The First Meeting
Chapter 1
Joe Hardy rushed to the kitchen as the phone rang. He didn't recognize the number on the caller identification, but picked it up anyway, "Hello," he asked and heard a familiar voice on the other end, "Hold on a minute. Frank!" Joe's blue eyes looked annoyed and troubled.
"Coming," Joe's older brother, Frank called and joined him in a few seconds, "What is it?" Joe pushed the speaker button and they listened to the quiet voice on the other end.
"Hello boys," the voice of the Gray Man said, "I know something that you might find important." Frank glanced at Joe. They had met up with the Gray Man more than once, and it always meant trouble. He worked for the Network, a secret agency set against finding the Assassins, a terrorist group.
"What would that be," the brown eyed boy asked. Frank was eighteen and a year older than Joe was. He was six foot one, standing an inch taller than his brother. His brown hair contrasted with Joe's blond and made it virtually impossible to tell they were related.
"Something has come up in Maine," the Gray Man replied, "We believe that some new group has set up base there. A lot has been going on around that place." Joe didn't believe that someone was using that same base again.
"Why did you call us," Joe asked suddenly, "I thought you didn't like asking for help."
"It wasn't my idea to bring you into this," the Gray Man answered, "I was instructed to do it, but we might need your help. We booked tickets for you at the airport for seven. I'll meet you there." The phone line clicked off and the two brothers looked at each other. Iola had been killed a few months ago, in a car bombing meant for them. Could these people really be back?
"Do you think we should," Joe asked, "I mean, the Gray Man doesn't usually decide to call us up on a case. Could it be a trick?"
"I don't think so," Frank answered, "Why drag us out there for nothing unless he warned all of us?"
"I guess you're right," Joe admitted, "It's just that every time we meet up with him, our plans take a turn for the worst."
"Well, we're going," Frank said, "Let's get everything packed and set out soon. It's getting late already, and traffic is going to get worse soon."
About thirty minutes later, the Hardy brothers were leaving the house. After giving their parents a short explanation, mentioning a case but not what it was about, they headed for the airport.
Sure enough, by the time they reached the airport, it was about time for loading. They slowly worked their way through security checks and arrived at their plane. Finding that their seats were near the front, they sat down and waited for the plane to take off. They didn't do much on the plane, except talk and sleep. By the time they reached Maine though, they were up.
When they touched down at the Maine airport, an attendant, who motioned them over, stopped them. Frank and Joe soon found it to be the Gray Man. The man handed them two envelopes, containing information on the asylum since their last visit. Then he hastily made an exit, after giving them all the information on what they were supposed to do next.
Joe went to rent a car and Frank followed as they were given the keys. They packed their stuff inside and took off. The two knew exactly where they had to go. The idea of it didn't exactly agree with them though.
The building was empty and silent as they walked up to it. It looked exactly the same, like the last time they were there. Soot was everywhere, covering the ground with a layer of it, like dust collected on a shelf. The empty windows stared at them from the darkness inside. Nothing seemed to be out of place, making the whole thing seem like a wild goose chase.
"Nothing's here," Joe said, "I knew the Gray Man set us up. Do you see anything?"
"Shhh," Frank instructed his brother, "There's something over there." He pointed to the side of the building, where a section of bushes blocked seeing anything beyond it. Frank walked over silently, Joe following right behind him. As they drew closer to the spot, the sounds became louder. They parted the bushes and looked inside. Someone was standing there, oblivious to the brothers' presence.
Joe couldn't see exactly the face of the person, but it was obviously a girl. He didn't even think before reacting. He didn't know why she was there, but he knew one thing. If she was here, it couldn't be for a good reason. He raced out of his hiding spot and dove for her.
Chapter 1
Joe Hardy rushed to the kitchen as the phone rang. He didn't recognize the number on the caller identification, but picked it up anyway, "Hello," he asked and heard a familiar voice on the other end, "Hold on a minute. Frank!" Joe's blue eyes looked annoyed and troubled.
"Coming," Joe's older brother, Frank called and joined him in a few seconds, "What is it?" Joe pushed the speaker button and they listened to the quiet voice on the other end.
"Hello boys," the voice of the Gray Man said, "I know something that you might find important." Frank glanced at Joe. They had met up with the Gray Man more than once, and it always meant trouble. He worked for the Network, a secret agency set against finding the Assassins, a terrorist group.
"What would that be," the brown eyed boy asked. Frank was eighteen and a year older than Joe was. He was six foot one, standing an inch taller than his brother. His brown hair contrasted with Joe's blond and made it virtually impossible to tell they were related.
"Something has come up in Maine," the Gray Man replied, "We believe that some new group has set up base there. A lot has been going on around that place." Joe didn't believe that someone was using that same base again.
"Why did you call us," Joe asked suddenly, "I thought you didn't like asking for help."
"It wasn't my idea to bring you into this," the Gray Man answered, "I was instructed to do it, but we might need your help. We booked tickets for you at the airport for seven. I'll meet you there." The phone line clicked off and the two brothers looked at each other. Iola had been killed a few months ago, in a car bombing meant for them. Could these people really be back?
"Do you think we should," Joe asked, "I mean, the Gray Man doesn't usually decide to call us up on a case. Could it be a trick?"
"I don't think so," Frank answered, "Why drag us out there for nothing unless he warned all of us?"
"I guess you're right," Joe admitted, "It's just that every time we meet up with him, our plans take a turn for the worst."
"Well, we're going," Frank said, "Let's get everything packed and set out soon. It's getting late already, and traffic is going to get worse soon."
About thirty minutes later, the Hardy brothers were leaving the house. After giving their parents a short explanation, mentioning a case but not what it was about, they headed for the airport.
Sure enough, by the time they reached the airport, it was about time for loading. They slowly worked their way through security checks and arrived at their plane. Finding that their seats were near the front, they sat down and waited for the plane to take off. They didn't do much on the plane, except talk and sleep. By the time they reached Maine though, they were up.
When they touched down at the Maine airport, an attendant, who motioned them over, stopped them. Frank and Joe soon found it to be the Gray Man. The man handed them two envelopes, containing information on the asylum since their last visit. Then he hastily made an exit, after giving them all the information on what they were supposed to do next.
Joe went to rent a car and Frank followed as they were given the keys. They packed their stuff inside and took off. The two knew exactly where they had to go. The idea of it didn't exactly agree with them though.
The building was empty and silent as they walked up to it. It looked exactly the same, like the last time they were there. Soot was everywhere, covering the ground with a layer of it, like dust collected on a shelf. The empty windows stared at them from the darkness inside. Nothing seemed to be out of place, making the whole thing seem like a wild goose chase.
"Nothing's here," Joe said, "I knew the Gray Man set us up. Do you see anything?"
"Shhh," Frank instructed his brother, "There's something over there." He pointed to the side of the building, where a section of bushes blocked seeing anything beyond it. Frank walked over silently, Joe following right behind him. As they drew closer to the spot, the sounds became louder. They parted the bushes and looked inside. Someone was standing there, oblivious to the brothers' presence.
Joe couldn't see exactly the face of the person, but it was obviously a girl. He didn't even think before reacting. He didn't know why she was there, but he knew one thing. If she was here, it couldn't be for a good reason. He raced out of his hiding spot and dove for her.