Hardy Detective Agency featuring Hardy Boys Fan Fiction

Joe slowly regained his senses. His head was pounding painfully, his eyes were stinging, and the rest of his body felt like he had been stabbed by millions of tiny knives. What had happened to him?

Then he remembered. He remembered running after the scream, getting caught by Lucius, waking up with a throbbing bruise and bound hand and foot, and then...the torture. He recalled seeing the stick-like weapon Lucius had pulled out of his robes. He could feel once more the kidnapper's grip on his hair, pulling him toward the evil face, taunting him. He felt the prod in his chest and heard the strange word the man uttered. And then, he remembered...the pain.

Joe gave an involuntary shudder.

The pain was worse than anything he had ever dealt with in his life. Worse than any gun or knife wound he had ever received. And he didn't even know how Lucius did it. It was almost like...magic.

But either way, the weapon that he had used had tormented the teenager tremendously. Joe began to tremble, from fear, exhaustion, and pain, even though it had dulled quite a bit.

Frank, still bound, looked anxiously at his brother as he began to shake.

"Joe?" he said frantically. "Joe, answer me! Are you okay? You awake?"

Joe kept his eyes shut. All he wanted to do was stay there, stay in his dark haven...away from the evil that had invited itself into his life, away from the pain and suffering. But Frank was so worried...

With tremendous effort, Joe rolled over and faced Frank, blue eyes pain-glazed.

"Joe!" said Frank in relief, studying his brother intently. He grew angry again, however, when he saw how much pain his brother was in. His face was pale and drawn, his usually cheery eyes were filled with pain and exhaustion.

"Frank..." Joe whispered, then glanced fervently around. "Is he...gone?"

"For now," Frank said, still watching his brother in concern.

Seeing Frank's anxious gaze, Joe flashed a weak smile and said, "I'm fine. Really. Just...sore. I wish I could move around though."

Frank gave a wry laugh. "You're not the only one."

"So...where'd he go?"

"I dunno. I'm not for sure, at least. He just walked out, saying he'd return tomorrow with that Voldemort guy."

Joe shuddered.

"Joe, you okay?"

Joe nodded, and Frank inquired, "What did he do to you?"

"I've no idea how he did it, but as to what he did..." The youth began shaking uncontrollably. "It was worse than any pain I've ever felt," he said in a hoarse whisper. "Like trillions of knives plunging into me...all over my body. It hurt so much. I thought...I wanted to die. For it to all end, to black out..."

"Oh, little brother." Frank had tears in his eyes as he watched his brother. "I'm so sorry you had to go through this. I'm sorry that I couldn't stop him. When he grabbed you and hurt you...You know I hurt when you hurt."

Joe smiled weakly. "I'm sorry, too."

"What for?"

"For going after that scream. If I hadn't done that, we wouldn't be here right now."

"Nah," said Frank, trying to sound carefree, "wasn't your fault."

Joe didn't speak.

"Hey, maybe we can free each other," Frank said, trying to boost his brother's spirits.

"I dunno...It hurts to move," Joe said doubtfully.

"Never mind," said Frank. "If I can just get my hands in front of me, "I'm pretty sure I can get lose."

"Have at it."

Frank frowned. He hated seeing Joe so downcast, and in pain. But instead of focusing on that, he turned his attention to getting free. If I get free, I can help Joe, he reminded himself.

Several hours passed, but finally, his hands were free. He gave a small cheer, and Joe smiled weakly. The pain was so dull now he could hardly feel it, but what had happened had shaken him up, and his head was throbbing painfully.

Frank sat up and untied his feet. Then he got up and stretched, his muscles cramping from being tied up for so long.

Stooping down beside his brother, he said, "Are you sure you're okay?" At Joe's nod, he continued, "Okay, baby brother, I'm going to flip you over so I can untie your hands."

"No need," said Joe, and with huge, painful effort, he rolled onto his stomach. Frank quickly freed his brother's arms and untied his ankles. When Joe was loose, Frank helped him sit up.

A wave of nausea swept over Joe as he sat. "Ohhh..." he groaned. Then he retched on the hard dirt floor. Frank rubbed Joe's back, angry at what they had done to Joe...them...but especially Joe.

When Joe had finished, Frank put a protective arm around Joe and said, "I'm so sorry."

Joe shrugged his arm off and said, "I'm fine. Just sore."

Frank studied Joe carefully. He looked awful. "I don't know, Joe...you don't look so hot."

Joe sighed. "Don't feel so hot either, I guess. But I'll be fine. Here, help me up, will you?"

Frank said, "Are you sure?"

"Yes."

Frank hesitantly stood up and grasped Joe's hand. When Joe was standing, he had to lean on Frank for support.

"Sorry," he muttered, "but my legs feel like Jello."

"Ahh, it's cool," said Frank, not trying to show how angry he was.

Finally Joe was able to support himself. "I swear I'm going to get them for doing this to you," Frank said in a low voice.

"Well, I wish you luck," Joe said sarcastically. "They're pretty darn powerful."

Frank smiled. "Feeling better?"

"Much."

"Great. Let's get outta here."

"Wait a sec," said Joe. "How did that creep leave? There is no door."

"I dunno," replied Frank, scratching his head. "To think of it, you were still out of it, and I was so worried about you, I didn't notice. But I do remember there being a door, I think. Yeah," he said, straining his memory. "Over there." He pointed to the wall to the left of them."

"You sure?" Joe asked doubtfully.

"Positive."

"Hmmm..." Joe said, approaching the wall. "Nothing. Was it a secret door?"

"No. Just a plain wooden door. I looked one minute and it was there; the next, it was gone."

"This is just too creepy," Joe said. "I don't like this."

"These are definitely the people Dumbledore warned us about," Frank stated. "We're in a bad situation."

"I wonder what they want with Dad?" Joe muttered, turning away.

"I guess we'll find out soon," Frank said in a tense voice. Joe swiveled around and stared.

"Frank," he said, "where did that door come from?" And sure enough, a large wooden door seemed to spring out of nowhere.

The boys had no time to contemplate the happenings, however, for at that moment, the door was opened and in stepped Lucius, followed by the most terrifying man the Hardys had ever seen in their lives.

They stood, petrified, looking at the tall, skeletal form of a man. His skin was paler than a skull, his red eyes gleamed maliciously. His black robes billowing, his snake-like nostrils dilating, and lipless mouth, curled into a sneer, he approached the boys. They were so caught up in this real-life nightmare that they didn't see the door disappearing as Lucius stood watching, amused.

He laid a spider-like hand on Frank's shoulder. The young man tensed, and Voldemort laughed softly. "Frank Hardy, I presume," he hissed, eyes brightening. "Oh, you look so much like your dear father." He removed his hand and turned to Joe.

"You, on the other hand," he said, "look like your mother." His eyes hardened. "Your dear, sweet mother." He smirked, then without any warning, he slapped Joe across the face so hard it sent him to the ground.

Frank, still shaken, turned to the villain and spat, "Don't touch him!"

Voldemort looked at Frank calmly as Joe picked himself up. "Don't worry," he hissed, "I have plans for both you and young Joseph." He turned back to Joe, and touched the red place softly. Joe flinched. Voldemort laughed and removed his spidery hand.

He placed it in his robes and pulled out a stick-weapon. Joe paled visibly, and the man laughed and turned to Lucius. "I suppose he was the one you tortured?"

Lucius nodded. "Good," he said. "Now he knows more of what he's in for if his father doesn't join with me--once and for all.”

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Disclaimer

The Hardy Boys belong to Simon and Schuster and the Stratemeyer Foundation. The Hardy Boys Fan Fiction authors of the Hardy Detective Agency have just borrowed them for an adventure or two. The authors promise to put the boys back when they are done with them. The authors do claim copyright to the original characters in this story. Please do not borrow original characters without express permission of the authors.