Jester Book 1: Abduction

Ch 16 Part 2: The B-Word

From the city's skyline, the sun had gone to sleep for the day. The moon took up its post as the luminescent powerhouse of the night. Despite the lack of light, the rides showed no sign of stopping. Deeper within the park people were rushing to the front for late-night bliss. Concession stands began peddling glow-in-the-dark cups and neon merchandise to keep the party going all night long.

It might be the perfect time for mischief. With the party only growing in size by the minute the chaos was the perfect cover for a kidnapping. All previous disappearances happened in the residential areas. Back by the attractions that went stale in the dark like The Greenery or Gem Mines.

As such Chester stood tall on his usual perch. Staring down over the top as a crowd dispersed below. Stepping out at the front was blood-red hair. A single pigtail bounced along as she moved ahead with her head raised high. She'd just finished a scathing altercation which she masterfully maneuvered through. A smile rested against his lips as he silently watched on from a safe distance. Chester looked down at the poster in his hand. It was a different one from the posters of the day before. She had made the revisions he recommended and removed her own number from the flyers. Just to be safe he retroactively removed all the older posters from Starr Park's streets. He only hoped no creep got their hands on her number before he could fix it.

Suddenly something dropped down behind him. The subtle shifting of a metal chain alerted him of the presence, "Well?"

Crow massaged his beak, "...I guess she'll do."

Chester flicked a hard candy in the air and caught it with his tongue, "Told you." The two stood over the edge and followed Jessie's path with their eyes. She was getting further away much quicker now. A product of the confidence boost she'd surely acquired. Chester waited a bit before breaking the silence, "Crow. I have a question."

The bird noticed that his blue-dyed ally wasn't looking at him, "What."

"What did you say to her?"

Chester knew that the plan was to give her a spook. If she managed to conquer her fear they'd let the plan run. However, if Jessie broke down like she usually does they'd throw away the idea and return to their usual tactics. As such, Chester volunteered Crow to give her a bit of a startle. He was known for picking on the girl. "I did the usual. Just threw some harsh words her way."

"Hmm..." Chester nodded along as if agreeing. Jessie was getting further away and yet he followed her with laser accuracy. Then he leaned a bit closer to Crow, "Now tell me-" he turned around. His smile was extra big with his eyes spiraling into madness. Crow could tell he was holding something back. Something ferocious, "-who told you to touch her?"

Crow stood up with his hands in his pocket. The two had a fire dancing between them. Flames of opposing colors battled for dominance within the skies around them. Two unshaken forces threatening to push a button and settle this dispute now. It was a coming clash interrupted by a third party, "Am I interrupting something?"

Chester and Crow turned to the fire escape. Bo's green vest barely managed to fit around his massive torso. The bow on his back crossed with the quiver of arrows. Seeing the tools gave Chester a flashback to that chaotic night. The two separated quickly. They didn't mention what had sparked this clash and Bo wasn't one to ask. He merely joined them on the ledge and gazed down below. "So what is the plan?"

Chester coughed to break the awkwardness, "Well... I think-"

"We're using the kid as bait," Crow deadpanned.

Chester quickly turned on the bird, "She's not bait!"

The bird rolled his eyes, "We're purposefully having her walk home alone at night in order to see if a kidnapper shows up." He snarled at the jester, "A.K.A. she's bait!"