Jester Book 1: Abduction

Ch 10: A Bad Case of the Mondays

Chester's death roll balled up his sheets until he was a human burrito. A stiff pain coursed through his forehead forcing him awake. Despite the pain locking him in place he managed to sit up in his void-like sheets. His deep strawberry bangs clouded his vision with a bit of pillow-born cowlicks sticking up in various directions. Chester moved to massage his temples but the pain in his shoulder locked his limb. He reached up to check it but failed to notice the gauze and tape wrapped around his deltoid.

He stumbled to his quaint bathroom. His hands groggily reached for a jellybean-styled soap bar just below his cotton candy-colored toothbrush. The sweet scent washed away last night's dreary smell and his teeth sparkled after a thorough cleaning.

He bumbled his way back to his bedroom and collapsed face-first on the mattress. His entire body was aching like he had finished the toughest workout of his life just the day before. He rolled over to his back and noticed that he still had on his Candy Shop costume. A quick sniff showed it reeked of his own perspiration and probably an array of other odors accumulated from the day. Though one scent was especially prominent.

Syrup.

Smelling it once again awakened something. Memories of an almost forgotten past. He shot up and checked his phone. Mandy. He was supposed to stay with Mandy. A quick navigation to his messages showed no new texts.

He jumped out the bed and threw back on his magenta shoes. His head held the phone steady while he ran around the room looking for his satchel. The phone rang to completion and a voicemail message entered his ear. Mandy's voice told him that she wasn't at the phone currently and to leave a message after the beep.

He hissed as he tripped on his own hat, then snatched it up during a rush for the front door. He continued to call hoping that he was wrong. Maybe his memory was failing him, maybe it was a nightmare, but something happened last night. Something horrible.

Then just as he reached for the door there was a heavy knock. He pulled it open before he could register the sound and was stunned when a group of men were waiting outside his room. They were clearly security guards from their blue uniforms and Starr Park Security badges.

A man with a stuffy black mustache flashed his badge, "Chester. The Jack of All Trades."

Chester gave a confused, "Wha?" Though he wasn't given time to ask questions.

"Sir, my name is Detective Tarlo Mancoff. We are with the Starr Park Security Force. We'd like to ask you some questions."

Chester placed his jester's cap on his head and grumbled, "I don't have time for this." He pushed past them shouting, "Mandy's in trouble."

As he ran past them he was immediately stopped by the cold barrel of a rifle. A small group of officers were dressed in full body armor and pointing firearms in his face. He instinctually put his hands up. Once again he only managed a "Wha?" before handcuffs were placed around his arm.

Tarlo huffed, "Yeah we already know." He locked Chester's hands behind his back and stated, "Chester. You are under arrest for the suspected kidnapping of Candy Queen Mandy as well as The Explosive Miner Dynamike, Social Media Star Emz, El Mariachi Poco, Super Sweet Lou, Silent Spike, and finally Detective Gray."

As his rights were read to him by another office they pushed his head down. From the side, he noticed someone watching from a corner. A man with snow-white hair and shifty blue eyes. He was scribbling something into a notebook while just out of sight. Chester knew this man. He'd only seen him once before, but he'd never forget that figure. As Chester tried to move out of their grasp he was quickly restrained by the officers and carried away.

While he was escorted out several Brawlers that housed themselves within the same complex watched in awe. Questions were filling the entrance hall under hushed whispers. The only thing Chester could say while sitting within the tight and caged-off back seat was, "Wha?"