JoJazo/Plot

* English
* Japanese

> **Important:** Because of my current schedule and general life, this will not be adapted into a full manga, just a written description of the plot.
>
>

Before getting into the plot, I just want to say, thanks for even bothering to spot by. Additionally, this is very much a work in progress and will take a long time to finish, but I'm glad you're here for the ride!

When characters are speaking, if there's a "(t)" before it, it means it's their internal thoughts, and if it's an "(n)", it means it's them doing narration.

## **Volume 1 - May God Have Mercy**

### Chapter 1 - Mercy, Part 1

We get a wide shot of the city of Sacramento, California. It's stated that it's currently 2:12pm, 15th of August 2018 and it seems to be viewing the downtown area of Sacramento, meaning there are plenty of tall buildings encompassing the roads. We slowly zoom down to a car (of poor quality) driving through these busy streets and, inside, a Mexican woman of early 40's with heart-shaped, pink-tinted glasses sits at the wheel.

**The Woman:** "I just can't believe Tasha would throw me under the bus like that. It's like, who cares if I kept her husband's parcel, right!? It got delivered to my address and I really needed a new set of plates...I really can't see an issue with it. Can you?"

The woman sits for a few moments, expecting a response. When she doesn't get one, she continues on.

**The Woman:** "You know, I might be able to afford to get us a holiday next summer. I worked out our finances and we should just about be able to afford it. Wouldn't that be fun?...Of course, I'd have to line it up with your new college schedule... and it couldn't be anywhere too fancy, we're not millionaires after all."

After not getting a response two times in a row, she adjusts the rear-view mirror, revealing two people in the backseats. One is a sleeping baby in a car-seat while the other is a girl of about 18 with deep blue hair and piercing purple eyes.

**The Woman:** "Come on, Josefa, work with me here. Are you okay? You don't seem yourself."

The girl shakes her head, exiting her thoughts for a moment just to raise her eyes to her mother. She tries her best to crack a smile. The woman, we presume to be her mom, gives a soft smile in response and puts her eyes back on the road.

**(n) Josefa:** "Thalía Alejo. 41 and working two part time jobs. Though she'd done a few mischievous things in her time, mom was never a bad person. In fact, she's still one of the sweetest people I'll ever get to know."

Josefa goes back down to looking at her phone. She's on a group chat getting messages from people called "Bran" and "Bangtan". They're messaging about wanting to go on a day trip soon as well as other trivialities.

**Thalía Alejo, without looking back up at the rear-view mirror:** "Listen Josefa, I know college can be daunting, especially when your the first one in the Alejo family to go, but trust me when I say you'll be fine. Inner City Blues College is an amazing place and you'll soon get used to the dorms." *She looks up to the rear view mirror.* "And you better not get worrying about Belinda and me. We'll be fine while you're gone, okay?"

Josefa nods but doesn't say anything once again. She props her arm up on the car window and stares out of the window for a bit, watching the people go by.

**(n) Josefa Alejo:** "I think it's because of how nice she was..."

The baby, presumably called Belinda Alejo, begins to become irritated and starts crying. Taking her eyes off the road for a moment, she looks up at her daughter in through the rear-view mirror.

**Thalía Alejo:** "Could you see to your sister please?"

Josefa, without hesitation, leans over to her sister and reaches out to begin trying to calm her.

**(n) Josefa Alejo:** "I think it's because of how nice she was...that why what happened next felt so wrong...so very wrong."

There's brief moment of calm as Josefa finally grips Belinda, but it's interrupted by a sudden loud crashing sound and ear-piercing echo of shattering glass. Everything goes black.

There's a flurry of shots, each interrupted by a shot of black. One is of Thalía on a stretcher being rushed through a hospital. The next is of a heavily dented truck stood next to an almost-completely destroyed car flipped on its side in the middle of a junction. The next is of a close up of Josefa in a waiting room carrying Belinda. They're both completely unharmed. The Semi-Finale shot is of an operation room currently in use, and the finale is of a doctor sitting next to Josefa as tears stream down her face.

The final black shot appears.

**(n) Josefa Alejo:** "Thalía Alejo. 41 and confirmed dead at 2:56pm, 15th of August 2018."

We cut to Josefa sat in a messy (no excessively so), small apartment. She cradles her sleeping baby sister in a crib and stares at her with an ominous look in her eyes. Sat across from her, in a rather uncomfortable looking armchair, is a Caucasian man in his mid 30's dressed rather sharply.

**The Man:** "And, because of this, you won't be able to properly look after her for another 3 or so years."

**Josefa Alejo:** *After a long pause,* "Why?..."

**The Man:** "I did just explain...you're only 18 and your sister is still 6 months old, however, from what we can tell, there's no immediate family we can contact to look after you, so she'll need to be taken to an orphanage. Luckily for you...you have the Inner City Blues College's dormitories to live in. While that is good, you won't be able to get custody of Belinda until you turn 21, which isn't for another 3 years. Don't worry though, we'll make sure you can visit her as much as you want."

**Josefa Alejo:** "Thats..." *She sighs,* "That's fine, that's actually perfect, but that's not what I'm asking..."

The man sinks deeper into his seat and tilts his head inquisitively.

**Josefa Alejo:** "We don't have one, not even one, mark on us. I checked. I checked thoroughly. Dammit, even my clothes look brand new so why...please tell me why we're absolutely fine and yet both the car and my mom were smashed into pieces!"

Her glare has since redirected from her sister to the man who just stares baffled back at her.

**The Man:** "I honestly do not know, but if the doctors can't tell you, then neither can I... think of this way: God only has limited amount of mercy he can give, and yesterday, he gave his mercy to you two."

**Josefa Alejo:** "He gave us mercy? He mercied me and Belinda?"

The man nods, trying to give a supportive smile, and proceeds to write something down.

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "Not to call God wrong but, if this is what his mercy feels like, I'd much rather feel his wrath... after all... we don't deserve mercy..." *Her eyes dart down to her sister.* "If it wasn't for you crying... mom never would have died...Belinda...you're the reason she's gone..."

Belinda's pyjamas begin to scrunch around the chest, as if a fist is gripping them. Josefa, stunned, does little but watch in confusion and slight terror. As it seems to tighten its grip...

**The Man:** *Jumping up from the chair chipperly,* "Well, I best get going! I think we've had a good talk over these past few hours (though you've barely said anything), and I hope we can talk again soon. Also um...take this too. It's the location of the orphanage so you can drop her off. Apologies once again for your mother..."

Josefa turns to the man, looking at the card he gave as he turns away and walks out of the house. The card has the address and phone number of an orphanage called Hard Times, and slipped beneath it is the phone number for a psychiatrist. She doesn't take much time to read them before turning back to her sister.

On returning her gaze to Belinda, she sees no hand mark on the clothes and it seems that her sister is still sleeping innocently.

**Josefa Alejo:** "What I saw just now...was it...real? Maybe it was just a sort of mirage...maybe I'm just grieving and I didn't actually see anything at all." *She grips tight onto the crib.* "No matter what is was, it was without doubt bizarre."

She sits for a few moments, just staring.

### Chapter 2 - Mercy, Part 2

Josefa sits alone on a wooden chair inside some sort of black void.

**(n) Narrator:** "Josefa Alejo. 18 as of the 22nd October, 2017. 172.72cm tall. 147.5 pounds. Favourite Colour: Pine Green. Overall GPA: 3.2...Her goal is to become a kindergarten teacher. She hopes to give the youth of the world the best chance they can possibly have."

We get a close up of her face.

**(n) Narrator:** "However, no matter her ambitions, desires and personal traits, the question still remains..."

**Josefa Alejo:** "Why did we survive?"

Cutting back to Josefa in the real world, it's 20:42am 18th August 2018. Josefa walks through the streets of dark Sacramento on her own.

**(n) Josefa Alejo:** "It felt like its been years since it happened, while also feeling like seconds since it happened, but in reality, it had been just over 3 days..."

While walking, Josefa checks her phone. She first swipes away a couple dozen notifications of unread messages from "Bran" and "Bangtan" to reveal a map of the city. It looks like she's heading to the Hard Times orphanage.

**(t) Josefa Alejo**: "Only been, what? less than two days? And they're already asking me to come in to visit her. I know she's my sister but things are different now...without mom, everything is different now."

As Josefa walks, a silhouetted man follows quite a far distance behind pushing a baby stroller. It's hard to say why exactly but his aura, it just feels...menacing.

She finally makes it to the Hard Times orphanage. It looks rather ancient, at least in comparison to the buildings surrounding it, and it's clearly far grander than she expected. Cautiously, she takes a slow step into the building and wonders through the hallways.

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "Pretty impressive. Weird, and bit creepy, but impressive." *She runs her finger against a wall, causing piles of dust to accumulate on her finger.* "Ya know...I take that back, not impressive."

She continues to explore the hallways, admiring the oil paintings and looking at some old books. She picks up one and looks at it in confusion.

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "'The Secrets You Keep'? This came out like...last year. For such an ancient place, the last thing I'd expect to be kept up to date are these books. Also, who the hell kinda kid is reading this?" *She suddenly has a pause.* "...actually...I get that it's late but...where are all of the-"

**The Man:** *From far down the hallway, the man who had once visited her at home yells* "Josefa? Is that you?"

Josefa practically jumps out of her skin as the voice echoes through the halls. She places the book back and takes a moment to catch her breath.

**The Man:** "Apologies for the surprise there. Please, do follow me down here. Your sister's just in here!"

Doing as the man asks after collecting herself, she follows him down the hallway and into the excessively large room. It's filled to the brim with toys and other generic nursery things. In the very centre is a crib with Belinda asleep inside, all wrapped up in a pink blanket with a moon pattern on it.

**The Man:** *He begins to unfold a stroller.* "How rude of me! We've been speaking so much over the last few days and I still haven't told you my name! Please...call me Icarus Bastille."

**Josefa Alejo:** "Nice to meet you Icarus. Can I ask...why exactly am I here?"

**Icarus Bastille:** "Well, you see, Belinda has been crying quite a bit more than usual today I think that maybe if you went on a walk with her...ya know, to get in some sister bonding time...she'd be able to settle better"

**Josefa Alejo:** *She raises her eyebrow in confusion.* "Okay right...but it's like 10 minutes to 11...do you not think that's a bit late?"

**Icarus Bastille:** *He takes quite a long pause before striking his hand up into the air.* "Usually yes, but infants tend to the sleep better after being in the natural dark of the moon. You may not have to come back for a while after doing this."

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "I guess that would be good, but still...taking her our this late feels wrong. It feels dangerous...however...he is the professional after all..."

She takes the stroller from Icarus and puts Belinda in, making sure she's secure.

**Josefa Alejo:** "Okay, I'll do it, but I'll only be gone as late as 11pm. I still think this is rather dangerous..."

Icarus smiles and nods before escorting the two down to the exit and wishes them good luck on their travels. Josefa just sighs and walks off. They wonder aimlessly through the streets of Sacramento, with their only goal being to get back as soon as possible. It's clear that Josefa is sticking to all the main pathways as she goes, as to stay as safe as she can.

**Josefa Alejo:** "Let's be honest, we both know safety wasn't the real reason I didn't want to take you tonight." She says to the sleeping infant. "Mom's death has really messed with my head. I know what I saw was probably a hallucination but I can't help but wonder...what if it wasn't? What the hell could it have been...?"

While walking crossing the road with Belinda, she waits for the cars to stop and continues on. As she goes, she passes a silhouetted man also pushing a baby stroller. He goes in the opposite direction to her however.

**Josefa Alejo:** *Continuing to talk to Belinda,* "Whatever it was, it looked like it wanted to hurt you...and I didn't want to stop it." *A single tear rolls down her face as she walks down to the path.* "How can I not want to help my sister!? My own baby sister!? I'm such a asshole!"

A few people stare awkwardly at her as she screams "asshole" at the top of her lungs.

**Josefa Alejo:** "*Oh crap...* I hope I didn't wake y-"

Josefa stares blankly at the baby in her crib. It dons a pink blanket with a star pattern on it.

**Josefa Alejo:** "This...this isn't my sister..." *She lets go of the stroller and begins to shake*. "She was wearing a moon blanket...I'm sure of it! Where is she...Belinda?! Belinda, where are you!?"

### Chapter 3 - Mercy, Part 3

Josefa loosens her grip on the stroller and begins looking around frantically.

**Josefa Alejo:** "Belinda! BELINDA! BELINDA, WHERE ARE YOU!?"

People walking by ignore her, probably thinking she's going crazy as she did just shout asshole at the top of her lungs. Josefa looks back in the stroller to make sure and she gets the confirmation as she uncovers the baby's hair. This one's hair is black while Belinda's is purple.

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "I don't get it...she was just here...she was right there in my stroller! How could she have just disappeared!?...And how could she have been swapped with a different baby entirely!?...This makes no sense!"

Her eyes dart between everyone around her, trying to see if they're holding a baby and she can't see anything. She screams out in absolute confusion, causing the baby to start crying.

**Josefa Alejo:** *Her nails dig into her hands as her fists clench.* "Please! Please don't start crying!"

She looks back down at the baby to see that the baby is still sound asleep. Josefa begins to shake even further as the crying continues.

**Josefa Alejo:** "If not you...then where is it coming from!?"

Josefa has a sudden recollection of a few moments ago and turns around to see the person who just passed her with his stroller hastily walking away from her down the street across the road. It's clear that the crying baby that she can hear is coming from that stroller.

**Josefa Alejo:** "You! Hey, you, over there! Stop! I need to talk! Listen, dammit!"

The silhouetted figure clearly hears her and just speeds up. She rapidly hands the stroller over to a random passerby and sprints over to the man. As she speeds across the road, she doesn't give a second thought about the traffic and by time she remembers, a car is already seconds away from colliding into her.

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "Urgh! Why couldn't I have just died in the car crash like mom!? I wouldn't have to be here and have to die like this...completely aware that it's going to happen. I could have died peacefully with her by my side! Why mom?! Why didn't I die with then instead of here, now!?"

The imprint of a hand once again appears, clutching around her jumper. With one powerful tug, she's yanked forward, being pulled away from the path of the car.

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "I'm...I'm alive? And there...then, just then I saw it. That hand again! I wasn't crazy...! But still...what the hell is it!?" *Collecting herself, she watches the man run around a corner and she decides to follow suit*. "I don't have time to question it, I just have to hope it's on my side!"

Josefa's able to slowly reduce the distance between the two, with the cries of Belinda being the thing that's egging her on. The figure runs through the back alleyways and while running, picks up quite a large pane of glass. He's able to launch it at Josefa, who throws her arms up over her face but continues running. After the glass shatters off of her, she looks down at her arms and sees that they haven't been cut or torn at all. Josefa takes a glance back at where she got hit by the glass and notices that the floor is covered in hundreds of little scratches, as well as being covered in the glass shards.

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "There's something more going on here...I just need to figure out what!"

The chase continues on and the figure runs across busy roads with the crying baby without hesitation. Every time he does so, Josefa winces in horror. Eventually, the man tries to cut through another alleyway. Due to him crashing through the rubbish to get through, the trash bags get torn open and spill out. The same happens with a bunch of beer glasses, as he knocks them over, causing them to shatter over the ground.

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "I know this place! Yes...this place has two ways to go through it! The direct path is clear cut, but turning left, you eventually hit a dead end! If I can somehow get him to turn left, I can corner him!"

Her eyes dart between everything nearby, trying to see if there's anything she can throw, anything she can break, anyone she can shout to, or anything else. It comes to no avail.

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "This could be my one shot to get him...and yet I can't do a thing..."

The camera draws closer to Josefa's feet as she runs. We follow every step until she eventually runs over the shattered glass beer bottles. As she does, an ethereal, translucent, grey foot appears besides her which steps on the glass too, and though Josefa doesn't notice this, she does notice the earth in front of the man's path begin to raise and crack, like it had been shattered. Scared for his safety, he takes a hard left instead of continuing forward.

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "What the hell!? I still can't figure out what in the hell is happening, but if this was down to that hand, then at least I know its on my side!...Let's take advantage of this opportunity!"

She drifts in her motion, following him down the alley, and as she turns, we can see behind her that there is no more shattered glass, but instead fully-formed beer glasses.

The man continues to run fast until he comes to a sharp break. Stood before him is a full gate that he surely wouldn't be able to climb over. He does but let out a sigh as Josefa catches up behind him.

**Josefa Alejo:** "Listen, I don't know what the hell your deal is but if you give my sister back, I'll consider letting you go!"

He takes a moment to think before turning around and revealing himself in full detail. He doesn't look very old, maybe even the same age as Josefa, and his hair is mostly short except for one strip that's been left really long. His eyebrows are also very peculiar as they're cut into little black hearts.

    **The Figure:** "'Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.'" *He pushes the stroller over to Josefa.* "That's what my father used to say. I think it's rather inspiring...would you not?"

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** *She grips onto the stroller tight and cautiously moves it behind her.* "What is this mad man going on about!? I don't have to deal with this. The moment he turns his back, I'm out of here!"

**The Figure:** "You see, I earned all my success in life by taking everyone else's place in it. See, that's just how I, Holice Fontana, work! I swap with people until I achieve what the best outcome! I swap with people to achieve my dreams! Though that may mean I'm not a success, not in my own right..."

Josefa trembles and slowly takes a step back. She can but stare in awe when Holice strikes a rather bizarre pose as a spirit appears before him. It has lanky, metallic limbs with a floating head (that has a heart upon it and hair-like steel blades coming from all sides). Each section of its body is connected by various spheres.

**Holice Fontana:** "...to the R.E.M. Foundation...Me and my「Gasoline Dreams」are definitely of the highest value!"

### Chapter 4 - At The Mercy Of A Gasoline Dream

    Within our first shot, we see a kid, no older than 9, laying on his bed next to his father. The kid seems to be Holice Fontana. The room they're in is incredibly tiny and it looks like the ceiling slants inwards dramatically. Additionally, though it passes a child's bedroom, there are few toys to be seen.

**Father:** *He chuckles a bit before calming down.* "You sure do have a lot of questions about girls...I get this is new to you but damn!...Nevertheless, the important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existence. Okay, Holice?"

**Young Holice:** "Of course dad! I'll question everything always!"

**Father:** "There's a good boy. Now, can you please get some rest? It's already past your bed time."

**Young Holice:** "Um...why should I?"

**Father:** *He laughs under his breath before beginning to set his son to bed.* "Okay, maybe question everyone but your dad." *Getting to his feet and walking to the door*, "Goodnight son."

Holice smiles and waves to his father before putting his head down and getting some rest. As the man goes to leave the room, he clenches his chest for a moment before continuing to walk off.

**(n) Holice Fontana:** "If I'm remembering right, that's the last wise thing he ever said to me. Actually...it may have been the last thing he ever said."

It cuts to the child on a bench outside of a hospital. Tears are streaming down his face and he has no-one around to support him.

**(n) Holice Fontana:** "They couldn't explain what had happened simply because they didn't know. It looked as if a cancer had eaten away at his heart over the course of a single day. They were truly horrified...and so was I." *It then jumps to Holice, probably in his mid-teens, waiting in a dark alley at night with a bunch of other teenagers.* "My mom left when I was young and I refused to go into care, so I ended up mixing with a bad crowd. They got me shelter and food sure...but I had to do some bad things to earn it. Some really bad things..."

A young girl, maybe about 13, comes around the corner. She sees the large group of boys and goes to run but is caught at the arm by Holice. He pulls her into the centre and drags her to the floor; understandably, she screams in horror as some of the men begin to tear her clothes off while other begin to undress. Holice doesn't join in. He just watches, pain deep within his eyes.

**(n) Holice Fontana:** "We did a lot of bad things...we did a lot of bad things a lot of times...Don't get me wrong, I wanted to bring an end to it, but I didn't know how. I was able to rise up the ranks of the gang though. All I simply had to do was steal a position from someone else...swap with them in a way...and I soon became high ranking. It didn't matter in the end though..."

Holice, not much older than last time, as well as a group of people run full-speed away from a hoard of police officers. Some of the gang members, including Holice, shoot at the police officers and they of course shoot back. Holice was one of the few to survive, however, he did end up killing one of the police officers he shot at.

**(n) Holice Fontana:** "It took the police something of 5 years overall before I was ever arrested. I can't even remember how many years I was sent down for...all I remember is feeling hopeless. I had no value as person. No, my value was actually less than nothing...I was worse than nothing..."

Up to this point, all we've been able to see is black, but in the darkness, a light begins to shine and from that light a hand reaches out.

**(n) Holice Fontana:** "I had lost my father, my freedom and my value, but that day, that day 3 weeks ago, I was able to take back two of them. He knew of my Stand already, even though I didn't, and valued it. He actually valued me...I had never been happier than in that moment when he said..."

**???:** "I need you."

**(n) Holice Fontana:** "I don't know how the R.E.M. Foundation found out about me, or how they got access to my cell, but they did. Apparently, to get me out of prison, I was swapped out for someone else. He valued me so much he was willing to let someone else feel my purgatory. For this, I am forever in his debt. To make sure I have value, I will repay him."

Back in present day, Josefa stands terrified before the spirit that Holice has seemingly summoned.

**Josefa Alejo:** "What the...wha...WHAT THE HELL IS THAT THING!?"

**Holice Fontana:** "Please, you know exactly what you see before you! After all, it's not like you don't have a stand ability too!"

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "Stand?...ability?...What the hell is going on!? And how did he generate that...spirit...from his body. This makes no sense! No sense at all!" *Remembering, she looks down at her palm.* "Could that thing be...could it be the same as that thing...that hand...?"

**Holice Fontana:** "I have no time to deal with your duplicity. Now, Gasoline Dreams...Exchange!"

Before Josefa can even react, she finds herself stood directly in front of the wall that she had just cornered Holice against. In fact, she's in the exact spot he was just in.

**Josefa Alejo:** "How did I...I was just there. I didn't even move. One second I was by Belinda. Next I'm here!"

Josefa swings around furiously and sees Holice stood in her prior location with the Stand gone, gripping tight onto the stroller with his left hand. He reaches with his right hand under his jacket to something that's not quite visible.

**Josefa Alejo:** "What the hell kinda trick did you just play on me?! You better not lay a finger on my sister or I swear to God I'll-"

**Holice Fontana:** "It's clear that you still haven't figured out what my Stand does yet. I won't lie however, your Stand frightens me. It seems rather powerful, so I better just get this over with. No time to monologue!"

**Josefa Alejo:** *She begins to charge at him, running in a way that looks like she's ready to tackle him to the ground.* "I still have no idea what the hell you're talking about!"

Holice tenses up as she storms her way to him. Finally revealing what he was grabbing, Holice pulls out a revolver and points it straight at Josefa. Her eyes widen in terror...

**Holice Fontana:** "As dad would have said...'A man should look for what is, and not for what he thinks should be.' and though I was hoping I didn't have to kill anyone else, I realise this is just how it has to be. Goodbye Josefa!"

Holice steadies and fires off 6 shots, all heading directly to Josefa. However, she doesn't slow down one bit.

From her chest, a translucent, purple arm with a pink and green pattern going along its forearm appears. Moving at incredible speeds, faster than the bullets themselves, the arm swings around and is able to grab onto three of the bullets, stopping one of them from going straight through Josefa's head. As it drops the 3 bullets it caught, the remaining three shoot through Josefa's stomach, thigh and right shoulder.

Holice, enraged puts his gun away and swings around. Confident that Josefa has been beaten, he latches onto the stroller and begins to march forward. On his 3rd step, he feels a hand wrap around his right forearm. His eyes dart to the side and there, stood with a burning passion in her eyes, is Josefa.

**Holice Fontana:** "But...I...I just sho-"

**Josefa Alejo:** "I'm not letting you take my sister! Now let her go!"

Just as before, a purple hand appears around her's and grabs onto Holice too. He screams out in agony as three bullet holes manifest themselves along his body. He falls backwards and trips onto the ground. Holice looks up at her confused before watching resentfully as she begins to run off with her sister, completely leaving the stroller behind. As she sprints off, the visage of a grey and purple figure can be seen looming behind her.

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "I still don't know what this is...this spirit...or I guess as he called it...this Stand! But I don't have time to figure that out yet. For now, I just need to get her to safety! Now, she's my priority!"

### Chapter 5 - Mercy Mercy Me

    Holice props himself up against a wall in the alleyway alone. He clenches onto the bullet wounds that manifested themselves upon his body and winces as they bleed further.

**(t) Holice Fontana:** "Thank God these wounds weren't fatal...that could have been the end for me! Her Stand, it's ability...it's powerful. I theorised this after the car crash but now I'm certain!" *Summoning Gasoline Dreams to assist him, his Stand hauls him up onto his feet and supports him as he walks.* "I'm certain her ability...is to relocate damage! The specifics are still foggy, but this I'm sure of...she can heal by moving her impairment onto something else!"

Holice hobbles over to the corner and hooks onto the wall with his hand to help him get around the corner.

**(t) Holice Fontana:** "No matter her power, I will be more powerful. My Gasoline Dreams can and will beat her! If not just for the sake of winning, then for him! So that I can retain my value...I'll end her!"

As he arcs around the corner, he once again draws his revolver but when its fully out in the open, a leg comes swinging from below and kicks it of his hands into the air. Before him stands Josefa, who's now more than ever ready for a fight. Gasoline Dreams reaches out for the gun but is completely out-sped by a purple arm that manifests from Josefa's side. It snatches the gun and hands it on to Josefa. Holice stumbles back in confusion, crushing the rubbish (that he made spill earlier) beneath his feet, and horror draws itself across his face, however it's not because of her having his gun...or even because of the arm...

**Holice Fontana:** "I don't understand...She was just...it's been but seconds! How did you do it!?"

We get a full shot of Josefa and see that she is no longer carrying Belinda. In fact, Belinda can't be seen anywhere.

**Holice Fontana:** "What did you do with the child!?"

**Josefa Alejo, smirking:** "Look who's the one asking questions now. You don't like it do you? Not knowing what's going on and why? It's a horrible feeling...trust me, I know."

She prepares the gun to fire and Holice tenses.

**Josefa Alejo:** "Consider it mercy...but I'll put you out of your misery. You see, I knew that I recognised this street, but I couldn't quite figure out where from. Maybe it was the adrenaline but I just couldn't think of what the hell this place was!"

We get a flashback to only a few moments ago where Josefa is running down the alleyway, Belinda in hand. She looks frustrated and worried but a sudden sparkle of hope glimmers in her eyes. We get to see the exit to the alleyway and walking past it are two people.

**(n) Josefa Alejo:** "The house to our left there...I know that house...I know that house because...even though I couldn't remember before...it is in fact where my best friend lives!"

One is a rather tall girl wearing a red coat (with a heart pattern over it) and white hair. The other is a short, green-haired boy wearing a shady-yellow blazer and some glasses. While the girl looks American, the boy seems to be Asian, maybe Korean.

**Josefa Alejo:** "B-Bran!? BRAN! And Bangtan! You two!"

The two cease whatever conversation they were having to turn their direction down the alleyway.

**Bran (the girl):** "Josefa? Jesus Josefa, are you okay?! What are you doing down there!?"

**Bangtan (the boy):** "We were just going to see you because you haven't been answering our messages. Are you okay?"

Josefa finally stops running and comes to a halt before the two.

**Josefa Alejo:** "I...I have no time to explain! I'm just happy to see you!"

**Bran:** "We're happy to see you too Josefa but please, what's going on? I don't like the aura you're giving off."

**Josefa Alejo:** "You guys, do you know where Hard Times is!?"

**Bangtan:** *He gives Bran a look of worry but answers her nonetheless.* "Yeah, it's abandoned building turned-orphanage, right? I've passed it a few times...why?"

Josefa lugs Belinda into Bran's arms and pivots back around, staring deep into the heart of the alleyway.

**Josefa Alejo:** "I'm sorry I can't say why right now...I simply don't have time...but all I need you to do is take Belinda there! As quick as you can, get her there!"

**Bran:** "Please Josefa, at least tell us some-"

**Josefa Alejo:** "Oh yeah! There should also be a man two blocks south from here that's confusedly holding a stroller. The baby inside is wearing a pink blanket with stars! Get that baby too and take it to Hard Times as well!"

**Bran:** *Frustrated, she exclaims* "Josefa! What are you doing that's so important you can't come with!?"

**Josefa Alejo:** *She sighs and smirks.* "Don't worry about me, I just have some dreams to crush is all! Please go..."

**Bran & Bangtan:** *They look to each other for a moment, not sure what to do.* *Eventually they both nod and say,* "Okay...we'll do it!"

Hurrying, they turn and start to head down where Josefa had told them. Before leaving her view fully, Bran turns.

**Bran:** "We better see you again soon! And oh, Josefa, your mom...I was sorry to hear about her passing. She was the best!"

Continuing on, she and Bangtan speed down the street with Belinda.

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "I know she was...and that's why I'll make sure I avenge her!"

Back in present, Josefa focuses the gun and rapidly pulls the trigger, aiming all her shots straight at Holice.

**Holice Fontana:** *He smirks, realising he has won.* "You silly girl! I'll just get my Gasoline Dreams to have us...Exchange!"

Just as before, Gasoline Dreams uses its ability to swap the locations of Josefa and Holice, meaning Josefa is now in the direct line of fire for the bullets. Holice begins to chuckle maniacally but ceases immediately as he looks to Josefa. It would seem that...no bullets had been fired at all.

**Josefa Alejo:** *She chuckles like she's just lifted a massive weight off of her chest.* "I thought my plan could only work if my foe was an imbecile...I guess I was right!" *Holice begins to tremble as it seems the menacing aura has moved from him to her.* "Though your accent is good at concealing it, I had guessed you were an idiot from the moment you quoted your father! After all...only an idiot wouldn't realise that those quotes...are actually from Albert Einstein!"

**(t) Holice Fontana:** "Wha...What?! Dad...he stole those from Einstein...? No...No. She must be trying to fool me! I won't let her!"

**Josefa Alejo:** "Knowing you were stupid, I also knew that you wouldn't notice that your gun is a revolver, meaning you already shot all 6 of your bullets earlier!" *Holice takes a moment to reflect and is enraged that she's correct.* "By tricking you into thinking I'd shot you, you were guaranteed to use your exchange ability again. I'm guessing it's range is short seeing that you had to get close to Belinda to swap her, and that's why I sent her off with my friends!"

Once again, the faint outline of a purple figure begins to manifest itself behind Josefa. However, she now seems to be aware of it's presence.

**Josefa Alejo:** "I was never gonna shoot you anyway. Don't get me wrong, I really damn wanted to...you did say you were hoping you didn't have to kill anyone else...meaning it was you who murdered her...and though I don't think it was your plan, you're far too stupid, I'd kill you for it nonetheless...but mom wouldn't like that! She was nice and merciful! And so, I'll be the same!" *She begins to crouch down and smirk once again as she picks up a dented piece of trash.* "Well, the same to an extent. I had to have you swap us so that I'd have access to all the rubbish you crushed beneath your feet because, at this point, it's clear to us both that whatever this Stand is, it's ability allows it to relocate damage! It did that with the bullet wounds, it did it with the glass and...it did it for me and Belinda in the car crash! This Stand is God's mercy for me materialised and so...that's where I got its name!"

**Holice Fontana:** "I...no...NO! You will not diminish my value! I can't and won't be beaten. Gasoline Dreams...EXCH-"

Before he can finish his sentence, he's cut off by two fists that begin to appear, coming into full fruition, and from them, arms also begin to become visible.

**Josefa Alejo:** "To get my mom the justice she deserves, I'll show you what it means to feel pain! Go...「Mercy Mercy Me」!"

Appearing at her side, a humanoid being of purple, pink and grey manifests in its entirety. Mercy Mercy Me is built up of various mechanical parts mixed in with organic sections; multiple parts of its body are connected to one another by wires and metal poles.

With blindingly rapid succession, it releases a barrage of punches upon Holice. Cuts slice through his flesh, his body folds in ways they shouldn't and bones can be heard shattering.

**Mercy Mercy Me:** "PARARARAR~~!"

Though it looks like simple punching, it becomes evident by the trash healing beneath them that Mercy Mercy Me is in fact moving so fast that it's hitting the trash and carrying the damage from it through a punch into Holice. The punches themselves are doing almost nothing but the damage that's carried by them is truly devastating!

**Josefa Alejo:** *She looks quite a bit more serious than she had prior - almost looking empathetic.* "Value. That's what you consider most important, right? Déjame descansar...we're meant to decide our own value in this life, but you instead let that R.E.M. Foundation you spoke of decide it for you! That was your mistake. That was your downfall. By letting others decide our value, we lose focus of what makes us weak, and can only see what's good!..."

**(t) Holice Fontana:** "She's not wrong...dad told me to question everything. Those were some of his last words to me...and I failed him. I should have questioned them...maybe I wouldn't be here, now, with my value being set back nothingness."

**Josefa Alejo:** "...Goodbye Holice!"

Holice, barely alive, collapses to the floor doused in blood and trash. Standing above him with Mercy Mercy Me having one arm hooked over her shoulder, Josefa stares triumphantly.

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "To make an educated guess, it was probably that R.E.M. Foundation who got you to hunt my family down. That means they're to blame." *Josefa pulls down on the collar of her jumper and looks at her shoulder, revealing a birthmark that distinctly resembles a star!* "This birthmark...the birthmark shared by me and my sister...it's a sign of our everlasting bond...and I won't let that R.E.M. Foundation do anything else to damage that bond! Not anymore!"

The final shot we see is of Holice's collapsed body, doing nothing else but laying in rubbish.

**(n) Narrator:** "Holice Fontana. 19 and user of the Stand, Gasoline Dreams. Status: Retired."

## **Volume 2 - The Weight Of Living Through Hard Times**

### Chapter 6 - Hard Times, Part 1

    This chapter begins with a shot of a young girl running through the streets of Mexico (implied by the housing, Spanish signs, weather and people, as well as narration to come). The girl dons heart-shaped glasses and has her hair cut rather shoot. Though it couldn't be deciphered from a distance, as the camera gets closer, we can see her face is full with tears and determination.

**(n) Josefa Alejo:** "My mom, Thalía Alejo, was born on the 26th of August 1976 to Jorge Alejo and Josefa Alejo." *We see pictures of the two parents she speaks of come into view. It then proceeds to show us a map of northern Mexico with one marker on it.* "She was raised Catholic in the city of Doctor Cross, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Every week she'd go to mass with her parents and at least once a month she'd do a confession. It's probably unsurprising that they didn't have a lot of money, in fact, she barely saw her father because he was working so much."

As the girl continues to run through the streets, we see that people around her are running in the opposite direction and that bits of rubbish are flying through the air past her.

**(n) Josefa Alejo:** "Whenever they got the chance, which was almost never, mom loved travelling to Bagdad to meet up with her nana Josune." *Like with the parents, we get a headshot of nana Josune* "She was basically bound to her rocking chair because of her age but that was fine as she had neighbours around who'd help her out constantly. She was something of a saint to the people of Bagdad in her day, so they were happily willing to repay her. While there, mom and her father would go fishing. Don't get me wrong, they were terrible at it...but they loved it...it meant they could spend time together."

Running with absolute determination, she suddenly throws up her arms as a plank of wood smashes into her at full speed and knocks her to the ground. Tears begin to roll more rapidly down the girl's face as her arms bleed out and her backpack flings open, allowing a bunch of food and water to spill out and get carried away.

**(n) Josefa Alejo:** "Mom said it was in... the August of 1983 I believe...making her 7 when it happened. She was in Doctor Cross with her parents when there was news of a hurricane, Hurricane Barry, that was heading over to Mexico. It was expected to dissipate pretty quickly once it got there but it was going to start by hitting the northeast of Mexico...It wasn't long before mom realised that's where nana Josune lived."

Ignoring the pain, ignoring the wind and ignoring the tears, the girl steps back up onto her feet and lets out a cry of perseverance before marching back on through the storm.

**(n) Josefa Alejo:** "Mom apparently wanted to go get nana but her father said they couldn't. Something to do with him not being able to afford to miss any days of work. However, she would not allow her father telling her no stop her from doing what's right. The same day, the 26th of August - her 7th birthday - she packed a bag and ran." *We get yet another shot of a map, but this one is displaying a route from Doctor Cross to Bagdad* "She ran and she ran. Yes, she sometimes stopped to eat or drink. She even slept for an hour or two a long the journey but nonetheless, this 7 year old ran for over two days...51 whole hours!"

The girl makes it through the storm and breakneck speeds of the wind to a broken, shabby, old house. She's able to climb in through a shattered window and comes across her nana. Josune sits there un-moving and absolutely lifeless.

**(n) Josefa Alejo:** "The doctors later confirmed that she'd actually died a day earlier because her heart gave out, it's just that people were so caught up with getting away from the hurricane that...no-one really notice. Mom couldn't tell she was dead at the time though...she'd never seen a dead body before, she'd did two days of running on less than 4 hours sleep, and she had lost quite a bit of blood, so she wasn't in the right head space."

Thalía, confused, walks over to her nana and collapses onto her, wrapping her up in a warm, loving hug as deadly winds rage around her.

**(n) Josefa Alejo:** "Though she wasn't too near the eye of the storm, it was still pretty bad. Not knowing what to do, Mom just hugged her...She sat there for hours with her nana until the hurricane passed...simply hugging her."

We quickly jump to a far more grown up Thalía, possibly in her mid-20's, fishing in a large lake as she rides across it on a paddle boat. Sitting next to her is a silhouetted man, probably of about the same age, who Thalía snuggles up with as she sits waiting to catch a fish. From the Mexican name of the little boat that we can see on the side, which is "El Engaño", we can tell the two are probably still in Mexico.

**(n) Josefa Alejo:** "Quite a few years later, while my mom was 22, she wanted to try to start her very own fishing company as she'd become quite adept at it over the years. She told me it'd be called 'Peces de Josune', which means 'Josune's Fishes'. Obviously, she'd been saving for a while to get the start up money for it as the Alejo's didn't have much money, but something happened that changed all of her plans. Or should I say...someone."

Thalía squeals in excitement as something begins to tug on her fishing line and the man gets up, wrapping his hands around her, and helps her reel it in.

**(n) Josefa Alejo:** "A young American man was visiting Mexico with his friends...I've still never been told his real name, but apparently his friends called him...JoJo, and so my mother did as well. Thalía became immediately infatuated by him: he was charming, caring, a good listener, apparently stylish as all hell, brave and, most of all...reliable." *The two continue to try pulling on the fishing rod, hoping to drag in this large catch.* "It wasn't long before they got together. It wasn't long before they had sex. It wasn't long before...well..."

The camera angle on the two drastically changes. They both cheer loudly as a massive fish goes flying through the air on the end of their fishing line, but, because of the new camera angle, we can see that it looks as if Thalía is pregnant.

**(n) Josefa Alejo:** "Mom swears they were careful but to be honest, I never believed her. Obviously, having a kid to look after would put a massive pause of her plans to start up Peces de Josune but she believed that she could still open it up one day soon. JoJo was only there for a few months, 6 or so, but he had to get back to Sacramento, and so he begged Thalía to come with him. She said she'd think about it, but by the time she had come up with her answer...he'd already left."

The two young lovers hug tight and kiss as they begin to ride back to shore with their catch.

**(n) Josefa Alejo:** "Without her parents knowledge, about a month later, Thalía decided to chose love over success and so, with all the money she'd saved up to start Peces de Josune, she booked a flight to Sacramento, California and set off the next day. She obviously had some money left and so stayed in a hotel near the airport until she could find JoJo. Everyday and night, she searched the city and asked around to see if anyone had heard of him or knew of his location. After about a week, she had to get a job at a diner because she'd used up most of her money, meaning she had even less time to look for him."

While outside it's absolutely pouring down with rain, we see inside a café where Thalía is talking to the person at the counter. Her hair is a mess and her clothes don't look so great either.

**(n) Josefa Alejo:** "Eventually after months, she got desperate and had tried phoning her parents for support but when she did, only her father responded. Apparently her mom...my nana Josefa...was mugged a few days after she left. She was shot during the mugging...by the time paramedics got there...it was too late. Abeulo Jorge blamed her for not being there for them and hung up. Knowing she couldn't afford to fly back, all she could do was continue searching around for JoJo..."

**Thalía Alejo:** *she holds up a Polaroid picture of her next to a man holding a very large fish* "Please, you've never seen this man before? Not even once?"

**Barista:** "I swear to you lady, I don't know the guy. Even If I had met him, we have hundreds of people come through here every day, I wouldn't have remembered him anyway."

**Thalía Alejo:** "Please! Please just look at it a little longer, I beg you!"

**Barista** "Okay okay!" *he leans his head forward and looks hard at the photo* "Nah...like I said, I've never-" *he's sharply cut off by the sound of Thalía screaming in pain. Her arm wraps tight around her stomach* "M-ma'am? Are you okay? Do you need me to call you an ambulance? Someone call-"

**Thalía Alejo:** "No no no! I'll be fine, Please just...jus-AUUUGGGHHH!!"

Thalía's grasp around her stomach tightens even further as her waters break all over the café floor. People rush over to her and others call her an ambulance. They help her over to chairs where she sits down in agony; meanwhile, she's still trying enquire whether people have seen the man in the image - which is particularly difficult when in paralysing amounts of pain. It takes a while, but the ambulance finally makes it, however, when she's being wheeled into it, she doesn't notice as the photo of her and JoJo slips from her grip and lands in a puddle.

Arriving at the hospital, she gets immediately rushed to the maternity ward.

**(n) Josefa Alejo:** "Though it was very painful and at points, my mom almost wanted to cross her legs and give up, she carried on pushing and, on the 22nd of October, two weeks late, at 11:12, I was born. She named me after nana Josefa but decided against giving me a middle name. I think that was the day the world realised...my mom doesn't stop trying!"

We cut to Thalíá with a bunch of bags and a set of keys in one hand while she carries a blue-haired baby in the other. She stands before a an apartment door, of which she's eventually able to get open, and crashes inside. The interior of the apartment is very bare, just having the essentials as well as a few extras. Slowly walking to a crib, she puts Josefa down inside and then waddles over to the coach before collapsing into it, releasing a sigh of relief.

**(n) Josefa Alejo:** "She decided she wouldn't stop looking for JoJo but knew that her child came first. Mom eventually got a second job at another diner doing the night shift so that we could afford to keep the lights on. You know, in all the 18 years she's worked at those diners, she's only ever gotten one or two pay raises...Sounds like a scam if you ask me...but this story isn't about me."

Thalía sighs again, but this time out of frustration, as Josefa begins to whine, which quickly turns to obnoxiously loud crying. However, she continues to crack a smile. Tired, she rolls of the chair and cradles her baby in her arms trying to calm her.

**(n) Josefa Alejo:** "Though she had learnt how to drive in Mexico, it was on an automatic and the two diners she worked at were across completely different sides of Sacramento so she really needed a car which was cheap to run - which meant she'd need a manual. In turn, she had to relearn how to drive but in a manual this time..." *Baby Josefa leisurely begins to drift back into sleep.* "It felt like everything was against her, and everyday, the weight of living was ever getting heavier, but no matter what was thrown her way...mom refused to give up!"

We get one final close up of Thalía's face, still smiling.

**(n) Josefa Alejo:** "That's why mom always has been...and always will be...my hero!"

### Chapter 7 - Hard Times, Part 2

    We get a wide shot of the night sky, seemingly Sacramento's, and two voices of unclear origin converse through the darkness.

**Person 1:** "You know...I hadn't even thought about how bad that is...like...we're literal strangers after all!"

**Person 2:** "Exactly! And he didn't even think twice!"

**Person 1:** "Like...okay, I get it's not your kid and all but still...who the hell hands over a baby to a two teenagers!?"

**Person 2:** "Well...that guy apparently!"

The camera drops down to Bangtan and Bran chuckling to one another as they walk along a path with a stroller each. It seems Bangtan is pushing Belinda as the baby he has is wrapped up in a pink blanket with moons while Bran is pushing a baby with a pink blanket and stars.

**Bangtan:** "Seriously though, seriously though, what if he calls the police? What if he thought we were trying to kidnap them?"

**Bran:** "Ah don't worry, you know me..." *She caresses the crystal inside her star necklace* "I've always had a way with words...we'll be fine."

Once again the two chuckle, however, this time it's moments before they finally make it to Hard Times Orphanage. Just as it was only 15 or so minutes ago, the building is ancient, archaic and mildly ominous. The two friends give each other a wary glance before stepping inside. Pushing open the grand doors that guard the building, Bran first pops in her head, looking down the different pathways to see if she can see anyone. When nothing comes of it, she signals to Bangtan who follows behind as they both make their way inside. On entrance, they notice that there's a light fog riding low across the floor.

**Bangtan:** "...strange..."

**Bran:** "Hello?! Anyone?! We got some babies here!...is there even anyone here?"

**Bangtan:** "One sec...lemme just..."

Bangtan takes note of all of the dust around the place and kneels down, examining various footsteps that lay in the dust over the ground.

**(t) Bangtan:** "Yeah...yeah I'm certain...there are two people who've walked through here recently. One of them looks like rather average women's shoes...probably Josefa's. I think she wears size 9's so that'd make sense." *he looks closer at the other ones* "These look like a large man's footprints, maybe of some staff employed here. There being so much dust here, I imagine it collects quickly else we would see a lot more of the children's prints, so these must be fresh..."

Bangtan gets to his feet and knocks the dust off of his knees. Gripping back onto the stroller, he turns to Bran who's stood with her back to a bookcase.

**Bangtan:** "I think there's still at least one more adult here. Of that, I'm certain!"

**Bran:** "Oh, great! You wanna head on and look for them then?"

**Bangtan:** "Well, if anything, you should really...after all, you are the one with the 'people skills'." *Bangtan takes notice of the fact that her back is to the bookcase, especially as her hands are tucked behind her back* "Um...watcha got there?"

**Bran:** "Me? Oh...hah...nothing? Just got tired of pushing the stroller around so I'm stretching my arms...behind my back..."

**Bangtan:** "So...If you were to pull both of your hands out now, there'd be nothing in them?"

**Bran:** "Of course! Are you trying to accuse me of of stealing or something!?! How dare you, Bangtan! You should be ashamed"

**Bangtan:** "Do it then..."

**Bran:** "...Like...pull my arms out? You really don't trust me do you?" *Her face scrunches up* "Out of principle, I'm not gonna move my arms until you turn away and start walking!"

**Bangtan:** "Oh? Oh is that so?"

**Bran:** "Yeah it is so!"

Bangtan sighs before taking off his glasses. Folding them delicately, his arm suddenly flings back and, at full force, he launches his glasses at her. Her eyes widen with worry and on reflex, both arms come swinging out, trying to catch the glasses as safely as she can without letting them crash into her face.

Successful, she stands for a couple seconds just staring at the glasses before realising what she's done. Her head slowly creeps up to look at Bangtan.

**Bangtan:** *In his hands, he holds a thick but small book.* "Can't believe I actually got you to throw the god damn book. Can't believe I actually caught it!" *He takes a look at the cover* "'The Energy Within: The Perfect Guide to Feng' Shui'...sounds like the name of a scam book to be honest..."

**Bran:** "WHAT!? No! Look, it's by Darius Norms Anderson. It's like you don't even know who he is!"

**Bangtan:** "Well that's because...I don't know who he is...But right now that's unimportant. Were you really gonna steal from an orphanage?"

**Bran:** "Well...I...what are kids gonna do with it anyway? And like, it came out a few weeks ago, I didn't expect this place to have such brand new books, okay? It just kinda caught me of guard..."

**Bangtan:** "Wait, what? This thing is brand now? This place doesn't feel like its first priority should be brand new books...I mean like...look at the dust! Plus, you're right...kids aren't reading this."

**Bran:** *As if instinctual, her hands latch on to her stroller* "Yeah...I guess that's a bit weird. I don't know, maybe these peo-"

From down the hallway, currently so dark that it's impossible to see what's down there, the sound of footsteps boom. Bangtan goes silent and Bran pulls out her smartphone. It's got a mostly transparent case on it other than the rainbow heart on the back.

**Bran:** "Hey? Someone there?..." *after a few moments of waiting* "Come on, we heard you walking...just answer!"

After not getting an answer again, she turns on the flashlight of her phone, casting a blinding light throughout the entirety of the hallway - the fog laying low on the ground doesn't really get effected by the light. The issue is that, though the light is shining, they still can't see anyone.

**Bran:** *she chuckles* "Now that...that's weird..."

She unthinkingly begins to push the stroller as she heads down the hallway. Stopping her in her tracks, Bangtan grabs her by the arm and looks her in the eyes.

**Bran:** "Listen, we'll be fine, okay? Trust me, orphanages are known for being warm and welcoming places! Come on!"

After handing him his glasses back, Bangtan sighs as Bran turns chipperly, continuing to make her way down the halls of the building. Deciding it would be more efficient, Bran props her phone up on the front of the stroller so it casts a light in the direction that she's facing indefinitely and though he joins her begrudgingly, Bangtan does the same with his phone.

The two creep along the halls, sometimes admiring the paintings on the walls - all of which look in mint condition. The place being entirely made of wood means that every step they take leaves an obnoxious creaking sound in its wake. Eventually, after traversing through the darkness of these downright massive hallways, they come to a cross-section, with turns leading either right or left through this ginormous building.

**Bran:** "So...umm...I'll take the left, you take the right, yeah? I'm already closer to the left side so it only makes sense."

**Bangtan:** "I...don't you think...that maybe..."

**Bran:** "Listen, I get that you're scared and worried. I can't blame you - this place is even creeping me out - but trust me when I say that you'll be fine. Plus, you can always call me if you run into any trouble."

**Bangtan:** "Okay...but meet back up here in 5 if you can't find anyone.'"

**Bran:** *A huge smile grows on her face and she embraces him in a massive hug* "Perfect! Now, let's get going."

Bangtan nods to his friend as they both begin to take separate path; however, Bran stops in her tracks and looks back to Bangtan with a rather serious face.

**Bran:** "Hey, Boy-Scout, can we just do something before we go?"

Bangtan, very blatantly confused, looks back at her with anticipation.

The shot then cuts to the streets of Sacramento, in which Josefa walks with her head drooped. In her hands, she holds a cracked a phone that doesn't look like its able to turn on.

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "I guess I did it...I avenged my mom...I caught and beat her killer...so why does it feel so empty. It feels like...it feels like I've accomplished nothing!...And to be fair, I probably haven't..."

She takes a break from walking, leaning up against a nearby wall with her broken phone still in hand.

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "I think it's because of that R.E.M. Foundation...though yes, Holice Fontana was the one who got my mom killed, I don't think he's the one who wanted her to die. Based on how he was being, it seems like he didn't really want to kill at all so...this R.E.M. Foundation...I'm guessing they're the ones who put him up to it...I bet they're the ones that were trying to get us killed! Why...I still don't know, but soon I will..."

She takes her phone and places it up against the wall.

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "For now, my main priority is getting back to the Hard Times Orphanage so I can be with Belinda again, though, Bran and Bangtan may not even be there for all I know seeing that my phone got broke during my encounter with Holice!...I think it got damaged when I was shot in the thigh as it was in my pocket. My stand ability - I still haven't gotten used to the idea of it - only relocated the damage from my body, not my phone...I've been trying since about 1 minute after it happened but every time I activate Mercy Mercy Me..."

Before her, Mercy Mercy Me manifests and punches her phone before proceeding to punch the wall behind Josefa with intense speed. Confusingly, the damage isn't moved - both objects just stay the very same.

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "...that happens. I've been thinking that maybe my stand has a limit...not to *how* much damage it can move...but in fact *when*. What if It can only move damage within 1 minute of it occurring (or possibly even less). If this is the case, I'll have to keep it in mind if I have to use Mercy Mercy Me again...forgetting that fact could be a gamebreaker."

With one foot against the wall, she pushes herself off of it and continues on walking, hoping that she's walking the right way.

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "I have no time to dwell...I gotta get to them...my friends, and especially my sister!"

Going back to the orphanage, we watch Bangtan explore the depths of the building. More accurately, the heights, as his hallway eventually leads him to stairs. Not being bothered to take try to carry a stroller up some old stairs, he decides to pick his baby up instead (still wrapped in a pink blanket with moons) in one arm and uses his free arm to carry his flashlight (his phone).

**(t) Bangtan:** "Strange...the fog...it's laying low and yet scales the stairs...this place is really creepy." *He begins to wonder into the nearest room as he gets onto the landing* "and I still haven't seen a single child yet...man, I wish Bran was still here. She'd make me less scared..."

The room he ends up in is rather small, having a few shelves, some file cabinets and a desk (which a crappy, little chair. Bangtan heaves as he notices a pile, no, a gruesome mass, of white insects in the corner of the room.

**Bangtan:** "Ew! There is no way this place lives up to health regulations...it's a dump!"

Ignoring the bugs for a moment, he casts his light over some documents that are laid out in disorder across the desk. They seem to just be some legal documents, however, Bangtan cares less about what they are and more about who signed them. He takes a deep look at the signature.

**(t) Bangtan:** "Damn...I know signatures usually look complex but damn...this is incomprehensible...the only thing I can make out is, I think 'Max'..."

He goes stiff and begins to shiver. His eyes widen as he gets paralysed by fear. He can tell...he can sense a presence in the room.

**???:** "I'd be careful...looks like you're flying a bit too close to the sun..."

### Chapter 8 - Hard Times, Part 3

Bangtan stands before the desk shivering and trembling. Allowing himself to finally move, his head slowly arcs back and his eyes bare witness to the man behind him. Stood in the door way, seemingly having combed over his hair and changed outfits into a new, yellow suit, is Icarus Bastille.

**Icarus Bastille:** "So...what brings you here, kid? You know you shouldn't be snooping through important documents like that...right?"

Bangtan continues to be still, not saying a word; instead, he just stares intensely. Icarus chuckles.

**Icarus Bastille:** "Don't worry, you're not going to get in trouble, I just want to know why you're here." *After waiting a few moments with still no response,* "Well then, I'm Icarus Bastille. I own the Hard Times Orphanage. Can you at least tell me your name?"

**(t) Bangtan:** "This guy...he seems like a fine enough person...but he has an aura about him...I just can't trust that he's good!"

**Icarus Bastille:** "No?...Okay then um...I'll just ask you yes or no questions and you nod, that okay?" *Bangtan doesn't respond.* "Welp...I'll try anyway. Are you...here with others? Like did you come here with anyone?"

After hesitating, considering his options and the impact of each, he nods his head.

**Icarus Bastille:** "Ah! Finally something. So you aren't here alone? Interesting...interesting..."

Icarus' eye widen as he takes a stark step back. He's finally come to notice the baby in Bangtan's arms that's wrapped up in a pink moon-patterned blanket.

**(t) Icarus Bastille:** "What?...How?...But she was meant to..."

**Icarus Bastille:** "In your arms there...is that Belinda...Belinda Alejo? Daughter of Thalía Alejo and sister of Josefa Alejo?"

Begrudgingly, Bangtan once again responds, nodding.

**(t) Bangtan:** "I guess he wasn't lying when he said he runs this place...after all, he knows Belinda and Josefa. Plus, he's probably the one who made those footprints earlier."

**Icarus Bastille:** "That's...strange. You know, seeing that I just said goodbye to Josefa who was taking Belinda on a walk...how did you end up with her?"

**(t) Bangtan:** "So, I guess that's why she was out...she was on a walk. Doesn't explain why she was down that alleyway though...and it doesn't explain why she was rushing us so much. It's been obvious something hasn't been right from the start...just have to figure out what!"

Making sure he tightens his wrap around the baby in his arms, Bangtan finally pipes up and responds.

**Bangtan:** "Um...well...y-you see...she had something to um...deal with. Ye-Yeah, so she asked us to um...b-bring her back."

**Icarus Bastille:** "Okay then...do you happen to know when she'll be getting back?" *Bangtan shakes his head before looking at the clock, realising that it's 11:12 pm.* "Well, if you just hand over Belinda, you can be getting on your way. I'll wait for Josefa to get here and I'll tell her what's happened. How's that?"

Icarus extends his arms out to grab the baby but Bangtan flings back and turns away from Icarus, making sure he can't land a hand on her.

**Icarus Bastille:** "Hey hey, you don't have to worry about me. After all, I did look after her for 2 days I know how to take care of a child." *He place's his hand on Bangtan's shoulder* "So what do ya say? Going to give me the baby?"

Bangtan shakes more furiously than ever has and sweat begins to roll down the side of his face.

**Bangtan:** "N...N-n..."

**Icarus Bastille:** "Sorry I didn't quite catch th-"

**Bangtan:** "No! I said...No..."

**(t) Icarus Bastille:** "Dammit, I know he said I shouldn't but...this kid isn't complying..."

The man raises his hand off of Bangtan and goes back to standing in the door way.

**Icarus Bastille:** "Okay then...have it your way..." *he props up a half-hearted smile* "You can carry her, but you'll have to stay here until Josefa comes back. However, until then, follow me, I have a room we can wait in."

**(t) Bangtan:** "He clearly doesn't want me by his documents, though I don't know why. May be safer if I just follow him..."

He nods and follows behind Icarus as they traverse the hallways of the upper floor. With his flashlight still on, Bangtan examines the halls as he goes, seeing more and more termites than ever. He was right...this place is a dump. After a few moments, Bangtan stops in his tracks and clenches his side (specifically, the right side of his waist).

**Bangtan:** "Ow!..."

Lifting up the shirt that's beneath his blazer with his free arm, he takes a quick look at his waist to see if there's anything wrong and yet, he's sees nothing. Icarus, hearing his cry, ceases walking and turns around.

**Icarus Bastille:** "You okay?"

Bangtan pulls his shirt back down with a look on confusion on his face and just nods to Icarus. He nods back before continuing on to walk through the hallways all the way down to a large, sturdy looking door with the symbol of a bull (one blue eye, one yellow eye) on it. Unlocking it with a key chain only having two keys on, Icarus pushes the doors open, letting Bangtan into a massive room. It's well furnished, honestly looking like it could be in a mansion. The floorboards look brand new and are covered with fine, elegant rugs. Lining the walls are alcohol shelves and massive bookcases filled to the brim with novels. In the centre there are a few main couches that have quite a huge table in the middle of them (there's a bottle of scotch already open on it).

Bangtan is completely dumbfounded as the only thing consistent about this room in comparison to the others is the low-riding fog that encompasses it. Icarus smugly waddles in and takes a seat, pouring himself some scotch into a shimmering whiskey glass before offering Bangtan a chair to sit on - he obliges.

**Icarus Bastille:** "You gonna finally tell me what's your name?"

**Bangtan:** "It's...it's Bangtan...Bangtan Boy-Scout."

**Icarus Bastille:** "Well, well, quite the interesting name. I know Bangtan is Korean right? Means...if I'm remembering correctly...bulletproof?" *Bangtan nods* "I must say though, 'Boy-Scout' is quite the peculiar last name, especially for someone of Korean heritage."

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "You see...umm...te-technically my name's...Bangtan S-Sonyeodan...but I decided to change it..."

**Icarus Bastille:** "Oh? Is that so? And why was that?" *Bangtan sits quietly, not responding* "Okay, then next question, how old are you, Bangtan?"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "I am 17...so not quite old enough to drink yet..." *his eyes direct to the scotch in Icarus' hands* "I assume that's um...why you were asking anyway..."

**Icarus Bastille:** "Ah, you're quite the initiative one aren't you?"

Bangtan's free arm once again clenches onto his side as the pain continues on.

**(t) Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "What the hell is this pain. I swear it wasn't here earlier. Luckily it doesn't seem to be getting any worse. Should just fade soon...I hope..."

**Icarus Bastille:** "Are you sure you're okay? You can always leave and go to the hospital if you're in pain."

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "No...no I'll be fine. Can I a-ask...this room...what's the d-deal with it...?"

**Icarus Bastille:** "If you're referring to how sophisticated, well-kept and overall expensive-looking this room is in comparison to the others...well you can thank the company that funded this project. They wanted to start with this room where we can meet up and discuss before slowly refurbishing the entire place."

**(t) Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "He said the company funding the orphanage...if I had to guess...it probably has something to do with that person...'Max'..."

We cut to Bran exploring through the dusty halls of the the lower floors of the orphanage on her own. Unlike Bangtan, she still pushes her baby in a stroller with the light attached to the end.

**Bran:** "This place is seriously creepy. It could legit use some crystals...you know...to suck all of the negative energy from it." she says to the sleeping infant, "I get that it's almost midnight but I'd expect someone to at least be patrolling the halls...eh, who cares? As long as I can find one person, I'll be fine..."

Coming to a random door along her path, she pushes it open and finds that it's full of dust, bugs and webs. She seems unimpressed.

**(t) Bran:** Great...yet another room that's basically an over-sided spider web. I mean like, are there seriously no children at all here? If I were to guess, the reason Josefa asked us to bring Belinda and that other kid here was because they had taken on Belinda until Josefa was old enough to have her. And yet, this place doesn't seem like it's clean enough to take on a family of rats, let alone a bunch of children..."

Closing the door back up, she makes sure her baby is tucked in properly before continuing on through the halls.

**Bran:** *speaking to the baby,* "I say...if we can't find anyone in the next 5 minutes, we wait for Josefa and then just grab a Starbucks, yeah? I could honestly use a herbal tea right about now..."

As Bran pushes open yet another door to examine the interior, the baby's eyes begin to flutter open and it starts to cry.

**Bran:** "Okay okay...jeez...no Starbucks..." *She picks up the baby, in hopes of trying to calm it down* "...But we at least have to get McDonald's. I think they're open 24 ho-"

She pauses and her eyes narrow as the feeling of two hands imprint themselves upon her back. After holding them there for a while, Bran gets shoved forward into the room, collapsing to the ground, and the door is slammed shut behind her.

Icarus Bastille sits before Bangtan surrounded by rich luxuries, expensive alcohols and low-resting fog.

**Icarus Bastille:** "So...you and this Josefa, you must be good friends, right? Seeing that your here at such a late time. Are you not tired?"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Y-yes...we're good friends and um...no, no I'm not."

**Icarus Bastille:** "What exactly is it that Josefa is doing right now, may I enquire?"

Bangtan shakes his head and continues to grasp onto the pain at his side.

**Icarus Bastille:** "I understand I've been asking quite a few questions but I do have one final one...do you happen to know the story of my namesake. The story of Icarus?"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "In part...yes..."

**Icarus Bastille:** "Good, good. In case there are any missing details in your mind, to put it simply, Icarus and his father, Daedalus, were trying to escape a labyrinth that housed a vile monster. To do so, Daedalus invented wax and feather wings that allowed the two to fly out...however, he warned his son not to fly too high else the wings would melt and he'd fall to his death..." *Bangtan's eyes dart to the side as he notices something move within the fogs* "Of course, Icarus said he wouldn't but in the end...he let his incompetence get the better of him. He let his curiosity take over and eventually...well...you know what happened."

Bangtan begins to start breathing heavier and sweat as the pain in his side increases further.

**Icarus Bastille:** "You know what's funny? I'd argue that our situation is very similar to that one...the Orphanage is the labyrinth in a way. I'm of course Daedalus, though you could say I'm the monster as well."

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "And...and me? wh-who am I...?"

With sweat pouring out of him, tears beginning to roll down the side of his face and his cheeks going red, Bangtan releases a cry of agony as the pain in his side intensifies massively.

**Icarus Bastille:** "Isn't it obvious?...You're Icarus of course!"

### Chapter 9 - Hard Times, Part 4

Trying to place them down as softly as possible, Bangtan lays the baby he's carrying, Belinda, on the chair as he collapses to the ground, screaming in agony.

**(t) Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "This pain! Oh god this pain! It's unbearable! I feel like I'm going to explode!!!"

Sweat continues to soak his skin - though it's hard to tell what's sweat and what's tears - as well as his heart that's pounding furiously. Tilting his head at Bangtan with a cocky smile drawn across his face, Icarus Bastille pulls himself to his feet and walks besides Bangtan.

**Icarus Bastille:** "I told you this earlier...but you really shouldn't have been flying that close to the sun."

**(t) Bangtan Boy-Scout:** *still crying in unimaginable pain* "It can't be...is he...is Icarus causing this pain? Could he be the one who's forsaken me with this torture?! If so...that can only mean one thing...!"

**Icarus Bastille:** "Making an educated guess, I'd have to say that your bpm is incredibly high. At least 210. And your blood pressure? Well that's probably just through the roof at this point. Everything in your body is working overtime trying to figure out the issue and it just can't quite pin it down. I love just sitting...watching..." *drool begins to seep from his mouth but he quickly wipes it away* "Though, I do wish I'd have done some exercise with you or met you when it was sunny. You see, both of those increase serotonin levels in the body and that's important as...fun fact...serotonin increases prolonged pain."

**(t) Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "What the hell is this psycho going on about!?"

Bangtan lets out a ear-piercing scream as the pain intensifies even further. The baby he had just laid down instantly wakes up and begins to cry. His breathing rate is very high, to the point of hyperventilating. Goosebumps rise all along his skin and he begins to go pale while shaking savagely.

**Icarus Bastille:** "That...does not look fun." *he licks his lips* "But, nevertheless, I should focus. Know that you probably have little time left to live. It won't be long before your heart just...gives up..." *looks over to the baby Bangtan had placed down and decided to cradle it in his arms* "Such an innocent child...if I was to use this on her...she'd probably die instantly...isn't that exciting!?"

**(t) Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "This guy seriously thinks a 6 month old dying is exciting...? How insane can this man be!?"

Bangtan begins to drag himself across the floor, hoping to reach the door, but is quickly noticed by Icarus who stomps his shoe upon Bangtan's already aching waist. He holds him there for a moment, just staring and chuckling.

**Icarus Bastille:** "I've never asked one of my victims before but..."

The shape of a figure begins to manifest itself behind Icarus who rapidly starts drooling all down his face...

**Icarus Bastille:** "What's it like to be crushed...to be crushed under 「The Weight Of Living」?"

Back with Bran, she winces as she hits the ground due to her using her body to protect the baby in her arms from slamming up against the floor too. Struggling out of some spider webs, Bran raises herself to her feet and turns to look at the door which was closed by the person who pushed her.

**(t) Bran:** "This...this..."

A grin grows on her face.

**Bran:** "This is just as I expected!...Well...not just as, but very similar to what I expected! What just pushed me now...its fingers were sharp. Long. Dangerous. Inhuman." *Bran runs to the door and with all her force, putting full effort into her strength and speed, yanks the door open, revealing a figure...* "From this, without doubt, I'm certain that my enemy isn't a person! It's in fact..."

Back with Icarus, Bangtan's eyes narrow in worry as the figure behind Icarus comes more into view.

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Th-That thing...I'm sure of it...that...that's..."

**Bangtan & Bran:** "A STAND!!"

    Manifesting themselves fully, the one stood before Bran dons a blue mask with white eyes and tears strolling down its cheeks (though they never seem to hit the ground); the one behind Icarus has an ear-to-ear smile with black, hollow eyes. Both have the exact same bodies, having shapes that remind you of raggedy clothes as well as trousers with a flowery pattern.

**(t) Icarus Bastille:** "The both of them...them both clearly know of stands." *he takes a nervous step back away Bangtan* "And furthermore, the fact that they can simply see them...does that mean they both..."

Moving our view back on to Bran, she sits stood before the enemy Stand who stares directly at her.

**(t) Bran:** "This is strange...I'm certain the enemy has a Stand with him right now, seeing that Bangtan just shouted 'A Stand!' at the top of his lungs. Are there two enemies? But I'm pretty sure Bangtan said there was just one person here based on the footprints...but a person can only ever have one ability! I'm so confused!"

While carrying a baby in her right arm, her left arm flings to head, clenching and pulling on her hair as she releases a cry of utter suffering.

**Bran:** "This pain! This pain, is it you, Stand!?! I bet you're the one causing this, aren't you!?"

The Stand before her doesn't say anything, but instead starts to reach out.

**Bran:** "Don't come near me! I'm not letting you touch me again!"

Bran starts to sprint back into the room and tries to vault over a table away from the Stand, beginning to cry from her headache as she does; however, like a savage dog, with foam building up at its mouth, the Stand leaps at her and grabs onto her forearm. She begins to violently shake from the mass physical pain she's in as well as starting to go red, hyperventilate and tear up further. This is all done with the wail of an agitated baby booming in the background.

**(t) Bran:** "This stand...that's its ability isn't it!?" *She examines her body while trying to break from the Stand's grip* "I'm not taking any actual damage...all its doing is making me experience pain...but for what reason?!"

Cutting back to Bangtan and Icarus, Icarus shakes his head to gather himself again.

**(t) Icarus Bastille:** "No no...they can't be both be what I think they are. If they were, they would have used them by now. It's simply not a possibility...but just in case it is...I have to make the deal as soon as possible!"

Icarus regains his position at Bangtan's side - who's given up at moving at this point as the pain is just too unbearable and is still getting worse.

**Icarus Bastille:** "Hey hey kid, can you talk? I know you're in a lot of pain but I need your voice for this next part..."

**(t) Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "My voice...next part...? There's more?! I don't know how much more I can handle...If only I was able to move...I may be able to get in range..."

**Icarus Bastille:** "Well come on...can you talk or not?!"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Y-you...you Bastard!"

**Icarus Bastille:** "That's not very kind now is it? At least I know you can speak! Now, I can get you out of this living hell...I can get rid of all of this pain. I just need one thing from you..."

**(t) Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Icarus Bastille..." *Bangtan's eyes narrow* "...what are you planning!?"

**Icarus Bastille:** *once again, he begins to drool at the mouth with a look of insanity* "I need you to agree to become my victim. Say 'I am your victim', and you will be released of this pain."

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "W-Wh...what?"

**Icarus Bastille:** "You heard me! You're on the verge of your body giving up. Your blood vessels could burst at any moment! Your heart could just give out. You may even die of pure stress! I'm offering you a way out! Take it!" *his speech goes from talking loudly to full on screaming every word he says* "Just say the words god dammit! Dammit just say it!"

**(t) Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Why?! Why is he doing this to me?! Why does he want me to say that phrase!...I...I don't know why I'm question him actually..." *getting a close up on his face, we see a single tear of blood roll down his face next to the normal ones* "I don't think I have any other choice..."

**Icarus Bastille:** "Say it dammit! Just say 'I am your victim' and you will be set free of this living nightmare!"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "I...I am..."

**Icarus Bastille:** "Go on...do it...say it!"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "I...am...I am your victim."

Freezing in disbelief for quite a while, Icarus slowly begins to giggle which soon turns into maniacal cackling.

**Icarus Bastille:** "You did it! You really did! My Stand, The Weight Of Living, has conquered yet another victim!"

The Weight Of Living bends down and before Bangtan's face, generates a navy blue orb in its palm that has the visage of his victim on it. It drops the orb almost instantly; however, it doesn't hit the floor, but is instead absorbed into the fog.

**(t) Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "What have I done...I gave up...I'll admit, the pain has completely ceased and my after-affects are coming to a draw but that doesn't excuse me failing Josefa...I've failed."

Foaming at the mouth, cackling like a hyena and standing triumphantly above his victim, Icarus continues to bathe in his glory.

**Icarus Bastille:** "You believed the pain was you hitting into the ocean, but no, it was in fact the sun that was melting your wings. Now you have really fallen and hit the ocean. Now you'll know what it's like to fall victim to your own hubris!"

## **Volume 3 - Paramore & Snake Eater**

### Chapter 10 - Hard Times, Part 5

We see Volume 3 begin with Icarus Bastille still stood over the floored Bangtan, who's slowly going back to his normal colour and rapidly wiping away his sweat and tears.

**Icarus Bastille:** "You should honestly be thanking me. Now you don't need to die! Isn't that great?! Thanks to now having your orb, it's actually more beneficial if you're alive! You should be so happy right now!"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Y-You're...you're..."

**Icarus Bastille:** "I'm what? Do speak up now!"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "You're insane! Y-you're absolutely insane!"

**Icarus Bastille:** *He chuckles at his insult* "That...that's funny. I'm not insane, you see. I simply have a job I must complete and thanks to you, that job has become much easier!"

**(t) Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Dammit!...Did I really make his plan easier!? I knew I'd failed. God dammit! This bastard is the reason I failed at protecting Belinda...! At least Bran knows what she's doing. I trust her with this!"

**Icarus Bastille:** "Think about it for a second, you've confirmed that you know of Stands, you've given me you're orb and you've given me Belinda! What else could I want!?"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout, grinning:** "Maybe I haven't made your job too easy...I thought you were perceptive, but I guess not seeing that you still haven't noticed it..."

Icarus tenses as his eyes dart around the room, analysing everything just in case he missed something.

**(t) Icarus Bastille:** "What's he talking about?! I can't see anything! There's nothing in this room that could be of any danger to me! I've analysed everything...is he bluffing!?"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "You really don't see it do you?"

**Icarus Bastille:** "Now that I have your orb, I can't use my stand on you, but that doesn't mean I can't beat you to a bloody pulp if you don't tell me what the hell you're talking about!?!?"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Tell me, B-Belinda and that other baby we brought here, I-I'm sure you know of them...don't they have such a...a striking resemblance to one another?"

**Icarus Bastille:** "Wh...what are...what are you saying!?"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "I uh think you know exactly what I'm saying!"

Trembling in suspense, Icarus swiftly throws his arm up and rags the moon blanket from around the baby in his arms, revealing them to have black hair, not purple hair like Belinda. Jarringly, Icarus goes completely calm. He slowly and carefully places the baby down on the couch and turns his attention to Bangtan.

**(t) Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Oh...god..."

Erupting into a fit of unbridled rage, Icarus releases an immense roar of anger and kicks Bangtan across the jaw so hard that he gets flung across the room, hitting the door to the room - causing blood to splatter against it.

**Icarus Bastille:** "How dare you try to deceive me like that! When!? When did you even get the chance to do it!?"

**(t) Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Crap...that hurt a lot...a lot a lot...but at least I'm in range now!"

Bangtan uses the door frame to pull himself to his feet and proceeds to wipe the blood from his face

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "When Bran and I parted ways just a few moments ago...that's when we swapped them." *we get a shot of the two swapping the babies' clothes.* "It...it was actually her idea. Sh-She may not be the smartest person but her intuition...it's amazing. She knew that Belinda was the one being hunted here. That's why Josefa st-stayed. That's why the second baby w-was a second thought for Josefa...And so if we could trick the 'enemy' in-into thinking that I had Belinda, we may be able to keep them both s-safe..."

Icarus stands for a moment, genuinely astonished.

**Icarus Bastille:** "Tricked...I was tricked by a weasel! A little incompetent weasel!"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "The story of Icarus...you said I was Icarus in it but the lesson learnt there is self-control. He fails to have any...a-and neither do you! I-If you'd have stopped for a moment...you may have been able to win...if y-you'd have just stopped to think, you could have beaten us!"

**Icarus Bastille:** "There it is...the exact same arrogance that Icarus had. I knew I was right about you! Kid...you may have gotten the jump on me with that Belinda thing...but you haven't beaten me just yet! My stand, The Weight of Living...it doesn't have one body...but instead two!"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Wh...what?! Two parts?!"

**Icarus Bastille:** "Yes, Living I and Living II make up The Weight Of Living and while I have this one next to me, Living I, its other half, Living II, is down stairs attacking Bran as we speak! There is no escaping pain! There is no escaping me!"

**(t) Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "No...no...I thought we had won! Is two parts even possible!?...No! No more worrying. We can still win! He still hasn't seen mine yet..."

**Icarus Bastille:** "Like I said earlier, I can't hurt you with The Weight Of Living now that I've gathered your orb, but I can still hit you really hard with my own fists...and that's just what I'll do!"

Releasing a battle cry, Icarus begins to storm forward with blood lust in his eyes. With every step, the wooden floor rattles beneath him, however, it doesn't seem like it's because of his running.

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Then I-I'll just have to stop you!" *A green aura appears around him.* "You kicked me into range earlier...in r-range of those termites I saw in the other room! Now I'll protect myself using..."

The floor beneath Icarus Bastille begins to crack and break as hundreds of termites race through it and around his feet. In an instant, the entire floor under Bastille's feet collapse.

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "My Stand,「Snake Eater」!!!"

Icarus screams as he crashes from the upper floor straight into the hallways of the downstairs. He coughs up a clump of blood as his back smacks off the ground of the orphanage.

Stood next to him, seemingly having just arrived in the building, is Josefa.

**Josefa Alejo:** "Icarus Bastille..." *Her Stand begins to manifest behind her...* "Looks like you could use some mercy..."

### Chapter 11 - Snake Eater!

We see various shots of the dark streets of Sacramento, jumping between each with rapid progression. Some streets are dark and empty while others are lit up by street lights with people walking among them. A few of those people look kind, sweet even, and others look criminal in their attire. A few look attractive and others simply don't. A few look good, and others look evil.

**(n) Narrator:** "Formerly known as Bangtan Sonyeondan, Bangtan Boy-Scout is a Korean teen born to Boombayah and Exokai Sonyeodan. Though being Korean, Bangtan was in fact born in Fresno, California on the 4th of November 1999 at 9:06 am - two weeks earlier than he should have been born."

As the camera continues to dot between places, it finally comes to an end at a large, ancient-looking building. It may not come as a surprise that this building is the Hard Times Orphanage.

**(n) Narrator:** "He averaged about an A- across his exams and is skilled in physical detective work (such as examining a scene or pieces of evidence), but he does, however, lack in general intuition based deduction."

Making her way inside the building is our protagonist, Josefa, who doesn't walk about as calmly as she once did. Instead, she rushes, stomping and storming through the halls. However, it's not long before she comes to a sudden, grinding halt as she sees hundreds of termites racing across the ceiling above her - of which she reacts with pure confusion.

**(n) Narrator:** "His blood type is O and his height is 142.2 cm, while his weight is 132.5 lb. Bangtan loves music from before he was born, especially Elvis Costello. In addition, Bangtan Boy-Scout is the user of the Stand..."

Through the ceiling above head, she hears the yell of Bangtan.

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "SNAKE EATER!"

Josefa takes a large leap backwards as a grown man comes crashing through the ceiling down before her, wood and termites smashing beneath him. He spits up a pool of blood as he tries to collect himself. Seeing his face, she recognises him to be Icarus and begins to smirk.

**Josefa Alejo:** "Icarus Bastille..." *Mercy Mercy Me starts to manifest behind her.* "Looks like you could use some mercy...wouldn't you say?"

**(t) Icarus Bastille:** "W-wh...What the hell...?! So...so he does have a stand! He just couldn't use it because he wasn't in range of any termites! That's insane...how could I not see this coming! Now I have to deal with her stand..." *his head slowly tilts from looking at Josefa to the hole Bangtan created in the floor, of which he stands over* "as well as his..."

**Josefa Alejo:** "Come on Icarus? You not gonna answer me? You were a big old chatter box before but now it seems that you're speechless!"

**Icarus Bastille** "You would be too kid...if you we just dropped through a floor by a bunch of bugs!"

**Josefa Alejo:** "And he speaks! Glorious! Truly! Now that you can speak, I have some questions to ask you...they're about-"

**Icarus Bastille:** "Seems like you finally manifested your Stand...watcha call it ey? I'm interested!"

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "How...? He's acting like he knew of my Stand even before I did...kinda like Holice...but how!? More importantly, did this guy really just interrupt me?!"

By know, Bangtan would have piped in at least a little bit, but it seems he's too mesmerised by the Stand that's stood besides his friend.

**(t) Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Josefa...she's safe thank God...and...and she has a stand! Just like us, she has one! But for how long though? I haven't had mine ages but she definitely hasn't had it as long as I have else Bran would have known about it...is it possible she only just manifested it?"

**Josefa Alejo:** *Talking to Bangtan even though she's still looking down at Icarus* "Hey Boy-Scout, listen up. We'll catch up about this whole Stand business later as I'd really like to know why you haven't told me that you have one, but for now, he's our priority."

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** *Snapping out of his trance.* "Oh, yeah. Yeah, Of course, I'll explain it all later! You should know though that Icarus here is launching an attack against Belinda! Or at least trying to kidnap her!"

**Josefa Alejo:** "Yeah yeah, don't worry. I already know!"

Sweat begins to drip down Icarus' forehead as a menacing aura manifests around Josefa.

**Josefa Alejo:** "I was battling someone just...that's why I couldn't join you coming here. My foe...he...he was the one who killed my mom!"

Bangtan tenses at the statement, looking visibly alarmed.

**Josefa Alejo:** "However, he may have committed the act, but I know for sure he didn't plan it! That got me thinking...who did plan it? Then I realised that my enemy knew I was going to be out tonight with Belinda, so the person who told me to go on a walk with her is probably involved. That person...is you, Icarus!"

Josefa's eyes dart between all of the broken blanks of wood beneath Icarus.

**Josefa Alejo:** "I'll get some answers out of you, one way or another! Be talking, or using my Stand ability to-"

**Icarus Bastille:** "Relocate the damage?" *Josefa's face drops and she staggers back.* "What? Did I catch you off guard? How could I possibly know what your Stand's ability was right?! After all, you only just found out yourself!"

Bangtan looks just as deeply confused by the situation as Josefa is.

**Josefa Alejo:** "Tell me...tell me right now how you know so much!"

**Icarus Bastille:** "Let's just say a little birdie may have told me!"

As Icarus begins to laugh hysterically, Mercy Mercy Me slowly makes its way over to his side.

**Mercy Mercy Me:** "PARAR!"

Its arm flings back as it rushes to punch a piece of wood but just before it can...

**Icarus Bastille:** "I'll kill the baby."

Mercy Mercy Me's fist pauses inches in front of Icarus' smug, yet calm, face.

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "You'll what?"

**Icarus Bastille:** "If that stand lays even a finger on me, I'll kill the baby."

**Josefa Alejo:** *She laughs* "You're bluffing! You need Belinda alive for...some reason that I'm still unsure of! You wouldn't dare kill her!"

**Icarus Bastille:** "Oh yeah Josefa, you weren't here were you? You're right, I wouldn't kill Belinda, but that's not the baby I'm referring to! Upstairs, my Stand, The Weight Of Living is stood next to the substitute baby, and my ability is to touch something, causing immeasurable pain. I don't need this baby anymore, so by simply touching it, I could kill it with an instant simply with pain!"

The two friends stand in their respective spaces for a moment, contemplating what to do.

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "No...he can't be sick enough to kill an infant...can he?"

**(t) Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Dammit, he's not kidding!" *We see back upstairs where Living I is stood next to the baby, ominously standing over them.* "Maybe...maybe if I was to get close enough, I could activate my Snake Eater and protect her!"

**Icarus Bastille:** "Trust me, you won't be able to run that quick! She'll be dead before you even leap over the hole you made!"

Josefa mostly looks confused by this statement, while Bangtan looks terrified.

**(t) Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Is...is he talking to me? Did he just respond to me...even though they were thoughts!?"

**Icarus Bastille:** "That's exactly what I did!" *Icarus flings his hand into air, showing that in his palm is the blue orb with Bangtan's face.* "This orb you let me have...it's the reason I'll win! It gives me access to your location, feelings, and, most relevantly, your thoughts!"

**Josefa Alejo:** "What the hell is he talking about, Bangtan!?"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "No time to explain! We need to protect the baby!"

Icarus chuckles to himself as he rolls off the pile of rubble and begins to hobble down the hallways of the Orphanage.

**Josefa Alejo:** "Dammit! He's getting away!" *She scans the area, trying to think of something, anything, to do...* "Okay...okay Bangtan how many feet a head of you is the stand?!"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Umm...umm..."

**Josefa Alejo:** "Hurry up God dammit!"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "The hole is about 2 feet and from the hole to it is about 3 feet so...5 feet overall!"

**Josefa Alejo:** "Great! Now jump down!"

Following her orders with no questions, he jumps down the hole and lands in a pile of various bugs that had crawled up from the floor to catch him. Still running, Icarus takes a glance back.

**(t) Icarus Bastille:** "What the hell is that kid up to!?" *Drool begins to seep from his mouth.* "It doesn't matter anyway, I'll kill the kid now and completely catch them off guard!"

Upstairs, Living I creeps its head towards the baby and slowly reaches out.

Wasting no time, Josefa takes a few steps back so that she gets a running start. She darts forward, and, by using the rubble as a ramp, leaps up, punching the rim of the hole in the ceiling with her bare first. In a split second, Mercy Mercy Me extends from Josefa, moving about 3 feet through the air before punching the ceiling above it. Almost instantly, the damage on the original hole heals over (with the rubble beneath it floating up and repairing) and another hole appears where Mercy Mercy Me punched. It seems Bangtan's estimate was correct seeing that the creation of the new hole causing everything above it to fall through, including Living I! It crashes to the ground with a large bang but quickly hops to its feet. Still lying upstairs, the baby sits safely.

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Oh. My. God. You actually did it...that was damn impressive!"

**Josefa Alejo:** "Thank you, but it was hard as hell getting my Stand to extend that far. I think my limit to how far it can go may be about 1 metre!"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "You're smart, so I'm guessing that limit won't come as much of a hassle."

Josefa nods to Bangtan confidently before seining her head around to look down the hallway.

**Josefa Alejo:** "Dammit! He's gone! I can't see him anymore!"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Okay then, go after him! Go find him!"

**Josefa Alejo:** "No no, don't you need me here to help you with this this Stand?"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Don't worry, I'm immune to the pain the Stand induces after I made a deal with him that allowed to him to get that orb! I'll be fine! Now go!"

**Josefa Alejo:** "But...dammit!..."

She puts her faith in Bangtan as she pivots and runs down the halls. Having a bit of self-confidence, Bangtan also pivots, coming face to face with Living I!

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Let's go!"

Living I shows off it's scarily sharp - razor sharp in fact - claws and pounces at him. He goes to dip to the left away from it, but it's as if it knows his movements when it changes directions to left and claws across his chest.

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Oh yeah, I forgot you know my thoughts...lucky that I have..."

The Stand once again tries to claw at him, shrieking as it does so, but is met by a wall of varied insects that arise from the wood beneath them.

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Snake Eater!"

It's able to slice away easily at the bugs but is in no way able to reach Bangtan. After a few malicious swipes, it takes a moment to pause, like it's confused.

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "You look...like you don't know what's happening! Well, you see, Snake Eater controls nearby animals to protect me - that's its one objective - and the only control I have over it is activating it. It decides how they protect me! This means that, no matter how hard you try, you can't predict my Stand's actions, even if you know that I'm about to activate it!"

Bangtan grins pridefully as Living I growls and snarls, like some sort of feral beast. It doesn't hold back because of Snake Eater, but instead continues to claw savagely. Just as it was met with before, a wall of insects - various flies, ants, termites, wood lice, etc - stacks in front of Bangtan and the hits get absorbed. As Living I takes a moment to breath, the bug pillar collapses and, trying to get in a good hit while the wall is down, it launches at him.

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Shouldn't you have learnt by now? You can't hit me because you can't predict Snake Eater!"

Just before it gets to him, it pulls back and the noise of a slight chuckle echoes from its mask.

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Did you really just try to dupe my stand because you knew when I activated it...? It protects me...and it never fails!"

From beneath his feet, a wave of creepy crawlies swim up from out of the wood and crash into the legs of Living I, slamming it onto the ground. Bangtan takes a step back and runs up to it with all his force.

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Now tell me how you like it...when you get kicked the shit out of!"

Bangtan's foot comes swinging around, kicking Living I across the face, sending it flying down the hallway. Its mask cracks and bleeds, which seeps out onto all of the walls and floors as it goes.

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "I feel like such a bad ass..." *His foot begins to ache and bleed.* "...but damn that hurt!"

### Chapter 12 - Paramore's Pearl

    Josefa speeds down the hallways of the Orphanage in hopes of catching up to Icarus. Soon, she comes to a crossroads in the halls - the very same one Bran and Bangtan came to at the start of the arc. She stares for a brief moment before coming to a revelation.

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "The left turn! That's definitely the path he took! The dust on the ground has two sets of footprints heading that way, and I know he's probably trying to find Belinda...so the other foot prints are probably Bran's as she's the one with Belinda!" *Josefa clenches her first and Mercy Mercy Me's fist appears around it.* "They're both in a lot of danger...I need to go rescue them!"

Darting down the left turn, Josefa doesn't slow down in her running for a single moment. We cut to the room that Bran is in - still being dark and covered in webs - as she attempts to break free from the grip of Living II. She's trying to keep Belinda safe in her other arm so it's difficult to break out the forearm of her other hand from its hands.

**(t) Bran:** "Can I really afford to show off what I can do...? The enemy could gain some advantage with that kind of-"

Bran lets out an agonising shriek as the pain induced by Living II increases massively with every second that goes by. The sweat pouring down her face fuses with the tears rolling down her cheeks and her heart booms so immensely that it can be heard clear as day by Bran.

**(t) Bran:** "Oh God damn! I can't take this anymore...I think I have to show it off!"

Bursting into the room with absolute rage in his eyes and blood pouring from the side of his head (probably because of Bangtan's kick last chapter), Icarus emerges with murderous intent. His heavy breathing is interrupted momentarily as he swipes away the slobber that's oozing from his mouth.

**Icarus Bastille:** "Give me her..." *He twitches violently.* "Give me that baby, you bitch!"

**Bran:** "You! You're the enemy here aren't you? You in charge of this Stand?

**Icarus Bastille:** "Take a guess, kid!"

**Bran:** "I'll take that as a yes, and so, can I please ask...for you to remove this Stand's hand from my arm!"

**Icarus Bastille:** "No...No not until I get the baby!"

**Bran:** "Please man...this hurts like hell! Just take it off me...!"

**Icarus Bastille:** "Give me the baby...or die!" Bran's eyes close and a blue aura manifests around her.

**Bran:** "How about a third option...neither!"

Her eyes dart open and she grins. Her skin begins to be less red and she stops sweating or crying as her bpm returns to normal.

**Icarus Bastille:** "What the...what the hell did you just do!?"

**Bran:** *She sniggers.* "Take a guess, kid!"

Living II releases its grip so that both it and its master can take a few, nervous steps back. Just as much sweat rolls down his face as drool does while his teeth grind with frustration.

**(t) Icarus Bastille:** "The pain...it's like she's just able to completely ignore it...she's also able to see my Stand...could this be the power...the ability of her Stand!?"

Icarus gives Bran an evil look, staring deep within her eyes, and she responds with a light smile. She then goes on to raise her hand to her star-shaped necklace with a crystal in the middle.

**Bran:** "My Stand...empowered my Root chakra!" Icarus flicks his head back in both confusion and terror.

**Icarus Bastille:** "Your what?"

**Bran:** "My Root Chakra! Humans have 7 core Chakras scattered alone their spin and head and these chakras are spinning disks of energy that control aspects of our body, like our emotional and physical well-being. When a Chakra is blocked, we find it impacts us massively in a negative way! Well at least, that's what we believe in the spiritual community, but nonetheless, my Stand has control over three of those chakras!"

**(t) Icarus Bastille:** "What, so her stand was able to make it so she can withstand that much pain simply by making a 'Chakra' better? No way is that possible!"

**Bran:** "I'm able to create a small, spherical crystal or effect a pre-existing crystal with the power of the first 3 Chakra: Root, Sacral and Solar Plexus. All of which have a different effect." *She caresses her necklace.* " The crystal I store in this necklace isn't just for show, but in fact, it allows me to harness the power of my stand! The Root Chakra it's empowering right now suppresses physical pain so no matter how much you use your God forsaken Stand, I won't feel a thing!"

**Icarus Bastille:** "Dammit! You're just like your friend, Bangtan! An annoying and over confident kid! Your arrogance is your wax wings and all I need to do is figure out what your Sun is!"

**(t) Bran:** "What the...what?"

**Icarus Bastille:** "The Weight Of Living! Use your razor-sharp fingers to attack her physically! She may be able to suppress pain, but she sure as hell can't stop herself from cut to shreds!"

Living II leaps through the air, claws prepared, and hisses at it flies towards Bran. Focused and ready for battle, Bran extends her arm out and points at Living II. Riding along her arm and floating off of the tip of her finger, an orb-like (no bigger than 7 inches in diameter), metallic stand with clenched fists and yellow heart eyes goes launching at her foe.

**Bran:** "Crush him for me...「Paramore」!!!"

Paramore soars towards the stands head and, even though it's physically smaller than Living II's face alone, it releases a barrage of powerful bunches.

**Paramore:** "CRUSHCRUSHCRUSHCRUSH~~~!!!"

Both Stand and user erupt with blood, either from their mouths or broken noses, and go flying back. Living II collapses to the ground and while Icarus holds his face in horror.

**Icarus Bastille:** "How can such a small stand have such a powerful punch!?"

Finally getting here, Josefa enters through the door way just as Living II disappears into the low-riding fog.

**Josefa Alejo:** "Bran!"

**Bran:** "Josefa! It's great to see yo-"

**Josefa Alejo:** "No, Bran, look behind you!"

Bran tenses as her head tilts to look beyond her back and there, emerging from out of the fog, Living II manifests with its claws ready for an attack.

**(t) Bran:** "Dammit, Paramore is too far away and won't get here in time! What do I do!?"

Before she can even come up with a plan, Living II pulls its hand back before plunging its blade-like fingers through Bran's stomach. Blood shoots out of her belly in front of her, splattering over everything before her.

**Josefa Alejo:** "Bran! No!" *She starts to sprint at her.* "I recently found out I have a Stand like you! If I can get to you, I can use my Mercy Mercy Me relocate that damage away from you!" While darting in her direction, Josefa is grabbed by Icarus and pulled back as he tries to stop her getting to him.

**Icarus Bastille:** "First, The Weight Of Living will kill her and then, it'll kill you!"

**Josefa Alejo:** "Why!? Why did you have to plan something so elaborate!? Couldn't you have just killed me when we first met?"

**Icarus Bastille:** "You see, we weren't sure whether your Stand could relocate pain as well as damage, which would have meant my stand was futile for an attempt to beat you! Answer me this, can it?"

**Josefa Alejo:** "Can it what? Relocate pain? I got shot earlier but can still feel the pain of the bullets inside my body, so I'm guessing it can cause pain with a relocation be can't actually remove pain. If that answers your question, can you let me go now!?"

**Icarus Bastille:** "Why in God's name would I do that?"

**Josefa Alejo:** "Well, I think she may be a bit mad if you didn't!"

**Icarus Bastille:** "She...?"

Icarus pauses as he feels something brush up against his cheek. His eyes slowly shift left to witness Paramore with one hand holding a crystal against his face while the other hand is cocked back, clenched into a fist.

**(t) Icarus Bastille:** "How is she able to control Paramore after I did that much damage?" *His eyes flick over to Bran, who is stood proud even with claws in her stomach.* "Oh God yeah, her stand ability. It's still active on her necklace! If she can't feel the pain of the attack, then it won't slow her down! Even if she's dying, she can't feel it!"

**Paramore:** "CRUSHCRUSHCRUSH!"

Paramore launches its fist at the crystal, shattering it into a million tiny, sharp pieces across his face, completely tearing it to shreds.

**Icarus Bastille:** "AAUURRRGHHH!!!"

Josefa is able to break out of his grip while face bleeds out and sprints at Bran. She notices that after Paramore shattered the crystal, Bran's fist started bleeding.

**Josefa Alejo:** "I have an idea. I've never tried it like this before but it's worth a shot!"

**Bran:** "I..." *Blood pours from her mouth.* "I trust you!"

As she gets close, Josefa's Mercy Mercy Me manifests ahead of her. It punches Bran's stomach before proceeding to punch Living II itself, attempting to relocate the damage from a human to an Stand. After a few moments in suspense, Bran's belly heals over and multiple, claw-shaped holes appear on Living II. Josefa's head pivots around to look at Icarus, who now has the same agonising infliction.

**Josefa Alejo:** "Yes! I knew it! Whatever damage a Stand takes, the user takes it to!"

**Bran:** *She chuckles.* "Well yeah, I could have told you that. But thanks nonetheless! It's nice to see that you're okay!"

**Josefa Alejo:** "You too, Bran! Thanks for taking care of my sister! Now...Icarus!"

The two turn their attention to their foe and slowly make their way over to him. He cowers. He trembles. He sweats. He's failed. He doesn't know how to win.

**Josefa Alejo:** "Those answers I asked for earlier..." *Paramore perches itself on Bran's shoulder and Mercy Mercy Me poses behind Josefa.* "...I think it's time I got them!"

### Chapter 13 - What's it all about?

The chapter begins with a shot of Bangtan Boy-Scout running down the hallways of the Orphanage in an attempt to find the girls.

**(n) Narrator:** "Bangtan Boy-Scout. 17 and the user of the phenomena Stand that manipulates animals, Snake Eater."

After watching him run a few more steps, his foot still bleeding, we cut back to the room where girls were. Down against the floor clenching his stomach wound, Icarus lays before them.

**(n) Narrator:** "Icarus Bastille. 37 and the user of the dual-unit Stand that inflicts pain through touch, The Weight Of Living."

Panning up from him, the camera moves onto the baby held carefully and lovingly Bran's arms.

**(n) Narrator:** "Belinda Josune Alejo. 9 months and target of whatever operation is going on here."

Moving up a bit further, we get a view of Bran's face with Paramore next to it (it's perched on her shoulder). From her mouth, blood still pours but it seems to be slowing with every second that passes.

**(n) Narrator:** "Bran Nuiyes. 18 and the user of the orbicular Stand that can enhance the first three chakras, Paramore."

Sliding slighting to the right, we get a shot of Josefa standing confidentially with her Mercy Mercy Me stood besides her.

**(n) Narrator:** "Josefa Alejo. 18 and the user of the fast humanoid Stand that can relocate physical damage, Mercy Mercy Me!"

**Josefa Alejo:** "First things first, your Stand. The Weight Of Living. Even if Bran here is suppressing the pain, it means its still there, it's just not being felt, right? So I'll need you to deactivate your Stand before we can go any further!"

**Icarus Bastille:** "And what...what happens if I don't?"

**Josefa Alejo:** "Well, it's simple. really I just won't heal you." *She points to the blood spewing out of his stomach.* "Those wounds may not be fatal but they could get seriously infected, no? Now we don't want that happened do we?"

Icarus' eyes narrow at her but after a few moments, he sighs and his collapsed Living II disappears.

**Bran Nuiyes:** "Thanks. Now I can deactivate my Paramore and we can-"

**Josefa Alejo** "Wait! Don't do a thing! Not yet."

Bran looks a bit confused, but let's her best friend do what she must. Josefa kneels down so that the low-riding fog is just above her chest. She then weaves her hands through out, it watching it curve around her every movement.

**Josefa Alejo:** "Don't you think it's weird...that this fog doesn't flow like it should when I move through it? It should really being wafted away, caused to dissipate, but instead, it's flowing like water around my hand." *Icarus begins to twitch.* "I also find it weird how quickly it built up. It's really thick. Like, really thick...seeing that it wasn't even here while I was earlier...less than 45 minutes ago..."

Bran staggers back as Josefa swings her fist out and releases a powerful right hook across Icarus' already broken face!

**Josefa Alejo:** "This fog isn't natural is it?! It's apart of your Stand! That's why your stand could travel through it! So if this is still active, I'm guessing the pain is too!"

Icarus agonisingly screams as he hugs his face, holding back the flood of blood.

**Icarus Bastille:** "You stupid bitches!!"

**Bran Nuiyes:** "Hey, don't swear in front of Belinda! And don't yell either! She only just got back to sleep! This has been a long night for her!"

**Icarus Bastille:** "Well what do you expect me to do after she just decked me around the face!?"

**Josefa Alejo:** "Just shut up and deactivate The Weight Of Living already! And this time do it properly."

Icarus huffs and puffs before eventually doing as she says. The low-riding fog that had once encompassed the entire building rapidly begin to lower. Cautiously, Bran touches her crystal with the tip of her finger and deactivates Paramore. After a few moments of waiting for something to happen, she sighs in relief.

**Bran Nuiyes:** "He did it, he deactivated his Stand."

Mercy Mercy Me appears and punches Icarus, relocating most of his damage to a nearby wall besides for the cut that was on his head when he entered and the hole in his stomach.

**Icarus Bastille:** "What? Are you not gonna do it all?"

Mercy Mercy Me punches him a few more times, trying to relocate the damage, but it's to no avail.

**Josefa Alejo:** "Believe me...I'm trying. Plus you're not really in the position to be moaning. What makes those injuries different to anything else?"

**Bran Nuiyes:** "Josefa, your Stand...what exactly is its ability?"

**Josefa Alejo:** "I've only had it a short while but it seems it has the ability to relocate damage that has been caused within the passed minute." *She stares at the wounds.* "I know the one in your chest happened within the last minute, what about that one on your head?"

**Icarus Bastille:** "That was um...that kid...Bangtan! That's his name. He kicked my Living I around the head, that idiot. That happened well over a minute ago though."

**Josefa Alejo:** "Hmmm...I have a theory..." *She stands up fully and turns to Bran.* "Can I have a crystal please?"

**Bran Nuiyes:** "Um, sure." *Paramore appears and throws a centimetre wide crystal over to Josefa.* "Can I ask what it's for?"

**Josefa Alejo:** "Oh, nothing much. Just this."

She smashes the crystal off of Mercy Mercy Me's arm, causing her hand and both of their arms to get completely cut up. Both Bran and Icarus look completely dumbfounded.

**Josefa Alejo:** "Now, Mercy Mercy Me, heal us!"

Mercy Mercy Me leaps at Josefa and punches her before hitting the ground, relocating the damage on her hand to the floor, but not the damage on her arm. Josefa looks very proud of herself.

**Icarus Bastille:** "I can't see what that achieved..."

**Josefa Alejo:** "Déjame descansar...isn't it obvious?!" *She throws her arms out in arrogance.* "The damage on my hand was directly caused to me, but the damage on my arm was caused to Mercy Mercy Me which in turn got directed to me. That's the same with the hole in your stomach! Any damage done to Stand directly must not be able to be redirected!"

Bran high fives Josefa for her detective skills and Paramore does a little clap.

**Bran Nuiyes:** "Well done, JoJo!"

**Josefa Alejo:** "You know I hate that nickname."

**Bran Nuiyes:** "I don't know why though. It takes the Jo from your first name and the Jo from your last name! It's perfect! Plus, you embroidered it onto your Jacket, so you must like it just a little bit."

**Josefa Alejo:** *She chuckles.* "That's because you bet me to!"

**Icarus Bastille, still bleeding:** "Aww, I'm glad you guys are having fun. It's so cute!"

Both of their smiles instantly drop as they turn to him.

**Josefa Alejo:** "What now?"

**Icarus Bastille:** "Well, we have some more pressing issues to deal with like the HOLE IN MY STOMACH!"

**Josefa Alejo:** "Urgh, I'd let you die if I hadn't already made a promise to my mom...okay, Bran can you call an ambulance?"

**Icarus Bastille:** "How very heroic of you."

Bran nods and heads outside of the room to make the call. Josefa glares at her opponent who lays weak on the floor.

**Josefa Alejo:** "I said I'd get my answers, so I think it's time..."

**Icarus Bastille:** "Ask away. My wax wings have melted and I'm destined for the ocean. I have little to lose now."

**Josefa Alejo:** "What's it all about?"

**Icarus Bastille:** "Elaborate."

**Josefa Alejo:** "Felt clear to me...this whole thing. Going after my family. Why? What's it all for? What's it all about?"

Icarus scoffs.

**Josefa Alejo:** "What's so funny?"

**Icarus Bastille:** "Even to this moment, you believe it's about you! Your arrogance is astonishing. The only reason you're involved...is because you're Belinda's sister."

**Josefa Alejo:** "What are you saying?"

**Icarus Bastille:** "I'm saying, she's the only target! You're just a nuisance getting in our way! Your friends are collateral damage. Your mom was just collateral dam-"

Mercy Mercy Me shoves its hand over Icarus' mouth. Josefa moves her face so that it's but centimetres away from his head and stares into his eyes.

**Josefa Alejo:** "Call my mom collateral damage and I will have my Stand tear off one of your limbs."

Icarus continues to twitch as he stares nervously back. He decides it's best not to try and say anything.

**Josefa Alejo:** "No? Nothing? Good."

She leans back up into a full stance.

**Josefa Alejo:** "Now please continue."

**Icarus Bastille:** "As I was saying...your sister...she was the only one we wanted to get. Everyone else was just..." *Josefa raises an eyebrow at him.* "...an unfortunate, unforeseen consequence."

**Josefa Alejo:** "I don't believe for a moment that it was unforeseen...and I also don't think you really believe it to be unfortunate but that's not important right now." *She rests her hand on her hip as she thinks.* "My sister. She's 9 months old. Only a few days ago did I have to take a battery off of her because she was chewing it, so she's definitely not a danger to you. I can't think of any other reason you'd be hunting someone with this much persistence."

**Icarus Bastille:** "Well that I can't comment on..."

Icarus suddenly holds his head in pain as his other arm clenches his stomach.

**Josefa Alejo:** "You know, that limb threat also applies to not telling me what I want to hear."

**Icarus Bastille:** "No! I can't comment on it because...I don't actually know."

**Josefa Alejo:** "Ah, so they just didn't let you in on their little secret did they?"

**Icarus Bastille:** "For most of us, it isn't our job to know or care...so really, I don't know."

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "Great. All of his pain and battling for not even any really useful information. Though..."

**Josefa Alejo:** "This 'us' and 'we' you speak of, who are they exactly?"

**Icarus Bastille:** "They're the people who hired me...A company known as the R.E.M. Foundation!"

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "Yes! My suspicions were confirmed. First Holice Fontana talks about them and then this guy says blatantly that they're his boss!"

Bran walks back into the room, hanging up her phone as she does.

**Bran Nuiyes:** "It's on its way now."

**Josefa Alejo:** "Good, thanks Bran." *Josefa reverts her attention back to the crippled Icarus.* "You're sure as hell telling me a lot. When you made that metaphor about the wax wings and the ocean...did you...mean it literally?"

**Icarus Bastille:** "Maybe, kid..." *He begins to sway side to side.* "...Maybe..."

Icarus completely collapses to his left and smacks off of the ground with full force. Josefa, anxious, runs over to him and begins to rattle him about.

**Josefa Alejo:** "Icarus! Icarus, come on! Wake up!..." *Her head flicks around to Bran.* "On the phone call, did you explain the injuries?!"

**Bran Nuiyes:** "Yeah, of course! I didn't tell them the cause but I described them!"

**Josefa Alejo:** "Dammit. Then they're probably gonna bring the police along with them! We need to get out of here."

**Bran Nuiyes:** "I'm sorry Josefa but I can't leave him here! He might die!"

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "She's right...I can't just leave him here! But what else am I to do?!"

Josefa examines him and comes to final decision rather quickly. She whips of his blazer and rolls him over onto back.

**Josefa Alejo:** "Bran. Give me a bunch of crystals ASAP!"

**Bran Nuiyes:** "On it!"

Though it takes a hot second, Bran is able to get her Paramore to create 12 crystals. Josefa then tears off his sweater too. Putting the crystals over the wounds and squashing them down with his sweater, Josefa goes on to wrap his blazer around him to hold it all in place.

**Josefa Alejo:** "That *should* slow down the bleeding for when the paramedics get here! Now let's get out of this place!"

Bran nods and passes Josefa her sister before they both leg it out of the room and down the hallways!

**(n) Narrator:** "Icarus Bastille. Status: Deceased?"

## **Volume 4 - I Got To Get Out Of California**

### Chapter 14 - Heavy Love Affair

A light breeze brushes against Thalía's hair as she drives down the lonesome, late-night roads of Sacramento with the windows open. Her face shows a picture of someone extremely unhappy. Her bright, vibrant attire implies someone who's in fact very happy. It's difficult to tell which of the two are correct, but, either way, it's clear she's not of the best mindset right now.

**(n) Josefa Alejo:** "Thalía Alejo. Single mom of one (me) who's constantly on the search for her long lost love, 'JoJo'. It had to have been the February of 2017, though I can't remember the exact date. One of the smaller reasons I remember it being around then is because I, and Bangtan, had went to stop over Bran's house for a sleepover. Bran and I had a field trip the next day to the Sacramento History Museum and, though Bangtan's in a year below us and so wasn't coming, we invited him to the hangout anyway. This all meant that mom was alone the night she found out..."

She pulls up into the car park of a crappy-looking bar with a broken sign outside reading "The Moon". As she finds a fitting parking spot, she sits for a moment and glares at herself in the rear-view mirror.

**(n) Josefa Alejo:** "She decided not to tell me until I got back from my field trip the next day. That night, she had gotten a phone call about my abuelo...my mom got a phone call saying my Abuelo Jorge had passed away. It was apparently earlier that day and was caused by a yet undiagnosed disease that attacked his heart. First her mother died while she was in California, then her father dies out of the blue. All of it, not just the deaths but all of it, was a lot to take...so she needed a release..."

Thalía sighs and pushes open her car door before walking over to the bar. On entry to The Moon, a bell rings that announces her presence while her eyes bare view of a mostly barren bar that looks just as crappy inside as it did outside.

**(n) Josefa Alejo:** "...Even if temporary."

She shakes her head in despairful amusement as she notices the absolutely shattered jukebox at the back of the bar. Originally, we can see that she wants to go over and maybe put on some tunes, however, instead she chooses to take a seat at the bar and wait for a bartender to come serve her, which doesn't take long.

**Bartender:** "What ya havin'?"

**Thalía Alejo:** "Not sure...just get me a glass of chardonnay please."

**Bartender:** "Sure. Be right back."

The bell of the bar door rings as a new person enters this wreckage of an establishment.

**Thalía Alejo:** *As the bartender goes to walk away, she sighs.* "Hey, actually, I'd rather not have a chardonnay."

**Bartender:** "Oh..." *he turns around.* "What then?"

**Thalía Alejo:** "Can I get a couple shots of Malört? Please and thank you."

**Bartender:** "Comin' right up."

Thalía watches as the bartender walks off down the bar to venture for a bottle of Jeppson's Malört.

**Thalía Alejo, beneath her breath:** "¿Qué me estoy haciendo...a mí mismo?"

**???:** "I'm not sure, what are you doing to yourself?"

Thalía's eyes widen in confusion before she flings her head around to look at the yet formless voice beyond her back. Her bewildered eyes stare at the man behind her, who we see to be Caucasian and rather tall - definitely 6 foot or taller. He dons a black suit and, though his face is shrouded in shadow, making it completely impossible to see, we can tell he's probably in his 20's. However, his most striking feature is...

**(n) Josefa Alejo:** "His red hair. That's what my thought was so weird about this man. His long, crimson hair, of which he had pulled back into a ponytail. My mom found it so interesting because she was never sure whether or not it was dyed that colour or natural...he seemed to be a rather peculiar man all round."

**Thalía Alejo:** "Excuse me?"

**???:** "You asked what you're doing too yourself and I thought it would be charming to say what I just said. I see now it probably wasn't."

**Thalía Alejo:** "Well...it wasn't charming, mostly just a bit baffling, but it was worth a shot I guess."

She turns back around and broods over the bar. The man doesn't seem to take the hint and pulls a seat up next to her.

**???:** "So, what you doing here?"

**Thalía Alejo:** "I've come to grab a quiet drink."

**???:** "Ouch, one of these times you're gonna hurt me with your words." *Thalía raises an eyebrow at his words.* "But still, that's not what I meant. You just ordered a Malört, the world's worst drink that everyone for some reason keeps buying."

**Thalía Alejo:** "...And...?"

**???:** "You definitely don't drink Malört regularly so why would you order that if you weren't here for another reason?"

Thalía sighs and tilts her head to the right to look at her new acquaintance.

**Thalía Alejo:** "And what makes you think I don't drink Malört on the regular?"

**???:** "I don't know, It's just...intuition..."

The bartender reappears and pours her two shots of Malört before walking off to serve another customer.

**Thalía Alejo:** "Seems your intuition isn't great then."

**???, smirking:** "Oh, is that so?"

**Thalía Alejo:** "That is so, yes."

**???:** "Then go on, throw those shots back. Sure it'll be easy for a regular drinker."

**Thalía Alejo:** "Oh? You think I won't do it?"

**???:** "No, I don't think you will."

**Thalía Alejo:** "I hate to prove your terrible intuition wrong but..."

She takes a moment staring at the shots.

**(t) Thalía Alejo:** "Déjame descansar..."

She grabs a shot in either hand and one after another, leaving not even a second between them, she throws back the shots. Instantly, she starts coughing and just about stops herself from throwing up. Thalía cringes hard at the taste.

**Thalía Alejo, gagging:** "¡Oh Dios!"

The man chuckles to himself as he watches her struggle to keep it down.

**???:** "So, is this the reaction of a regular Jeppson's Malört drinker?"

Thalía takes a second to make sure she doesn't throw it up.

**Thalía Alejo:** "So...bitter..."

**???:** "And what was that about my terrible intuition?"

**Thalía Alejo:** "You're...very cocky aren't you?"

**???:** "I wouldn't say cocky...conceited maybe but not cocky."

Thalía laughs beneath her breath and shakes her head.

**(t) Thalía Alejo:** "This guy's a real piece of work."

The man calls over the bartender and gets himself some shots of Malört too.

**???:** "Go on then...why are you actually here? And why are you ordering such a terrible drink?"

**Thalía Alejo:** "I've...I've just had a bad day..."

**???:** "Can't put it anymore fair than that I guess." *His two shots arrive and he nods his head to the bartender gratefully.* "So, what's your name?"

**Thalía Alejo:** "Thalía...Thalía Alejo...and you?"

The man takes the two shots and throws them back like they're nothing but water before turning to her.

**???:** "You can call me...John Doe."

She stares at him for a while speechless and baffled out of her mind. Quite a bit after, she gathers her self and says:

**Thalía Alejo:** "This is going to be an interesting night isn't it?"

**John Doe:** "I'm sure it will be one to remember."

They both chuckle as we then get a montage of shots of these two acquaintances talking through the night. They laugh and they have fun with one another. We even see them continuing to do shots of the drink - with every time it getting just a little bit harder to keep it down.

**(n) Josefa Alejo:** "My mom told me about how they talked all through the night and how much she enjoyed it. Somehow, even after the immensely crappy day she had had, he made her laugh. He made her smile. He made her happy."

We eventually come to the end of the montage, where it seems like they're having a debate.

**John Doe:** "So you're seriously telling me you prefer Brave over ALL of the Star Wars movies?!"

**Thalía Alejo:** "I am seriously telling you that, yes."

**John Doe:** "I just don't get it...I like all the Star Wars movies, in fact Revenge Of The Sith is my favourite movie overall, so I can't comprehend putting Brave over any one of them."

**Thalía Alejo:** "I'm not sure, I just really enjoyed it. Maybe it was the bond that the mom and the daughter had."

**John Doe:** "Why? Do you have children?"

**Thalía Alejo:** "Yeah, just the one. Her name's Josefa. Have I not spoken about her? She's usually the first thing I bring up when meeting someone."

**John Doe:** "How old is she, Josefa?"

**Thalía Alejo:** "She'll be..." *She takes a moment to think.* "18 in the October."

John Doe tenses and looks massively shocked by this. Thalía begins to grow nervous from his reaction, but doesn't let it become noticeable.

**John Doe:** "When...exactly is her birthday?"

**Thalía Alejo** "October...22nd...1999..."

**John Doe:** "There's no way...how the hell..."

**Thalía Alejo:** "What? What is it!?"

**John Doe:** "You're the woman! You're the woman in the photo!"

He begins to scramble through his pockets, aggressively searching for something he can't seem to find.

**Thalía Alejo:** *Her breathing grows heavy as her anxiety sky rockets.* "What are you talking about? What photo?!"

**John Doe:** "I knew I recognised you from somewhere...AHA!"

From his pocket, he yanks out a piece of paper and slams it down on the bar. It's a photo of a man and a women, with the man holding a very large fish. The woman depicted is Thalía and the man is JoJo.

**John Doe:** "When I was 9...17 years ago...I saw a pregnant woman get rushed into an ambulance after her waters had broke. However, when she was being put in the back of the ambulance, she dropped a photo onto the ground and only after the crowds had dispersed and the paramedics had taken her to hospital did I pick it up."

**Thalía Alejo:** "That woman...that was me..."

**John Doe:** "I wasn't sure of it was you when I saw your face but now that I know your daughter was born on that exact day...I'm sure it's you I saw! It's like our paths were destined to cross!"

**Thalía Alejo:** "This is...I don't know what this is...I'm speechless."

**John Doe:** "I can't blame you...this is an insane coincidence."

**Thalía Alejo:** "But why?...Why did you decide to keep it?"

**John Doe:** "Honestly? I'm not sure...I just couldn't let it go. It felt wrong, if that makes sense..."

Thalía picks up the photo and stares at it for a while.

**John Doe:** "You know...if you want to keep it, that's fine with me. It's yours anyway."

**Thalía Alejo:** "Thank you..." *She stares at if for another few seconds before pocketing it.* "That's very sweet of you."

**John Doe:** "Like I say...it's yours anyway. No need to thank me."

**Thalía Alejo:** "Listen..." *Thalía takes a good few moments to think about the next words she's going to say.* "...do you want to...I don't know..."

**John Doe:** "Get out of here? I'd be happy to if you are?"

**Thalía Alejo, intrigued by his forwardness:** "Yeah...yeah I'd like that."

The two hop up out of their chairs and go to leave, though John Doe just smacks a pile of cash onto the bar before they do so. He doesn't count it but based on the size of the stack, it's clear to say it's more than enough. As the two exit The Moon, John lights a cigarette and stands still on pavement next to Thalía in the pitch black of the Sacramento night.

**Thalía Alejo:** "What are we waiting for?"

**John Doe:** "Oh nothing much..." *He smirks.* "...just my limo."

**Thalía Alejo:** "Your what!?"

Pulling up in front of them, a long, pristine limo appears with bright, glimmering wheels. John pulls the door open for Thalía, allowing her to enter the back of the limo - it's full of neon lights and has a massive amount of open space for a road vehicle. John follows swiftly behind, but not before throwing his cigarette on the floor without even taking a single puff of it.

**(t) Thalía Alejo:** "Like I said earlier...this guy is a real piece of work..."

John sits down next to Thalía who gazes around at the limo in wonderment.

**John Doe:** "It's nice isn't it?"

**Thalía Alejo:** "I guess it's sort of nice..." *She says, smiling.*

Thalía looks over at the driver and nods to John. He then shimmies over to front of the limo.

**John Doe:** "Hey, driver. Just to let you know...you may want to play some loud music."

The two giggle to each other as John pulls up the privacy screen.

**(n) Josefa Alejo:** "Thank God my mom didn't tell me what happened after that - I think I would have been scarred for life - but it's pretty easy to guess. Don't get me wrong, my mom thought this man was lovely and sweet, but all she expected it to be was a one night stand as she was still in love with JoJo. And, though she wasn't wrong about it being a one night stand...there was a lot more to it than that..."

The camera pans out from the limousine to get a nice, wide shot of the clear, void-like night sky.

**(n) Josefa Alejo:** "He was right when he said...this night will be one to remember."

### Chapter 15 - I Got To Get Out Of California

**(n) Bran Nuiyes:** "It's been what? An hour maybe? I think its been about that long since we were at the Orphanage."

We get a quick flashback to the Orphanage where Josefa, carrying Belinda, and Bran run through the halls and meet up with Bangtan. They then continue to run on, however, they head upstairs, ignoring the exit.

**(n) Bran Nuiyes:** "After me and JoJo converged with Bangtan, we thought it best not to tell him about the fact that we may have caused the death of Icarus. Not only was it sort of his own fault, but Bangtan is also very much against murder and I know most people, including myself, are, but Bangtan's hate against murder far surpasses that of the average person's. Following that, we decided it wasn't quite time to leave...after all, there was still a carer-less baby in the Orphanage. Once we found her, Bangtan came to the quick realisation that we hadn't thought of what the hell we were gonna do with her."

Josefa and the group retrieve the baby before heading out doors into the Sacramento night. They stand for a while, unsure of what to do, but we then see Josefa suggest something, causing them to all nod and start heading down the street - rapidly of course.

**(n) Bran Nuiyes:** "Originally, I had suggested we leave the baby in a stroller outside of the Orphanage so that the paramedics would see her and hopefully take her in, though Bangtan and Josefa both agreed that if they didn't take her - maybe not noticing her or even assuming she belonged to someone else who was in the area - then it would be way worse off than it was then. JoJo then had the amazing idea of leaving it at a church, like they do in the movies. It wasn't perfect, but it's the best we'd got."

We swiftly cut to a shot of the gang dropping off the baby at the front of a church and knocking on the door, before quickly sprinting away. As someone opens the doors to this massive, grand church, we see that the baby has a word written on their blanket.

**(n) Bran Nuiyes:** "I thought it only right that we got to name this baby we were protecting, and so, I wrote my chosen name for her on its blanket using Bangtan's pen - he always has a pen on him. The name I went with...was Perla!"

Written in very bold and poorly done letters, we see that "Perla" is depicted on the blanket. Cutting again, we get to see Josefa, Bran, and Bangtan making their way up a flight of stairs before entering an apartment.

**(n) Bran Nuiyes:** "Luckily for us, the church that we dropped Perla off at was on the direct path towards Josefa's home, Apartment 402. To our dismay, that walk was about 45 minutes."

The house they gaze within, as described in the very first chapter, isn't a wreck, but definitely doesn't look particularly organised. There're quite a few toys scattered across the floor of the living room (the very first room you encounter) and a few pizza boxes are laying around, though it does seem like the vacuuming and other forms of general cleaning have been done rather recently. The room isn't massive but it's big enough to fit a kitchen as well as living room into just one room. On the back-most wall are two doors, one leading to either bedroom and on the left wall is an open door, leading to a tiny bathroom. While Bangtan and Bran both crash on the couch the moment they enter, Josefa instead chooses to carry Belinda through the front room and into her mom's bedroom, where she sets her to sleep in her crib.

**Josefa Alejo:** *She sighs,* "We've had a big day today, you especially...and to think, less than two hours ago I resented you." *Josefa takes a seat on her mom's bed.* "I've been a horrible sister over the past few days...in fact...I've been the worst sister. And an even worse daughter. Mom would have had faith in me to always look after you and though I haven't done a great job so far...I'm going to do better from here on out!"

She thinks back to Holice and Icarus, imagining their visages and stands in her mind, before beginning to grow nervous over something.

**Josefa Alejo:** "This R.E.M. Foundation...they're after you...and I'm going to do my damned hardest to make sure they don't get to you, but something bothers me. They knew about Mercy Mercy Me, yes, and for now I'll just have to cope with that oddity, but they had also assumed I'd be the only Stand user they'd have to face. That's what scares me. Those enemies...they were strong..." *She clenches her fists.* I'm afraid that these guys were just weaklings sent in to 'test the waters'. If so, I'm scared...I'm terrified of what else they have to send our way. Will the next foes we have to face somehow be stronger than these last couple?!."

In her head, she then imagines Bran, Bangtan and her mom, Thalía.

**Josefa Alejo:** "I'm sure with their guidance I'll be fine...we'll be fine!"

**Bran Nuiyes, from the other room:** "Hey, JoJo! Get your butt in here, I think we've got a lot to talk about!"

Josefa chuckles silently, gets up and takes one last worried, yet confident, glance at her sister before exiting the room. As she closes the door the behind her, she turns to Bran.

**Josefa Alejo:** "Listen, I love you girl, but you gotta learn to tone it down a bit. I've got a sleeping 9-month old in there."

**Bran Nuiyes:** "Yup, sorry about that. There's just been a lot that's gone on in the past couple of hours and I think we really should discuss it."

Josefa walks along the room and takes a seat in the arm chair that rests directly across from the couch her friends lay waste upon.

**Josefa Alejo:** "First things first then, your hand."

**Bran Nuiyes:** "Huh?"

Bran takes a quick glance at her hand, to see that the cuts she'd gotten from shattering a crystal using Paramore earlier are mostly healed over, even the deep ones. Josefa then raises her hand, revealing that hers are still not healed even though they were received from a similar event (when Mercy Mercy Me shattered a crystal) at a similar time.

**Josefa Alejo:** "I thought your Stand could only suppress pain, so what's happening there then?"

**Bran Nuiyes:** "First of all, my stand can do a lot more than suppress pain. It can focus any one of the first three main Chakras into a crystal. Second, right now, I'm using the Root Chakra on the crystal in my necklace and though yes, it does suppress pain, it can also cause minor injuries to heal slightly quicker than usual. This is because the Root Chakra is responsible for keeping us grounded, giving us support. Pain and small wounds are hindrances that make it hard to do much else, so Paramore can use the Root Chakra to support the person effected by removing these hindrances. Does that explain it well enough?"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** *He chuckles beneath his breath.* "I don't think she needed an entire paragraph to explain Paramore can also speed up low-levelling healing."

**Bran Nuiyes:** "Whatever Boy-Scout, you would have made an entire essay to describe that your Stand just protects you."

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "It's a lot more complex than that and you know it!"

**Bran Nuiyes:** "Sure it is..."

**Josefa Alejo, cutting in:** "If your hand is mostly healed, could I borrow your ability for a bit?"

**Bran Nuiyes:** \*Turning her attention away from her petty argument, "Oh yeah, sure!" *Bran taps the crystal in her necklace and there's a small glow that quickly fades.* "Okay Paramore, go!"

After flinging her hand forward, Paramore appears and launches off the tip of her finger, going straight at Josefa. When it gets to her, it generates a crystal that it then places in her palm. Instantly, Josefa releases a breath of relief as all the pain flows from her body and her wound begin to heal faster.

**Josefa Alejo:** "Thank you Bran. Now, after that argument, I feel I'm going to regret this next question... Bangtan, your stand, I couldn't see it. How come?"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Well, it's not actually tha-"

**Bran Nuiyes:** "It has a physical manifestation but he chooses not to bring it out!"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Bran, what the hell?"

**Bran Nuiyes, smirking:** "Well maybe you shouldn't have commented on my answer just."

Josefa sits there, on the verge of pulling out her hair out.

**Josefa Alejo:** "You're both as bad as each other, man..."

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "That's not fair. I was just trying to..." He sees her lifeless yet enraged eyes staring back at him.

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "You know what...I think I'll just answer your question. Bran's right...my Stand has a physical manifestation but I don't use it for two reasons. The lesser reason is that technically, I can't even activate it myself even if I wanted to." *Josefa looks immensely confused by this statement but let's him continue nonetheless.* "However, the main reason is how dangerous the manifestation is. Snake Eater, when at full calibre, has the potential to causes harm to a lot of people, and I don't want that to happen, so I just use its, what I call, 'phenomena' form."

**Josefa Alejo:** "That's fair, Bangtan."

Bran bites her lips very hard, to the point where she may actually bite into herself if she's not careful.

**Josefa Alejo:** "Bran, you okay?"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Yeah Bran, you look like you're about to explode."

Bran stays in this state for a second before bursting opening her mouth and whispering something.

**Josefa Alejo:** "Come on, just say what you gotta say..."

**Bran Nuiyes**: *She chuckles beneath her breath*. "I don't...I don't think she needed an entire paragraph to explain that you don't use it 'cause it's dangerous."

The two sit there in silent for a moment. Josefa just leans forward in her chair and covers her face.

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Oh...my God."

**Bran Nuiyes:** "I had to say it, okay! You did it to me! Plus, you guys asked me what I was trying to say!"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "You're so stupid!"

**Bran Nuiyes:** "You're stupid!" As the two bicker in the background, Josefa stairs into her palms and cancels their voices out.

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "Déjame descansar...I love these guys...I really do...but they're both so stupid...how did I at any moment think these guys were gonna help me protect Belinda from what the R.E.M. Foundation have to throw at us..."

Josefa begins to hear a specific word coming through, even though she's trying to cancel them out.

**Bangtan Boy-Scout & Bran:** "Josefa? Josefa?!"

Josefa begrudgingly moves her hands from her face and looks up at them. The two are acting far more calmly than they were just.

**Josefa Alejo:** "Yes...?"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "We kind of..."

**Bran Nuiyes:** "...have something to tell you."

Looking slightly anxious, Josefa raises an eyebrow at the two.

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "We may have lied a bit earlier."

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "What the hell are they talking about?"

**Bran Nuiyes:** "Us visiting you so late wasn't just us making a poor time decision...we had actually met up. We actually meet up late like that most days."

**Josefa Alejo:** "What...why? Are you two...ya know...together?"

Both of them throw there hands up in frustration.

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Ew, gross, no!"

**Bran Nuiyes:** "Yeah, what he said, gross. You know I'm lesbian anyway."

**Josefa Alejo:** "That's true...wait, so what's the reason?"

**Bran Nuiyes:** "Just know...after we found out about your mom dying, we instantly realised that we couldn't leave you."

**Josefa Alejo:** "'Leave me'? What are you talking about?! Spit it out already!"

Bran and Bangtan glance at each other before looking back at Josefa.

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "We had a plan...to runaway."

**Josefa Alejo:** "You...what?"

**Bran Nuiyes:** "Me and Bangtan aren't happy and can barely cope with our home lives right now. We made a pact stating that the other one can't ask what's going on at home for us to want to runaway, so I beg you don't ask either."

**Josefa Alejo:** *She looks really taken aback and her face draws a perfect picture of confusion.* "But I don't get it...how long have you been planning this?

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:**" "About a month or so. We were originally going to runaway on the 19th of August..."

**Josefa Alejo:** "...It turned midnight a while ago so...that's today!" *Tears begin to swell up in her eyes.* "Were you guys...just going to leave me?!"

**Bran Nuiyes:** "Originally...yes. Yes, we were. You have to understand though that our home situations are unbearable and we can't take it anymore."

**Josefa Alejo:** "I get that, Bran, but you guys could have at least told me! A little warning before you up and left would have been nice!"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "And I'm sorry that we didn't, but you were going to go to college and we didn't want to ruin your shot at success! If we'd have told you, we don't know what you'd have done!"

**Josefa Alejo:** "That's...that's stupid..."

Bran and Bangtan turn to each other with anxiety in their eyes and turn back.

**Josefa Alejo:** "You guys are my best friends...I would have supported you! Before my mom died, I would never have given up going to college, not just because I was sad my friends left! I'd miss you... I'd miss you a lot! But I'd also get why you had to do it so I wouldn't oppose you! I thought you knew me, but it's clear you guys don't."

Josefa raises from her seat with her fists clenched so tight that she may almost causes herself to bleed. In her rage, she storms towards her mom's bedroom door.

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Wait Josefa! There's a reason we're telling you this!"

As she whips the door open to the bedroom, she pauses and tilts her head back.

**Bran Nuiyes:** "We could have kept it a secret...and we wouldn't have had to start this argument if it wasn't for the fact that there's a reason we're telling you this. We're sorry that we didn't tell you about our plan before...but now we want you to be apart of it!"

**Josefa Alejo:** *Tears still streaming down her cheeks,* "¿Cómo?"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Well, you dropped out of college before you even started, your mom, sadly, has passed, and from what it seems, you're being attacked by Stand users, powerful ones at that, which want to steal your sister from you. Your home life is just as bad as, probably worse than, ours...so we ask..."

The two shoot up from their seats and throw their hands forward.

**Bangtan Boy-Scout & Bran:** "Will you join us, Josefa?!"

The three gaze between each other for a few moments, none of them moving, before Josefa sighs and enters the bedroom, closing the door behind her. Bran falls backwards, collapsing into the chair, while releasing an exhausted exhale.

**Bran Nuiyes:** "Maybe if we'd told her before hand...she'd be willing to come with us..."

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Possibly...quite possibly...but now it's too late for that."

**Bran Nuiyes:** "What if we try again in a bit, once we've given her enough time to calm down? She might be willing to join us then!"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Bran, her answer's clear...plus, she completely made it all about herself!"

**Bran Nuiyes:** "What? What do you mean?"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "We just...we just told her our home lives are so unbearable...so very unbearable...that we want to completely just get up and leave. Not only did we want to, but we were actually going to. And Josefa...she just made it about how she got betrayed...she didn't take even a moment to consider how we were feeling..."

**Bran Nuiyes:** "Bangtan..."

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Josefa is amazing, don't get me wrong, and I understand what it's like to have your mother die before you...but she can't use that as an excuse to just burst into a rage at us for wanting to escape this hell!"

The door to the bedroom erupts open and flowing out of it comes Josefa - in her right hand, she holds an envelope.

**Josefa Alejo:** "I...I wasn't mad because you wanted to leave...I was made because you weren't gonna say goodbye. I love you guys and I'd want to see you off before you left me forever." *She makes her way to the two of them.* "But you're right. You wanted to escape and you didn't want to tell me because you were looking out for me..." *Josefa chuckles a bit* "...You may be stupid...but I couldn't ask for better friends...I'm sorry...and I hope you can forgive me!"

**Bran Nuiyes:** "OF COURSE, JoJo!"

Bran leaps up from her seat and wraps Josefa up a big warm hug. Bangtan looks over to Josefa but instead of hugging her, he nods, which she gracefully returns.

**Josefa Alejo:** "So, what exactly is the plan for running away?"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** *He hesitates, but then continues anyway.* "You see, Bran's family owns some property down in L.A. and in that place is..."

**Bran Nuiyes:** "A butt load of cash!" *Josefa, intrigued, smirks.* "The house has a massive safe that's full of just SO much cash and I know the code. The Nuiyes family are terrible at keeping their money safe, shown most evidently when they tell their daughters the codes for all of their safes."

**Josefa Alejo:** "That would be...very useful."

**Bran Nuiyes:** "It's more than useful! We'd be set to go live wherever the hell we damn wanted."

**Josefa Alejo:** "That'd be amazing...but I do think there's something we should add to the plan."

**Bran Nuiyes, smiling:** "'We'?"

**Josefa Alejo:** "Well...that is if you still want me to come..."

**Bran Nuiyes:** "Yes, of course! This is gonna be amazing!"

Bangtan takes his time to think about it before eventually cracking a smile too.

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "We'd be fools not to!"

**Josefa Alejo:** "Thank you! Thank you so much for this!"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Now, what was that addition you were referring to?"

Josefa opens the envelope and scatters its contents across the coffee table. Now, before them, is a very neat and well-written letter, as well as the label to a bottle of Jeppson's Malört.

**Josefa Alejo:** "About 9 months ago, my mom received a letter from a man named John Doe...this man also happens to be...Belinda's father!"

**Bran Nuiyes:** "Woah! Now that's tv show levels of drama!"

**Josefa Alejo:** "It really is! Now, most of what the letter entails is just him apologising for not being there for his daughter, thanking her, complimenting her and other trivial letter things like that."

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "This is great and all Josefa, but I don't see the connection between this and us running away."

**Josefa Alejo:** "I was just about to get to that. Go on and read the last few lines of the third paragraph. Then you'll see it."

Bran and Bangtan lean forward and begin to read it out loud.

**Bran & Bangtan, reading out the letter:** "I know I can't make up for the fact that I won't be there as a father for the baby, but I hope this can act as a sort of condolence. If you ever need a place to stay or even need a place to escape to for whatever reason, then I can help!"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout, reading out the letter:** "I own a large port as well as all of the surrounding buildings and docks, meaning anyone I want is able to come here and stay as long as they want. There is just one problem though..."

**Bran Nuiyes, reading out the letter:** "...it's all the way down in Panama City, Panama!"

Both of them fling their heads up at Josefa.

**Bran Nuiyes:** "Panama?! That's literally at the southern most part of Central America!"

**Josefa Alejo:** "I get that right, I do, but know this...he's incredibly wealthy and the father of my sister...chances are that if we go there..."

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "He'd be willing to help put an end to the Stand users!"

**Josefa Alejo:** "Of course, I'd be fine with going on my own, I'd just need to borrow some money for a plane once we get to L.A."

**Bran Nuiyes:** "No!"

**Josefa Alejo:** "Wait, why not? I'm sure you'll have enough mon-"

**Bran Nuiyes:** "No, dummy, it's not that! I'm not letting you go meet your sister's father on your own! That's a big moment. You'll need us there and so, we'll come too!"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Yeah!"

**Josefa Alejo:** "Really? You'd do that...?"

**Bran Nuiyes:** "Listen...if we're going to run away... " *She points her finger at Josefa.* "...then we're going to be together the entire time! Alright?!"

**Josefa Alejo:** "Yeah...Yeah Let's do this!"

The three of them turn towards the window in silence and peer out of it for a bit.

**Josefa Alejo:** "Together...let's get out of California!"

### Chapter 16 - I Met A Little Girl, Part 1

From outside, we watch the door handle of Apartment 402 rattle and shake as it's slowly opened, revealing Josefa, wearing a backpack, to be on the other side. Before her is Belinda sat rather peacefully in a buggy, of which Josefa leads through the door, and out onto the steps. From her pocket, she pulls out a phone that's got a transparent case with a rainbow heart on the back - identical to Bran's - and turns it on to check the time: as of current, it's 10:26 am, which makes sense with that bright, bold sun glaring in the clear sky. Josefa pockets the phone once again after switching it off before walking Belinda (in the buggy) down the stairs - with each bounce that comes with each step, Belinda giggles a tiny bit.

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "10:26...Bran and Bangtan should be here soon...at least I hope they are. We've got a long day a head of us."

After bumping down the stairs for a while, they finally make it to the street and Josefa looks to her left, examining the crowd of people in that direction, probably looking for her friends within it.

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "Last night was honestly rather enlightening. Not just because of what they told me about their plan, but because of what I found out afterwards."

We fade to quite a few hours earlier, around 1 am in fact, where Bangtan and Bran stand in the door way of the apartment waving back to Josefa who's stood inside.

**Josefa Alejo:** "See you guys tomorrow...or I guess...later today!"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout::** "Cya!"

**Bran Nuiyes:** "Byebye JoJo!"

She watches the two begin to stride down the stairs as she closes the door, but inches before it shuts, Bangtan bounces back up and catches the door.

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Before we go actually..."

Bran turns her head up and around in confusion.

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "While I was at the Orphanage, I was flicking through the some documents and found that the person who actually owned the building has Max in their name. If I were to take a guess...they probably have something to do with the Stand users being sent after you."

**Josefa Alejo:** "That's very good info...but why didn't you say earlier?"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout, shrugging:** "I guess it slipped my mind, but, now I've remembered, I want to say, in case that name had any significance to you."

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "Disappointingly, it doesn't. I don't think I know a single person called Max but...this person may have something to do with the R.E.M. Foundation! I need to research them and this 'Max' ASAP!"

From her pocket, she pulls out her pocket but remembers, as she sees the absolutely shattered screen, that it's broken.

**Josefa Alejo:** "No, sorry, the name doesn't ring any bells. I had the thought to research it, but my phone got broken earlier...you guys don't think I could borrow one of yours do you? It's not just this, there are a couple other things I want to look into too."

Bangtan steps back a bit and it's clear his brain is ticking as whether to or not, but during the time it takes him to decide, Bran throws her arm out, casting Paramore into the world. The Stand grabs Bran's phone and brings it up to Josefa.

**Bran Nuiyes:** "There ya go, use mine."

**Josefa Alejo:** "Thanks Bran! I'll put to good use!"

**Bran Nuiyes:** "No worries. The password is-"

**Josefa Alejo:** "1999, yeah, I know."

**Bran Nuiyes:** "Wha- How?"

**Josefa Alejo:** "It's literally your birth year..."

**Bran Nuiyes:** "Still...just a bit shocking...Anyhow, me and Bangtan really gotta be getting home."

**Josefa Alejo:** "Cya both!"

The two smile and wave as they make their way down the stairs. Josefa pulls the door shut behind her and we cut slightly forward to her lying in her bed with Bran's phone in hand. On the screen, we see she's reading through an article about the R.E.M. Foundation. It states:

"The Rhiannon Emma Max Foundation, or more commonly referred to as the R.E.M. Foundation, is a government-level organisation that specialises in a variety of things. The company originally gained its wealth from very well placed investments that turned into now an impressively powerful cooperation that has control over many businesses across the U.S. and even the word. However, we do find the majority of its power lies within North America."

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "So, what? These guys just invested and got rich? But I don't get what the purpose of it is."

"The Founder of this Foundation, Kenneth Max, named the company after his daughter and stated that he 'built the foundation on the basis of family' and to be fair, he wasn't wrong. Even, in its beginning, the foundation gave money to and supported charities that helped small families. Now, of course, it's a lot more than that, but they still do do plenty of charity work. "

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "'Kenneth Max'...could that be the 'Max' of the documents?"

"Sadly, thirteen years ago, Kenneth Max died of mysterious heart-related issues but his legacy will forever live on."

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "Maybe not then..."

"However, now, as you can probably guess, the R.E.M. Foundation is in the good hands of Rhiannon Max, Kenneth's daughter and the namesake of the enter foundation. Over the years, she's done a great job at not only allowing the foundation to grow far larger and more powerful than it ever was before, but she's also carried on the memory of her father by retaining the true meaning of the Foundation: the bond of family. You only need to look to the fact that she has four children, who are actually quadruplet, to see this."

**(t) Josefa Alejo** "Rhiannon Emma Max...are you the person that's been going after my sister?"

Next to the article, there's a photo of her, and we see that she's an older, crimson-haired woman with crystal-like earrings and soft yellow eyes - though they look like they could cut you with a glance. She's dressed in a very nice, yellow dress, but it doesn't look too formal for the kind of job she has.

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** *Glaring into the eyes of the photo,* "Rhiannon....are you the woman that's been making my life hell!?"

We quickly fade back to Josefa stood outside with Belinda. She's crouched down in front Belinda and bit by bit, she's snapping some graham crackers in half and sharing them with her sister - she doesn't seem immensely impressed.

**Josefa Alejo:** "Listen right, graham crackers may be boring but you're also a nine month old so...you don't get a say."

She passes her another half-a-graham crack, but Belinda unclenches her hand and drops it to the floor.

**Josefa Alejo, smirking:** "Wow...that how it gonna be?"

Belinda giggles and makes a few indistinguishable sounds as Josefa shakes her head with comical disappointment, places her bag on the floor, and puts the crackers away.

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "To my dismay, that article was the most progression I made...I hate to admit it but, I may have fell to sleep while trying to finish reading it. I had a long day, I'm not gonna apologies for being tired."

Her eyes raise from her sister to the two people waling towards her. Confident in their stride, Bran and Bangtan arrive in front of the buggy.

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "What's up?"

**Josefa Alejo:** "Nice, you guys made it!"

**Bran Nuiyes:** "Of course we did! We're committed to this! We're gonna get out of here!"

**Josefa Alejo:** "Yeah...yeah, we will!"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "So, are you ready? This won't be easy...not at all!"

**Josefa Alejo:** *She gets to her feet properly,* "I'm sure! Getting freedom...getting that feeling of safety...it's what matters and it's not meant to be easy! But we can do this!"

Bran and Bangtan smile and nod simultaneously. Josefa hands Bran her phone back before the three turn around and start walking, with Josefa pushing Belinda in front of them all.

This. This is the start of their journey. This is where it all begins!

**(n) Josefa Alejo:** "I honestly don't believe I've ever walked this much in my entire life..."

We get a montage of the group walking through Sacramento, first heading through bustling cities, then to sparsely populated residential areas, then to everything in between. We even see shots of people taking toilet breaks and then sitting in diners getting burgers.

**(n) Josefa Alejo:** "Luckily for us, Bran is loaded and was able to bring a ton of cash for the journey - paying for motels and food mostly. At about the 4 hour mark, we took a break at a diner, the very same diner my mom used to work at, which was actually rather nice. Honestly, it felt nice just knowing we were actually doing it. It gave me hope..."

**(n) Narrator:** "2:52 pm, Somewhere in Elk Grove. The 4 travelled for over 6 hours, all on foot to make sure they couldn't get jumped by a secretly evil cab driver, or something similar. And from this hard work, they've ended up..."

We jump to a rundown gas station - the lights inside and out are flickering, and one of the windows are completely covered with planks, like it's been smashed in. Entering through the front door, Bran, pushing a sleeping Belinda, and Bangtan walk into this mess of a store and take a look around.

**Bran Nuiyes:** "This place smells like a dying, wet dog..."

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Yeah, I'd say-"

**Bran Nuiyes:** "That was left to rot for hundreds of thousands of years..."

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Well, I don't know, that's a bit-"

**Bran Nuiyes:** "That got absolutely-"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "I get the point!"

**Bran Nuiyes:** "Yeah...Sorry..."

The two take some time to look through the shelves to find snacks and water, as well as other general travel essentials. Bran's nostrils keep twitching and her eyes dart between every cracked wall and overgrown corner.

**Bran Nuiyes:** "But honestly, this place has a terrible flow to it...and the smell does nothing to help that...it's like miasma."

Bangtan drags his face, sighs and carries on browsing.

The camera pans out of the store part of the gas station and moves around to side, where we see a pair of toilets. Inside the women's toilets, we see nothing short of a bio-hazard as the dirt and grime inside could honestly cause someone illness if they don't get out quick enough. The lights in the room are inside of the walls and are very small, however, they all only work on one side. Exiting one of the stalls, Josefa appears and walks up to one of the sinks before staring in the mirror in front of her. It's a bit broken, with a couple shards resting on the sink.

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "What a wreck...hopefully the motel we find is a lot nicer than this place."

Coming out of the stall that was next to her's, a little girl emerges. She wears a large, mostly black coat, her chin-length hair is split into black (right) and white (left), and she dons a simple skull mask covering most of her face. Her large boots stomp as she walks up to the sink next to Josefa's. Josefa, using the mirror, follows the girl's whole path and seems to be rather intrigued by her.

**Josefa Alejo:** "That's a nice mask you have there. Your family celebrating something?"

The girl stares in the mirror but does not move her attention to Josefa.

**Josefa Alejo:** "Oh, not one for talking I see..."

The little girl starts washing her hands and Josefa realises that's the whole reason she was at the sink in the first place, so she reaches out for the soap.

**Josefa Alejo:** "You know, that's probably for the best. Never talk to strangers, as they say. So, good on- Ow!"

Josefa takes a glance at her hand and sees that she cut herself on one of the mirror's shards while trying to get to the soap.

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "Dammit, that hurt. This place could be the death of me I swear. Nothing a little Mercy Mercy Me can't fix though!"

Manifesting before her, Mercy Mercy Me reaches out and punches Josefa's fist before punching the floor, moving the cut from her onto the floor, however, as Mercy Mercy Me made that second punch, the little girl flinched. The two don't move for a moment, instead both staring forward, wide-eyed.

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "That girl...did she just...react to Mercy Mercy Me...?"

The girl turns the tap off.

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "But only other Stand Users can see Stands. Bran definitively told me that! Does...does that mean..."

Without even drying her hands, the girl retracts them back beneath her cloak while still staring forward into the mirror.

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "That girl...is...is she..."

An intense aura begins to encompass the girl. She turns and makes her way towards the exit, not even taking a glance back at Josefa.

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "Is that little girl a Stand User?!"

### Chapter 17 - I Met A Little Girl, Part 2

Josefa watches as the little girl - clad in various black and white attire as well as a skull mask - makes her way out of the toilets, leaving the door to slam behind her. Baffled and shocked, Josefa keeps Mercy Mercy Me manifested as she runs out behind the girl.

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "But she's just a child...if I had to guess, I'd say just 11 or 12! Can someone that young even manifest a Stand!?"

She bursts through the door, battle ready with Mercy Mercy Me. With the glaring sun shining in her eyes, Josefa takes an analysis of the area to see that she's nowhere to be found. She looks left. She looks right. Nowhere is the little girl to be found - not here at least.

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "That's...strange..." *She looks over to the road only a dozen meters from her.* "Maybe she just left with her family in a car...though it would have had to have been very quick. No matter what happened, I was probably just being a bit paranoid..."

After taking in her surroundings, she recalls her stand.

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "That girl may have been a bit...odd, but I don't think she was a Stand user. If anything, she probably just flinched at the sound of the punch. With all of these recent developments in my life, I guess I'm just a little on edge... "

Looking at her hands, she realises she better actually go wash them as she didn't get the chance before, and so she makes her way back into the toilets. After only a couple steps, Josefa comes to grinding halt. Behind her, she hears a swift swooping sound. Instantly, her head swings around!

**(t) Josefa Alejo, seeing nothing of note:** "Huh. Maybe it was the wind...or maybe a bird flew by..."

Pivoting back again, she enters the toilets and closes the door behind her. The camera pans out a tiny bit and we see that just in front of the door is a large gash in the ground. The camera then cuts to Bran and Bangtan at checkout. They place their 2 full bags on the counter as the person serving them begins to scan their items.

**Bran Nuiyes:** "Josefa's taking a while...do you think she's okay?"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Don't worry, I'm sure she's fine. Plus, she ate a load of popcorn while we were walking and that's packed with a load of fibre so...ya know..."

**Bran Nuiyes, giggling:** "Yup, I know what you mean." *She turns her attention to the cashier.* "I was wondering, all of those flickering lights, how come you haven't got them fixed yet?"

**Cashier:** "Umm...well I will get them fixed soon, but they only just broke so I haven't had time."`

**Bran Nuiyes:** "Oh, how recently?"

**Cashier:** "About 10 minutes ago."

Both Bran's and Bangtan's eyes narrow with intrigue.

**Bran Nuiyes:** "Really? That's almost around the same time we got here..." *She turns to Bangtan who has the same curious look as her.* "So, cashier man..."

**Cashier:** "My name's actually Mraz."

**Bran Nuiyes:** "K, Mraz then...my friend here actually knows a lot about wires and electrics and all that jazz...why don't you let him take a look?"

**(t) Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "What?! I know a bit, but not much! What's she playing at?"

**(t) Bran Nuiyes:** "I think, after the events of yesterday, us arriving the moment the lights broke wasn't a coincidence. I also think, deep down, Bangtan knows that too! It may not be anything...or it may be everything. Either way, it's worth checking out!"

**Mraz:** "Oh." *He turns to Bangtan.* "Is that so?"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Uh...I...um...I..."

**(t) Bran Nuiyes:** "Oh crap yeah, how in the hell did that cross my mind? I forget how nervous Bangtan gets when talking to people! I need to think things over more before I do them..." \*She sighs.\* " I \*do\* have one option, but Boy-Scout won't like it..."

From Bran, Paramore manifests into existence and flies at Bangtan. In its palm, it generates a crystal and pushes it up against his back.

**(t) Bran Nuiyes:** "Paramore! Harness the 3rd Chakra: the Solar Plexus Chakra!"

The crystal glimmers for a moment and an instant effect can be seen. Bangtan stands completely straight and maintains intense eye contact with the cashier.

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Yes! Yes, that is so! A flickering light is the result of some sort of repetitive, abrupt shift in voltage. I would just say tighten the light bulbs but seeing that all of them are flickering and it all started at the same time, I'm to assume its probably an issue to do with your fuse box. Mind if we take a look?"

**(t) Bran Nuiyes:** "It worked! I knew it would! The Solar Plexus focuses on one's self-worth, self-confidence, and self-esteem! It allows a person to express themselves without anxiety or insecurity - the truth they want to speak can be spoken. Now...Bangtan usually has a *little* bit of a problem with me using this because it doesn't feel natural."

**(t) Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "WHAT THE HELL?! Did she just go against my wishes on the basis of what was probably a coincidence?! I'll play along for now...I do have a bit of curiosity myself if I'm being honest...but still, not cool. She has a good heart, but damn she's impulsive."

Mraz scratches his chin and looks at the two.

**Mraz:** "Sure, you guys can take a look. But please promise not to sue if you get shocked...please...it's happened one too many times..."

**Bran Nuiyes:** "Don't worry, we promise to be safe."

**Mraz:** "Great! Please follow me this way!"

Bangtan gives Bran the stink eye as we jump to a few moments later, where Bran (pushing Belinda in the buggy) and Bangtan are walking with Mraz through a doorway into a smaller, dark room. He fumbles through the clutter in the room for a moment, however, once he reaches the fuse box, Mraz sees that the cover is completely gone.

**Mraz:** "What in the hell?!"

The two following him look over to one another before taking a closer look at the fuse box itself.

**Bran Nuiyes, looking around the outside:** "If there was a cover here..." *She notices a clean, large scratch...* "It's clearly gotten sliced clean off...Also, who or whatever did this was obviously trying to cover up their tracks seeing that they took the door with them, though I don't see why they didn't just open it normally."

**Bangtan Boy-Scout, looking at the wires inside:** "There are wires cut in here...not many, but a few...So I'm guessing their objective wasn't to turn off all of the electricity, maybe just a few lights. Strange that they didn't know to just flip a few switches..."

They both take a step back and get an overall view of the box.

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "The person seems strategic...whatever they're doing, they clearly had a plan for how they were going to do it...but..."

**Bran Nuiyes:** "They seems kinda clueless...breaking off the door instead of opening it, cutting the wires instead of flicking the switches, and seemingly they didn't even cut all of the right wires, like they were taking a wild guess."

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Yeah, it all seems very childish. I guess they could have been trying to cover their tracks by not getting their fingerprints anywhere...but you'd think they'd just bring gloves, seeing that they know how to plan. This just makes it more obvious that they were here."

**Bran Nuiyes:** "Maybe it doesn't matter about their fingerprints...because they knew they'd be safe if they got caught by the police anyway, meaning they're allowed to be reckless. But how would safety be guaranteed?"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "It would be easy. If they've got someone with a lot of influence protecting them, it's ensured..."

**Mraz:** "I am...so confused..."

**Bran Nuiyes:** "This person...you don't think they were hired specifically to find us do you?...Because that would make them..."

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "That's right..." *He clenches his fists.* "They may be a Stand User!"

Immediately, we jump cut to Bran rushing from around a corner outside, coming to the toilets. She bursts through the door yelling and panting.

**Bran Nuiyes:** "Josefa! You gotta hurry up cuz we may have a situation..." *Her eyes widen in terror.* "...on our hands..."

Bran bares witness of the lavatory to see Josefa covered in blood, pinned up against a wall (facing outwards) but there's no-one to be seen holding her down. Josefa screams out for help as she attempts to resist her neck being impaled by a massive shard of glass.

**Josefa Alejo:** "BRAN!"

**Bran Nuiyes:** "JOSEFA!"

### Chapter 18 - I Met A Little Girl, Part 3

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**(t) Josefa Alejo, seeing nothing of note in the doorway:** "Huh. Maybe it was the wind...or maybe a bird flew by..."

Josefa makes her way back into the toilets after having glanced back to see nothing. Stood before the sink, she stares at herself in the mirror for a moment before beginning to wash her hands; once she goes to put her hands beneath the stream of water, a jarring, creaking sound can be heard and the tap stops. Josefa's eyes narrow. She attempts to turn the tap on again but it's to no avail. It's become stiff and completely resistant to her turning it.

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "Déjame descansar...it wasn't this stiff a second ago!"

She leans on the sink, hands gripped at either side, and sighs.

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "Gotta be optimistic here! Maybe the other sink still works. It's at least worth a try."

She looks over to the other sink, the one the little girl was using before, and strolls over to it. As she attempts to let go of the sink, something unseen grips onto her hand.

**Josefa Alejo:** "Huh?!"

She's then abruptly yanked back with massive force, causing her head to smash off of the mirror.

**Josefa Alejo:** "FUCK!!!"

As blood and shards of glass splatter along her and the room, Mercy Mercy Me emerges from Josefa.

**Josefa Alejo:** "Find it! Find whatever's doing this and move my damage onto it!"

As she falls to the floor, leaning up the wall, Mercy Mercy Me surveys the area but can't see anything that could be doing this.

**Josefa Alejo:** "What the hell!? Where is it?! Dammit, Mercy, just hit the wall! Hit anything!"

Mercy Mercy Me goes to strike at Josefa to take her damage, but she's thrown up against the sink - out of Mercy's way - before it can make contact. Busting her head open on the metal sink, Josefa screams as blood spews down her face. Mercy Mercy Me tries to strike again, but something yanks on its foot and it trips to the floor. The sudden collision causes it to demanifest.

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "Jesus Christ! It moved me faster than Mercy Mercy Me could touch me! Whatever this is, it's incredibly speedy! One more good hit on me and I'm done for! I can't let that happen. I won't let that happen!"

She puts her hands on the wall to try and propel herself forward but it latches onto her palms and once again starts to to pull her back. She hears scrapping behind her back and so, using a piece of shattered mirror, she watches what's happening behind her: a large, incredibly sharp shard of glass has been towed up along the wall - if she's pulled back any further, it'll stab straight through her neck.

**Josefa Alejo:** "SHIT! WHAT DO I DO!?"

**Bran Nuiyes, bursting in through the door.** "Josefa! You gotta hurry up cuz we may have a situation..." *Her eyes widen in terror.* "...on our hands..."

As Bran looks over this horrific mess, Josefa yells out.

**Josefa Alejo:** "Bran!"

**Bran Nuiyes:** "Josefa!"

Bran rushes over to her friend, but the echoing of rapid yet soft footsteps behind her distracts Bran. Mid-sprint, she pivots around to to take a good look at what's following her. Darting at Bran is a little but terrifying girl with a black and white cloak, a skull mask, and chin length black and white hair - separated down the middle.

**Josefa Alejo:** "It's her..."

**Bran Nuiyes:** "'Her?' You don't mean...is it this child who's doing this?! That would make her..."

As the girl sprints, the palm of her right hand begins to glow.

**Bran Nuiyes:** "A Stand User!"

Streaks of dark, shadow-like energy emerge from her grasp and fly out in many directions. As they collect, they form into something completely new. An indigo frame...a yellow handle...a deadly blade...Within the girl's grip, she now wields a powerful, larger-than-herself Scythe!

We jump to Bangtan stood just outside the doors of the Gas Station. Mraz is pacing around frantically in the background, while Bangtan stays composed as he holds tight onto Belinda's buggy.

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "I told her it was too dangerous for her to go on her own...they've both been gone too long for her not to have ran into trouble..." *He glances down to Belinda.* "But I also have to keep you safe...and so that's what I'll do!"

Bangtan swiftly covers his eyes for a second as the sun almost blinds him.

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Jesus...it's so bright out here! Would have been better if this enemy just attacked at night, then I wouldn't have to put up with this...then again...why didn't they just attack at night? Both of the other two Stand users did...this one's at a severe disadvantage for doing it in the clear daylight. If I can figure this out, I might be able to learn a bit more about them, and help stop them!"

With his left hand sheltering his eyes and his right hand firmly placed on the buggy, Bangtan stares inquisitively into the sky.

The little girl pounces at Bran and slashes her scythe with incredible force and speed. On reflex, Bran summons Paramore who leaps at the blade. Paramore, with all it's might, releases a barrage of punches at the blade.

**Paramore:** "CRUSHCRUSHCRUSHCRUSHCRUSH!!"

The rapid hits leave scratches on the blade, but it's not enough. The scythe slices across Bran's abdomen, leaving a massive, bloody gash. Rivers of blood flow from her as she releases a cry of utter agony.

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "This Stand...it's so strong...Not only is its ability about to kill me, but it's extremely effective as just a weapon! That swoosh I heard earlier was probably her slashing the scythe at me. In fact, she was probably hiding on the roof and swiping down from there, that's why I didn't see her!"

Bran stands, hugging her wound, with blood slowly covering her clothes.

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "She doesn't seem to be a person who'd miss her target though...so what was she aiming for?"

Paramore flies over and puts a crystal in Bran's pocket, with the glow of The Root Chakra (as to supress the pain).

**Bran Nuiyes:** "So, JoJo!" *Josefa's attention quickly turns to her.* "I'm guessing that gash in the floor outside was caused by this godforsaken Stand...how did you manage to survive this long?"

**Josefa Alejo:** "Gash...? In the floor...?"

Ignoring their conversation, the little girl springs into action once again, leaping into the air and preparing to bring her scythe down with a devastating slash but...something just isn't right...

**Bran Nuiyes:** "What the hell...there's no way she's going to hit me by attacking like that!"

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "Bran's right, the girl's at an angle where she's just going to strike..." *Josefa's eyes widen.* "...the floor..."

Josefa, still resisting the mysterious force trying to kill her, looks down to the ground in front of Bran, to see that all that's there is Bran's shadow.

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "We're not the targets of her attack...instead..." *She uses a shard of the mirror to look behind her again. Doing this shows her that the thing holding her down, the thing pulling on her, the thing that's holding the glass to her neck, is her own shadow!*

Mercy Mercy Me begins to remanifest, but it doesn't move. Instead, it's perfectly encasing Josefa's own body.

**Josefa Alejo:** "Bran, you have to move!"

**Bran Nuiyes:** "But she won't hit me. I might be able to subdue her with Paramore!"

**Josefa Alejo:** "That's the issue; she's not aiming for you!" *She sees the blade is just inches from Bran's shadow.* "Fuck it! Let's go, Mercy Mercy Me!"

Out of nowhere, the entire ground quakes and a huge fissure is created in the ground, throwing Bran and Josefa across the room. The Scythe hits the ground but with Bran being moved, it hits nothing. The girl lands on the shattered ground beneath her before glaring back at Josefa.

**Josefa Alejo, no longer hurt:** "Your stand, it was forcing me to touch the ground, so I used that to my advantage."

Josefa attempts to get up, but is pulled back to the floor by her shadow once again.

**Josefa Alejo:** "This Stand...if it hits your shadow, it becomes invincible. Everything you try to do, it goes against it...and it does it in such a reckless, lethal way. I hope I've given you the means at which to defeat her!"

Bran, expressionless and ready to do anything. stands tall, fists clenched. Slowly, she raises her hand and points out at the girl.

**Josefa Alejo:** "Bran, remember though, she's just a child. You can't go too hard on her."

The girl's eyes narrow and she darts forth, Stand in hand, ready to kill Bran. Paramore rides along Bran's arm and jumps off the end, flying at the girl.

**Bran Nuiyes:** "JoJo, what do you take me for? This girl is deadly. She's clearly mastered using that scythe at maximum efficiency and has an ability that could murder in an instant. I'll explain later but me and Bangtan also figured out she's a great strategist, displayed here by the fact that she was almost able to kill us both if it wasn't for your little damage trick...but even still..."

As Paramore gets close to the girl who's charging its way, it makes a hard turn and dives straight down into one of the cracks.

**Bran Nuiyes:** "She's just a kid. She's cleanly naïve and doesn't know to make back-up plans. She doesn't do research, she just makes a plan and does her best to execute it. I noticed only one side of the wall has lights, and that was by her doing! Probably as to control where the shadows will be. But how she achieved it reminded me of a person who's absolutely clueless. And that's just what she is. I would never forget that she's just a kid...and I'd never cause her any true harm knowing she's a child!."

From inside the crack, directly below where the girl is now, a rapid battering sound booms.

**Paramore:** "CRUSHCRUSHCRUSHCRUSH!!!"

An intense surge of water shoots up, throwing the little girl off course and to the ground, as well as knocking her mask clean off, revealing her petite, young, big-eyed face.

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "Breaking open the water pipes for the toilets that were uncovered from the cracks! A genius move!"

**Bran Nuiyes:** "She's just a kid and so we have boundaries to set. We'll beat this enemy...without hurting her!"

Josefa and Bran look to one another before nodding. The two then proceed to be surrounded by an intense aura as they turn back to face the girl. She scowls but continues not to speak a word.

The camera slowly zooms in on the door of the toilets, where we can see that it's slightly open. Peering through it at the events unfolding inside, the person's eyes begin to widen. As we get a glimpse of their green hair, it's clear its Bangtan.

**(t) Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "That girl...she's from the article...she's...she's one of...she's one of the victims..."

## **Volume 5 - Hotel California Girls**

### Chapter 19 - The Freak Show We Call Dead Posey

[[File:Freak Show eye-catch.PNG|thumb|The Stand's Eyecatch.]]

Rain trickles down the windows of an apartment that sits beneath the darkness of night.

**(n) Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "I learnt about these series of events from an article I read last night. This is actually the reason I didn't want to hand Josefa my phone: I wanted to do some research. Specifically...research on the Hard Times Orphanage. "

Inside, we see an open plan apartment that's considerably large for what it is. A glass bottle smashes across the kitchen floor.

**Woman:** "Please! Please stop! Don't do this, please!"

The woman cowers against the kitchen side as a man, shrouded in darkness, grabs her by the throat. He grunts and yells but never speaks. His fingers dig deeper into her neck and she releases a cry of utter agony as blood begins to run down his side of his hand. Letting out one more enraged roar, he flings her by her neck across the room; her forehead shatters off the corner of the counter and her body collapses to ground.

**(n) Bangtan Boy-Scout: "**In 2015, 3 years ago, a woman was found murdered in her home, with the presumed culprit being her famously abusive husband. No murder is okay...none at all...but if I'm being honest, this would have been just your standard murder if it wasn't for one thing..."

The man covered in darkness grabs a few items from around the apartment and rushes out. The body of his wife lays stiff across the floor with a puddle of blood rapidly accumulating around her. Kneeling in that crimson lake is a young girl with short, black and white hair and tears flowing down her cheeks.

**(n) Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "The man had left his 9 year old daughter alone in there. The girl's name...was Dead Posey!"

Dead Posey, staring into the lifeless, cold eyes of her mother, lies down in the blood besides her and hugs her tight.

**(n) Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "It was estimated by the police that Dead Posey had been lying with her mother for about 56 hours before being found. A lot happened after she was found but I'll skip ahead to what's important: the orphnage."

It cuts to Dead Posey sitting on a chair in a rather ancient looking building with jarringly modern furniture. Surrounding her are dozens upon dozens of other children and staff members all wondering around this old yet young place. Sitting in front of her, in a chair only a couple feet away, is Icarus Bastille.

**(n) Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "The staff at the orphnage quickly found out Dead Posey wasn't like their usual orphans - she was mute. More accurately, she was newly mute. Be by personal choice or because of the trauma she had recently went through, Dead Posey didn't speak. No matter how hard they tried to get her to speak, even bringing in the owner to help, she didn't say a single word."

**Icarus Bastille:** "You truly are an enigma, aren't you young girl? How about this...I'll ask some yes or no questions, and you simply nod. How's that?"

Dead Posey stares deep into his eyes, not responding.

**Icarus Bastille:** "Okay, how to begin..." *He scratches his chin.* "Ah, tell me, is your name Dead Posey?"

Hesitant, the girl slowly nods.

**Icarus Bastille, relieved:** "Great! You can respond! At least I know you can understand me! Phew...now, would you prefer me to call you Posey?"

Again, she carefully nods but continues not to utter a word.

**Icarus Bastille:** "Oh okay...I see why you like that nickname. Posey feels a lot...kinder...than your first name. Posey, I'd like to know why you can't speak to me. Is it because you're mute?"

She tilts her head to the side with a confused expression...

**Icarus Bastille:** "That makes sense, you are only nine, so I understand the confusion. 'Muteness' is when someone can't speak. So, can you not speak or feel like you can't speak?" A bit more confident, she shakes her head.

**Icarus Bastille:** "So...does that mean you choose not to?"

She nods.

**Icarus Bastille:** "Interesting..." *He leans back on his chair.* "Very interesting..."

**(n) Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "This article didn't feel particularly strange. It was just a quiet kid who'd lot their mother and was severely traumatised. Don't get me wrong, what happened was horrible and just thinking about a person who'd kill someone, especially someone they're supposed to love, makes my blood boil, but it didn't really have much to do with the orphnage other than that being where she was sent. That was up until November 13th of course...about a month after she got there."

We cut to about two members of staff running over to Posey as she collapses to her knees in the middle of the hallways. She clenches the right side of her head and lets out cries of indescribable anguish.

**(n) Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "11/13/15 is the day she suffered from an intense migraine and experienced even more trauma...Up until this point, the staff had noticed some strange tendencies. Like that she often to went to bed while it was still bright out, and she'd always scream hysterically if she ever woke up in the middle of the night..."

Icarus rushes over to her and helps carry her to the small, cut off room at the back of the orphnage.

**Icarus Bastille, placing Posey on a chair:** "Posey! Posey! Listen, it seems you're having a migraine, but you have to calm down! I'm going to go get some painkillers!" *He gets up and runs out of the room with urgency.* "Look after her will you!"

**(n) Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "If they'd have figured out these weird sleeping patterns quicker, then maybe it wouldn't have happened..."

One of the staff members closes the door to the room.

**Staff Member:** "Migraines can be helped by sitting in a dark room so if we just turn of the lights..."

As he reaches over for the switch, Posey's eyes go lifeless.

**(n) Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "It was...horrific..."

Icarus, outside, stops his running as he hears screaming and yelling coming from within the room. Cautiously, he makes his way back and opens the door.

**Icarus Bastille:** "Dear lord..."

Before him is a room filled with dismembered bodies pinned up against floors and walls with cuts running all along them. Almost all objects in the room have either been smashed to smithereens or submerged in gallons of blood. And, notably, the lights were still on. Shaking, Icarus takes a few steps back.

**(n) Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "The police were called immediately, however, it wasn't just because of the blood bath. Dead Posey was also gone. The door was closed and yet she'd completely disappeared. In addition, the article stated that the police had found that a supernatural phenomena had occurred with the bodies - none of them had any shadows whatsoever!"

With Icarus stood before this massacre, we cut back to present day where Bangtan hides outside of the toilets. With Belinda by his side, he watches the battle through the crack.

**(t) Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "There's a lot in that article that I'm not inclined to believe, like the fact that Dead Posey went missing afterwards and yet has been sent after us by the same people who sent Icarus. If I were to guess, I'd say he had something to do with her disappearance between that genocide and now. In fact, I'd even call her a victim of the orphnage, but I honestly can't be certain. Furthermore, Icarus is the one that told all of this information to the reporters, and he's not exactly the most trustworthy source..."

Dead Posey, inside the bathroom, puts her mask back on and attempts to get back to her feet.

**(t) Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "She's getting up again! They're trying to defeat her without harming her, but they're optimism is blinding them to how truly powerful her stand is!"

Posey stares at the two girls before her as she summons her scythe Stand within her palm.

**(t) Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "If there was any truth to what Icarus said, then I may know how to beat her! Fighting in the daylight, going to sleep while it's bright outside, killing just as the lights are to go off...they all link back to one thing!"

While Bran and Josefa's brains tick trying to come up with a plan, Posey regains her strength and stands tall. The three glare between one another...

*SLAM!*

The door to the toilets smashes shut as Bangtan uses all his force to keep it closed from outside.

**Bangtan Boy-Scout, shouting:** "Destroy the lights! Destroy all of the lights in there!"

**Josefa Alejo:** "Bangtan, is that you?!"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Yes, now listen! You guys don't have the time for me to explain much but this girl, Dead Posey, she's nyctophobic!"

**Bran Nuiyes:** "How the hell do you know about her?!"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Bran, like I said, no time to explain! There's still a lot I don't know about her but for now, I know you have to destroy the lights. I'm certain that's how you'll beat her!"

Posey's eyes widen and her head flings towards the lights.

**Josefa Alejo:** "Damn, he may be right..." *Her eyes narrow.* "Okay Dead Posey, let's do this!"

Mercy Mercy Me appears on top of Josefa and uses her as a launch pad to leap across the room at the six working lights that line the wall. Dead Posey, sweating, sprints at Mercy Mercy Me.

**Josefa Alejo:** "As long as Mercy doesn't touch the ground, my shadow can't effect it!"

As Mercy Mercy Me reaches only inches away from the lights, Dead Posey realises she won't make it in time and so chooses a different approach. Taking a new grip on her scythe and coming to a grinding halt, Posey looks to the collapsed Josefa and fires her scythe like a javelin at her.

**Josefa Alejo:** "OH SHI-"

The weapon dissipates moments after completely slicing through Josefa's left arm, cutting it clean off.

**Josefa Alejo:** "FFUUUUUUCCCKKKKK!!!"

Consequently, Mercy Mercy Me loses it's arm in a bloody mess too, and demanifests before it's able to reach the lights. Josefa goes to cover her gaping wound with her right hand but her shadow stops her.

**Josefa Alejo:** "MIERDA! This hurts like shit!"

As Josefa screams out, tears run down her cheeks. And behind that stream of tears...is a smile.

**Josefa Alejo:** "But it was worth it!"

Dead Posey tenses.

**Josefa Alejo:** "You're a child, so I wouldn't exp-" *She winces at the pain.* "So...I wouldn't expect you to have remembered or even noticed."

The scythe begins to reappear in Posey's grasp as she tries to figure out what Josefa's saying. There's a sudden shattering sound. Anxious, her eyes redirect from Josefa to the source of the noise.

**Josefa Alejo:** "Remember...I'm not the only foe you have to worry about here!"

Posey trembles as she looks up. Leaning against the back wall next to the lights, Bran stands with her hands snugly tucked in her pockets. Besides her, Paramore speedily shatters the lights one by one, having broken only one so far.

**Bran Nuiyes:** "Is that why you attacked JoJo when she was alone?" *Paramore breaks another light...* "Or why you only attacked me once she was already down?" *And another...* "You're young and clearly can't focus on more than one powerful foe at a time! And I bet Bangtan showing up didn't help that much either!" *The room grows dim as she breaks yet another...* "That's probably why your stand works independently of you, else you wouldn't have the mental capacity to control multiple shadows at once. You may be trained, buy you're also just a kid." *And another...* "That my friend..."

Paramore flies towards the final light as Dead Posey shrieks.

**Josefa Alejo:** "Is your fatal flaw!"

As tears well up in her mask, Posey runs at Paramore as fast as she can.

**Paramore:** "CRUSHCRUSHCRUSH!!!"

Paramore obliterates the last light.

The entire room goes pitch black and everything goes silent along with it.

Many moments of quiet pass, with not even footsteps or breathing shattering silence.

In this noiseless void, gentle weeping begins to be heard and the sound of teardrops hitting the ground echoes in the abyss.

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "This girl...she's so scarred by her past, so haunted by it, that the mere idea of darkness seems to break her. I can't imagine what's happened in her life so far and yet I still sympathise with her. If they'd resort to this, it begs the question...how far will the R.E.M. Foundation go to hunt us down?"

Breathing heavy from anticipation, Bangtan shouts into the toilets once again.

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Josefa...? Bran...? Is it over?"

Sounds of rustling, movement and footsteps come from inside.

**Josefa Alejo:** "Yeah...it's over..."

Bangtan, letting out of sigh of relief, cautiously opens the door. Rapidly coming through the opening, Bran and Josefa rush out before Bangtan slams the door behind them.

**Bran Nuiyes:** "It's like the dark has completely immobilised her. Until it's light again in there, I don't think she'll be moving."

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "That's good. Are you guys okay?"

Bran, with a massive slash through her stomach which is bleeding out profusely, and Josefa, who's carrying her severed left arm in her heavily damaged right arm, stare at him for a moment.

**Josefa Alejo:** "What do you think?"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Yeah...maybe that was a dumb question..."

**Bran Nuiyes, smirking:** "Ya think?"

Mercy Mercy Me appears besides Josefa and in just a few punches, it's able to relocate their damage to the ground, create plenty of massive fissures in the ground around them. Luckily for Josefa, her Stand only lost it's arm because she's the one who originally lost it - rather than the other way around - so it's arm healed as well. After Bran thanks her, Josefa looks towards the door of the toilets.

**Josefa Alejo:** "Question is, what do we do with Dead Posey now?"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "She's vulnerable, but also extremely volatile. If we let her out of that dark room, I'm sure she'd try to kill us. But we also can't just leave her here."

After thinking it over for a moment, Josefa pipes up.

**Josefa Alejo:** "Or maybe we can..."

**Bran Nuiyes:** "What? We can't just abandon her here."

**Josefa Alejo:** "No no, hear me out. She's what? 11? 12 maybe?"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Yeah, she's 12. That still doesn't explain what you're getting at."

**Josefa Alejo:** "We really need to talk about why you know so much but for now, that's besides the point. We know her Stand has really no travel-based capabilities. With that and her age, we're to assume that she didn't get here on her own. Instead, she was brought here. So we are also to assume..."

She waits for them to finish her sentence for her, but they both just look confused.

**Josefa Alejo:** "We're to assume someone will pick her up!"

**Bran & Bangtan:** "Oh!"

**Josefa Alejo:** "As well, her Stand is so strong that it isn't something you'd just drop after one failed usage."

**Bran Nuiyes:** "You're right, but we can't just wait here with her until she gets picked up. Wouldn't that be putting us at risk of being captured?"

**Bangtan Boy-Scout:** "Bran has a point."

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "Yeah, she does...but I can't think of any other options we have here. Come on Josefa! Think!"

**???:** "Maybe I can help."

The three of them get on the defensive as a voice comes from their left. In unison, They all turn to see who's been eavesdropping on them.

**Mraz:** "Oh, sorry if I scared you."
[[File:Mraz.png|thumb|Mraz.]]

**Bran Nuiyes:** "Mraz?"

**Josefa Alejo:** "Who?"

**Bran Nuiyes:** "He's the guy who works here. Why were you listening in on our conversation?!"

**Mraz:** "Yeah...sorry about that too. I was lured over here by what I saw."

**Bran Nuiyes:** "And what did you see exactly?"

**Mraz:** "Just that you guys were hurt one second and the next...the ground was utterly smashed instead. To me...it kind of looked like a Stand ability."

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "What did he just say?"

Paramore and Mercy Mercy Me both manifest while Bangtan takes a combat-ready position. Notably, Mraz has absolutely no reaction to the stands appearing.

**Josefa Alejo:** "How do you know about Stands?!"

**Mraz:** "Woah, calm down. I don't have one myself, but my cousin does and he always used to tell me about them."

Josefa, Bran and Bangtan all look between one another.

**Bran Nuiyes:** "Seems convenient. How can we trust you don't have a Stand?"

**Mraz:** "That's fair. You could summon your Stands and test if I see them I guess but honestly, I don't have one. I just wanna help."

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "Well, seeing that we've summoned them already, he may be being honest. Or it could just be an elaborate lie..."

**Mraz, after a few seconds of waiting:** "Um...Have you done it yet?"

**Josefa Alejo:** "Just...Just tell is how you can help us!"

**Mraz:** "Oh, um...You said you guys can't stay and make sure the person in there gets picked up but I work here so, I could keep watch for you."

**Bran Nuiyes:** "That's...not a bad idea actually."

**Josefa Alejo:** "Yeah but it's not like we personally know the guy. How can we trust him, fully that is?"

**Bran Nuiyes:** "What other options do we have?"

Josefa gazes to Bangtan, who's unsurprisingly gone quiet, and he shrugs in response.

**Josefa Alejo:** "You should know that by doing this, you're gonna be putting yourself in a lot of danger."

**Mraz:** "I'll be fine. At least, I hope I will. All I'd have to do is hide from a distance and watch, right? You guys didn't notice me until I spoke so I think I'll be okay."

**Josefa Alejo:** "Then..." *She demanifests her Stand, calms down, and shakes his hand.* "I entrust you with making sure she gets picked up." *Her hand squeeze his intensely.* "But if I found out anything happened to her because of you, I'll be back. I'll do what happened to the floor...to your face."

Mraz gulps and nods. Josefa takes hold of her sister's buggy (which has the shopping in it's basket) and goes to walk away with the others before turning back for just a moment.

**Josefa Alejo:** "And what will you do if she doesn't get picked up?"

**Mraz:** "I haven't decided yet but...I was thinking about getting in contact with my cousin. Seeing that he has a Stand, he might now how to sort out the situation."

Josefa, with a small smile of confidence, nods and turns back. With Bran and Bangtan by her side, they continue on their journey.

**(t) Josefa Alejo:** "I'll never be one hundred percent sure that he's a good guy, and whether or not I should have trusted him with Dead Posey, but I need to put Belinda first. I've had to take a leap of faith with him - even if I did have to put the fear of God into him before hand - and I know this won't be the last leap of faith I have to take. It will all be worth it though when we're finally able to reach freedom!"

The camera zooms out to see our 3 heroes travelling along the roadside while Mraz waves them adieu from the gas station.

**Narrator:** "Dead Posey. Status: Defeated!"

## Trivia

* When writing the first chapter, I thought it be important that Josefa first words carry impact, and so the very first word she says is "Why?".
* In the the Chapter 1 - Mercy, Part 1, their neighbour Tasha's name is in reference to the singer, Tasha.
* Each chapter of Volume 1 - May God Have Mercy has "Mercy" in their title, as a way to build up to the reveal of Josefa's Stand, Mercy Mercy Me.
* Chapter 9 - Hard Times, Part 4's plot was inspired by the lyrics of Paramore's Hard Times. "gonna make you wonder why you even try/(Hard times) gonna take you down and laugh when you cry/(These lives) and I still don't know how I even survive/(Hard times)/(Hard times)/And I gotta hit rock bottom".
* 'The Moon' bar featured in Chapter 14 - Heavy Love Affair is a reference to the Belinda Carlisle song, La Luna.