Rain softly pattered against the cracked pavement as Joacca Joestar and Felix walked through the dimly lit backstreets of District 7. Neon signs flickered above, casting a faint glow over the wet, dark alleyways. District 7 had earned a reputation recently for a string of disappearances, and rumors whispered that a Stand user was behind them—but no one had seen the culprit in action.
Felix, always restless, flipped a coin absentmindedly, breaking the silence between them. "Feels like a setup, doesn't it? People don't just vanish without leaving some kind of trace."
Joacca didn't answer immediately, his focus on the alleys ahead. They had a choice to make: The alley split into two paths—one narrow, darker than the other, the walls closing in tight like a trap. The wider path had graffiti scrawled all over its walls, a clearer way forward but no less dangerous.
Joacca knew they had to make a decision.
"Let's take the narrow one," he said finally, motioning for Felix to follow.
As they pushed into the cramped alley, the air thickened, the smell of rust and damp concrete pressing down on them. Felix's Stand, Slide Away, was ready—small, mechanical-like units that could shift obstacles with ease. Joacca kept his senses sharp, his own Stand, Cherry Bomb, lying in wait.
Halfway through the alley, Joacca noticed faint scuff marks on the ground—subtle but unmistakable. Someone had been dragged here recently. Up ahead, a flickering light spilled from behind a stack of old crates, the only sign of movement.
Felix muttered under his breath, "Looks like we're not alone. Should we check it out?"
Joacca thought for a moment. This could be the lead they were looking for, but it could just as easily be a trap.
"Use Slide Away to check it out," Joacca whispered, letting Felix take the lead.
Felix gave a smirk and sent his Stand forward, the mechanical units silently skittering across the ground. With a soft motion, they attached themselves to the crates, nudging them just enough for Felix to get a better look.
Felix glanced back at Joacca, his face serious now. "There's someone hiding back there. Can't tell who, but we've definitely got company."
Joacca felt his pulse quicken. Whoever it was, they didn't know Joacca and Felix were here—yet. He had to make a move.
"Hey, you!" Joacca shouted, stepping forward. "What are you doing back there?"
The figure behind the crates jolted up, startled. For a moment, they froze in place, eyes wide with fear, before bolting towards the far end of the alley.
Joacca cursed under his breath. "He's too far for Cherry Bomb. Felix, trip him up!"
Felix didn't need to be told twice. He sent Slide Away ahead, shifting debris into the path of the runner. The figure stumbled, tripping over a loose piece of wood, and crashed to the ground with a loud thud, clutching his side in pain.
Joacca closed the distance, standing over the fallen man as Felix approached, arms crossed. The man looked up, terror filling his eyes.
"Please… don't hurt me! I wasn't doing anything wrong!"
Joacca narrowed his gaze. "Who are you, and what do you know about the disappearances?"
The man stammered, clearly rattled by the sudden confrontation. "I-I don't know anything! I'm just trying to stay out of it! Please, you gotta believe me!"
Felix wasn't buying it. "People don't run for no reason, pal."
The man trembled, looking desperate. "I was just following orders! They said they'd take me too if I didn't help!" His voice cracked with fear. "I didn't want to get involved, I swear."
Joacca exchanged a look with Felix. The man knew something. "Who told you that?" he pressed.
The man hesitated, his face pale with fear. "I—I can't… They'll kill me…"
Joacca's patience wore thin. "If you don't tell us who, we'll make sure you wish you had."
The man gulped, eyes darting nervously. He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "They call themselves The Shades. I don't know much—just that they've been taking people. Stand users like me. I was supposed to lead someone into a trap tonight, but I couldn't do it. I panicked."
"The Shades?" Felix repeated, raising an eyebrow. Joacca hadn't heard of them before, but this was clearly only the beginning.
Joacca stepped closer, his tone sharp. "What do they want with the people they're taking?"
The man shook his head frantically. "I don't know. I swear, I don't! All I know is that they operate from a warehouse near the old industrial district. That's all I've got, I swear."
It sounded like a solid lead, but Joacca couldn't shake the feeling that something was still off. The man was jittery, his eyes darting like a cornered animal. There was more to this.
"What's your Stand?" Joacca demanded.
The man's face paled further. "M-my Stand… it's called False Flag. It's not for fighting. It lets me… create small illusions. Just simple stuff, like making things look a little different. I was supposed to use it to lure people into traps. But I never hurt anyone directly, I swear."
Felix scoffed. "So you were using it to trick people into getting captured."
The man nodded. "Yeah, but it was either that or… they'd take me, too."
Joacca considered this. A Stand that created illusions—nothing dangerous, but enough to be a threat in the right hands.
"Your name?" Joacca asked, still not fully trusting him.
The man hesitated again. "I-It's Eric Fletcher."
Felix stepped forward, his tone harsh. "Alright, Eric, you've told us about your Stand and the Shades. But are you going to help us take them down, or are you going to keep running scared?"
Eric shook his head quickly. "I-I'll help! Just don't let them take me. I don't want to disappear."
Joacca studied him carefully, then nodded. "You're coming with us. If you want to stay safe, you'll help us get into that warehouse."
Eric looked like he was about to protest, but one look at Felix shut him up. "Alright… I'll help. But we have to be careful. They're watching everything."
Felix grinned slightly. "Good. We'll need you in case things go sideways."
As the rain continued to pour, the three of them prepared to move out. Joacca couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning—there was someone bigger behind all of this. The Shades were a lead, but something darker was lurking in the shadows.
And now they had a name: The Fortune Keeper.