Jester Book 1: Abduction

Chp 20 Part 1: I FINALLY FOUND YOU!

"EXTRY! EXTRY! COME AN' GET IT FOLKS! YOR FAVOURITE SHOP IS MAKING IT'S GRAN' RETURN!"

A young boy rushed up and down the streets with an overflowing satchel. His parchments were prints of the local Park Press. A newspaper line that had increased in popularity after the recent tragedies striking Starr Park's walls. It prided itself on finding the truth and getting it to the public. No strings attached.

Now they were using their power to foster a sense of hope in the masses. They had good news today. A local shop that was closed due to 'non-specific circumstances' was finally ready to return with a hot new look.

"COME ON FOLKS! COME ON! WE'VE GOT PAYPAS FOR DAYS! AIN'T THA' RIGH' JOSIE!"

On the other side of the street, a carbon copy of himself stood with a matching costume and an equally bursting bag. Her voice was a bit softer though she projected twice as far as him. "THA'S RIGH' JONSIE!" Her tongue could not show the necessary tact on certain words, "WE'VE GO' THE SCOOP IF YOU'VE GO' THE LOO'! JUS' 50 CEN' A PAYPA!"

On his belt loop, he had a coin dispenser that he started presenting like a salesman, "COME ON PEOPLE I'VE GOT THA CHANGE IF YA GOT THA BLANG!"

They continued to garner a crowd worthy of the New York Times front office on election day. Every ear within shot was rushing to get another copy of the latest news.

All except a single pair. He sat atop a roof with his thoughts focused on the clouds. It was another uneventful day. He managed to get a new paint job from Bibi which did wonders for his rapidly cracking face. His clothes were starting to stink as it was the only set he had. His bucket of soapy water and clothesline were patiently waiting for him to employ their simple functions. However, his thoughts were not on hygiene.

This roller coaster felt like it was ending. He thought about the previous month. How just weeks ago he was peacefully enjoying his job as the sweet and sour jester of Starr Park. How he and Mandy would goof off inside the air-conditioned shop and bicker over what flavor of cotton candy was the best. (The obvious answer was puffball pink but she was dead set that skybound blue was the best.) Now he was on the run from Starr Security. Every camera phone and public place was another chance of imprisonment. The eyes he once lived to attract he now hid from daily.

He rolled his neck around to loosen his stiff joints. His bed was just a few feet away but the springs were doing more harm than the tiled roofing. He thought about how he was ready to rush Pam's Junkyard just the other night. The only reason he stopped was thanks to Bo's words.

'You'd willingly rush into the tiger's den?'

Would he? Could he bring himself to actually throw himself face-first into danger? Knowing that on the other side is a tsunami of strength that he could never compare to. An army of militaristic proportions. Elite officers with powers comparable to the Brawlers he struggled to match every day.

Of course, he couldn't. No sentient creature could bring themselves to dive headfirst knowing they'd only die. They'd search for options. Anything other than certain doom. That was a last resort.

His eyes looked down at the crowd as they murmured to themselves. Their heads were locked down at whatever the big new announcement was on those papers. So many innocent civilians, unaware of the monster that is resting just on the eastern corner of the park.

Chester rested his cheek in his hands. He was almost jealous. That blissful ignorance of the truth. He wished he could rock back into that simple way of life again. Just worried about whether he'd have enough money for a pizza that night. Nowadays his concerns are centered around whether he'd eat at all.

The colorful characters that rushed back and forth were mesmerizing. A dazzling man with sparkles and gold dust across his body. A lady with hair slicked so far back it made a floating S down her back. Jet black bikers all rested on their vehicles as they dragged on massive cigars. A girl with bright red pigtails watching from an alley with a black and blue jester cap on. An anthropomorphic alligator and her family of anthropomorphic ducks and chicks. A buff tiger lady and what he assumed was her short twink boyfriend.