627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdsbQjBegK
627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0uTwseAxc
"Mummy, look!" 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEsY0a11BL
Tap, tap. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhnbo6AbLU
"Mummy I will make you proud!" 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdfbJciVbK
Tap, tap.627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDUHNaWmdc
"Mummy, save me."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5c7ZI7UMk
Tap, tap.627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrySWhfuDs3
"Alright you better shut627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BeFbDEbey
it with the falling tapping!" David shouted as he opened his eyes and 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34fDcgoqHc
got up. Waking from his dream, for what else could it have been? 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cfmuZc8P6
David was about to 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxTZBvxx8w
complain more but then he remembered what happened, how he fell from the627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JQn3PNqWk
ship, to his apparent death. But right now he was in the middle a city 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpjS7ycAam
or at least a shallow imitation of one. With the buildings and the 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuf20lTSrE
people just being shadowy reflections of the real world, but still 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHMYMuc7Uj
eerily lifelike.627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCpo6WutwP
Then it clicked, the 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtHn9kcvzh
ramshackle buildings, the crooked streets, dark alleyways guarded only 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHG7ES6T2Ka
by footpads and thieves. Shadowy humans begging and fighting. Stumbling 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXN90xpbEcn
around drunk. David was back in the Havenport slums, his home. A home he627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbSI5vZ865
left around 20 years ago when he boarded his first ship. Why was he 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkY8ODPToP
back? Was he dead after all? 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96zp1lujAx
All of those thoughts, 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNa22TWD6k
and more, were racing through Davids mind. As he was trying to gather 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlm9f7qospX
his wits, he heard laughter from...not behind exactly but everywhere.627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dhDX2kTWp
"Ah! Perfect you finally awoke!" David tried turning towards the voice but couldn't quite pinpoint where it was coming from.627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRT8Hkk3Sn
"Ah, apologies. The ether world makes everything quite fuzzy." 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMyBoiESwG
David fell backwards out of fear as a figure appeared out of thin air in front of him. "Spirit! G..ghost! Demon!"627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lzXGfKAJ7
"There, there. Get it 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevdMvUEDl6
all out." The being said in an amused voice. Was it even amused? David, 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGJmgFuNfW
again, could not pinpoint the exact tone of voice. It sounded as if it 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6B6o7jzpk
was echoing both in his mind and in this city. Hitting the walls making 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYynkEK0XRO
the voice both louder and yet quieter. The voice had both male and 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYbhrvw9Lh
female aspects to it as some parts sounded quite high pitched while 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkefln1XHbI
others sounded low pitched. Both happy and sad, amused and disappointed.627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiF9qtUJw9y
It was quite disconcerting. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETTjcW8qQN
"All done now?" The 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGf3Gsf3tnx
apparition asked, smiling. Or was it smiling? As David got back up he 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxrmekb8VI
got a better look at his new friend. Or at least at the parts that he 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz30cExAjAK
could see. Its face was covered in... something that looked like mist. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KQijg9o2x
David was unable to properly distinguish the features. Whether it was 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuH5let1PUA
smiling or crying David would never be able to tell.627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rAB2KSptD
Its clothes were quite 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJG6FpMGs6c
weird as well. Wearing a top hat which seemed both as tall as the person627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMaXYvGDWG
wearing it and as short as Davids own pinky. Its body was covered in a 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NcpV0By4W
dark shroud going from the shoulders to feet and every time it moved it 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxZiD2JM8c
changed both color and shape.627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbcMdC7McFn
The figure tilted its 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2tPKsMkbP
head and moved his hands as the tapping noise continued. Concentrating 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHEaAgb9tC
on the lower part of the body David could see a thin shape of an object 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcrZgAdxuh
that looked like a stick. A cane? A walking stick? Who knew?627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl152IX1amn
"The tapping, was that you?" David said as the tapping noise surrounded them again echoing as if they were in a cave.627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjF7Ki4Cph
"Indeed" 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKnTC2nOuw
Tap, tap, tap.627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXkyyYYNi9
David flinched at the 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCI2vdrfMi
sound. He wanted to shout at the ghost to stop the tapping. To answer 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5t0sTOoEIK
where he was and what was happening. But there was a power dynamic here,627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwbMv9kudE
as in everything else in life. During the years he learned that there 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCFPvKjkpz
are three types of people: Leaders, followers and parasites (a handy 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqXBHPUCka
word he learned from a scholar, turned pirate, in his earlier forays 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1tZHU8Tm5
into piracy)627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQ4rsyTqxP
Leaders and followers 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWXnhWkQLT
were self-explanatory. David, meanwhile, considered himself a parasite. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GUtKlWIYo
Parasites attached themselves to either a leader or a follower. Making 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9w902FWsL
them believe you were on their side, that you were one of them. And then627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqKYmDyyja
when that person gives you everything you need you leave and attach 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtDcLz7sBf
yourself to someone else.627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7UIgavr2Z
This was not so 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8pCtjcpv24
different, David was the parasite and the person in front of him was the627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VsdcmEGhz
leader. He was in charge of the situation so David had to attach 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4L8r4Mur8Q
himself to him or her. Had to make them believe he was on their side or 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe07bfjSUyI
harmless or whatever the situation called for. After all no one is 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0B6L9M6zEG
immune to flattery, be it gods or ghosts.627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlAmmoPcVy
"I'm sure I'd have the pleasure of your acquaintance, if I knew your name?" He ventured slightly bobbing his head.627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFCcNioDJ1
The figure gave a 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0oDA8vMiW1
chuckle, which sounded as if glass shattering. "Ah yes, you will suck up627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQoS1WijRh
to me trying to win me over and then hopefully gain an advantage. I've 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFeA7OCoa3
been watching you, David Oxtorne, lying and never revealing your true 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxBz4hnWU5
self. Being a friend to some, an arrogant bastard to others whatever 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOLpqyEPYo
would get them to like or accept you." A pause and the figure looked to 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5veotX689
the side. "I've no time for your games; otherwise I would've loved for 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvYtXEo5TD
you to grovel and try to win favor. For now call me...Jester." Jester 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uQpIgsH5l
laughed, as if saying a grand joke that David wasn't part of.627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnhY0IvBJa
David looked at him 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVMwdrMB0f
puzzled adding his own awkward laugh to Jesters. This...Jester certainly627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJNYuekQaW
liked to laugh a lot, although David was failing to find any funny 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWPl3A7rSN
jokes. "Nice to meet you Jester." David was about to say more but he was627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpU7Kw85nJb
interrupted by a raised hand.627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDZqtV2u47
"Yes, yes you're a slow 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LIaVzasbd
learner aren't you? We will need to change that. You want to ask where 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHYTt1sbNy
you are and whatnot. So let me answer that for you. You're in the ether 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nERFcc6uZ
world. You're not dead because I saved you. Your body is laying asleep 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34Jakvwscc
so you're here only in your consciousness. Not a lot of giftless can do 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkyw4lmSZ2
that, you should feel dead honored"627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7lsATJVVm
David was having trouble627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEKpTaUbXJ
following jester. But one thing he understood was that you didn't save 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd25OLk7p57
someone's life unless you got something out of it."wha..."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSBlm7XQbx
But David didn't get to 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36YWw2n8W0
finish as jester continued." Not done yet was I? Your next question is, 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeE1XOVcpZy
probably: 'what do you want in return for saving my life?' Which 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Md1RkTq07
honestly David hurts, just hurts. Don't you think I'm a generous soul?"627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxXn7jhy87
A pause, David was 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8GBa6bixA
unsure what to do and begun to answer but the figure kept on talking." 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFAC372KyL
Of course I'm not. Suffice to say I will need you to find something. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJcZL0Bqw7
Can't tell you what yet but others will be hunting for it too" 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvR8NYtwqY
Jester made a clock 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWkRAenEkw
appear in front and nodded...probably." Well that's all from me. We'll 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqqG0C2m8W
meet again once you've met the other chosen ones. I'll explain more 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflaDqOsyDc
then, hopefully you'll be better company by then. Or else I've chosen 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYagjtOpja0
quite wrong, quite wrong indeed."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2lvzlJw6c
David was about to ask 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCVJqnQ8sl
more questions but then he heard a whisper. He looked at jester first 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrL7bX7sThr
but as far as David could tell it wasn't his doing, which didn't 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgx7Jce05ai
convince David at all.627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2ZayvI4Xm
"Hey I...body..." a voice echoed. Sounding human. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf56kxjF637
And then his world shook, all the shadows dissipating, as if swept away by the wind.627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBe6I6rPSqP
"I am watching, my chosen. Make it interesting for me." Jesters voice resounded within Davids head as darkness fell again.
ns3.12.123.254da2
