Once I Was You

Author's note: Guess who is back? Yeah, that's (probably) right. Me, of course! And David, the dangerous kidnapper.

This is a short chapter, I must warn you, but is a chapter. Being a firm believer of "short is better than nuthing", I decided to post. I kinda liked the way it ended. No spoilers! That being said: Thanks a lot for your awesome reviews! This is probably the second last chapter, so the end will come soon. In the least as soon as my slow and diverse writing allows!

Hardy boys fan: Thank you so much, I am glad to hear it! :)

Sofia: Thanks a lot for your review! As always, your reviews is so encouraging and funny. It helps a lazy writer get back in front of her laptop!

Exactly: Thanks, I am really glad you like it!

t4swp: Lol, your review made me laugh! Yeah, the yeti better sharpen his claws!

StickChap: Thanks a lot for reviewing! I am really glad you like my story!

HappyReadingGirl: Thanks a lot! :)

Chapter seven – Farewell Forever

Deep inside a damp cellar, three men were waiting for the police to arrive: An unsuspecting Joe Hardy, another Hardy, balancing between Frank and Joe, and a bound, gagged and angry kidnapper.

"Mhh! Mhh! Mhhhhmm!"

"Any idea which language he is speaking?" Joe asked, pointing at a tomato-red David. Shrugging, Frank replied, "Probably some outdated version on Chinese."

"Makes sense," Joe said, enjoying the way David's face reddened even further. "What do you say, Frank, should we let him speak? Maybe we can haul some sort of a confession outta him."

Nodding, Frank removed the improvised gag from the man's mouth. Immediately, David started talking.

"Ha! Ha ha! You gave yourself away!" His brown eyes twinkled in raw triumph. "I know who is who, now. You with the brown hair is just a random guy that have no reason to feel threatened. But you," he turned to Joe, "is doomed to death!"

"No reason to feel threatened?" Frank scoffed. "Cause the whole act of getting kidnapped isn't the least bit threatening, right? Just a cozy little everyday happening?"

Ignoring his brother's tirade, Joe turned to David. "I have no idea who you are," he said slowly. "However, you seem to know me rather well. May I ask why, and by whom, I am doomed to death?"

"You ain't doomed by anyone else than your stupid self!" David yelled. "I want to avenge my son on you, Joe. You deserve death."

"Sounds terrifying," Joe replied casually. "Who is your son which I so thoroughly have offended?"

"He is only a little boy," David replied, his voice tinged with sadness. "His name is Benny, and he is three years old. One day; two and a half months ago, we were in a park. Your aunt Gertrude was also there. She saw him and noticed right away what a sweet, little angel he was. "Come here, little man," she said. Benny, being the little angel he is, did as she asked. Gertrude gave him a cookie. "Eat this, and if you like it, you can come back for more." My little angel nodded and went to show it to me."

Wiping at his eyes to indicate he had reached the sad part of the story, David continued, "My little Benny, however, isn't like other children. He has a celiac disease. Being the little angel he is, he therefore delivered the inedible cookie to me. "Good boy," I told him. Then I ate it myself."

Collecting his thoughts, David's eyes got a faraway look. "Long story short: That cookie tasted amazing. The chocolate had this perfect taste between too sweet and too scorched. It hadn't quite reached either, but it had such a dizzying touch of devil-may-care-taste that I was left momentarily speechless. My mind was wiped out – all I knew, was that I had to eat another one.

I sent my sweet, little Benny back to your aunt. I made sure to stay within earshot, and therefore, heard every horrifying detail of Gertrud's excuse. "Excuse for what?" you might ask. "Excuse for having no more cookies left," I say! You see, my little angel came up and asked her, "madam, do you have another cookie?" "Of course, little man," she answered and reached out for her box. As she stared to the empty bottom of it, her eyes widened. "Oh, I am so sorry!" she exclaimed. "I thought this was full! I guess my nephew Joe has eaten them all. Sorry, little man."

Unable, or perhaps unwilling to hide a tear running down his cheek, David said, "As you can see, you denied my sweet little Benny another cookie. Can you imagine? An egoistic, hungry seventeen-year-old snatches a whole box of cookies out of the hands of an angel with celiac disease! Isn't it… tragic?" Yet another tear ran down David's cheek.

"Really tragic for sure," Joe replied, faking a devasted expression. "I clearly see why I deserve to die. The little angel Benny with a celiac disease seemed to be so head over heel in love with those cookies! I can't believe I have been such a monster and only now have gotten my eyes opened! Thank you for making me see again." Ending his speech with a deep bow, Joe managed to force a tear out of the corner of his eye.

"You are welcome," David replied solemnly. "I am glad to see that you regret your horrible crime, but I can't forgive you. The death sentence still stands."

"I understand." Joe lowered his head. "When I am dead, will you please tell Benny that I am terribly sorry for eating my aunts cookies?"

Taking a moment to consider the request, David finally nodded his head. "I will. I can't promise you that my little angle will forgive you, but I will tell him you are sorry."

"Thank you so much. I guess getting Benny's forgiveness is too much to ask, but I want him to know that I am sorry." Turning to an absolutely shocked Frank, Joe said teary-eyed, "I know this wasn't what you had in mind for our futures, but I am afraid this is goodbye, Frank. I am sentenced to death with no chance of escaping. Please tell mum and dad I love them. Tell aunt Gertrude to never make cookies again. Tell Biff I am still better in boxing than him, even though he won the last match. To you, Frank, I will say this: Thank you for everything, and don't tell anyone I am a yeti. Try and speak nice of me in the eulogy. That being said: Farewell! Farewell for ever!"

Stabbing himself in his stomach with an imaginary dagger, Joe let out a dramatic scream before falling dead to the ground.

Telling himself he had to win the bet, Frank fell to his knees besides his brother. His body shaking with sobs, he cried, "Joe! No, Joe, you can't be dead! Alas! What a horror reflecting itself upon this grueling day! Woe is me!"

Absorbed in their performances, neither Frank nor Joe heard the car pull up in front of the building. The group of police officers, however, heard Joe's scream. Silently entering the room, officer Con Riley watched in horrified shock as the scene unfolded itself before his eyes. He saw Frank drop to his knees; heard his heartbreaking sobs.

Unable to move, Con knew the Hardys biggest nightmare had come true: Joe had been killed.

Tragic, don't ya think? That being said: Farewell! Farewell forever!