JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Thin Air

Chapter Thirty-Nine: Apocalypse Dreams (Part I)

The van dawdled down the narrow streets of the tiny Italian village, its destination like a fish in a desert as it was one of, if not the largest building in it. Its exterior had some resemblance to the Villa La Rotonda in Vicenza, exhibiting the same Renaissance style of architecture, the biggest difference was that Nicholson's villa had been built on a cliff that rose about thirty feet above the sea.

"Oi, this is it, right?" the driver, a young man who was part of Passione said as he stopped his van.

"Uh... should be?" Clapton said. "Mr. Giovanna wouldn't have told us to come here if he was wrong."

"Oddio," the driver said, grumbling. "I can't see anything. Have you people noticed it? This pinkish fog that's been covering everything since we entered the village."

He prepared to open his door, reaching for the handle, when Monica spoke.

"Uh, tu, dove stai andando? Non può essere così lontano, potremmo semplicemente camminare per il resto della strada se non puoi guidare fino a lì. ["You, where are you going? It can't be that far, we could just walk the rest of the way if you can't drive there."] Monica said to the driver just before he could touch the handle.

"Sono stato incaricato di servirti al meglio delle mie capacità. Dal momento che non posso aiutarti guidandoti fino in fondo, dovrò prima salire a piedi e vedere il posto da solo." ["I've been assigned to serve you to the best of my ability. Since I can't help you by driving you all the way, I'll have to walk up and see the place for myself, first."]

Monica's heart began to beat fast. She sensed that something wasn't right. What was this pink fog that was covering the entire village? There was no way it was normal.

"Oi, aspetta un minuto! W-Wait, dude!" Monica said in both English and Italian, but the door had been shut, and the driver was on his way.

"Monica, what did that guy say?" Bryson asked.

"He said he needed to check the area to see if we were in the right place, but... this fog! What the hell is this? It isn't normal at all!"

Clapton had been staring into the fog carefully, before making a declaration.

"Of course this isn't a normal fog! It's-- It's way too convenient.  And this colour... the enemy's already started their attack!"

Everyone swung their heads in his direction. Worry was ingrained in their expressions. The staring went on for a few seconds, before Shizuka spoke, her worried look turning into one of stoicism.

"Remember what I said, guys. They attacked first, so we have to be on the def-

Everyone inside the vehicle suddenly flew sideways as the van had suddenly been thrusted from the driver's side. It had been pushed onto its side by someone, or something outside.

"Jesus, what the fuck?" Bryson cried as tried to get into an upright position.

"Everyone, ready yourselves!" Clapton cried at almost the exact moment that the driver's window was shattered by someone on the other side. An arm shot through the newly-made opening, and a pale hand slid its long fingernails under the skin of Bryson's throat.

"Ho sete. Ho bisogno di bere. Placa la mia sete, liberami da questa siccità!" ["I feel thirsty. I need to drink. Quench my thirst, free me from this drought!"] the attacker cried as the blood vessels in Bryson's face and neck expanded, the boy powerless in front of him. What could his Stand do in a situation like this?

"He's-- he's draining my fucking blood, what the fuck, what the fuck, what the fuck!?" Bryson cried as he tried to squirm away from his attacker.

"Bad Touch, tear that fucker apart!" Monica cried, summoning her Stand. Immediately after its User took a deep but quick breath, it charged Hamon into its fingers and delivered a quick volley of strikes at Bryson's attacker. In terms of speed in Team Joestar, BT was unmatched after Josuke's retirement.