604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGxrAhVVb1
604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjqWv0R0QP
"Mummy, look!" 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2IwM1Sd2o
Tap, tap. 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEkPxG5YJD
"Mummy I will make you proud!" 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2K7PZ1CPKw
Tap, tap.604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGBWmMgyPl
"Mummy, save me."604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtzJLakARN
Tap, tap.604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQZefxBdK3
"Alright you better shut604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9r5oQkGcJ
it with the falling tapping!" David shouted as he opened his eyes and 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmomKgPhaXz
got up. Waking from his dream, for what else could it have been? 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCgtGrrTKP
David was about to 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0ezofU2Qi
complain more but then he remembered what happened, how he fell from the604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdEl3BPWJE
ship, to his apparent death. But right now he was in the middle a city 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgm4uf7ZyE
or at least a shallow imitation of one. With the buildings and the 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXF5c0ablns
people just being shadowy reflections of the real world, but still 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsURtpt3wob
eerily lifelike.604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQmcTWDTxp
Then it clicked, the 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdm27XWK1W
ramshackle buildings, the crooked streets, dark alleyways guarded only 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1xOy67QcC
by footpads and thieves. Shadowy humans begging and fighting. Stumbling 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukmYDDgEDh
around drunk. David was back in the Havenport slums, his home. A home he604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSA14LL61s
left around 20 years ago when he boarded his first ship. Why was he 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1LS2paLwvJ
back? Was he dead after all? 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHG69Pv0hbX
All of those thoughts, 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8H4YqhyzW
and more, were racing through Davids mind. As he was trying to gather 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWv4EuyDvk
his wits, he heard laughter from...not behind exactly but everywhere.604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSA9BYK8TN
"Ah! Perfect you finally awoke!" David tried turning towards the voice but couldn't quite pinpoint where it was coming from.604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0iTwlMq3z
"Ah, apologies. The ether world makes everything quite fuzzy." 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVizl7uWbre
David fell backwards out of fear as a figure appeared out of thin air in front of him. "Spirit! G..ghost! Demon!"604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrg6Gsvcuff
"There, there. Get it 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PKRtNVgAE
all out." The being said in an amused voice. Was it even amused? David, 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95eRGjxcjQ
again, could not pinpoint the exact tone of voice. It sounded as if it 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZyPVcXl7Y
was echoing both in his mind and in this city. Hitting the walls making 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1CWDLvfXk
the voice both louder and yet quieter. The voice had both male and 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ754uZmY47l
female aspects to it as some parts sounded quite high pitched while 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwWubWEp8y
others sounded low pitched. Both happy and sad, amused and disappointed.604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdl3SQpQQ2p
It was quite disconcerting. 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MN0hGTzrs
"All done now?" The 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYO26bSAvB0
apparition asked, smiling. Or was it smiling? As David got back up he 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3B90wkMkIH
got a better look at his new friend. Or at least at the parts that he 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9Y1eQq7YS
could see. Its face was covered in... something that looked like mist. 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluBu3TOTwy
David was unable to properly distinguish the features. Whether it was 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRLxREJG9B
smiling or crying David would never be able to tell.604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ448EJhAmoU
Its clothes were quite 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9UcIsqTCR
weird as well. Wearing a top hat which seemed both as tall as the person604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dcQtG6PXW
wearing it and as short as Davids own pinky. Its body was covered in a 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFTCPxz5uj
dark shroud going from the shoulders to feet and every time it moved it 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNlD5urKEO
changed both color and shape.604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKlZzTTNnS
The figure tilted its 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDPegsoV7a
head and moved his hands as the tapping noise continued. Concentrating 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkBqtnMdfT
on the lower part of the body David could see a thin shape of an object 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hfzmrq2GH
that looked like a stick. A cane? A walking stick? Who knew?604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiS4zd5GgPh
"The tapping, was that you?" David said as the tapping noise surrounded them again echoing as if they were in a cave.604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZVVXebaho
"Indeed" 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXTNT08Fm5
Tap, tap, tap.604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8qxM5uoGI
David flinched at the 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfE6Fcdy0k
sound. He wanted to shout at the ghost to stop the tapping. To answer 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsAhcOM73KP
where he was and what was happening. But there was a power dynamic here,604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbm8g7RMUt8
as in everything else in life. During the years he learned that there 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDqdHJR8Bp
are three types of people: Leaders, followers and parasites (a handy 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrjwayZzix
word he learned from a scholar, turned pirate, in his earlier forays 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPXvG0LUHM
into piracy)604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5joZKjtqEC
Leaders and followers 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHN1I5zcLw
were self-explanatory. David, meanwhile, considered himself a parasite. 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnl6JJG6HkJ
Parasites attached themselves to either a leader or a follower. Making 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIIoiBozsu
them believe you were on their side, that you were one of them. And then604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5nLZomq89
when that person gives you everything you need you leave and attach 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLGLQ2Apgw
yourself to someone else.604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4usjZs9JJ
This was not so 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkM2IGinoe8
different, David was the parasite and the person in front of him was the604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNi1I4Gim9
leader. He was in charge of the situation so David had to attach 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNWyKwCUiC
himself to him or her. Had to make them believe he was on their side or 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaeQCD4hlXB
harmless or whatever the situation called for. After all no one is 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyCN8aqKfA
immune to flattery, be it gods or ghosts.604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ElZwT6cGl
"I'm sure I'd have the pleasure of your acquaintance, if I knew your name?" He ventured slightly bobbing his head.604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgsGgU9FZn
The figure gave a 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8BJ4lpP4I
chuckle, which sounded as if glass shattering. "Ah yes, you will suck up604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIu9EEM5Jhl
to me trying to win me over and then hopefully gain an advantage. I've 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAkpIqN6Zq
been watching you, David Oxtorne, lying and never revealing your true 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtIbUvLeQT
self. Being a friend to some, an arrogant bastard to others whatever 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LulFM1Jwy
would get them to like or accept you." A pause and the figure looked to 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigh67E77cx
the side. "I've no time for your games; otherwise I would've loved for 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkBvkY4XFN
you to grovel and try to win favor. For now call me...Jester." Jester 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi17WAcQehl
laughed, as if saying a grand joke that David wasn't part of.604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yLTytbLVG
David looked at him 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRi0DoOlqtK
puzzled adding his own awkward laugh to Jesters. This...Jester certainly604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHw5yvlgZrK
liked to laugh a lot, although David was failing to find any funny 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUdfJkKHxM
jokes. "Nice to meet you Jester." David was about to say more but he was604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBjrd81T6Q
interrupted by a raised hand.604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzleksOM46
"Yes, yes you're a slow 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGqn8l92mF
learner aren't you? We will need to change that. You want to ask where 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqC105GEEcp
you are and whatnot. So let me answer that for you. You're in the ether 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PgDsQcmx9
world. You're not dead because I saved you. Your body is laying asleep 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYXh74ZLtv
so you're here only in your consciousness. Not a lot of giftless can do 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrbjVgkeO4
that, you should feel dead honored"604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsOlNPL19F
David was having trouble604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsg6SNyCjMW
following jester. But one thing he understood was that you didn't save 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMGJetpnXk
someone's life unless you got something out of it."wha..."604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjk1uoy0CN
But David didn't get to 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnWXeQ8z1p
finish as jester continued." Not done yet was I? Your next question is, 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpVtbcXJ9D
probably: 'what do you want in return for saving my life?' Which 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vCaB6eTwD
honestly David hurts, just hurts. Don't you think I'm a generous soul?"604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRB9wrEWng
A pause, David was 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkP7U54qwb
unsure what to do and begun to answer but the figure kept on talking." 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnogfYBhxy
Of course I'm not. Suffice to say I will need you to find something. 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxznKe7eEqn
Can't tell you what yet but others will be hunting for it too" 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEIMnBF66V
Jester made a clock 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xXSXFNRbz
appear in front and nodded...probably." Well that's all from me. We'll 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ApISfOkxQ
meet again once you've met the other chosen ones. I'll explain more 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrkP8hr0Of
then, hopefully you'll be better company by then. Or else I've chosen 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjeBJZKnNP
quite wrong, quite wrong indeed."604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsaorA2M5Xt
David was about to ask 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQ0Q8PtRn7
more questions but then he heard a whisper. He looked at jester first 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FczQqSsGj
but as far as David could tell it wasn't his doing, which didn't 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnfePpDSJ2
convince David at all.604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVA0IpCUihp
"Hey I...body..." a voice echoed. Sounding human. 604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwOCwFsTS2
And then his world shook, all the shadows dissipating, as if swept away by the wind.604Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8CJRjvjpn
"I am watching, my chosen. Make it interesting for me." Jesters voice resounded within Davids head as darkness fell again.
ns3.147.48.116da2
