Jester Book 1: Abduction

Ch 12 Part 2: Deciphering the Clue

Chester stewed in his confusion with a nervous chill. He'd truly gained nothing on this adventure. Nothing besides a bit of reprieve and air conditioning to relax his taxed mind. Even then the A/C wasn't working. It felt oddly cool inside the room. A fact that would have alarmed him if it wasn't for the lack of breath visible in front of him. He turned back to the window ready to make his exit. He noticed it was wide open letting in a cool breeze. Chester was mildly confused since he specifically remembered shutting the window when he entered.

Then came a triplet of daggers lodging themselves into the floorboard beneath him. Chester stepped back and froze solid. A sickening voice crackled up from the darkness, "What are you doing..." The inky form of a feathered beast entered the light. His steps were silent despite stepping onto the carpet of papers. His leather jacket and chains were inaudible under his subtle stride. He still housed another set of daggers in his fist as he finished his dreary question, "...kidnapper?"

"Crow?" Chester finally managed to move again. He matched Crow's careful steps as they paced a circle in the admittedly tiny room. With each step, there was a jingling of bells and the crunching of paper. "I know this looks bad. But you have to understand."

Crow didn't bother with providing an audible response. His hands reached for more blades in preparation for what was soon to come. Chester, unwilling to compete against the assassin tried to further plead his case. "I don't know why, or by who, but I'm being framed." Chester pointed to the board behind Crow's head. "Just look at Gray's notes. I'm clearly being tricked. Someone is using me."

While Crow's head was turned to look at the board Chester's mood sulked a bit. Under the cover of a distraction he reached his hands up to his cap's bells, "I just don't know who... or-" Before he could finish the sentence he threw an explosive ball at the preoccupied assassin. The ball came inches from Crow's cheek before he smoothly shifted his neck to dodge. He then sent another dagger at the clown who squealed when his leg was secured to the desk behind him. The bird had aimed for a bit of loose cloth just below his crotch.

Chester's face got five shades paler, "Aah... why did I do that..." When he managed to get the blade away from his groin Crow had suddenly appeared before him. The bird's pupils stared through his own like a hawk picking out a mouse from meters above. Chester's voice went up several octaves, "I'm sorry! But I really am innocent!"

Crow looked back over his shoulder with a steely gaze. He dropped a heavy sigh out of his chipped beak. "I know." Crow's voice could mimic others. So he'd often make it sound deep and imposing when he was trying to intimidate someone. Now his voice returned to the shrill screech of an actual raven.

"You do?"

Crow pocketed his knives. He rubbed the scruff on his neck, "Gray and I have been investigating this for a while." Crow fully turned his back to the jester. A sign of trust far stronger than words. Seeing this gesture made something inside of Chester relax. Muscles and tendons that were previously clenched released like a football lineman bathing in a sauna.

While Chester dropped to the floor with an exhausted gasp, Crow searched the board for a picture of Emz. He ripped it off saying, "Ever since Emz's disappearance, Bibi's been worried." Crow flicked his wrist sending the picture flying. It masterfully cruised on the low breeze until it landed at Chester's feet. It was a picture of the electro-zombie posing with three other girls. The Salty Penny, Cool Cat Bibi, and The Rocket Janet.

Crow turned back to him with his hands in his pockets. "She's distraught. Her friends' safety is at risk."

Chester picked up the giddy image. He hissed out, "They took Mandy too."

"We know." The usage of we alarmed Chester. He asked for Crow to elaborate. "A report went out to the Starrs. You're being blamed for the disappearance of the missing brawlers."