🖤-Unveiling Fate's Threads- 🖤 Book-1

Chapter 9

( Promises of the Heart )

I had not gotten much sleep the previous night, but at that time, sleep was not important. When I awoke, my younger brother, Luke, had his arms tightly around me. Our messy locks reflected the disarray in my head. I stood up slowly since I didn't want to disturb his sound sleep. My attention was pulled to a message on my desk, which caused a rush of memories. What had happened yesterday was what was still on my mind, not what had happened the day before.

Gently disentangling myself from Luke's embrace, I covered him with a blanket, tucking him in. Walking over to my desk, I picked up the note and reconsidered the offer it presented. A brief moment was all it took to read the contents. It was a simple message, "I miss you; you should visit," accompanied by a return address. Glancing back at my sleeping brother, a torrent of conflicting thoughts swirled within me. "Should I drop everything to visit family I haven't seen in ages?" My indecision wavered between the note and my responsibilities toward Luke. Eventually, I decided, "Maybe I should go."

Grabbing a set of clothes, I made my way to the bathroom, where a quick shower rejuvenated me. I emerged, clad in a plain olive green t-shirt beneath one of my dad's old varsity jackets, black pants, and black Vans. Returning to my room, I found that Luke had vanished. The tattered remnants of my uniform served as a stark reminder of the events of the previous day. "So it was real," I muttered to myself, shaking my head. I couldn't help but reflect on the events that transpired. Pausing before a mirror, I surveyed my disheveled hair. "Geez," I murmured, attempting to tame a few unruly strands. Eventually, I settled on securing my hair half-up, half-down and fastened a belt around my waist.

With my wallet stowed away in my pocket, I retrieved the note, folded it, and tucked it into another pocket. A sigh escaped me as I left my room. "The least I can do is say goodbye," I whispered, reluctant to voice my sentiments face-to-face. Pinning a note to the fridge, I questioned my impulsive decision. 'What am I doing? I don't even have a plan. How will I get to the airport and back ?' My mind raced, overwhelmed by the looming uncertainty. The only concrete idea I had was turning to Holly and Jotaro, but that would entail explaining my situation to them. "Gah, this is so frustrating."

Lost in my thoughts, I found myself walking down the quiet street under the warm sunlight. The tranquility was oddly comforting, despite my inner turmoil. When I reached the Kujo residence, everything appeared normal, but an unsettling feeling gnawed at me. I approached the door and scanned the surroundings, calling out, "Jotaro! Mamma Holly, is anyone home?" Silence greeted my inquiry, making my unease deepen. "Hello?" I repeated, but there was no response. "He should be up by now," I mumbled, feeling a sense of foreboding.

I roamed the house until I arrived in the kitchen, where Avdol sat on the floor, cradling Holly. My instincts kicked into high gear, and Bell, my ever-faithful companion, stood by my side. Rushing to Holly's side, I demanded answers. "What happened?" I couldn't tear my gaze away from her. Avdol's response sent my emotions spiraling.

"She's materialized her Stand." The term "Stand" rang unfamiliar in my ears, and I watched as Bell lifted Holly gently, providing her with additional support through her own presence. "A Stand!" Avdol confirmed, and my anger began to swell.

"You're telling me she has a Stand?" My voice quivered with a mixture of confusion and rage. "Why her? It could have been anyone else!" My eyes remained fixed on Holly, and I clutched her hand tightly.

"If she has a Stand, why is she so ill? What's happening to her?" My voice escalated, reflecting my growing despair. Avdol's explanation pierced my heart like a dagger. "With such a high fever, her Stand is doing serious damage to her... As long as she has Joestar blood running through her veins, there was no doubt to be an effect from Dio."