511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQWuUynTQr
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUNWNLrT8F
"Mummy, look!" 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6mN3ZNXfQ
Tap, tap. 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk19Kze66SC
"Mummy I will make you proud!" 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTtbd9fRZZ
Tap, tap.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbynu2sFlvp
"Mummy, save me."511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Qhd18GBzc
Tap, tap.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kWGP9xrHx
"Alright you better shut511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhIJpxbcec
it with the falling tapping!" David shouted as he opened his eyes and 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQCyodwDJs
got up. Waking from his dream, for what else could it have been? 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYUmugprbK
David was about to 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0G0tvax0f
complain more but then he remembered what happened, how he fell from the511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGKLzmu6kB
ship, to his apparent death. But right now he was in the middle a city 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrtHgNTNkZ
or at least a shallow imitation of one. With the buildings and the 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhPqSE8ApY
people just being shadowy reflections of the real world, but still 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEVYqPDEc5
eerily lifelike.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4gl1vmHT2
Then it clicked, the 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3xRWqIrqw
ramshackle buildings, the crooked streets, dark alleyways guarded only 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvUu3zCQFR
by footpads and thieves. Shadowy humans begging and fighting. Stumbling 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51iUk8OtCg
around drunk. David was back in the Havenport slums, his home. A home he511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpAAQ24GmK
left around 20 years ago when he boarded his first ship. Why was he 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzC3IJElnG
back? Was he dead after all? 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6XslNm1gr
All of those thoughts, 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWi8LmnLwP
and more, were racing through Davids mind. As he was trying to gather 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiiqadkoxe
his wits, he heard laughter from...not behind exactly but everywhere.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnD0Q2ypFN
"Ah! Perfect you finally awoke!" David tried turning towards the voice but couldn't quite pinpoint where it was coming from.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HgUKXia3k
"Ah, apologies. The ether world makes everything quite fuzzy." 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4M6QkLLrf
David fell backwards out of fear as a figure appeared out of thin air in front of him. "Spirit! G..ghost! Demon!"511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxA9TZmljn8
"There, there. Get it 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDMbNqGnQW
all out." The being said in an amused voice. Was it even amused? David, 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLLTE9qDVb
again, could not pinpoint the exact tone of voice. It sounded as if it 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqoebkLkY1
was echoing both in his mind and in this city. Hitting the walls making 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQ3Ks3cfjN
the voice both louder and yet quieter. The voice had both male and 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPCEQVtqp3
female aspects to it as some parts sounded quite high pitched while 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJ4WXsT9O9
others sounded low pitched. Both happy and sad, amused and disappointed.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJjIq5DAKV
It was quite disconcerting. 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8gbweDvTj
"All done now?" The 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZSWkomAN1
apparition asked, smiling. Or was it smiling? As David got back up he 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEM2cLGmW4x
got a better look at his new friend. Or at least at the parts that he 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRojY6CjRx
could see. Its face was covered in... something that looked like mist. 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQMPPoBWsw
David was unable to properly distinguish the features. Whether it was 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6an1QQwy2
smiling or crying David would never be able to tell.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08aUXGy7CG
Its clothes were quite 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6zNRJdeio
weird as well. Wearing a top hat which seemed both as tall as the person511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBFJkSAy1n
wearing it and as short as Davids own pinky. Its body was covered in a 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELRYG7fliO
dark shroud going from the shoulders to feet and every time it moved it 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZatJ8vKbr
changed both color and shape.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDk1FFrOYOf
The figure tilted its 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQWG5c7bDH
head and moved his hands as the tapping noise continued. Concentrating 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOD25d3WNF
on the lower part of the body David could see a thin shape of an object 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZK7LH58108
that looked like a stick. A cane? A walking stick? Who knew?511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59Fdhju2Kz
"The tapping, was that you?" David said as the tapping noise surrounded them again echoing as if they were in a cave.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk16LJ3xU46
"Indeed" 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6EDzdadnY
Tap, tap, tap.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEfSebQXcN
David flinched at the 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXXpToUa1b
sound. He wanted to shout at the ghost to stop the tapping. To answer 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XBgF1NjTX
where he was and what was happening. But there was a power dynamic here,511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmd2SJfQskh
as in everything else in life. During the years he learned that there 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIyhn2glIT
are three types of people: Leaders, followers and parasites (a handy 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIruuwwOnH
word he learned from a scholar, turned pirate, in his earlier forays 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0SbPibrD6
into piracy)511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0Upt8FLqr
Leaders and followers 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjoaFb0po7
were self-explanatory. David, meanwhile, considered himself a parasite. 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrRnJjgfdI
Parasites attached themselves to either a leader or a follower. Making 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnwNVoynHR
them believe you were on their side, that you were one of them. And then511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZzBDxot4H
when that person gives you everything you need you leave and attach 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8J9mJNehL
yourself to someone else.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5WmTIu640
This was not so 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpFkoInqVJ
different, David was the parasite and the person in front of him was the511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUzaioxtmH
leader. He was in charge of the situation so David had to attach 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerxbAUn26w
himself to him or her. Had to make them believe he was on their side or 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIh1S9oR3V8
harmless or whatever the situation called for. After all no one is 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkbTz7XwVt
immune to flattery, be it gods or ghosts.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZaeA3aShhC
"I'm sure I'd have the pleasure of your acquaintance, if I knew your name?" He ventured slightly bobbing his head.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6Ggdy87p4
The figure gave a 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBE4DcbqOz3
chuckle, which sounded as if glass shattering. "Ah yes, you will suck up511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcU3XnDYrGk
to me trying to win me over and then hopefully gain an advantage. I've 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgivYR60bYA
been watching you, David Oxtorne, lying and never revealing your true 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhxhxi65si
self. Being a friend to some, an arrogant bastard to others whatever 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwHYmZdykQ
would get them to like or accept you." A pause and the figure looked to 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6brqjkGnfQ
the side. "I've no time for your games; otherwise I would've loved for 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PjD0DnFW5
you to grovel and try to win favor. For now call me...Jester." Jester 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQtmq8bVTe
laughed, as if saying a grand joke that David wasn't part of.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0sx2KVEQo
David looked at him 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZk9UqvPQl
puzzled adding his own awkward laugh to Jesters. This...Jester certainly511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhC2nKVe8jv
liked to laugh a lot, although David was failing to find any funny 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfVHtDnr43
jokes. "Nice to meet you Jester." David was about to say more but he was511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQnQ5rlh7Z
interrupted by a raised hand.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv33jTezWlJ
"Yes, yes you're a slow 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BLM7EabgO
learner aren't you? We will need to change that. You want to ask where 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzvJlDTfit
you are and whatnot. So let me answer that for you. You're in the ether 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzoCjzAPiq
world. You're not dead because I saved you. Your body is laying asleep 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGaalIKMiEz
so you're here only in your consciousness. Not a lot of giftless can do 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OR1nEYSch
that, you should feel dead honored"511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfHOiova0x
David was having trouble511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3Ujiaz7x3
following jester. But one thing he understood was that you didn't save 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vWo29aaom
someone's life unless you got something out of it."wha..."511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlibkVD2O0d
But David didn't get to 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ShptJZnd2
finish as jester continued." Not done yet was I? Your next question is, 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdkt1TW1yH
probably: 'what do you want in return for saving my life?' Which 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxX1DZOV3D
honestly David hurts, just hurts. Don't you think I'm a generous soul?"511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46vxliT4kx
A pause, David was 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5DF76eVUU
unsure what to do and begun to answer but the figure kept on talking." 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPPWZ09VO1
Of course I'm not. Suffice to say I will need you to find something. 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbitVQtMtSu
Can't tell you what yet but others will be hunting for it too" 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLN53akaiM
Jester made a clock 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadsbFCxTks
appear in front and nodded...probably." Well that's all from me. We'll 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2xd6QPQ5v
meet again once you've met the other chosen ones. I'll explain more 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkutQHY7pO
then, hopefully you'll be better company by then. Or else I've chosen 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PXhjhnFxC
quite wrong, quite wrong indeed."511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdhHcTZ0vQ
David was about to ask 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmviu5JjFKr
more questions but then he heard a whisper. He looked at jester first 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9j2C2xUfwh
but as far as David could tell it wasn't his doing, which didn't 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwcfn4UdqP
convince David at all.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvScWUIJEoP
"Hey I...body..." a voice echoed. Sounding human. 511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9I0bBclye0
And then his world shook, all the shadows dissipating, as if swept away by the wind.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSb1emNKJw
"I am watching, my chosen. Make it interesting for me." Jesters voice resounded within Davids head as darkness fell again.
ns 15.158.61.48da2
