“UNFAIR!”, Jingle Jack shrieked. “They took everything from me! It’s all so unfair!”. He looked back at the dissolving circus tent now far behind him. “This isn’t over”, he hissed. “You think I’m a fool? I’ll make fools of you”.

  He looked up, seeing something in the corner of his eye. A familiar glove and paintbrush floated above him, sketching out that same hazy picture of a house with three people.

  Jack’s face broke out into a smile. “Yes, I’m your father! You came back to see me, didn’t you? Such a good child! Come here, Dabble!”. The ghost floated in the air uncertainly. It painted a new image- a red face with horns- before flying off.

  “Dabble! Come back here, you… Just please come back!”, he shook his fist at the sky, clenching it tighter in defeat. “Unfair…!”.

  “You’re right”, a voice spoke from the shadows. Jack jolted upright in panic, looking around in all directions before he finally saw the speaker.

  “Love. Everyone will be loved”, it continued. “We can give you a cheering crowd again, Jack. The one you’re worthy of”.

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  He snorted in response. “I’m no country rube. Go scam someone else”. Then images flashed through his mind… crowds, fame, money… but more importantly, revenge. He saw his enemies squeezed underneath his heel. A smile crept across his face. Everyone who saw him as lesser would be punished dearly… especially that wretched Count Boogula.

  Jack understood the offer in an instant. It wasn’t quite everything he wanted, for his greed knew no bounds. But it was an enormous opportunity. He’d be a fool to refuse. Well, a foolish fool.

  “I’d be Chief Enforcer, you say?”, he replied. “I’m not quite satisfied with that title, but I accept!”. He bowed with a flourish. “I, Jingle Jack, shall join your noble mission! Let us trample our foes beneath us and create a new utopia together!”.

  The shadowy figure chuckled in response. Then it grabbed Jack, carrying him off into the sky. The jester’s face paled as they rose higher and higher at dizzying speeds.

  “Don’t worry”, it reassured him, before rocketing off. “AAAGGGHHHH!!!”, Jack screamed as they tore through clouds like a bullet through paper. “Slooowww… dowwwwnnnn…”. Alas, his words went completely unheard. That, or the creature just ignored him.

  For just a split second, he caught a glimpse of the three travellers below. They were walking, chatting, smiling like nothing was amiss. “Unf… hur…!”. Jack barfed as they passed overhead.