water holds memory
summary: its raining its pouring, and the crusaders seek shelter in a weathered church. but in the basement is a hidden user
word count: 3,946
warnings: violence, blood
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“Oh, yeah. Water has memory. The water that makes up you and me, has passed through at least four humans, and, or animals, before us.”
-Olaf
“We need to get out this rain.” Joseph muttered, squinting to keep the water from getting in his eyes. “My hair is getting wet!” Polnareff cried out, the form of his hair starting to droop as the rain got heavier by the second. The troupe was soaked down to the britches, constantly wiping the water from their eyes as more water took the spot. They hadn’t expected it to rain in Singapore and the weather channel sure didn’t mention anything about Zeus unleashing his wrath upon the Earth anytime soon. Polnareff let out a surprised cry, his hair slumping over the side of his face as he constantly tried pushing the hair out his face. “Here,” Cherry said, holding out a rubber band that she had pulled from her puffball. Pulling the other rubber band from her hair, her hair still holding the form it had when it was in the ponytails. The rain making it droop slightly. “you’ll need this.” She said before he squatted and she pulled his hair in a tight ponytail, the silver-headed man crying out as Avdol laughed loudly. “Stop fussing! You’re acting like a five-year-old!” She yelled out as she popped him on his forehead. Polnareff quickly stood up as she finally put his hair up, rubbing at his tender scalp with a low whine. “Why’d you tie it so tight!” He whined out, wiping the water from his eyes as the rain got heavier, now feeling like icy needles digging into their skin. “Because if I don’t, your hair will just fall back into your face!” She yelled out, the water running into her mouth, leaving her sputtering. Wiping the water from her face.
The rain felt brutal against their skin, why’d they choose to come out this day. “Look shelter!” Kakyoin shouted out, his jacket shielding him from most of the rain, but at the angle it was coming at, his attempt was futile. Cherry quickly wiped the water from her eyes, squinting to see what he was looking at. It was blurry and she couldn’t make up much but she could see that it was run down.
“Let’s head in!” Polnareff rushed but was quickly stopped by Avdol. “Why’d you’d stop me?! I’m tired of being in this hellish rain!” He grumbled. “And risk the chance of being attacked by a stand user?” He yelled over the rain. “Haven’t you noticed how the rain has gotten heavier? And the weatherman didn’t predict any rain.” Jotaro and Kakyoin stood on edge, the rain getting heavier as soon as Avdol made the observation. “Shit!” Joseph yelled out, looking at his arm blood seeping out of the small wound. “We need to get out of this rain!” Polnareff yelled out, ice-cold needles pierced their skins. “I’m taking the chance!” Cherry yelled out, rushing past them as the rain riddled her skin with tiny holes. “No don’t!” Avdol yelled out as Cherry ran into the run-down building, surprised that it was able to withstand this rain. Cherry slowly turned around and looked around. A cross. Pews. Broken stained glass windows. This was a church. She slowly trudged further into the building, peeking around the corners and looking into the molded pews. The withered and mildewed hymn books and bibles sat in the shelves carved into the wooden pews.
“This is creepy.” Cherry murmured, hearing the group call out her name as she sighed. “I guess I should head back.” She said before turning on her heels, picking up her pace, signaling the boys that it was safe to come in. They quickly rushed in, their bodies riddled with holes, blood slowly oozing from their wounds. “You should’ve came in when I did,” Cherry said, her wounds finally stopped bleeding as she looked around in the church. The hairs on the back of her neck rising, rubbing at her nape to smooth them down. “What if I got jumped and needed your help?” She joked before hearing glass shatter, their gaze averted to the window, fragments of the window fell to the ground as the rain got harder. “We should get out of this area.” Kakyoin suggested as he straightened his school coat. “I could check to see if the church has other rooms,” Cherry said. “You need to like, bandage yourself up, or do something about those.” She pointed to the small wounds. “No we should stick to-'' It was too late, Cherry was walking away from them, throwing up a peace sign. Avdol looked to the molded pews, carefully taking a seat so it wouldn’t collapse under him. “Someone needs to go with her.” Joseph muttered. “We still don’t know where the stand user is and they could be in here.” He said, taking off his glove to see if his metal hand had any holes in it. “She can handle herself.” Jotaro said leaning up against the molded wall, it slightly caving in under his weight as he adjusted his hat to cover his eyes. Polnareff rubbed at his scalp. “It finally doesn’t feel sore..” He grumbled, hearing a popping noise as the sakura charm on her rubber band fell off. Bending over to pick it up and look at it. Shoving the small charm into his pocket.
Cherry slowly rounded the corner, the wooden floors underneath her creaking as the rain hammered on the withered roof above her head. “Oh this is so creepy.” She mumbled slowly looking into the rooms, her wet clothes clinging tightly to her body as a cool breeze, shivering as she rubbed her arms with her hands. “Why did I go alone?” She groaned out, her ancestors would be disappointed in her for doing something this dumb. “It was my choice. I chose to do this.” She mumbled the hairs on the back of her neck rising as she felt breathing on her neck. “Hell no! We are not doing this today!” She yelled out as she quickly spun around, quickly getting into her boxing position. Her eyes searched around for any life, but she didn’t see anything other than the vines and other various plant life that decorated the walls. She quickly turned back around, making sure that no one was behind her as she slowly slunk further into the church. Turning the corner to see a door open, she slowly crept up to the door and peeked in. A basement. “Nope, no, no, no, nope, nuh-uh. Not doing this. There is absolutely no way I am doing this.” She muttered as she turned around and headed the other way. Quickly shuffling through the hallway as she made her way back to the sanctuary.
“Cherry! Did you find anything?” Joseph asked as he walked over to her. “A basement.” She said as shuddered, the cold finally starting to get to her. “Did you go down there?” Polnareff asked, a bewildered look apparent on her face as Avdol started laughing. Kakyoin snickered as he looked over at Polnareff. “What’s so funny?” Polnareff questioned. “Like hell I’m going in that basement by myself, I’ve done some stupid stuff, but I’m not that dumb!” She exclaimed as she threw her arms out in exasperation. Soon Avdol and Kakyoin started laughing loudly, wiping the tears from their eyes as they took deep breaths to calm themselves. Jotaro humming in amusement as he tilted his hat up to look at her expression. “Would you go down there if you had someone come with you?” Joseph asked as he looked down at her, the rain pounding on the roof, the remainder glass panels shuddering as the wind picked up. “Yeah, I guess.” She said rubbing her arms more. “Avdol.” Joseph said as Avdol nodded. Slowly standing up as the pew creaked, his arms crossing as he looked down to her. “Take this.” He said, handing off his rain-soaked robe to her. “It won’t be much, but you were trembling.” He said as she slowly slid on the robe. She took a deep breath and shook off her nerves and looked at them. “If we’re not back in thirty minutes, come get us.” She joked, but her face said she was serious. “Lead the way Cherry.” Avdol said as she slowly moved on, sure in her steps as she led him through the church.
“There’s the basement.” She said as Avdol slowly opened the door, the putrid smell of mildew wafted their senses as Cherry gagged. “Oh god..” She murmured as she covered her nose. Avdol leading the way as Cherry a rotten picture frame in the door-way. “What are you doing?” Avdol asked as she looked down at him. “Can’t be too careful.” She joked as he looked up to her. He sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “You’ve seen too many horror films.” He said as she quickly but carefully followed him. The smell got stronger as they got to the base of the stairs. Clothes littered everywhere as she frowned, piles of mildew ridden clothes rose out of the murky green water, pinching her nose shut before a bright light surged through-out the basement. A surprised yelp leaving her as she jolted behind Avdol. “Calm down, it’s just the Magician.” He said as he crossed his arms and looked down at the small girl. A nervous smile rising on her face she slowly slid from behind her. He looked down and saw water, water and hills of clothing piled up in soaking wet mounds. He slowly stepped down and fell a bit. “The rest of the stairs must’ve rotted away. Be careful there’s there a little drop.” He said holding out his hand for Cherry to hold onto, she slowly stepped into the water. Ignoring his hand as he sighed. The water stopped at his knees but Cherry nearly sank into the water. “Great!” She said sarcastically. “Now I’ll be wet and stinky!” She muttered as she crossed her arms. The water sloshed around them as she waded through the water, feeling the water slosh in her shoes as she groaned.
“Water has memory.”
Cherry jolted, turning her head quickly as her wet hair whacked her in her face and sprung back in place. “Was that you? Please say that was you.” She said as he scowled, his gaze concentrating on something at the end of the basement. She pried her eyes away from Avdol and slowly looked over to the figure at the end of the hall. “Oh no..” She whined out. “Why’d you have to be in the basement of all places.” She groaned out, her hair frizzing out from the heat and humidity. The water beside the user taking shape, morphing into this blob-like object, jiggling slightly as it lurched around looking for the two. “My poor rainstorm can’t see you two; but when there is movement,” The blob reached into the water and grabbed a molded piece of wood and tossed it aside, the creature slicing it up as soon as it hit the surface. “you’ve seen what it can do.” Cherry swallowed thickly, she stood frozen. The creature searching around for movement, attacking an open spot when a drop of water hit the surface of the water. Avdol looked up at the ceiling, then to Cherry. “Cherry when I say go, you run as fast as you can and get on top of those clothes.” She looked at him and nodded. “But what about you?” She asked as she looked over at the stand as it attacked the same spot. He took a deep breath and used Red Magician to attack the ceiling beams, Water showering on the two as Cherry rushed to get to the pile of clothes, the water slowly stopped falling from the ceiling and her movement overwhelmed the movement of the drops hitting the surface. She swallowed thickly diving for the pile of clothes before a sharp pain surged through her body. “Oh shit!” She shouted, her calf bleeding, the murky green water soon turning red from her blood.
“Well, this is pleasant.” The user murmured happily, pulling the bloodied water towards him. The gelatinous stand wobbling slightly as it took on a reddish hue. “Oh god it’s just like the blob!” Cherry exclaimed as she looked over at Avdol. “Water holds memories, let’s see yours girly.” He said as the waters parted and slowly climbed up the walls and ceilings. Cherry fell off the pile and scrambled to her feet, messily charging towards the user. “Don’t you dare!” She yelled out as the goopy creature dropped from the ceiling in front of her. “I wouldn’t step any further girly, unless you want to end up as minced meat.” She growled out, Avdol looked to her tense figure, slowly approaching her as the room changed shape, morphing into a bedroom. Two figures slowly taking form before the sound of stairs creaking filled the basement. “Avdol! Cherry! You down here?” Polnareff asked before the sound of water splashing around started filling the basement. The water that surrounded them quickly dropped to the floor, a wave surrounding them as his stand was thrown off balance.
Cherry rushed towards the stand user, throwing a punch at the user’s throat as he gagged and fell back into a wall, breaking the rotted wall and falling into another room. “Bitch!” She yelled out as he rushed towards her. Rainstorm quickly took shape as Avdol arrived, the water flowing into the empty room, rushing into the man’s mouth and nose. Cherry looked around, feeling clothes rush past her ankles as she looked at the wound on her calf, the blood soaking into her already wet clothes. “Avdol do you see him?” She blurted out the water level lowering, revealing his body. "You little bitch.” He choked out, rubbing his throat as he slowly stood up and looked at her. “Avdol! Cherry!” Avdol looked back and saw Joseph quickly approaching the two, Cherry looked to him as he leaned on a wall for support. "Stay back!" She yelled out, a pink aura surrounding her as Avdol slowly stepped back, using his stand to keep a light source in the dark basement.
Cherry took a deep breath, her stand slowly appearing as she looked at the man. She looked at him as he staggered back slightly. "The hell is going on with your eyes." He muttered. "Answer me you bitch!" He growled out, summoning his stand again, slowly standing upright on his two feet. He rubbed his throat once again, she held out her right arm, her stand's gaze locking onto her opponent. "No.." Cherry mumbled before her stand charged at him. His stand blocking the way as Doja looked at the stand, a scowl on her face as she tried clawing the liquid as Cherry looked around for Rainstorm's weak spot. She took another deep breath and her stand suddenly stopped. Leaving Rainstorm an opportunity to attack, his stand lurched towards her and threw her off balance, tossing her into a decayed wall as she yelped in shock and pain. Waves of pain surging through her body as she heard Avdol and Polnareff cry out for her, but only to hear them muffled by water. She snapped her gaze over to the gaping hole in the wall, watching thick gelatinous water quickly fill the hole in the wall.
"What-" She yelled out only to be cut off by him. "Don't worry, they’re not hurt. Yet. I've just put us in a nice little seal so you won't be getting out of this anytime soon." He growled as his stand slowly took form next to him.
"What is she doing?" Polnareff asked as he slowly walked towards her. The hairs on the back of her neck rose as she slowly turned her head to look at Polnareff through the watery wall. "Polnareff get back!” She yelled, he slowly approached the wall, spikes jolting out at him as he jumped back. "Stay back and wait your turn, you'll be up next." He yelled the water distorting most of what he said. Doja charged at him, the stand coming back to protect him, creating a blockade, Doja lurching to the side only to feel a numbing pain run through her arm. Cherry cried out in pain, her eyes watering up a bit as she stood up straight, a giant gash appearing where her bicep was. Her irises having a pink gloss shine over it, balling her fist up as she scowled. She went to take a step forward but his words echoed through her head. She needed a diversion, something to attract his stand's attention somewhere else, soon his stand started attacking in random places.
"He doesn't know where I'm at."
Joseph and Polnareff tried calling out to her through the thick wall of water. "Stay back you sons of bitches!" He yelled out as Cherry slowly slid towards him. The water rippling as he backed up, his stand's body position snapping towards hers as it lurched over to her. Doja jumped in front of her to cut the water into droplets, water hitting the surface as she charged at him. “Oh no no girly, did you actually think it would be that easy?” He teased, leaving Cherry in a temporary state of confusion. The water around her feet and legs grew thick and gelatinous, a tingling sensation going through her legs before it was replaced with the feeling of pins and needles. “What are you doing.” She asked menacingly. He looked up to her, the water now having a reddish tint. Cherry looked down at the wound on her leg, the blood seeping out of it. “The human body has about 16 gallons of water in them.” Her eyes widened. “Oh you’re smart.” He said as the blood slowly seeped from the gash in her leg. “And it takes about five minutes for an average human to bleed to death.” Cherry growled lowly, her brows furrowing as she cracked her knuckles. “Then I guess I’ll have to get to you before those five minutes are over.”
Doja looked back at her and Cherry nodded, her stand popping her knuckles as he looked at her and laughed. “What will your stand do to me, she can’t even get close to me.” He laughed and looked at her. “I’d like to see what your stand can do.” Cherry looked at him, her irises taking a magenta hue, her stand quickly stopped popping her knuckles, her detached fingers slowly slinking down, barely grazing the water as Cherry scowled. “Sick him Doja.” A horrifying grin slowly rose on Doja’s face raising her hands as she threw her hand out to the right, her clawed fingers lashing out in that direction like a whip. “I haven’t really had time to figure out how to do this.” She said, the pitch in her voice changed. “I just found out about this about a week ago.” She said rubbing the back of her neck with a nervous smile as Doja closed in on him with her claws. He had no choice but to bring back his stand, forming a barricade around him, Doja whipping through the water only to have it come back in place. Her left hand rising as she whipped the water away, his stand not having enough time to come back into place. “You’re-You’re fast!” He yelled out before the claw finally reached his face, her claws going into his skin, tearing the flesh up. Doja grinned, shadows forming around her eyes as her fingers quickly reeled back into place, grabbing the man by his shirt. Her hand slowly balling up into a fist as she punched him in his face repeatedly. “Sa-Sa-Sa-Sa-Sa-Sa” His nose finally breaking as she kept pounding in his face, going until she saw the whites of his eyes. Finishing him off with a blow to his face-”Sa”-, punching him in his abdomen-”ku”-, and kicking him into a wall when her punch pushed him up in the air-”ra!”. A loud crack filled the air as the supporting beam broke, the man quickly falling into the water as the liquid wall separating them collapsed.
She slowly waded over to his unconscious body and put her index and middle finger on his carotid pulse. Ba-dum Ba-dum. A sigh of relief left her lips as she slowly stepped back and looked at him. Her eyes still a dark shade of pink as she sighed weakly, she stepped back more and ran into a solid figure, she looked up to see Avdol looking down at her. She blinked several times, slowly she turned towards them and smiled. “Ta-da.” A weak smile on her face as they came into the room, looking at the unconscious man. The rain quickly stopped, the water in the basement slowly draining out as Cherry shrugged off Avdol’s robe. “Here, you can have it back.” She said as she handed him his robe. “It kinda stinks.” She said as Doja hovered over the body of the man, her grin quickly fading into a neutral face. Before she altogether faded away. “Let’s get out of here. It stinks.” Polnareff said, his ponytail frizzing out at the base as Cherry slowly lifted her leg, her leg throbbing painfully as she trudged behind them, Avdol stopped and looked at her as she limped towards the stairs. “Do you need help?” Avdol asked, looking at the back of her leg as she nodded. “Yeah, that’d be nice.” She said as he held out his hand once more. She took his hand and they walked up the stairs, the stairs creaking and bending under their weight before finally making it out of the smelly basement. Taking a deep breath. “God, this air smells so much better than the air down there.” Cherry said as she looked back at her wound. “Yes it does.” Avdol said as he looked at the gash in her calf, he slowly took the wrap off from around his head and got on one knee. “Give me your leg.” He said as he looked up to her. “Okay.” She said as she stuck her leg out, he slowly rolled up her pant leg and looked at the scars that were revealed when he did so.
He stalled and looked at them. “Don’t ask.” She said as he looked up at her with a concerned expression. “Okay.” He muttered as he wrapped the article of cloth around her wound. She winced at how tight he tied it but she knew it was best to keep it from leaking more blood. The blood quickly soaked into the cloth. She looked at him and smiled. "Thank you." She said while watching him slowly get up. "You're welcome, now we need to catch up." He said as he placed his hand on her back and patted it slightly.
The several questions running through his head as she led the way, a slight limp in her step but she carried herself well. Finally meeting up with the rest of the group outside of the church, he looked at her leg and quickly caught up with her. She turned around and looked up at the weathered church. "Are you okay?" She looked up and saw Kakyoin. "You look like you've hurt yourself." She smiled and looked at her ankle. "Yeah, I'm fine, this little cut is going to have to be cleaned though." She said as she walked alongside him. Her hands in her pocket as the sun started drying her clothes.
