The Past Always Comes Back to Haunt You

The Mask (long chapter)

"I have proof of your devilish plot, Dio!" Jonathan exclaimed, and Dio's eyes widened. 

He gave a low growl, as he looked at Jonathan with cold eyes. Lightning flashed, the light coming in through the window for a second.

"He's caught me," Dio thought. "But I won't run. I came back here to fight, JoJo!"

"I found the antidote," Jonathan said, as he set the candle holder down on the table. "Dad just took it. Dio, I'm heartbroken. And we both know Eleanor is too. We were raised as brothers, you two as lovers, and now we have to turn you in. I'm sorry. You might not believe that, but I mean it." 

Dio sat down in a chair and he sighed before looking up at Jonathan.

"That compassion is very like you," Dio said, lowering his head. "JoJo, this is selfish, but I have a final favor to ask." Dio looked up at Jonathan. "Please, give me time. Time to turn myself in. Time to say goodbye to Eleanor." Jonathan's eyes widened.

"What's this?" Jonathan asked himself. "I expected him to fight like a cornered animal!"

"JoJo," Dio thought to himself. "How did you make it out of that slum alive?! I'll have to distract him, and then with one quick stab..." Dio stood.

"I regret my life until now!" Dio exclaimed. "Being poor when I was a child made me greedy! What I did was wrong. I tried to poison and rob the man who raised me! I came back to turn myself in. If I wanted to run, I could have gone anywhere!" Tears started streaming down Dio's face, and Jonathan's eyes widened.

"T-That's true," Jonathan said quietly. Dio placed his unharmed hand into his sling.

"I want to make amends," Dio said.

"Dio-" Jonathan went to walk closer to Dio but was suddenly interrupted; 

"Careful Jonathan," came the voice of Speedwagon from the shadows of the room. He lit a match to reveal his face, along with Eleanor's, who stood beside him. "Don't trust a word that snake says." Dio froze. "Who am I you ask? Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Robert E. O. Speedwagon, the meddler. I was worried about Jonathan, so I came back with him. Since I like you, Jonathan, let me tell you something. I was raised in squalor, and I've seen a lot of lowlifes. My nose knows the difference between good and bad. And this guy stinks worse than a pile of puke!" Speedwagon kicked the candle holder off of the table, but Dio didn't even flinch. "I've never met a man as wicked as him! Wicked because of circumstances? No! This man was born bad! His face is familiar to you, isn't it?" Speedwagon pulled out an Asian man from behind the curtain and Dio's eyes widened. It was the man who sells Asian medicine.

"This man has testified that he sold you the poison," Jonathan said.

"I've heard enough," came the voice of George Joestar, and Dio's eyes widened as the curtain moved to reveal George, along with some police officers. "This is truly a shame. I put the same love and hope into you as I did my own son."

"Dad, you need to rest," Jonathan said, turning to his father.

"Right, I'll go to bed now. I don't want to see my own son arrested. JoJo, do what you must." 

Dio looked over to Eleanor, but her head was low and turned from him. He noticed she was shaking, as if she wanted to cry but couldn't.

"Yes, dad." 

Dio stood.

"So this is the end?" Dio asked. Eleanor looked up in Dio's direction and she bit her lip.

"It would seem so," Eleanor said quietly. 

The two just stared at each other, Dio looking perfectly calm and Eleanor's lip trembling.