✨Fated 9✨
Characters: AU Joshua Fatu, AU Joseph Anoa’i
Warnings: Language
Word Count: 2.5K
A/N: Duneberry what have you done?
A/N 2: Writing collab with @wrestlingprincess80 I’ll be writing the rest with heavy input from my girl. Thank y’all for rockin with our spooky season story. I intended to have this finished by the end of 2024 but life was lifing and mental fatigue is very real but WE BACK!
Previous Chapter
In the weeks following the burning, something sinister settled into the sleepy town of Duneberry.
“Mi amor, I never worry about myself. I will find you in the next life. I worry about my girls. Lilly and Solana must have justice!” Patricia’s spirit spoke to Luis as he walked through the woods towards her cottage. “I don’t know if those boys are ready to do what needs to be done yet. They are still mourning.” He whispered. The last thing he needed was someone to see him talking to himself in the woods and accusing him of witchcraft. They would have to find a method other than fire, they tried to burn him in his last life and it didn’t work. “That’s when the power is the strongest!” Patricia spoke louder. “Yes, my love. I will speak with them.” Luis relented.
“Good morning Joseph. Glorious day we’re having. I’ve made fresh biscuits and jam, would you like some?” Sarah Hall smiled as she stood in the doorway of Joseph’s forge. “Good day. I’ve already had breakfast.” he mumbled before going back to finishing a dagger that he wanted to make for Lilly. Once he finished it, he’d leave Duneberry for good. “Maybe for later?” she suggested. “I’m cutting back on biscuits and jam. Starting to put on weight.” He grumbled, patting his belly. He was lying, working long hours at the forge kept him in amazing shape. Sarah Hall was one of the people in Duneberry that now made Joseph sick to his stomach. She played a major role in taking the love of his life from him. “Your figure looks fine to me. Will you be attending the church picnic this weekend?” she asked, sitting a plate of biscuits and jar of jam on his counter anyway. “I don’t think so. Nothing to celebrate.” Joseph growled. “Of course there is. We thank god for the springtime and making it through the winter. *mumbles* and ridding the town of those awful witches.” she smiled, muffling a wet cough. “Yeah, ok. I gotta finish this dagger.” he groaned, he really wanted to be left alone. “Joseph, this is beautiful. The end of the blade is a flower.” Sarah gasped, ignorant to the fact that it was a lily. “Thank you. Something very special.” he nodded, never looking up from his hot irons. “Well, good day.” she waved before leaving. Joseph wouldn’t even feed her biscuits to his horse. The whole town knew that Sarah Hall was a terrible baker but nobody had the balls to tell her.
“Joseph, I have a meeting with the mayor and Ms. Rose wanted me to bring you some lunch. But it looks like you’ve already eaten.” Jon spoke as he grabbed a biscuit. “Sarah Hall made those.” Joseph laughed after his cousin had already taken a bite. A look of disgust spread on his face as he spat the crumbly, dry biscuit to the ground. “She’s never going to make any man a decent wife if she doesn’t learn how to cook!” Jon laughed. “You’re gonna get enough of just eating everything you see. That could’ve had sweet potato in it!” Joseph teased. “I’d surely be dead now without Lilly’s herbs.” Jon mentioned. Joseph’s smile faded. “Thanks for lunch.” He grumbled, holding the flowered hilt of the blade in his hand.
“I’m sorry. I know you must miss her.” Jon spoke, walking over to the fire. “This for her? It’s beautiful. It’s a lily, ain’t it?” Jon smiled looking at the knife. “It was going to be a wedding present. I can never give it to her but I have to finish it.” Joseph sighed. “She would love it, brother. I’ll stop back by on my way home to check on you. You better eat something!” Jon smiled, hugging Joseph and leaving the shop. Jon walked along, finding Joshua outside city hall. “Brother, you sure that you want to do this? Leave me in charge?” Jon sighed. “Yes. Duneberry is full of reminders of Solana. My heart breaks every time I leave the house. You haven’t lost love…you wouldn’t understand. You’ll do fine. Father taught us both how to run the business.” Joshua assured his older brother. Their father had left him in charge because he felt Jon was too irresponsible. Jon hadn’t changed but Joshua didn’t care. He had to leave.
The morning of the church picnic
“Sarah, you don’t look well, my dear. Is everything alright?” Preacher Hall asked his only child. “It’s just a cough father. I will go see the doctor tomorrow morning.” she spoke before coughing until her eyes grew red. “You have a fever. You should rest.” he spoke. “I want to go to the picnic father. We’ve rooted witchcraft out of Duneberry and must celebrate.” she sighed. “Joshua & Joseph won’t be there. Even from beyond the grave, those witches have them under their influence.” he grumbled. He’d pray extra hard for them before approaching them about coming to church. “They’ll come around. Why, just the other day I made Joseph a plate of biscuits and a jar of jam. He seemed pleased. He’s making this gorgeous blade. I would love it if you would buy it for me.” Sarah smiled as she smoothed out the wrinkles in her best dress. “Of course darling,” he smiled.
“Did Jon go to the picnic? I told him that he didn’t have to go to save face for us. I want them to know that I’m pissed. I got half a mind to pick up the business and move inland. We’ve got enough connections to make it work.” Joshua grumbled as he sat over a plate of bacon and eggs. “No sir, he’s still upstairs in bed. He mentioned not feeling well after dinner last night.” Rose spoke. “Oh god. Not again. He’ll have to depend on the doctor this time. And what about Joseph and Luis? I know they aren’t going to the picnic.” Joshua inquired. “They left early heading towards the docks. They promised to be back by dinner. I’m making a roast.” She smiled. “That sounds delightful, Rose. You take such good care of us.” Joshua smiled at the woman. He was going to miss her when he left.
“Stop rowing. This is the spot.” Luis spoke as he dropped the oars. “I thought the plan was to bury this with Lilly. Not throw it into the ocean. Seems wasteful.” Joseph grumbled. “It’s for you to find in the next life…to give to Lilly. When you lay hands on it, she will remember you and you will remember her.” Luis spoke. “Really? What if someone that’s not me finds it?” Joseph said. “Impossible! It will only show itself to its maker.” Luis explained. Joseph dropped the blade into the clear, blue water, watching it plummet all the way down to the bottom before vanishing from view. “I wish I could go down there with it.” he sighed. “No hermano. You have more life to live.” Luis shrugged. The men sat quietly looking out on the water. “Ever since my parents died, I never thought I’d have a nurturing love and safety ever again. I knew from the moment I saw Lilly, she was my person. She made me work for it but she was worth it. I don’t know how to go on.” Joseph sighed sadly. “It will be hard. I know how much time you have but I can’t tell you. Don’t want you just sitting around waiting for death to come. Lilly wants you to live a little and have adventure.” Luis smiled, gesturing towards Joseph’s left side.
Jon laid in bed wishing that he had just eaten something with sweet potato in it. His stomach hurt and his body ached. “You know that you won’t survive this, right? You evaded death’s grand design for far too long.” a voice spoke from the corner of the room. His eyes followed the voice to see Solana sitting in a flowy white dress eating a juicy red apple. “Huh?” he rubbed his eyes. He helped his brother bury her and now she was sitting in his bedroom. “You’re too reckless for your own good, Jon! You’ll pay right along with these paranoid zealots. You’re not a terrible person but that’s how it has to be.” she spoke. “What’s going to happen to me?” he groaned, his stomach cramps worsening. “The sweet release of death Jon. It’s peaceful where I am. You finally get to be in charge and won’t live long enough to enjoy it. Ha! It’s goddamned poetic.” Solana laughed before vanishing. “You get back here!” Jon mumbled angrily as the door opened.
“Brother? Are you alright?” Joshua spoke. “Solana?” Jon mumbled. “No, it’s Joshua.” Joshua spoke as he pulled the curtains back to see his brother looking very pale. “Jon, you have a fever. I’ll go get the doctor.” Joshua said, leaving to go find the doctor. “Mr. Fatu, I’ll have to come see Jonathan later on. There’s something going around Duneberry and it’s bad. God help us.” The doctor spoke as he rushed off to the next home. “God’s not here.” Joshua grumbled as he walked off. He could really use some of Lilly’s herbs.
He walked towards the docks, hoping that he’d find Luis and maybe he knew something to help.
“I hate to be the one to tell you this, Josh but there’s nothing I can do for Jon. The spell affects everyone who accused those women of witchcraft, no exceptions.” Luis mumbled as he tied the boat off. “You didn’t say all that! That’s my brother!” Joshua boomed. “I don’t make the rules. Listen, if it helps…you and him will always be reborn together. Maybe he’ll learn his lesson next time.” Luis shrugged. “You’ve got nothing to say about this?” Joshua yelled at Joseph. “No. Sometimes you lose people you love and it sucks. Face it, Jon has always been jealous of you…ever since we were boys. He was upset that your father picked you to lead the business even though he is older. He was jealous that we had fallen in love and he was the town pass-around.” Joseph grumbled as he walked away. “What do you mean? He’s not jealous of me. Not jealous of us. He’s our brother.” Joshua spoke as he caught up with Joseph. “No, he’s definitely jealous. Brothers can be jealous. You have your father’s business acumen and I have my father’s skill with the forge. What does he have? He’s popular, should’ve run for mayor.” Joseph shrugged. “When did you become so cold?” Joshua glared at his cousin. “I was in love with her from the moment I laid eyes on her. She was all I’ve ever wanted. A simple life of a blacksmith with a woman who loved me. I’ve felt nothing since she died.” Joseph spoke, his heart breaking all over again. “Maybe once we leave, you’ll find someone. You deserve to be loved and cared for, Uce.” Joshua spoke. “I don’t want anyone else!” Joseph growled, the waves suddenly kicking up violently behind him.
Jon had been slipping in and out of consciousness all day due to his high fever. He wouldn’t last much longer if the doctor didn’t come to help. “Jonathan, are you ready?” a voice spoke from the foot of his bed. His eyes fluttered to see Lilly standing all dressed in white. Her brown skin shimmered with flecks of gold even though the room was dark. She looked angelic. “Ready for what?” he mumbled. “Ready to leave this life.” she spoke. Her voice was soothing. “I’m not ready. I have to say goodbye.” he groaned. “You don’t get to say goodbye Jon.” she sighed, her hand cradling his cheek. He could feel her hand cool against his hot face. “I don’t wanna die.” he said, tears streaming down his cheeks. “Nobody ever does. Come on. It won’t hurt.” Lilly sighed. “I don’t want to leave my brothers. They need me.” he cried. “They have each other. Come on darlin, it’s time. Be lucky that you’re not going into the fire. You showed enough remorse to get into purgatory. Someone on the other side sees good in you.” Lilly laughed. “Not you?” he asked. “I don’t make the decisions. I’m just your guide.” Lilly explained.
Joshua rushed back home to check on his brother. He didn’t know how much time he had left. As he reached the top of the stairs, he heard Jon talking to someone. Joseph’s footsteps were approaching, Joshua stopped him. “Someone is in there with him.” Joshua spoke. “You don’t want your brothers to watch you die. Those men have been through enough. It’ll be peaceful.” Lilly said as she grabbed his hand. “Ok, I’m ready.” Jon spoke. His breathing sped up and his heart rate rose until he went into full cardiac arrest. The door crept open and Jon could see his twin brother trying to wake him. “If I speak…Will he hear me?” Jon asked Lilly with tears in his eyes. “The way that death has a foothold in this town, the veil is very thin. He will hear you.” She spoke. “Don’t cry little brother. I’m at peace now.” Jon spoke, his hand reaching out to touch Joshua’s shoulder. Lilly stopped him. Josh could feel a soothing warmth spread across his body. Joseph wrapped his arms around Joshua as his loud sobs quieted. “My Joe.” Lilly smiled sadly. She hated how tired he looked. If he kept this up, she’d be coming to get him soon too.
“He barely eats. He works from sun up to sun down. He’s so angry, Lilly.” Jonathan spoke. “I wish we never met so he wouldn’t be hurting like this.” She spoke. As an Angel of Death, she couldn’t touch him, but she could make her presence known to him. “I love you across all of space and time.” she spoke against his ear. A feeling of peace surrounded Joseph, his arms dropping from around his cousin. He felt like the sun was shining on him. Luis walked into the room, he could feel both Lilly and Jon in the space. “Open the windows. It makes it easier for them to travel.” He spoke. Jon and Joseph each opened a window, the room flooded with sunlight and fresh air. “Thank you. Please take care of them.” Jon spoke to Luis. “I will.” Luis nodded as they vanished through the veil.
After signing the house over to Ms. Rose, Joshua, Joseph and Luis joined up with a crew that was sailing along the Atlantic coast south towards the Caribbean.
April 28, 1995 Wilmington, NC
“Class, we have a new student that will be joining us for the remainder of the school year. This is Solana Devin.” Mrs. Santos spoke to her 4th grade class. The small girl with the long black hair and big hazel eyes waved shyly. “Sweetheart, go sit next to Lilly. She’ll help you get settled in.” Mrs. Santos pointed a black girl with long box braids and a warm, dimpled smile. After the little girl at down, Mrs. Santos continued with her morning announcements. “Class, we will be visiting the Duneberry Historic Site today. There will be other 4th grade classes from schools from all over Wilmington. Please be on your best behavior. Can anyone tell me anything about Historic Duneberry?” the woman asked. Lilly raised her hand. A few of the children sighed, one mumbled “of course she knows.”
“Mrs. Santos, they burned 6 women they had accused of witchcraft. And then everyone died of the plague.”
Next Chapter
Tagging: @paigereeder @expert-texpert @rollinssection @wrestlezaynia @yana3sworld
@venusesworld @reci1996 @vintage-pvssy @playgurlxoxo @90sbaby93 @wooahmiri @alyyaanna @ayeeitsali @adoreesun @mohawkmama @uceyliyahh @shes2real @vebner37 @acknowledge-reigns @disc0fairy @brie-mode-activated @abadbitchblogs @surdelcielo @potatosackk @babiidee28 @reignsboy19 @becauseimswagman1 @southerngirl41 @jstarr86 @peachbuttetfly @alichesmi @surdelcielo @christinabae @cyberdejos2 @fame-ass-ers
