Jester woke up feeling off, groggy. He looked over to check the time on his alarm clock and noticed it was half past 8am.
"I...I over slept?" He rubbed his head and stood up, then dragged himself out of bed and got ready for the day.
He didn't know why he over slept. It was unlike him. And to not have anyone else come wake him up was more odd to him.
However when he stepped out and saw his family standing ahead in a group talking amongst each other. He walked over to see what they were doing, but paused in his steps when he heard a familiar voice.
Ticket Taker turned around to see Jester and smiled at him. "Finally the queen awakens."
"I...I am but...Why didn't you wake me up?"
"We thought you needed the rest. You have been over working yourself after all." Doctor said as he turned around to look at Jester too.
Jester didn't respond as he noticed they both were in the way of seeing the rest of them. However from the angle he was looking, he didn't see even a hint of Pierrot around.
"Pierrot? Where's Pierrot?"
They all grew quiet, their smiles wiped from their face.
"Not funny, Jester." Harlequin said as he stepped from behind Doctor, and he looked at him with a glare.
"Funny? What do you mean? I am simply just asking where he is?"
"Jester...Are you feeling alright?"
"Perhaps he didn't get enough sleep..."
They all stared at him as if he was ill or gone mad.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Treating me as if I am speaking nonsense. I just wish to ask where is he? Honestly if he's in his tent sulking again over that pet of his--"
Jester paused as he heard that familiar voice again, then finally Ticket Taker stepped to the side to reveal who it was...
"Please don't call our rose like that Jester. You know how much it upsets me to hear that...I know you don't approve but..."
"Columbina?...Y-you're alive? But--"
"I would hope I am. Jester...What's going on? You've been acting strange ever since you woken up."
Jester didn't respond as he walked forward and slowly reached out to touch her. He felt her arm, her warmth. This wasn't as illusion. She was real, she was here before him.
"You...I thought I'll never see you again." Jester said with a shaky voice.
Columbina smiled and held his hand. "Silly. You can see me whenever you want. We live together after all."
Jester couldn't resist smiling in return as he heard her say that, but then his mind went back to Pierrot.
"Pierrot...Where is he? He needs to see you! We--"
"Jester...Don't you remember?...He's gone..." Columbina frowned as she held Jester's hand tighter. "Did you have a dream he was alive again? I know it's hard...We all miss him terribly..."
Harlequin looked away when he heard that.
"Alive again? No...No no. He's alive! He was here just yesterday! Harlequin you remember right?! You were having a fight with him again and--" Jester turned his head to look at Harlequin for confirmation, but Harlequin gave a look of shock and anger.
"ENOUGH! I HAD ENOUGH OF YOU BRINGING HIM UP! MY PIERROT IS GONE! GONE BECAUSE OF YOU!"
Harlequin pointed at Jester, with a look of fury and sorrow.
"W-what do you mean? I would never hurt him! I swore to protect you all and I did! I--We did what I had to to survive!"
"Really? That's what you call protecting? Forcing me to KILL him, EAT him...Forcing us all to eat him to live?! Since he was the weakest! Be truthful Jester...You hated him. You hated him for loving Columbina and I more!"
Jester's eyes went wide when he heard that, and then he looked at Columbina with panic.
"Jester?...Is that true?"
"No...I...He lies. I--I loved you all. I loved him...I only wanted him to see--To know--I cared about him and--"
"Jester...Perhaps we should go back to your ten--" Ticket Taker tried to touch Jester but Jester responded by slapping him away.
"DON'T TOUCH ME!" He backed away from them all, as he started to panic more. "Don't...This isn't real...This isn't real...He's not gone. It shouldn't be Pierrot. It should be Columbina. You shouldn't be here. You're dead. You're dead!"
"Jester..." Columbina felt heart broken to hear that as she covered her mouth in shock.
"He finally lost it...About time." Harlequin said as he started to leave, not wanting to see this show any longer.
"Harlequin!" Doctor called out to him but Harlequin kept walking away.
"Jester--I--It's okay." Columbina forced a smile as her tears fell. "I know you don't mean that. I know you're just confused and scared. But you're going to be okay. We're going to help take care of you, like you did for us."
"Yes...He will be. Doctor, get the syringe ready."
"...Understood." Doctor reached into his coat pocket, pulling out a syringe full of a golden bright liquid.
"What is that? What are you going to--" Columbina and Ticket Taker grabbed him, trying to hold him still and keep him from running.
"It's for you own good, Jester...You'll feel better soon." Doctor said as he started to step closer, preparing to inject Jester with that mysterious liquid.
"No! NO! LET ME GO! DO YOU NOT REMEMBER WHAT I'VE DONE FOR YOU! HOW I SAVED YOU! YOU'LL REGRET THIS! YOU'LL--" As he felt the needle pierce his skin, he woke up in a panic. As he gasped out for air, for life.
"...A dream...Just a awful dream..." Jester tried to calm himself but he couldn't stop shaking as his breathing remained unsteady.
