?
I…where am I?
A cold gust of wind blows through my hair, my woolen cap flying off into the mountainside. I feel frozen to the ground as I look at the deteriorated mansion door open before me. I…
I…
The ground rumbles, like thunder below the snow, and my heartbeat pounds against my ribs. Without a second of hesitation, I pry my feet from the icy snow and dash inside. There's a voice behind me, distant. I can't hear it. It's so far behind me now, swallowed up by the bright mountainside falling further out of sight. Only a long, dim, shoddy hallway stretched itself before me.
I…I'm too late. I'm too late. I'm too-
I leap over debris littering the hall. Doors line the mansion, yet they only open to more hallways. It feels like I'm running forever. The entrance is…so far behind. There's nothing but darkness swallowing the world behind me.
I have to keep running. I have to keep runn-
The wooden planks below my feet ripple with thunder, the walls shudder with terror, the ceiling tremors with weakness. I feel the hallway breaking apart, peeling itself from within like an orange. The walls fall out like dominos, the ceiling simply flies away. I see it. I'm here.
I'm here.
The room is a giant foyer, pieces of wall and ceiling beam strewn across the floor as if a massive beast had rampaged here. Light pours in from the holes in the ceiling, the mountain chill gnaws at my skin and tries to grasp my veins. I try to steady my breath, to push Hamon through my heart, my arteries, my capillaries.
No…
The staircases that spiral up to the second floor have been crushed by some unknown impact, the scent of soap lingers in the air. Soap, and blood. Wreathed between the stairs, a giant cross shaped stone slab oozes blood onto the floorboards. I step forward, my legs heavier than mountains, each step shattering the world behind me.
No…
I can't look back. I can't hear the voice behind me. I can barely see the light in front of me. I can only hear a familiar voice.
"You fool! You have no respect for your family, your lineage, your honor! I will not let the Zeppeli name go unavenged, while you sit around like a coward!"
I clear the tears welling up in my eyes. My cleared vision only shows the slab bathed in sunlight, the mansion floating away like dust. I can feel the beating of my heart grow stronger, fire welling in my blood. I can see it.
No…
Floating just above the slab is a bubble, a single bloody headband floating inside. Wrapped in the band is a gold lip ring, and I hear sobbing from the void behind me. The voice screams at me from beneath the slab.
"I don't care, Jojo! This is my chance to avenge my family's name. I'm going with or without you!"
I reach out my hands to cup the bubble in my palms. The electric sunlight within courses through my veins, rippling in anger and vengeance. I breathe out, the first calm breath since I came in. The slab disintegrates and scatters like sand on the wind. Only a shaft of light is left, illuminating a pool of blood and a crushed, blonde-haired body. Soap, and blood. I bristle with energy. Yet, all I can muster is a howl.
"You fool."
"CAESAR!"
New Delhi, 1988
1988, 43 Days to save Holly
The vision fades. Joseph, both the one sleeping on the couch and the one on top of a speeding train, feel their Hamon course through their prosthetic arm. It's not just theirs, though. To this day, they have Hamon of a brother left in them. Joseph mutters in his sleep, and Joseph whispers under his breath.
"You fool."
Joseph snores. Joseph cocks his head forward, facing the rushing wind battering his eyes.
"Polnareff. Personal revenge or not, I'm not letting you go alone. It might mean a lot for you, but…"
Joseph's eyes fly open, his heartbeat slamming his chest in the night. Joseph balls his fist, metal creaking with disrepair.
He glances out the busted window, and towards Jotaro's room. He takes a determined step forward, Hamon crackling in his legs. He whispers to himself, looking at the New Delhi night skyline. He shouts defiantly against the window.
"You're my family."
"I'm not letting you down, Jotaro."
"I'm not letting you die for revenge, Polnareff."
"I won't leave you alone."