Chapter 22: The Iron Maiden part 5
[Stand] User: Noel Vazquez
[Stand] Name: The Black-Eyed Peas
Power: A Speed: A Range: B Vitality: B Precision: C Develop: C
Laura struggled from under the strings, she couldn't move, she was completely stuck. Bronny summoned his Stand and held its fist to her face. "I'm giving you one chance," he said, "who's the one who killed my mother, who's the one behind the Black Dahlia Murders!" Laura smirked, "I don't have a clue what you getting at kid." Bronny's Stand stuck Laura in the face, "don't fucking joke with me!" He yelled, grabbing Laura's collar, "tell me, or I'll fucking kill you!" Laura grimaced and looked at Noel, "well Noel? Y-you're just gonna let this guy hurt your big sister?" Noel looked to the floor; she didn't know what to say. "Bronny, knock it off," Jolyne said, "we're not gonna get anywhere like this." Bronny sighed and let go of Laura's collar, "if you tell me who this guy is," he muttered, "we'll let you go, we can all forget this ever happened, no one will get hurt, please." Laura shook her head; she could someone how relate to how Bronny was feeling. "You want revenge, don't you," Laura said. Bronny nodded, Laura chuckled, "stupid, but I get it, you want to be the hero, you want to make things right, you want to fix a situation you have no control in. I get it, I was in this situation too." Laura looked towards Noel, "when our dad died, I tried so hard to give her the life she deserved, but I failed, and look where we are." Laura began to laugh, a small tear rolling down her face.
Bronny stood up, rubbing his forehead, "this isn't just about revenge," he muttered, "this is about making sure no other person has to go through what I have, no one else should have to lose their loved ones because of this man." Bronny turned to Noel, he could see that she was crying, "do you think this is what your sister wants this, we all want things to go back to normal, why can't you see that?" Laura looked at Noel, seeing her like this made Laura's heart heavy. She swore under her breath, what she was doing was wrong, but was it too late to back out? As she was about to talk, she could see a light shining in the distance. The hooded man stood in the balcony above the room, "useless," the man muttered, "I should've known you would fail." Laura's eyes widened, the hooded man brought a lighter and threw it off the balcony. "I'll have you know, that I always, have a plan B!" The group turned to look at him, "you!" Exclaimed Jolyne, "you're the murderer!" The hooded man chuckled, "yes, I am, but that's all you get to know, I don't know if you realize, but the floor is glistening, isn't it?" Bronny looked down to the floor, he noticed that some sort of liquid that covered the floor, and the smell of it began to fill the air. "Shit," Bronny muttered.
The room became alight. Fire surrounded the group, creeping up the walls, the liquid was gasoline! "I would usually deal with my foes personally," the man said, "but I'll allow your sins to burn you alive." The hooded man turned and left, leaving the group alone in the flames. "W-we're trapped!" Exclaimed Noel, "there is too much light, I can't use my Black-Eyed Peas to escape!" Bronny looked around, they were completely surrounded, there was no way out. "There has to be a way to get out of here!" He yelled, "I got it!" Exclaimed Jolyne, "Stone Free!" Stone Free emerged and shot strings towards the balcony, forming a ladder of strings. "We need to go, now!" Jolyne yelled, she jumped up to the ladder and climbed up. "H-hey, what about me!?" Laura said, "I'm kinda stuck here!" Bronny and Noel looked at each other and began to cut loose the strings. "Uh, what about my leg?" Laura said, it was still stuck in the ground, rendering her immobile. Noel began to panic, without any shadows, she couldn't create any openings. Bronny sighed, "I have an idea," he said, "but it's not a good one." He summoned his Stand and aimed at Laura's leg, "Noel, get out of here, I'll handle your sister." Noel nodded and quickly climbed out of the fire. "I know what you're thinking, and I really don't like it," Laura said, "well, do you have any other ideas?" Laura opened her mouth, but quickly shut it, "fuck, just make it quick." Bronny created a sword out of the light and swung it at Laura's lower leg, cutting it off.
"Ahhhh!" Laura screamed, "you motherfucker!" Bronny helped Laura up and climbed up the bridge, "you're kinda heavy, ya know," said Bronny, "oh fuck you!" Laura yelled. The floor became fully engulfed in flames. "Jesus, who the fuck would do something like this?" Jolyne said, "I don't know, but we better start making are way out of here!" Replied Bronny. As the group began to run out of the room, the hooded man watched from afar, "I can't let them escape," he said, "especially with the girl, they know too much." The hooded man motioned to his left, "deal with them please." Out of the shadows, a second person walked out, "don't worry, they won't escape," he said, he pulled a pistol, "one bullet is all I need anyway."
The group made their way through the flames, "this whole place is ablaze!" Noel yelled, "how the hell do we get out of here!?" Bronny began to look around, trying to find a path. Suddenly, some of the roof fell off and crashed to the floor, "look out!" Yelled Bronny. He quickly pushed Jolyne and Noel away as the debris crashed to the ground, separating them. "Bronny!" Jolyne yelled, "are you ok!?" "Yeah, we're fine!" Replied Bronny, "go on ahead, we're catch up!" Jolyne nodded and led Noel out of the room. "Listen kid, I need to apologize," began Laura, Bronny shushed her, "we don't have time for that, we need to get out of here!" Bronny looked around, seeing a window near the top of the wall, "I dragged you here," said Laura, "it's my fault we're in this situation." Bronny sighed and turned to Laura, "look, I get it alright, but save the apologize for later, we haven't got out yet." Laura nodded and looked around, the flames were making it hard to breathe, they needed to get out and fast. Laura saw something in the corner of her eye, a man walked out into the hallway, pointing a gun towards them, Laura's eyes widened.
The man shot his gun, the bullet sailed through the air, straight towards Bronny. "Kid, watch out!" Laura yelled, she hobbled over and shoved Bronny out of the way. She released her Iron Maiden and swatted the bullet away. The bullet bounced off the floor and towards a pillar, Laura turned to see a red and yellow arm around the pillar. It quickly flicked the bullet and it ricocheted towards Laura, the bullet going straight through her forehead and out the back. Bronny looked in shock as Laura tumbled over the balcony and to the flames below, "Laura!" Bronny yelled, he looked over the balcony, but she was gone. "Fuck, Fuck!" Bronny swore, he turned to see the man standing down the hallway. "That bullet was for you ya know," the man said, "aren't you so lucky." The man disappeared behind a corner, Bronny thought about giving chase, but he didn't have time, he needed to get out and fast.
Jolyne and Noel exited the castle, both fell to the floor, gasping for air. Noel turned, Laura and Bronny were still in there. "I hope they get out in time," she said, "don't worry, I'm sure they'll be fine," replied Jolyne. A huge crowd had formed near the castle, the fire very visible from the outside. Through the crowd, Giorno and his group pushed through, seeing Jolyne and Noel. "Jolyne!" Yelled Josuke, he ran towards her, "what happened? Are you alright?" Jolyne nodded, looking back at the building. "Giorno," Joshua said, "do you think this was the murderer?" "It had to be," replied Giorno, "Jolyne, was there anyone else in there?" Just then, Bronny bursted out of the castle, "Bronny!" Exclaimed Jolyne, she ran and hugged him, "thank god you're safe." Noel looked around; she couldn't see her sister anywhere. "Bronny, w-where's…" Bronny looked to the floor, shaking his head, "we got attacked, she put herself in front of me, I'm sorry Noel." Noel fell to her knees, she looked to the flames, her sister was trapped inside, and there was nothing she could do. "I'm sorry about your sister Noel," Joshua said, kneeling next to her. Noel looked at Joshua, "you said something about choosing my own path at the right time," she said, "this was that time, wasn't it?" Joshua nodded, "I wish there was another way, but somethings are bound to fate." The four stood and began to leave, joining with Giorno and the others.
Off in the distance, the two men stood. "He's lucky that stupid girl got in my way," the man said, glaring at his gun, "why is he so important anyway boss?" The hooded man took his hood off and brushed his hair, "not to be rude, but I paid you to kill those kids, not ask questions that don't need answers," he said, "I'd suggest you do a better job at it, and I'll consider if you still get payed." The man grabbed the hooded man by the collar and held him against a wall, "who the fuck do you think you are huh!?" He said, "you're lucky I don't put a bullet in your head!" The hooded man smirked, "why don't you just do your job Mr. tough guy, you don't want to fight me." The man let him go and walked away, "Once I kill these kids, I expect double," he said, "of course, of course," the hooded man replied. As the man walked away, the hooded man took his lighter out and smoked a cigarette, suddenly, the white figure moved from the shadows and past the hooded man, "how interesting, you put your faith in unproven mortals," the figure spoke, "those kids are somehow getting closer to my identity," the man said, "if we kill his friends, the boy will have no one else left." The white figure laughed and skipped on its heels, "if that's what you think, you will be in for a surprise!" The white figure rounded the corner and vanished. The hooded man put his hood on and walked away, "I will succeed," he muttered, "this Bronny will not survive!"
To Be Continued