Chapter 56: The Next Step part 3
"Damn, this is where you live?" Joshua nodded, "is there a problem with it?" "N-No not at all," Noel said, "it's just a little…" "There's nothing here!" Exclaimed Rae, "I mean, there's a TV, but no games, no anything, do you even have air conditioning?" Joshua shrugged, "I have a fan, that's enough for me, but that isn't what's important." Joshua walked over to his fridge and pushed it to the side, revealing a door. "This door leads to my basement, it's where I keep my, findings." "And trust me, he's got some serious shit down there," Jolyne said. Joshua opened the door, motioning the group to follow. As they walked down, Joshua put a hand on Rae's shoulder, "are you alright Rae?" He asked. Rae nodded slightly, "yeah, I'm ok." Rae began to walk down, but Joshua stopped her, "I could tell that you were feigning your cheerful expression earlier, if somethings wrong…" Rae pushed off of him, "I said I'm fine Josh, really." Joshua looked concerned, "if you say so Rae, come."
"Woah, you weren't kidding when you said some shit is down here," Noel said as she looked around. The room was full of papers and maps lined with red and blue lines. "How long have you been collecting this stuff Josh?" "Seven years," he said, his eyes glazing across the room, "seven long years, it's amazing how involved this thing has been in my life, but life is full of mystery isn't it." Joshua cracked his knuckles, exhaling heavily, "take a seat everyone, we have much to discuss." Joshua walked over to his board, looking over it, "for seven years I have searched for the truth of the White Figure, its origins have always been a mystery, and it's motives even more, it is utterly confusing." "Well then, what do you know exactly?" Kira asked. Joshua wiped his nose, "it's smart, everything it does is calculated, for a while, I didn't know what it's endgame is, but I might have an idea now."
Joshua pointed to Bronny, "that message that is scrawled across your arm was given to you after a vision, correct?" Bronny nodded, "yeah." "I've never seen an instance of this, where it would give such a vivid dream, this is a new ability." He moved some papers around, writing it down on the board. "I don't think that all of these things that has happened to you is a coincidence," he said, "you're his main target." "It just doesn't make sense," Bronny said as he stood from his seat, "I've been at the center of all of this chaos since it's began, why, what the hell have I done to deserve all of this?" Joshua shook his head, "I don't know." "So, what exactly do we know then?" Noel asked, "it's like we're shooting blanks over here." Joshua rubbed his chin, "if I remember correctly, Giorno said that Hunter had been collection the pieces of an Arrow, one that contains a power greater than we know, I don't know what this power is exactly, but perhaps it is using you as a target to somehow get closer to the pieces."
Joshua pulled down his collar, revealing the star on his neck. "For years, I believed that this star was the reason why my family was attacked, that the bloodline of this star was the White Figure's main threat, maybe I was wrong." He turned to Bronny, "it's goals revolve around you and the Arrow, the Joestar Bloodline is not its target, or maybe it is, I can't tell, but it looks like you are connected to the Joestars in a way, so many questions, yet very few answers." The group looked around, this mystery wasn't getting any easier. "I think we should talk to Giorno and the others about this," Jolyne said, "if anyone knows anything about the Arrow, it's Giorno." Joshua rubbed his chin, "perhaps you are right, if only to learn more about the Arrow, come then."
The group stood and exited the basement. "I'm far too young for all this drama," Rae whined, "why can't this White thing go and mess with someone else?" "That's a question we all have Rae," replied Bronny, "but hopefully things will get better fast." The six left Joshua's house and went to the car. Jolyne reached for her phone, attempting the call Josuke to tell them they were on the way, but it went straight to voicemail. "Hmph, of course that idiot didn't charge his phone," she muttered, "let me try Giorno." The same result occurred. "Nothing?" Bronny asked. Jolyne shook her head, "no, it's strange, try calling your dad." Bronny nodded, he picked his phone up and called LeBron, no answer. "He didn't pick up either, it went straight to voicemail." "There's no way all three of them wouldn't pick up," Noel said, "I hope nothing happened to them." Bronny looked on in silence, a strange feeling of dread beginning to overwhelm him.
"They're probably fine Bronny," Joshua said. Bronny stayed silent. Joshua began to drive faster, his mind beginning to race. The White Figure always has found a way to be one step ahead, but it couldn't possibly have known what their new plan was, right? No, there was no way, but then again, it was hard to tell. "Question everyone," Rae said, "I'm I the only one here that smells smoke?" Bronny lowered his window, taking a breath, "you're right, I do smell smoke." "Uh guys, I think I see the reason why." Noel pointed ahead, a plume of smoke bellowed throughout the air. "Josh…" "I'm on it." Joshua floored the gas pedal, driving closer and closer to the smoke. The turned the corner, seeing Giorno's mansion ripped to pieces and burning. "H-Holy shit! What happened!"