Chapter Text
The rumble of the car’s engine thrummed somberly over the roads.
Just earlier in their altercation with Wheel of Fortune Jolyne was able to catch her strings within the vehicle’s wheels before the metal monster got to charge them into the cliffs. Maybe their wounds were pumped full of gasoline but she had punched the thing into an unidentifiable metal scrap. Even so they were forced to drive the junk due to the wreckage of their own car if they wanted to get to Pakistan on time. Having to avoid crossing the border legally after all with what happened to Joseph. In her interrogation of the stand user he too refused to say much about DIO, claiming to only be in it for the money. Thus led to her giving the man through beating before they had left him tied to a rock as a punishment for falling to such an evil path.
“You’re pretty violent y’know that.”
“Oh! I wonder why.” She snarkily replied.
“...”
They sat in the car, now with Anne to join them who was of course upset about being sent back home to Hong Kong. “But Jojo, I want to go with you!” She cried, “When will I ever have the time to go on adventures like this huh? Never! I’m gonna grow up and be stuck at home and only care about boys…or something…”
They had been ignoring her for quite some time now but Jolyne couldn't help but laugh at how insistent Anne was. ‘Oh well, any child would be upset at the idea of missing out on some grand journey.’ In a way Anne reminded her a little bit of herself.
Yes, all those years ago she too existed as a whiny 12 year old who wanted nothing more but to break away from her parents–have her own little adventures and see the world. Although after something like this she might've seen enough…all those joy rides she did during her younger teen years felt like fun family outings compared to anything like this.
“Anne.” She called, “I know you want to go but you have to understand you can’t. I get, you think this is all fun and we're playing together but you can’t stay with us. We're only here because we have to save our family. This isn’t some big game for us. Go home and meet your parents. I’m sure they’re really worried about you…”
“So what!” She huffed, “I want to see the world! I want to explore! I’ll be too old by then! They’ll be fine without me for a little bit!” The girl puffed out her cheeks, thoroughly annoyed at Jolyne’s scolding. She sank herself into the car’s beaten seats scrunching her nose up in anger.
“Hey Anne. Seriously, you’ve got to go home. You might be having fun right now but you won’t be once you know the reality. So quit whining.”
“But-”
“No!”
Jotaro sighs in the seat next to the two women. “Good Grief, will you two shut up.”
“Oh my god, you're so rude dad. If it bothers you that much just don’t listen!” She spat. At that he gives her a glare silently turning away.
“Come on kids don’t fight.” Joseph laughed. “We’re almost at the airport. It’s only a couple miles more.”
“Ughhh, I don’t want to leave!”
Jolyne turns back to the girl now sporting a serious expression as she spoke to her sternly, “Anne. I would give anything to go back home right now and be with my parents! I know this is exciting and you want to go on a big adventure but right now you should go home and be with them. I heard how they were on that phone call. They were terrified and you’re still going to complain? Think about how they feel.”
She sits back to sigh, “Enjoy being a kid right now. You have so much time to grow up before you leave. Just look at me. I grew up and I’m not at home worried about boys.” She laughed, making the little girl groan, “Yeah but…I want to go right now!”
“Give yourself some time. It’ll go by so much faster than you’ll realize.” She frowned.
“Arghhh…reallyyy...” She says, staying silent for a second before mumbling, “Will I see you guys again?”
“Hmm…maybe…” She grimly smiled.
__________________________________
At the airport they had waved Anne a melancholy good bye. A sorrowful smile painted their faces but at least they were able to save one life. Jolyne had hoped deep within her heart that the girl would make it back home safe. That she was spared from this awful adventure and would never have her life turn into a disaster like hers. Maybe somewhere out there she could’ve been like that innocent little girl getting sent back home after being acquitted from her court case. Alas life was certainly unfair in those ways. Perhaps those sequences were always meant to be. If it wasn’t for DIO.
Yes.
It seems tragedy would’ve always come back to him.
“She’ll be fine.” Jotaro muttered.
“Of course I know that.” She huffed.
Making a detour to the airport the crusaders had decided this town was a good place to rest before continuing their drive through Pakistan. It gave them a good chance to get a new car too. Driving that wreck through the country made itself more of a hassle than one would think. So the group had made a unanimous decision to split itself up. Joseph had left with Polnareff to find themselves a new ride while Kakyoin left to account for any supplies needed for their drive forward. That left Jolyne to stay with Jotaro who planned to look for a tailor to repair his gakuran. Which had been burned up earlier by Wheel of Fortune’s sparks.
Not that she didn’t want to hangout with him alone but still those feelings of tension stayed between the two. Even though the last time they were together was at the hotel she had failed to see any possible signs of time stop within Star Platinum. Disappointment left evident in her reaction. What could he possibly do about that, he thinks. Stop time? Did such power like that exist? And if it did–will that ultimately stop DIO?
Just earlier before the split Jolyne had heard Kakyoin speak to Jotaro. Something in Japanese. Of course she was unable to understand but perhaps it was something about staying around her. Jotaro had earlier insisted to go alone and she had thought to join up with Kakyoin but it had seemed plans were changed for her.
When she was just a child it was her mother that tried to get her to learn. All those books left upon their bookshelf. They seemed to be flung around the house in a new way everyday when she was young. Her mother pestered her to repeat such lines day after day. Her earliest memories of seeing mother so youthful and carefree. Curled up together on the couch, before her bedtime, even at the breakfast table. After the split stacks of them were left collecting dust and no matter how many times she tried to convince her mother they were a waste of space she had always refused to throw them away. They left sitting–maybe as a gentle reminder of a much kinder past. As she grew older she had stopped touching them all together, and maybe it was because they alluded to a sweeter life.
A better life. That existed before she had ever been born.
“Jolyne.” Kakyoin called, “Why don’t you stay with Jotaro? We should divide up evenly in case we encounter any stand users along the way.”
“...” She gives her father a silent stare which he returns with his own cold gaze, “Shouldn’t I stay with you though. I’m sure dad can protect himself.”
“Oh. So you think I can’t protect myself huh?”
“Of course not.” She laughs.
Now the two went silently sulking across the streets and just like that time in Hong Kong an air of silence shrouded the both of them. Still she never really knew what to say to him. It had been about 16 or so days since she had arrived in Japan and yet her father still remained as much of a mystery to her. Just as he was when she was a child. Yes he never said much or made much of an effort to communicate with her but she couldn’t help but wonder how he felt about all of this. Just at 17 he had made the life altering decision to chase the man that would haunt his family for the rest of his life. Forever. At this very moment all he would’ve ever known was that he had left to save his mother. Could he have ever imagined the ruin of his own family? Maybe she shouldn’t have said so much about their deaths at Cape Canaveral. Isn’t that quite a heavy idea to be put on a child? At the same time he had to know or the world itself could fall right into the wrong hands. Her father was a strong man right?
‘...’
What was she doing? Thinking about withholding information from him. Just like…oh. Just like how he did with her.
“Oof!” It had seemed her father had abruptly stopped and because of that she ran right into him. “Hey, what’d you stop for?” She groaned, rubbing at her nose.
He looks over his shoulder to give her a quiet stare, “We’re here.”
In front of them stood a quaint little tailor shop sat in between large buildings on either side. The bustle of people weaving through the streets seemed to make the place even more homely. Its worn awning provided soft shade making the inside look warm and inviting. He turns his head around to stop looking at her and walks forward to open the door. The ding of the shop bell greets them as they enter. Jotaro casually struts up to the man sitting at the counter holding his beat up uniform while Jolyne leaned herself against the shop's wall gazing upon the mountain of textiles that were left on display.
“It’ll take about an hour or two.” She hears the shopkeeper say. Her father nods in agreement leaving for the door he holds it open for her to step out. The bell rings as they leave.
“Should we go meet up with any of the others?” She asks, trailing behind him.
He shrugs, “If we can find them.” He looks back to her slowing down his steps to let her catch up beside him. He gives her a glance before looking away again.
“Wouldn't be so hard if this wasn’t the 80s.” She sighed. “In 2011 you could just call people on the phone in your pocket.”
He looks back over to her with silent acknowledgement before turning away again. ‘This guy is so annoying! Did my dad ever have interest in anything?’ She thinks to herself, thinking back to the days where she would rummage through his home office. Not like he would care if she messed it up. He was never home to tell her no and her mother allowed it anyways. Didn’t seem like she had much interest in it herself. However the more plausible reason was she had already gone through everything years ago.
How old was she? 12? 13 maybe? She sat in her home after school making a mess of her father’s work room closet. Going through various movie tapes and books. How boring. One of her friends had been caught by the school trying to steal money out of the office’s register so they had been locked up at home by their parents. At the news of this she returned home to go through her own parent’s boxes of locked away secrets. Not much to do anyways around here with her mother at work. It appeared her father was a big fan of action movies. Old westerns and VHS tapes cluttered up the back of the closet. Covered in a thick layer of dust. At some point she would find herself having the curiosity to watch these. Although much later in life. The books stacked up on his shelves were encyclopedias of ocean animals or texts about boats and planes. Nothing that really interested her of course. Stuff that only told her how enthusiastic he was about his marine biology job. Maybe she could talk to him about that?
“Anything you plan to do after this dad?” The two had been walking aimlessly for a while now, she hadn’t realized it as she was thinking but Jotaro seemed to be window shopping at whatever store they came by. They stood in front of the glass of a large jewelry shop. He turns to her to shrug. Almost like he was confused by her question. Wouldn’t she already know what he’d be doing? Well yes she would, but couldn't she hear it from him himself?
“Go to college.”
“And study…?”
“You already know.” He turns his back to her walking away again.
‘Impossible…this guy is just so impossible…’
She lingers for just a second examining the glittering gold and silver. Until her eyes met a familiar shining band that sent shivers up her spine. What a coincidence. A ring that held a greenish gemstone–the band a sparkling white gold. The very thing that made her stop looking through her dad’s belongings. When she was just a child her mother would tell her.
“Look at this ring Jojo. It’s the color of dad’s eyes. That means he’s always watching us.” She would smile. Like it didn’t bother her he was gone all the time but her faith in their marriage laid dependent on one little gem. Jolyne would smile back at her when she was younger, comparing those photos of her father to the color. Those cold tired eyes. That she would try to imagine full of life, just like that glittering diamond. Now laid in the box of his things thrown away like garbage. That’s when she saw it tossed in there. That’s when her mother would say to her ‘I don’t need that thing anymore Jojo, I have your gorgeous eyes to look at.’ Such sweet sentiment is what made her turn to hate her face. ‘I look nothing like him.’ She would think, staring at the mirror for long periods of time. In some instances when she looked too quickly she would see it. Making her scowl in disgust. In turn her heart would glow when others compared her to her mom.
“Oh you look just like your mother Jolyne.” The voice of an old woman laughs in her mind. How familiar? Where had she heard that before? Who was the one that said it?
Jotaro had turned back around to stand by her, quietly observing the display. Without turning to look at him she says, “What kind of a ring would you give to mom, dad?”
He scoffs. Yes the question was out of left field but she just had to know. Was it given out of care? Or did he always know he would’ve left them in the end? That it didn’t matter what the thing looked like. It would’ve been thrown aside anyways. Leaving them to curse at that dull green diamond. A reminder of the ones that used to look at her mother with…was it always love?
He stays silent for a second. His eyes scanned over every single band in thought. She watches him, showing real physical interest in her mother for the first time since she’s mentioned her. Carefully considering the promise he would give her. His brows furrowed together in thought. His face laid tight as she watched him. His serious face. The one she’s seen in pictures so many times before, hung up on their walls, glowering down at her, now contemplating over a single piece of jewelry. It was almost sweet to see such a scene–as if she shouldn’t be watching this intimate event. Such a thing was a surprise after all. 4 years in the future will it happen. At least in her case it was 19 years in the past. She stares with expectancy until he stops to glance at her. “Good grief, how am I supposed to know? I don’t know this woman.” He sighs, pulling his cap down.
“What! Well…”, Well he was right. It was only her curiosity that led to such a question. Not sure what she was expecting she laughs, “But if you had to pick, which one would it be?”
He looks back down to the window display again until his finger directly points to the one. That green gemstone that sat on that brilliant silver band. She can feel her face fall with a strange feeling of dread. That ring she once saw left to rust like trash. Despite that some part of her felt such relief it was purifying. She can see her father’s face as he frowns at her expression. If only he knew how glad she was.
“Why?” She whispered.
“Why not.” He plainly replies.
And maybe…that's good enough for her.
“Jotaro! Jolyne!” Their names are heard from across the street. They see two men walking their way and waving in greeting. Kakyoin and Polnareff had found them carrying a bag of miscellaneous things.
“Run into any trouble?” Polnareff asked.
Jotaro gruffly responded, “No and you? Where’s the old man?”
He shakes his head at him, “Mr. Joestar’s still haggling with the salesman about the new car. So I got pretty bored and left.” He chuckled, “Good thing I ran into Kakyoin. So let’s go see him shall we?”
They nod at his suggestion. Jolyne followed Polnareff in conversation while Kakyoin and Jotaro trailed behind.
“Were you able to find a tailor for your gakuran?”
He nods, “Said they’ll be done in an hour or two.” He brings his wrist up to check his watch.
“Hmm.” He hums, “So…” He starts, smoothly switching to japanese, “Did you have a talk with…” He looks at Jolyne’s back who had glanced over her shoulder for just a second to smile at them, “Your daughter?” He smiles back.
He shrugs, “I think she still expects me to pull off this time stop thing.” He mutters, “Did she mention anything to you?”
“...” He shrugs, avoiding eye contact, “Nope.”
Jotaro squints at him examining his suddenly awkward body language. Only for Kakyoin to turn to him and offer a sympathetic smile. ‘Sorry Jotaro.’ He thinks, ‘I promised Jolyne not to say much about you two.’
“So Jolyne.” Polnareff smirks, “Have anyone waiting for you at home?”
She rolls her eyes, “Still on this are you.”.
“How can a strong girl like you be alone like this?” He sighs, shaking his head, “It’s just not right.”
“Y’know Polnareff back when I was in prison I got my fortune told saying I have bad luck with men. Now you’re just proving their point.” She sighs dramatically.
“Whatttt! What’s that supposed to mean- Prison?!”
“Leave her alone Polnareff!” Jotaro barked.
“Pfft. Haha! You tell him dad.” She spins around to give him a big smile.
Then she sees it. A subtle relieved grin back at her. He pulls his cap down to shield his eyes, “Gimme a break…”
________________________________________
Cold.
Quiet.
A strange fog surrounded this town.
After their rest at the last one they had jumped into their newly acquired jeep and were finally making their way through Pakistan. Until they had come across a horrible change in weather debilitating their ability to see. In a choice to not drive recklessly through the unexpected fog they had made a stop at a small town. Although strange it didn’t seem like the people were very friendly or all there for that matter. Now here Jolyne stood in her room looking out of the hotel’s window watching the people walk aimlessly through the streets.
‘Weird! It’s like they’re all zombies or something? Why are they acting like that?’ This couldn’t be some unusual small town behavior. No. There had to be some strange stand hiding within this town. The man full of holes proved it earlier but…where could they be hiding and what was the range of its true power?
From outside her door she hears an odd loud thunk. For a second she waits. Until leaving her spot at the window to slowly crack the door open to peek through it.
Nothing.
How strange.
She pulls the door wide open letting it softly click as it closes. She leaned to the left. Then to the right. Looking down the drab long hallways. Didn’t seem like much to see other than the build up of dust and grime over the years sticking to the walls. She feels herself shiver in discomfort. Something about this place was just not right.
But why?
She slowly sauntered down the hallway heading for the stairs all the while experiencing the need to look over her shoulder every so often. Chills made themselves evident upon her skin. Hairs standing on the back of her neck.
They had to find this stand user.
And find them fast.
The creaky old stairs dipped under her feet until she made it in front of the check in booth where they had written their names within the guest book. It seemed her father had suspicions about the old woman who owned the hotel. She did call out to her great grandpa calling him Mr. Joestar. Blaming it on Polnareff but she herself knew for certain he hadn’t mentioned anything like that earlier. They had scribed their names in incorrect spelling to call her bluff. Things had been pretty normal from there. Now she stood in the lobby looking for anything unusual that could be hiding from them.
“Hello dear.”
“Oh!” She gasps. Spinning around to look for the voice.
“Oh I didn’t mean to scare you," the old woman laughs. “Are you looking for something?” She croaks.
“Oh. Uh. It’s alright, miss…?”
“Enya.” She smiled.
“Ms. Enya. I heard a strange sound earlier. Is everything alright?” She asks her sweetly however her face told a different story. A frown was evident. Those sharp eyes dialed in on her figure. If dad truly had such suspicions she’ll be the one to confirm them.
“Just moving around some things. You know at my age it gets a little harder.” She chuckles, “Well is that all?”
“No.”
“Could I ask you a few questions Ms. Enya? You know I’ve never been to Pakistan before. I’d like to learn from a true local.” She takes a seat on a lounge chair. Falling into the old dusty cushions. She silently motions her to come.
For a second she watches her silently before speaking, “Well sure! What would you like to know dear?” The old woman slowly takes a seat in front of her. Resting her cane on the sofa’s arm rest.
“How long have you been running this hotel for? It must be very hard like you said, at your age.”
“Oh! Uh for quite awhile now you know, time likes to fly by so fast and all the sudden it's been years!”
“Is that right?”
“Yes. You’ll understand when you become an old woman like me.” She laughs.
“Hah.” She scoffs, “Well you seem to have an incredible memory miss. Being able to remember Mr. Joestar’s name and such.”
“But of course! Working here keeps the mind sharp after all.”
“...”
“Right. So I was wondering, with your memory so good, have you ever seen something like this?” Her hand reaches to her chest snapping her locket open to hold the stone between her thumb and index finger clearly for the woman to see.
She gasps, quickly regaining her composure, “Oh dear now where did you get something like this?” Her nervousness was starting to show and Jolyne would not be slow to pick up on it. She asks again. “So have you?”
With her good hand she reaches out to her, “Hmmm. I don’t know, have I? Gosh. Would you give me the thing to look at? I might remember then.”
Jolyne snaps the locket close. Frowning with agitation. “Sorry old lady. I can’t trust anyone with it, you understand? Now tell me! Have you seen this before?”
“Well-!”
The door bursts open, enters her father with a stern look upon his face, he looks over to the two. Glaring at the old woman. “Have either of you seen Polnareff?”
Enya stands up with shock, “Wha- Oh Polareff! Why yes!” She points with her finger, “He’s right over in that bathroom. Oh you gave us both a fright.” She pants.
He looks over to Jolyne in silence.
“When did he leave?”
He walks over to her to take a seat, “Not too long before you walked down here I assume.” He whispered.
“Would you two like some tea? If you want to wait for your friend I’m sure he’ll be in there for a while.” She nervously laughed, beginning to turn to leave the room.
“Hold it!”
She jumps.
“I’ll go with you.” Jolyne proposed, “If you have a hard time moving things I could help.”
“Oh no! I’ll be fine, just stay here with your father. It’ll be quick!”
The two leered at the woman with this statement. “My father?” She growled.
“Well you said-!”
“No! I didn’t say anything at all. Now why would I call a man younger than me dad? You’re the stand user aren’t you!”
Jotaro shot up to stand beside her, “Now show us your stand, you old hag!”
She’s silent for a second before turning to scream, “You both don’t even realize…it's been here the whole time!”
Hordes of people burst out the bathroom door clambering over each other to reach for the pair.
!ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA!
!ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA!
The hotel windows rain with glass as the zombies are launched out of the building.
“Jolyne!” Star Platinum’s hand grips the wrist of a man trying piercing her leg.
“Ughn!” He gasps, a corpse of a boy slipped past them stabbing a hole through his foot.
“Dad!”
The old woman howled with laughter, “I’ve got you Jotaro! All Justice needs is that small spot! Now I’ll be the one to finish you both! This is pay back! You’ll pay for my son’s death!”
Two men from the bathroom shouted, “Jotaro! Jolyne!”
“Polnareff! And…Hol Horse!” She snapped. Any relief of seeing their friend alive had left her face at the sight of the man.
“Listen to me! Enya’s stand if she makes any wounds on you at all you’ll be under her control! There’s no way to stop her!”
“Shut your mouth Hol Horse!” She drags his body to slam against the wall. “However he is right!” She giggles, “There’s no way for you to punch fog. Nevertheless, cut it or shoot at it!”
Swaths of flames spiral down the hallways. Her strings quickly weave into a walled barrier while Jotaro holds the side of his jacket in front of her. The flames dying on their two makeshift walls. Her arms unshielded her eyes to look. ‘Fire! But why?’
“It can’t be…!” Polnareff muttered, “Avdol?!”
A tall man shrouded in orange robes billowing from the force of the blast slowly strutted up to them. His heavy footsteps thudded against the marble flooring. With just a hand his fire forms whips to muffle the mouth of the old woman, she struggles to grab at it, trying to scream, he tsks, “You might be right Enya. The elements of fog is not something you can easily defeat. However, how unlucky for you they have someone like me on their side!”
The warmth of the room became unbearably hot. This was no mistake! This had to be the work of the man Muhammed Avdol! The old hag chokes and gags. The fog that once laid thickly blanketed on the land began to dissipate with every gasp she took.
He releases her, letting her struggle for air.
“Enya!” Jolyne shouts, “Tell me now! Tell me what DIO is plotting!”
“Never! I’ll never say!” She heaves, “I’ll never reveal his secrets! I’ll never betray lord DIO!”
Jolyne cries, oh how livid she was, “You’re such a fool, old woman! He’s going to kill you! Just wait and see. I bet he’s watching us right now, disappointed!”
“I won’t-” She wheazes, “I won’t do it…”
“This is your final chance, Enya. Redeem yourself, for just once you can free yourself from him and do some good. Your son wouldn’t be dead if it wasn’t for you! That’s why your hand is wrapped isn’t it? So tell me!”
“No!”
“Now!”
Red fleshy vines explode out her face. Tearing her up from the inside. Blood splatters as it ripped and shredded the flesh. Painting the floor in dark red splotches. “Why!” She gasped, “Lord DIO! He would never…! He couldn’t have!”
“Enya!” Stone free grips at the flesh bud’s tentacles desperate to rip them off. The torn appandages get burned up by Magicians Red’s flames. She falls to the side of the old woman. “Enya…please…!”
“I can’t…” She croaked, “Lord DIO…he trusts me…”
“...”
She sighs, watching the woman’s body bleed out. Cold. Lifeless. “Hope hell is kind to you and your son…” She spits.
Jolyne slowly gets up, looking over her shoulder to the man, Avdol.
“Avdol…” Polnareff gasps, “You’re alive…”
“Yes.” He chuckles, “I’m alive. This isn’t some grand allusion you’re seeing so close that mouth will you! He heartily laughs.
Polnareff jumps onto him hugging him tight, “I thought you…were dead.”
“Seems like he will forgive us.” She smiles. Jotaro had walked over to her giving her a sympathetic glance.
“They are willing to live and die for him…” He muttered.
She frowns, crossing her arms to hug herself in silence, “Yeah…”
“Avdol you’re here!” Joseph shouts. Up from the staircase stood Kakyoin and Joseph. “Those puppets rushed us in our hotel rooms but suddenly stopped. Is everything settled then?”
“We’re just fine Mr. Joestar!” Polanreff beamed, “...Wait a second, what do you mean Avdol?! You guys knew?”
“Well we all knew.” Kakyoin replied.
“What!”
“Sorry Polnareff.” Avdol apologized, “We couldn’t let you know. You’re quite the talker don’t you know?” He chuckles.
“But-”
He clasps a hand on his shoulder, “Polnareff. I’m glad you were able to avenge your sister. I was wrong about you. You’re a good man.” He pulls him back into a hug, letting Polnareff tearfully reconcile with the man. He shouts to Jolyne across the room, “Thank you Jolyne, if it wasn’t for your last minute stitches my return would’ve been set back even farther.”
She looks up and smiles, “No problem.”
It appears things had resolved quite smoothly. Of course what could she expect out of asking one of DIO’s most trusted underlings for his secrets. Although the interaction wasn’t a total waste. Now she knew that this stone had meant something. That in some way this jaded piece had quite the importance.
That thought made her nervous.
What the hell was this thing and where did it come from? Why did dad have this?
“Ugh this place is a wasteland!” Polnareff spoke.
“We were in a graveyard this whole time…this whole town was the stand.” Joseph gasped.
The roar of an engine exploded into life. Turning the heads of all of them.
“Hey, that bastards taking our jeep!” Polnareff cried.
“So long crusaders! I’ve decided I’ll be staying with DIO after all! So until we meet again!” He waves, “And Jolyne! I see you’re a strong woman with a strong drive, I respect that! Let us meet again someday in better circumstances!”
“Hell no!” She yells. The jeep speeds away kicking up dust to the wind.
“Gimme a break.” She muttered.