597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1a0QmuI6OE
597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjzyyP0nYn
"Mummy, look!" 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9O2L2fmkYv
Tap, tap. 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdC3UxKBHzC
"Mummy I will make you proud!" 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxEAgNLJKJ
Tap, tap.597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinRuOVZoXF
"Mummy, save me."597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAuANiQAXnT
Tap, tap.597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgmtKra8j8
"Alright you better shut597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKaQaJrTVv
it with the falling tapping!" David shouted as he opened his eyes and 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBez4qVvZI
got up. Waking from his dream, for what else could it have been? 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLq4DBBOEPf
David was about to 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHZx1q4KAx
complain more but then he remembered what happened, how he fell from the597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKyHiMtpSC
ship, to his apparent death. But right now he was in the middle a city 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDM6Dd5iVwx
or at least a shallow imitation of one. With the buildings and the 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FKyEVyn5O
people just being shadowy reflections of the real world, but still 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cIPKznOfl
eerily lifelike.597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPzuQZJbG3
Then it clicked, the 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6OM94FMRiW
ramshackle buildings, the crooked streets, dark alleyways guarded only 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ON6UBTs2Q
by footpads and thieves. Shadowy humans begging and fighting. Stumbling 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1ZtUR3Woe
around drunk. David was back in the Havenport slums, his home. A home he597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIS1E12xqb
left around 20 years ago when he boarded his first ship. Why was he 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnJyqzs4dU
back? Was he dead after all? 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajOurAsen7
All of those thoughts, 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYw32IuR8bA
and more, were racing through Davids mind. As he was trying to gather 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkyUUSRazj
his wits, he heard laughter from...not behind exactly but everywhere.597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KhHrlYcpw
"Ah! Perfect you finally awoke!" David tried turning towards the voice but couldn't quite pinpoint where it was coming from.597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogXcy8Yf5f
"Ah, apologies. The ether world makes everything quite fuzzy." 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYCWcyOW85
David fell backwards out of fear as a figure appeared out of thin air in front of him. "Spirit! G..ghost! Demon!"597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEfOsa65of
"There, there. Get it 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1gcKkmEiB
all out." The being said in an amused voice. Was it even amused? David, 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutq8DnT5Up
again, could not pinpoint the exact tone of voice. It sounded as if it 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdWvkPgKHm
was echoing both in his mind and in this city. Hitting the walls making 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPpmBnBsol
the voice both louder and yet quieter. The voice had both male and 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYnKB1C21V
female aspects to it as some parts sounded quite high pitched while 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tGqdX60pM
others sounded low pitched. Both happy and sad, amused and disappointed.597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlcil3Hy5G
It was quite disconcerting. 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKr2MD0K5u
"All done now?" The 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpvPOMv6EY
apparition asked, smiling. Or was it smiling? As David got back up he 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIB8l8ycy1
got a better look at his new friend. Or at least at the parts that he 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdx5rLjsxek
could see. Its face was covered in... something that looked like mist. 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgFjV50Zmd
David was unable to properly distinguish the features. Whether it was 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MyTnt2bjW
smiling or crying David would never be able to tell.597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9IoRSpk8mD
Its clothes were quite 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAW6bDrqHIO
weird as well. Wearing a top hat which seemed both as tall as the person597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUI6qbpPhcq
wearing it and as short as Davids own pinky. Its body was covered in a 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhfUFfmhjh
dark shroud going from the shoulders to feet and every time it moved it 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTcwdpMis6
changed both color and shape.597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHsYqg2K3eY
The figure tilted its 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxPwPABb1E
head and moved his hands as the tapping noise continued. Concentrating 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kKVThG9Jk
on the lower part of the body David could see a thin shape of an object 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGY0KNareVZ
that looked like a stick. A cane? A walking stick? Who knew?597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWk3mmGzhm
"The tapping, was that you?" David said as the tapping noise surrounded them again echoing as if they were in a cave.597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSb5kyRzo5
"Indeed" 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnp1lXE8V4w
Tap, tap, tap.597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLukSzCbuF
David flinched at the 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oxPSngjHO
sound. He wanted to shout at the ghost to stop the tapping. To answer 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlxfSeKY71
where he was and what was happening. But there was a power dynamic here,597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0MabMC5h6
as in everything else in life. During the years he learned that there 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGo19rl8HlR
are three types of people: Leaders, followers and parasites (a handy 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXohXuyKkd
word he learned from a scholar, turned pirate, in his earlier forays 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmfUyFeBJ7
into piracy)597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszIzef3v9k
Leaders and followers 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfD0ViemYP
were self-explanatory. David, meanwhile, considered himself a parasite. 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9mZXhYnlY
Parasites attached themselves to either a leader or a follower. Making 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsGi56RpU0
them believe you were on their side, that you were one of them. And then597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEWErOFMWv
when that person gives you everything you need you leave and attach 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawui0K7ICb
yourself to someone else.597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDxD4lFPXH
This was not so 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpJj14RK3Z
different, David was the parasite and the person in front of him was the597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HOlDSyZyR
leader. He was in charge of the situation so David had to attach 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamZ6ODl1Fs
himself to him or her. Had to make them believe he was on their side or 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF07pfPidOe
harmless or whatever the situation called for. After all no one is 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ezo7fWPQm
immune to flattery, be it gods or ghosts.597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9HUUyHJEl
"I'm sure I'd have the pleasure of your acquaintance, if I knew your name?" He ventured slightly bobbing his head.597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoV0zx4UMFr
The figure gave a 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfNza66Qge
chuckle, which sounded as if glass shattering. "Ah yes, you will suck up597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZjxXqQPa4
to me trying to win me over and then hopefully gain an advantage. I've 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcoAewsD36w
been watching you, David Oxtorne, lying and never revealing your true 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78xq2dS4H7
self. Being a friend to some, an arrogant bastard to others whatever 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnFtURPhSO
would get them to like or accept you." A pause and the figure looked to 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZOU3VnIm2
the side. "I've no time for your games; otherwise I would've loved for 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nVoCOrsq4
you to grovel and try to win favor. For now call me...Jester." Jester 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtl2fvHfg6T
laughed, as if saying a grand joke that David wasn't part of.597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBG0daz0cjN
David looked at him 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zpaGMqZBc
puzzled adding his own awkward laugh to Jesters. This...Jester certainly597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnIqNbEz9K
liked to laugh a lot, although David was failing to find any funny 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGut2Bi3RjP
jokes. "Nice to meet you Jester." David was about to say more but he was597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthKiq3IZFo
interrupted by a raised hand.597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGmh5vJYte
"Yes, yes you're a slow 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmmRfSieM2
learner aren't you? We will need to change that. You want to ask where 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBJ4EwI8rp
you are and whatnot. So let me answer that for you. You're in the ether 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkEW36lpyc
world. You're not dead because I saved you. Your body is laying asleep 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OMC3fjSe6
so you're here only in your consciousness. Not a lot of giftless can do 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFbjGv6XlP
that, you should feel dead honored"597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcMGz6gy6a
David was having trouble597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZF5RnisDX
following jester. But one thing he understood was that you didn't save 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPmAFrqSgM
someone's life unless you got something out of it."wha..."597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg45VTQzbmz
But David didn't get to 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ir7diJLtN
finish as jester continued." Not done yet was I? Your next question is, 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbobUVj2HA
probably: 'what do you want in return for saving my life?' Which 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQJe1po8UW
honestly David hurts, just hurts. Don't you think I'm a generous soul?"597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSEYqIMyQM
A pause, David was 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZTyElCADI
unsure what to do and begun to answer but the figure kept on talking." 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtQPiqPCaT
Of course I'm not. Suffice to say I will need you to find something. 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IDD1wthZM
Can't tell you what yet but others will be hunting for it too" 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kqiqHP5d8
Jester made a clock 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWPfAFz193
appear in front and nodded...probably." Well that's all from me. We'll 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOosaTrf4W
meet again once you've met the other chosen ones. I'll explain more 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5dSSOzbHY
then, hopefully you'll be better company by then. Or else I've chosen 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxCL1exWsg
quite wrong, quite wrong indeed."597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdR8fAQXe4
David was about to ask 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVi0lg8DmN
more questions but then he heard a whisper. He looked at jester first 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvhQ3wXZBz
but as far as David could tell it wasn't his doing, which didn't 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBXGbqpKO1
convince David at all.597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLaHIkkyMI
"Hey I...body..." a voice echoed. Sounding human. 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FNDERJEq5
And then his world shook, all the shadows dissipating, as if swept away by the wind.597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFzyobVPs1
"I am watching, my chosen. Make it interesting for me." Jesters voice resounded within Davids head as darkness fell again.
ns18.227.114.67da2
