[JoJo's Bizarre Adventure] Standstill Bonds

Chapter 36 ~ Hidden Torture

Jotaro, Giorno, and Polnareff sat in Jotaro's living room as they strategized their next move against Pucci. It had been a week since their meeting with Hiroshi, and the looming urgency of Josephine's weakening condition was at the forefront of all their minds.

Jotaro leaned forward, hands clasped tightly together, his eyes fixed on the floor as if searching for answers in the carpet fibres. "We can't afford to rush in blindly," he said, his voice low but firm. "Pucci's unpredictable. We need a plan to try and catch him off-guard. Josephine's life depends on it."

Giorno, seated across from him, nodded. "Agreed. From what you've told me, White Snake's abilities seem give him an advantage, especially his range. He could easily be the one to actually catch us off guard if we try anything reckless. I can't use my Requiem if he takes me out first."

Polnareff, arms crossed, added his own warning. "And we don't know how many allies he may have lurking in the shadows."

Jotaro's eyes flittered between the two men, "I know of only one, though I don't know his name or what he looks like. Josephine saw him and Pucci talking in the park a week and a half ago, and this guy chased and wounded her. He ran before I reached them. Hiroshi's offer to be our eyes inside the church might just be our best shot at gathering more information. He's in a position to do so without drawing too much attention, if he isn't as reckless as Josephine that is..."

Suddenly, the blaring alarm of the medical equipment shattered their conversation. Holly appeared from Josephine's room, her face pale with worry and hands trembling. "Jotaro! Something's wrong with Josephine!"

Jotaro shot up from his chair in an instant, his body moving before his mind could fully register what his mother just said. Giorno and Polnareff were right behind him as they rushed toward Josephine's room, their hearts pounding with dread. Inside, Josephine's small body was writhing uncontrollably, her limbs jerking in violent spasms as the heart monitor displayed erratic rhythms. The medical team scrambled urgently as they administered anti-seizure medication into her IV.

"Her vitals are all over the place!" one of the nurses exclaimed, while another worked to steady her breathing.

Polnareff gripped the armrest of his wheelchair so hard his knuckles turned white. Giorno's was fixated on the scene, his usually composed face marred by concern as a bead of sweat trickled down his temple. Jotaro's face had drained of all colour and his body turned concrete still. On the inside, his heart raced with the rhythm of Star Platinum's power, threatening to break out of the boney cage that encased it.

Then, as suddenly as it had started, Josephine's body stilled. The chaotic beeping of the monitor gradually slowed to a more regular rhythm. The medical team, visibly relieved, thoroughly checked her vitals one last time before exiting the room.

Polnareff turned to Jotaro, his voice trembling. "Sacré bleu! What the hell just happened?"

Giorno, equally as concerned added, "Is she alright?"

Jotaro clenched his fists, a deep growl escaping his throat. "It's Pucci, it has to be." he muttered, the anger in his voice barely contained. "He's messing with her Stand, manipulating it from a distance to torture her. I didn't think such a thing was possible, but now it's clear. He's toying with us, he's toying with me."

The room fell into a grim silence, Pucci didn't just steal Josephine's Stand; he was using it in a twisted and cruel game where the stakes were Josephine's life. She was already on the edge enough as it was, yet Jotaro was sure this was an effort by Pucci to shake him even furthur than he already had been. This couldn't have been an ordinary health scare as a result of her coma. Nothing about their situation was ordinary.

"I need some time alone with her," Jotaro said, his tone brooking no argument. There was a storm brewing within him and Holly, Giorno and Polnareff could sense it.

As the door clicked shut behind him, Jotaro stood at the foot of Josephine's futon bed. She lay still, beads of sweat glistening her forehead, strands of her hair sticking to the damp skin.

Jotaro's jaw tightened as he knelt beside her, his fist pressed against his knee. His voice was a low, furious whisper. "What the hell are you playing at, Pucci?"

Leaning closer, Jotaro gently brushed the damp hair away from Josephine's face, his touch careful and tender. As he traced the outline of her cheek, his hardened features softened for a moment.

"Damn it, Josephine..." he muttered, his voice thick with frustration and guilt. He hated this feeling of helplessness, the inability to protect her despite being right there. His whole life had been spent fighting, protecting those he loved from the dangers of the world but so often in his mind he failed.

Jotaro let out a long sigh, his fingers falling from her face so that he could carefully grip her cold hand.

"Kid, I don't know if you can hear me, if this is getting through to you...  but if it is, I need you to hang on. I swear to you, we're going to get your Stand and memories back. We're going to stop Pucci, and when this is over, we'll get you out of this nightmare."

His hand gently squeezed hers, as if trying to transfer his resolve into her through sheer willpower. His mind was a whirlpool, trying to make sense of the unfair hand life had dealt her so far. His mind drifted back to his own daughter, Jolyne, and the years of distance between them. Jotaro knew the cost of protecting his family but he still carried deep regret of not being there for her when she needed him most. Josephine, like Jolyne, had been forced to grow up too fast, to bear burdens no child should ever have to carry.

"You're just a kid, you should be worrying about school and your friends," he murmured, "not this."

He gazed at her for a long moment, her face still remarkably peaceful despite the chaos that had just torn through her body. The contrast was jarring, and it only made him more determined. This wasn't going to be how her story ended. Shifting slightly, Jotaro knelt closer to her futon. His calloused fingers carefully cradled Josephine's face. With gentleness, he lifted her head just slightly, mindful of the tubes and wires. He pressed his forehead against hers, closed his eyes, and whispered so softly it was almost like a prayer. 

"I'll get you out of this."