595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmvaMa4UCZ
595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFMiqGDW18
"Mummy, look!" 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrF3fu1HxxH
Tap, tap. 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLqIf9GDHS
"Mummy I will make you proud!" 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Oj6aWlBtJ
Tap, tap.595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIu7IQrXs79
"Mummy, save me."595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPuGl74Bgh
Tap, tap.595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLthUghv215
"Alright you better shut595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4AsRIxItp
it with the falling tapping!" David shouted as he opened his eyes and 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTprGF1sIp
got up. Waking from his dream, for what else could it have been? 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVvuQ46tcG
David was about to 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRREaDIS8O
complain more but then he remembered what happened, how he fell from the595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIYu084Jt8
ship, to his apparent death. But right now he was in the middle a city 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65WSJhUPnx
or at least a shallow imitation of one. With the buildings and the 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jj5Y0nrJf
people just being shadowy reflections of the real world, but still 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUFlDqMNaQ
eerily lifelike.595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqUhV4zmGb
Then it clicked, the 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyAj60rU0n
ramshackle buildings, the crooked streets, dark alleyways guarded only 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡToRznuzxcN
by footpads and thieves. Shadowy humans begging and fighting. Stumbling 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYijgkMrgg
around drunk. David was back in the Havenport slums, his home. A home he595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIWzdcBucx
left around 20 years ago when he boarded his first ship. Why was he 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEYy5tYSpl
back? Was he dead after all? 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItfhJBM1KC
All of those thoughts, 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIapTa8GXN
and more, were racing through Davids mind. As he was trying to gather 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTda2Su61R6
his wits, he heard laughter from...not behind exactly but everywhere.595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFqp3ye9us
"Ah! Perfect you finally awoke!" David tried turning towards the voice but couldn't quite pinpoint where it was coming from.595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yqowKNDme
"Ah, apologies. The ether world makes everything quite fuzzy." 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLi2h0Ia93
David fell backwards out of fear as a figure appeared out of thin air in front of him. "Spirit! G..ghost! Demon!"595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOED9nIEJNG
"There, there. Get it 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KUFvZdB8k
all out." The being said in an amused voice. Was it even amused? David, 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRgrxIRkfi
again, could not pinpoint the exact tone of voice. It sounded as if it 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8S8aLr6CUX
was echoing both in his mind and in this city. Hitting the walls making 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJCk1Hg3B0
the voice both louder and yet quieter. The voice had both male and 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPziDPxPdMV
female aspects to it as some parts sounded quite high pitched while 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFiuxz7hHV
others sounded low pitched. Both happy and sad, amused and disappointed.595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHaqTWSu6t
It was quite disconcerting. 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wiNqie4jN
"All done now?" The 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaU4TQJp29K
apparition asked, smiling. Or was it smiling? As David got back up he 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLC4XBPprq
got a better look at his new friend. Or at least at the parts that he 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcOITP7Fi1
could see. Its face was covered in... something that looked like mist. 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJoT5LEUMGu
David was unable to properly distinguish the features. Whether it was 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjs7a8yvsC
smiling or crying David would never be able to tell.595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdmy4Mt6Pt
Its clothes were quite 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJD1K0MaGJ
weird as well. Wearing a top hat which seemed both as tall as the person595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTb8W7R7EJ
wearing it and as short as Davids own pinky. Its body was covered in a 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjP5X2VgvJ
dark shroud going from the shoulders to feet and every time it moved it 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3auJALDNB
changed both color and shape.595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuUPUxbgbY
The figure tilted its 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBom3AXf8JM
head and moved his hands as the tapping noise continued. Concentrating 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDg1plmLhQ
on the lower part of the body David could see a thin shape of an object 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpInVMj5gW
that looked like a stick. A cane? A walking stick? Who knew?595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzH3ehYZIS2
"The tapping, was that you?" David said as the tapping noise surrounded them again echoing as if they were in a cave.595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoeLTUJQXVx
"Indeed" 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vyRnRsSug
Tap, tap, tap.595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5uK506W3yQ
David flinched at the 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6D9uUBXLq
sound. He wanted to shout at the ghost to stop the tapping. To answer 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonQbblPF0r
where he was and what was happening. But there was a power dynamic here,595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWEVt6NiQr
as in everything else in life. During the years he learned that there 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSwis0Sf7q
are three types of people: Leaders, followers and parasites (a handy 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJW6Ha4aun6
word he learned from a scholar, turned pirate, in his earlier forays 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQaHQtIwXC
into piracy)595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5aNyi8Xa8
Leaders and followers 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4VxwvAN5N
were self-explanatory. David, meanwhile, considered himself a parasite. 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRp1hPpV1V
Parasites attached themselves to either a leader or a follower. Making 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGQ5FGbo9Z
them believe you were on their side, that you were one of them. And then595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCrWBOLGTd
when that person gives you everything you need you leave and attach 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8aWN1KAXUs
yourself to someone else.595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8g0ncSYyy
This was not so 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4S15m3PKyE
different, David was the parasite and the person in front of him was the595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkLhpAq0Ie
leader. He was in charge of the situation so David had to attach 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSrotTPNz0
himself to him or her. Had to make them believe he was on their side or 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KEWYvWtRT
harmless or whatever the situation called for. After all no one is 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmQMhSGzzR
immune to flattery, be it gods or ghosts.595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVdj14j9RJ
"I'm sure I'd have the pleasure of your acquaintance, if I knew your name?" He ventured slightly bobbing his head.595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXK4bvGvnt
The figure gave a 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAJj1GrZbf
chuckle, which sounded as if glass shattering. "Ah yes, you will suck up595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15otWi4JDm
to me trying to win me over and then hopefully gain an advantage. I've 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fM9Dluee1
been watching you, David Oxtorne, lying and never revealing your true 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVYJ9Gilzf
self. Being a friend to some, an arrogant bastard to others whatever 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCIy7iCWr4
would get them to like or accept you." A pause and the figure looked to 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxvKXVl763
the side. "I've no time for your games; otherwise I would've loved for 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDZBhQSRdn
you to grovel and try to win favor. For now call me...Jester." Jester 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePtuVJ5mML
laughed, as if saying a grand joke that David wasn't part of.595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcM0yV0clmV
David looked at him 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXOX2JrdM5
puzzled adding his own awkward laugh to Jesters. This...Jester certainly595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuU3RuTwkMH
liked to laugh a lot, although David was failing to find any funny 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPvRKsUws6
jokes. "Nice to meet you Jester." David was about to say more but he was595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAECq53f84J
interrupted by a raised hand.595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeZ7rYs78P
"Yes, yes you're a slow 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57eBw4JPWw
learner aren't you? We will need to change that. You want to ask where 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHcWHSqQQx
you are and whatnot. So let me answer that for you. You're in the ether 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAeaeC41KHk
world. You're not dead because I saved you. Your body is laying asleep 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jg1SNOJDA
so you're here only in your consciousness. Not a lot of giftless can do 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMh6aoPI2m
that, you should feel dead honored"595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLyb0p6Gtq
David was having trouble595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWy1x18RuA
following jester. But one thing he understood was that you didn't save 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPA0H5dtKd
someone's life unless you got something out of it."wha..."595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGvZrDANI4
But David didn't get to 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFVBXxVLs5
finish as jester continued." Not done yet was I? Your next question is, 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pG0X5GqPT
probably: 'what do you want in return for saving my life?' Which 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdk4oDS0lVD
honestly David hurts, just hurts. Don't you think I'm a generous soul?"595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrkNeU2i0j
A pause, David was 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQkRUAZH7y
unsure what to do and begun to answer but the figure kept on talking." 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7iQPH1ut7L
Of course I'm not. Suffice to say I will need you to find something. 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUjez0xZWT
Can't tell you what yet but others will be hunting for it too" 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jR9Yl8FQH
Jester made a clock 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8xSFGLoYZ
appear in front and nodded...probably." Well that's all from me. We'll 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAQKUTTaIN
meet again once you've met the other chosen ones. I'll explain more 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkv5Yv2X35i
then, hopefully you'll be better company by then. Or else I've chosen 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhUvkrDqk1
quite wrong, quite wrong indeed."595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfU7wE4DoF
David was about to ask 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71zzr76QIi
more questions but then he heard a whisper. He looked at jester first 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2XJBxROCv
but as far as David could tell it wasn't his doing, which didn't 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRTs9ej85N
convince David at all.595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjbqqqZLac
"Hey I...body..." a voice echoed. Sounding human. 595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAN9rjJTb6W
And then his world shook, all the shadows dissipating, as if swept away by the wind.595Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmSREfWyAm
"I am watching, my chosen. Make it interesting for me." Jesters voice resounded within Davids head as darkness fell again.
ns18.224.184.62da2
