Jester Book 1: Abduction

Ch 14 Part 2: Uncomfortable

Over an open fire stove, a pan popped with frying vegetables as a set of freshly cut chicken was poured on top. The aroma rolled through the wooden walls and filled the cozy home with an enticing scent. Past the carpeted hallways and up the wooden stairs rested a triplet of doors. Behind them were stylized rooms matching the personalities of its inhabitants.

One door was cracked open. Just enough for the light outside to catch a glimpse at the main attraction. A small bed just over four feet in length was currently occupied by an even smaller body. It rolled over in the heavily padded sheets and snuggled deeper into their plushie.

The house's nanny walked past and gave a sweet smile as she silently shut it behind her. She carried away the laundry back downstairs with heavy steps against the creaky wood. An action that failed to disturb the young ward from her heavy slumber. Though it did rattle the pencil cup on her desk.

As the currently doused lamp on her desk collected dust the tools across the floor showed signs of continued use. There was a bit of fading visible where her hands repeatedly grabbed them. Oil stains were splotching the beige carpet alongside the scent of burnt metal radiating from a saw in the corner.

By her bedside was a large metal tower with a dirty yellow finish and deep blue flaps on the side. It almost looked like it was breathing or snoring. She was just as pleasantly active as she nuzzled her nose deeper into the doll in her arms.

A perfectly still and serene scene. Perfectly punctuated by the little specs of dust in the air bouncing off the god rays from the moon. Then without the addition of wind or sound the dust suddenly shifted. As if something had passed by the window. In the floor below a soft bit of depression formed. Then a matching divot appeared followed by another just ahead of the last.

Something sifted through the dim room and approached the bed with careful trepidation. Its steps stuttered about for a second until it grew the courage to get closer. It shifted over to the side opposite the large turret. Then a shimmer of light sprinkled down from above. As it rained over the top it was the feet that appeared first. Brown in color and shiny. A pair of blue shorts and a bright green hoodie. The yellow stripe riding down the middle rushed past his back to a small, knitted, curled tail on his rear. His face was hidden not only by the night but the massive hood that swallowed his skull.

The missing Brawler, Leon, had been reportedly kidnapped two nights ago. He was last seen outside of Pam's Junkyard successfully escorting the young Jessie back to her home. He did not return home that night. Yet he seemed just fine. No nervous shaking in his breath, or a limp in his walk. Yet he seemed uneasy as he stood over Jessie's defenseless form.

He had not moved from the moment he reached this proximity. He could hear her sudden ebbs and flows as she snoozed into the night. Blissfully unaware of his presence. He couldn't control himself. A hand reached out hoping to caress her head or softly brush through her messy red locks. Just a touch would suffice.

Another palm quickly latched onto his. He turned back to see a black and white face staring down at him. The much taller mime stared down at him while slowly shaking his head.

Gray. Another Brawler that had gone missing suddenly arrived in Jessie's room. Leon caught the remnants of one of his portals shrinking into nothing. In a silent tussle the two locked eyes. They fought mentally without moving a limb or lip. A battle where Leon was losing ground. He was starting to lose the ability to maintain eye contact. It didn't help that every little movement Jessie made grabbed his attention.

Almost as captivating as the soft sound of Jessie's bedroom door creeping open. The two stopped their struggle immediately. Leon ripped his hand away and tried to run off with his invisibility. Gray quickly tackled him and summoned a portal on the ground below. The two fell in and disappeared without a trace.

The door gave way to a massive barrel. The yellow tip connected to a square stock that had a massive maroon handle. It was being tightly gripped by the ever-so-overprotective mother figure, Pam. Her hair was twice as red as Jessie's and currently leaking out of the dandelion flower cap she had loosely managed to keep on during her rush.

Her usual junker uniform, a blue shirt and golden khakis, was swapped out for a pair of plaid pajama pants and a white t-shirt. Hastily retrieved alongside her gun from her closet. She had no reason to enter Jessie's room yet she came to the rescue in expectation. When she saw her daughter sleeping without a care, she instantly relaxed.

Her gun lowered though she didn't take her finger off the trigger. Her eyes scanned for any signs of unwanted life. In the incredibly messy room, it was hard to tell what had been disturbed by an outward force or shifted during one of Jessie's insane tinkerings. After a few sweeps with her eyes, Pam settled by Jessie's bed much like Leon had done just moments before.

Rather than the shaky trepidation of an intruder, she calmly ran her hands through her daughter's hair. An action that elicited a pleasant groan from Jessie's slumber. Pam smiled down at her beautiful daughter as she made her way back out of the room. Unaware of the events that transpired moments prior.