, the crooked streets, dark alleyways guarded only 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJDWyMPBEG
by footpads and thieves. Shadowy humans begging and fighting. Stumbling 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CmZ7h0LS4
around drunk. David was back in the Havenport slums, his home. A home he681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7KVZjqCBA
left around 20 years ago when he boarded his first ship. Why was he 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8r1iJClaz
back? Was he dead after all? 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjv2ejeDgU6
All of those thoughts, 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OGKMjAxK1
and more, were racing through Davids mind. As he was trying to gather 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvkTYr77J0
his wits, he heard laughter from...not behind exactly but everywhere.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykcCxhBNRs
"Ah! Perfect you finally awoke!" David tried turning towards the voice but couldn't quite pinpoint where it was coming from.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdRZiZHWjW
"Ah, apologies. The ether world makes everything quite fuzzy." 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMVSgCg0AF
David fell backwards out of fear as a figure appeared out of thin air in front of him. "Spirit! G..ghost! Demon!"681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeijgdIGNwV
"There, there. Get it 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvR3wrQyCdq
all out." The being said in an amused voice. Was it even amused? David, 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjokgDO5czi
again, could not pinpoint the exact tone of voice. It sounded as if it 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDE3HoC5kd
was echoing both in his mind and in this city. Hitting the walls making 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSDE6jGP87
the voice both louder and yet quieter. The voice had both male and 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsF321CrfCc
female aspects to it as some parts sounded quite high pitched while 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQ6xj0hnSS
others sounded low pitched. Both happy and sad, amused and disappointed.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNDXFVukoZ
It was quite disconcerting. 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARyHRT3Zy9
"All done now?" The 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGh3N0zTndf
apparition asked, smiling. Or was it smiling? As David got back up he 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6VoHAhk4t
got a better look at his new friend. Or at least at the parts that he 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZE0KiN2Ejl
could see. Its face was covered in... something that looked like mist. 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdql0HJSnu
David was unable to properly distinguish the features. Whether it was 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5egITh51D6
smiling or crying David would never be able to tell.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthA6U86JB0
Its clothes were quite 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kURpxE578
weird as well. Wearing a top hat which seemed both as tall as the person681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB23FxDd0QA
wearing it and as short as Davids own pinky. Its body was covered in a 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKL7NmFPT6X
dark shroud going from the shoulders to feet and every time it moved it 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpX8A3qUcrK
changed both color and shape.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaa0mwXd7p
The figure tilted its 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dYpUeDCfc
head and moved his hands as the tapping noise continued. Concentrating 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxB9KIv8Uh
on the lower part of the body David could see a thin shape of an object 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iIteJDKwl
that looked like a stick. A cane? A walking stick? Who knew?681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzI5KtgBRog
"The tapping, was that you?" David said as the tapping noise surrounded them again echoing as if they were in a cave.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanEW9Ta0jD
"Indeed" 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKRTsbqYxP
Tap, tap, tap.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9zAs5AE7m
David flinched at the 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxxmSb1p1t
sound. He wanted to shout at the ghost to stop the tapping. To answer 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnSmrezNjK
where he was and what was happening. But there was a power dynamic here,681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9Dfqbx2NO
as in everything else in life. During the years he learned that there 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3y1qXfPWBq
are three types of people: Leaders, followers and parasites (a handy 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKWnc6vNev
word he learned from a scholar, turned pirate, in his earlier forays 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ838P5kMn8U
into piracy)681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDW8PwhnAeF
Leaders and followers 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPqDnqMLts
were self-explanatory. David, meanwhile, considered himself a parasite. 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4saL0xi3A
Parasites attached themselves to either a leader or a follower. Making 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81oDKkIw7o
them believe you were on their side, that you were one of them. And then681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPYXlu7Vbd
when that person gives you everything you need you leave and attach 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3Utg1q8WK
yourself to someone else.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxktoK0DtDY
This was not so 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLtLaIdAvx
different, David was the parasite and the person in front of him was the681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBgUKkRlrP
leader. He was in charge of the situation so David had to attach 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bGrH3MZNp
himself to him or her. Had to make them believe he was on their side or 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIxheYsQPH
harmless or whatever the situation called for. After all no one is 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcHjKnICOE
immune to flattery, be it gods or ghosts.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK25vYzkpnp
"I'm sure I'd have the pleasure of your acquaintance, if I knew your name?" He ventured slightly bobbing his head.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFb6BbYRocg
The figure gave a 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpuZcUR7M0
chuckle, which sounded as if glass shattering. "Ah yes, you will suck up681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIshwg1F3Q
to me trying to win me over and then hopefully gain an advantage. I've 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsX7koMG87
been watching you, David Oxtorne, lying and never revealing your true 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm35DjhpDlw
self. Being a friend to some, an arrogant bastard to others whatever 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkHich8gNz
would get them to like or accept you." A pause and the figure looked to 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdpf1M4F7A
the side. "I've no time for your games; otherwise I would've loved for 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vgVlhFEc4
you to grovel and try to win favor. For now call me...Jester." Jester 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMw9tuXlJTe
laughed, as if saying a grand joke that David wasn't part of.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmOOhrGEEZ
David looked at him 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvS4mB30bn
puzzled adding his own awkward laugh to Jesters. This...Jester certainly681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOg5twME04
liked to laugh a lot, although David was failing to find any funny 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhNcVSQMcE
jokes. "Nice to meet you Jester." David was about to say more but he was681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFXgIpe9Z3
interrupted by a raised hand.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AqE8VIREE
"Yes, yes you're a slow 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6A1pVJ3ks1
learner aren't you? We will need to change that. You want to ask where 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnG5UQyO7q6
you are and whatnot. So let me answer that for you. You're in the ether 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgGxScmpIK
world. You're not dead because I saved you. Your body is laying asleep 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs99Mjgfpg6
so you're here only in your consciousness. Not a lot of giftless can do 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQ7KxP2TKE
that, you should feel dead honored"681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bZAy73O3O
David was having trouble681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf19zLBLAhu
following jester. But one thing he understood was that you didn't save 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44IAl6ixQJ
someone's life unless you got something out of it."wha..."681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsEzQD5q6x
But David didn't get to 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOVnJmm84h
finish as jester continued." Not done yet was I? Your next question is, 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepCbZ88OCy
probably: 'what do you want in return for saving my life?' Which 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7VAd9lcV0
honestly David hurts, just hurts. Don't you think I'm a generous soul?"681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkVaLZQ6KC
A pause, David was 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoogJPtEvt
unsure what to do and begun to answer but the figure kept on talking." 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJWGwDnbKG
Of course I'm not. Suffice to say I will need you to find something. 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAGhg1OWOl
Can't tell you what yet but others will be hunting for it too" 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13N6vQlSRw
Jester made a clock 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjBH3DKb9e
appear in front and nodded...probably." Well that's all from me. We'll 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbabM0X9QIJ
meet again once you've met the other chosen ones. I'll explain more 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRI0xw4CIeB
then, hopefully you'll be better company by then. Or else I've chosen 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJP6quhcRIq
quite wrong, quite wrong indeed."681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGi4P26QX4A
David was about to ask 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRZ4jbahFp
more questions but then he heard a whisper. He looked at jester first 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUp4jygQPz
but as far as David could tell it wasn't his doing, which didn't 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadcppMxtt4
convince David at all.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5Fa7E0pQs
"Hey I...body..." a voice echoed. Sounding human. 681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelTqi4RdjW
And then his world shook, all the shadows dissipating, as if swept away by the wind.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLfawI8Qyu
"I am watching, my chosen. Make it interesting for me." Jesters voice resounded within Davids head as darkness fell again.
ns216.73.216.94da2
