Early the next morning Frank once again dragged Joe out of bed. "Ahh, come on!" begged Joe. "It's summer vacation!"
"Biff is on his way over," Frank informed Joe. "We're going to head up to North Woods and start work on the bomb shelter."
"This is for real?" asked Joe eagerly, opening his eyes and sitting up. Again he had experienced the same nightmare only this time after being attacked he had been dragged into the light of a street lamp and could see the burning red eyes and long-gleaming teeth of his attacker.
"Yes," affirmed Frank, trying to hide the sorrow he was feeling. It wasn't fair that Joe had to be tortured so. He had been through so much and life just kept throwing curveballs at him. "Now get dressed," he said. "We've got a lot of work ahead of us."
"Ready?" asked blond and beefy Biff Hooper when Joe opened the front door half an hour later.
"Um..yeah," Joe answered a bit shyly. Biff had been his best friend since grade school but after finding out Biff had witnessed his transformation he was uncomfortable in his presence.
"Are you okay?" asked Biff, concern showing in his blue eyes as he reached out and grasped Joe's shoulder.
"Yeah," Joe answered, hastily backing away from the contact.
"Don't be that way," Biff said, hurt marring his handsome features. "I'm your friend, remember?"
Joe licked his lips. "I know," he replied quietly. "It's just..." he began miserably.
"Just nothing," Biff stated firmly, interrupting him. "What happened to you isn't your fault."
"Isn't it?" Joe retorted sadly. "There is a way I could not change."
"True," admitted Biff. "But if you even think about trying to get yourself killed or, worse, killing yourself, I'll rip you limb from limb," he threatened. "I'll even wait until you do transform so I can really tear you up without killing you."
"But it would be easier..." Joe began, saying what he had been thinking but too afraid to tell his brother.
"When has Joe Hardy ever done things the easy way?" demanded Biff, quirking a blond brow. Joe's worried frown disappeared slowly as his lips transformed into a self-conscious grin. "That's better!" boomed Biff, wrapping an arm around Joe's shoulders as he pulled him closer. "Now, let's go find that brother of yours and get a move on. We might even be able to get a little fishing in."
"Should I grab our gear?" asked Frank, appearing at the entryway that led to the living room.
"No need," Biff answered. "There is always enough at the cabin."
The boys arrived at the cabin two hours later. "Good thing this place isn't too far from Bayport," commented Frank as he jumped out of the van. "We may be able to sneak up here occasionally without mom and dad even finding out."
"Why don't you tell them?" Biff asked when he and Joe joined Frank outside of the vehicle.
"I told Frank and he thought I was crazy," explained Joe with a worried expression. "He had to see me change before he would believe it. I don't really want anyone to see me," he added self-consciously. "I'm sure it isn't a pretty sight."
"I don't think that would bother your folks," Biff pointed out.
"No," agreed Joe. "But knowing there was something wrong with me that can't be fixed would."
"Your decision," Biff said with a shrug. "But I think you should tell them."
"Where's the bomb shelter?" asked Joe, changing the subject.
"Behind the cabin," answered Biff. "Only the top is visible and that is only when the leaves aren't on the ground."
Frank and Joe followed Biff to the back of the log cabin and toward a large maple tree. "The entrance is marked by this tree," said Biff. "As you can see, there are leaves on the ground pretty much all of the time." He put his back to the tree and began measuring off his paces.
"Six and seven," Biff said, stopping. He bent down and began pushing aside the leaves. Frank and Joe went over to help him and soon they had uncovered what looked like a manhole cover.
Biff reached down and pulled on the lid but it would not budge.
"Let me help," offered Joe. Together the boys had the cover off in seconds.
"I'll grab the flashlights from the car," said Frank and took off at a run.
Joe swallowed nervously. He wasn't afraid of the dark but he still didn't relish being locked underground in the dark. Biff must have figured out what was bothering his friend. "Don't worry," Biff said. "There's a generator down there. It just has to be cranked and it's good to go for 24 hours without being bothered again."
Frank returned with the flashlight and the three descended the metal rail ladder into the shelter. Frank held the light while Joe and Biff worked on the generator. After only a couple of minutes strategically placed lights flickered on and Frank turned the flashlight off.
"Doesn't need much work at all," commented Frank. "Just those few boxes to move out."
"Toss out, actually," Biff corrected him. "They've been around longer than I have."
Forming a line the three boys managed to get the boxes filled with rusty cans up the ladder and out to the van. "We'll drop these off at the dump on our way home," Biff said. "We can get a broom and mop from the cabin and finish down there."
"I'll do it," Frank volunteered. He knew Joe would be spending a lot of time down there soon enough and didn't want him to be down there more than was absolutely necessary. "Why don't you two get the fishing gear and hunt us up some bait?" he suggested.
"Can we skip the fishing?" asked Joe, giving Frank and Biff an apologetic look.
"Sure," Biff answered, looking at his friend curiously. "Why? Aren't you feeling well?"
"I feel great," Joe quickly assured him. "But, well, I don't think being with me in the woods is exactly safe."
"Why?" demanded Biff. "There isn't a full moon. It isn't even night."
"No," concurred Joe, turning to look into the forest where he could see various sets of yellow eyes watching him. "But I'm kind of popular here."
"What?" Biff asked in confusion. He turned to follow Joe's gaze and gulped.
"We'll tell you about it on the way back," promised Frank, feeling nervous. A lone wolf might accept Joe as dominant but the leader of a pack of wolves would probably try and fight for supremacy and when Joe wasn't in wolf form he was as vulnerable as anyone.
Once they were back in the van and headed back to Bayport, Frank told Biff about the abnormal behavior of the wolf at the freak show. "Maybe you should stay away from there," suggested Biff.
"Not a problem," Joe told him. "Not only would I not go back but the place was all tents and trailers. It will probably be moving on to the next town soon."
After dumping the trash off Biff drove his friends' home. "Want to come in?" asked Frank.
"No thanks," answered Biff with a grin. "Since we're back so early, I'm going to ring up Karen and see if she wants to go out tonight."
"Thanks," Joe said, getting out of the van and closing the door. "For everything."
"Anytime," Biff replied, his tone a bit soft as he saw the anguish Joe couldn't quite hide.
Joe gave a deep sigh as Biff pulled the van out of the drive. "You okay?" asked Frank in concern.
"Yes," Joe replied with a decisive edge to his voice. He smiled at his brother. "Thanks to Biff, and you, I feel like a big burden has been taken off my chest. I've been so afraid that I would hurt someone that I haven't been able to relax since this happened," he explained. "But knowing you know and that you will do whatever it takes to keep me from hurting someone...well, I feel almost like my old self."
"Good," Frank said, pleased. "That's what I have been wanting. And you really don't have to worry," he continued. "I'll arrange for the tranquilizer darts before dinner."
"I'm not worried," Joe replied. "Not anymore." Not much, he amended silently. He had realized on the way home how his situation was affecting his brother and had decided not to add to his stress by revealing how he truly felt: terrified. But letting Frank know how scared he was wouldn't help the situation so putting on a happy face and pretending to not be overly concerned was what he was going to do.
He followed Frank up the steps and into the house. "Let's grab something to eat," Joe said, rubbing his belly as it growled loudly.
"Later," answered a deep baritone from Joe's left.
"Duck!" yelled Frank, spinning around at the sound and seeing the intruder taking aim at Joe with a baseball bat.
"Biff is on his way over," Frank informed Joe. "We're going to head up to North Woods and start work on the bomb shelter."
"This is for real?" asked Joe eagerly, opening his eyes and sitting up. Again he had experienced the same nightmare only this time after being attacked he had been dragged into the light of a street lamp and could see the burning red eyes and long-gleaming teeth of his attacker.
"Yes," affirmed Frank, trying to hide the sorrow he was feeling. It wasn't fair that Joe had to be tortured so. He had been through so much and life just kept throwing curveballs at him. "Now get dressed," he said. "We've got a lot of work ahead of us."
"Ready?" asked blond and beefy Biff Hooper when Joe opened the front door half an hour later.
"Um..yeah," Joe answered a bit shyly. Biff had been his best friend since grade school but after finding out Biff had witnessed his transformation he was uncomfortable in his presence.
"Are you okay?" asked Biff, concern showing in his blue eyes as he reached out and grasped Joe's shoulder.
"Yeah," Joe answered, hastily backing away from the contact.
"Don't be that way," Biff said, hurt marring his handsome features. "I'm your friend, remember?"
Joe licked his lips. "I know," he replied quietly. "It's just..." he began miserably.
"Just nothing," Biff stated firmly, interrupting him. "What happened to you isn't your fault."
"Isn't it?" Joe retorted sadly. "There is a way I could not change."
"True," admitted Biff. "But if you even think about trying to get yourself killed or, worse, killing yourself, I'll rip you limb from limb," he threatened. "I'll even wait until you do transform so I can really tear you up without killing you."
"But it would be easier..." Joe began, saying what he had been thinking but too afraid to tell his brother.
"When has Joe Hardy ever done things the easy way?" demanded Biff, quirking a blond brow. Joe's worried frown disappeared slowly as his lips transformed into a self-conscious grin. "That's better!" boomed Biff, wrapping an arm around Joe's shoulders as he pulled him closer. "Now, let's go find that brother of yours and get a move on. We might even be able to get a little fishing in."
"Should I grab our gear?" asked Frank, appearing at the entryway that led to the living room.
"No need," Biff answered. "There is always enough at the cabin."
The boys arrived at the cabin two hours later. "Good thing this place isn't too far from Bayport," commented Frank as he jumped out of the van. "We may be able to sneak up here occasionally without mom and dad even finding out."
"Why don't you tell them?" Biff asked when he and Joe joined Frank outside of the vehicle.
"I told Frank and he thought I was crazy," explained Joe with a worried expression. "He had to see me change before he would believe it. I don't really want anyone to see me," he added self-consciously. "I'm sure it isn't a pretty sight."
"I don't think that would bother your folks," Biff pointed out.
"No," agreed Joe. "But knowing there was something wrong with me that can't be fixed would."
"Your decision," Biff said with a shrug. "But I think you should tell them."
"Where's the bomb shelter?" asked Joe, changing the subject.
"Behind the cabin," answered Biff. "Only the top is visible and that is only when the leaves aren't on the ground."
Frank and Joe followed Biff to the back of the log cabin and toward a large maple tree. "The entrance is marked by this tree," said Biff. "As you can see, there are leaves on the ground pretty much all of the time." He put his back to the tree and began measuring off his paces.
"Six and seven," Biff said, stopping. He bent down and began pushing aside the leaves. Frank and Joe went over to help him and soon they had uncovered what looked like a manhole cover.
Biff reached down and pulled on the lid but it would not budge.
"Let me help," offered Joe. Together the boys had the cover off in seconds.
"I'll grab the flashlights from the car," said Frank and took off at a run.
Joe swallowed nervously. He wasn't afraid of the dark but he still didn't relish being locked underground in the dark. Biff must have figured out what was bothering his friend. "Don't worry," Biff said. "There's a generator down there. It just has to be cranked and it's good to go for 24 hours without being bothered again."
Frank returned with the flashlight and the three descended the metal rail ladder into the shelter. Frank held the light while Joe and Biff worked on the generator. After only a couple of minutes strategically placed lights flickered on and Frank turned the flashlight off.
"Doesn't need much work at all," commented Frank. "Just those few boxes to move out."
"Toss out, actually," Biff corrected him. "They've been around longer than I have."
Forming a line the three boys managed to get the boxes filled with rusty cans up the ladder and out to the van. "We'll drop these off at the dump on our way home," Biff said. "We can get a broom and mop from the cabin and finish down there."
"I'll do it," Frank volunteered. He knew Joe would be spending a lot of time down there soon enough and didn't want him to be down there more than was absolutely necessary. "Why don't you two get the fishing gear and hunt us up some bait?" he suggested.
"Can we skip the fishing?" asked Joe, giving Frank and Biff an apologetic look.
"Sure," Biff answered, looking at his friend curiously. "Why? Aren't you feeling well?"
"I feel great," Joe quickly assured him. "But, well, I don't think being with me in the woods is exactly safe."
"Why?" demanded Biff. "There isn't a full moon. It isn't even night."
"No," concurred Joe, turning to look into the forest where he could see various sets of yellow eyes watching him. "But I'm kind of popular here."
"What?" Biff asked in confusion. He turned to follow Joe's gaze and gulped.
"We'll tell you about it on the way back," promised Frank, feeling nervous. A lone wolf might accept Joe as dominant but the leader of a pack of wolves would probably try and fight for supremacy and when Joe wasn't in wolf form he was as vulnerable as anyone.
Once they were back in the van and headed back to Bayport, Frank told Biff about the abnormal behavior of the wolf at the freak show. "Maybe you should stay away from there," suggested Biff.
"Not a problem," Joe told him. "Not only would I not go back but the place was all tents and trailers. It will probably be moving on to the next town soon."
After dumping the trash off Biff drove his friends' home. "Want to come in?" asked Frank.
"No thanks," answered Biff with a grin. "Since we're back so early, I'm going to ring up Karen and see if she wants to go out tonight."
"Thanks," Joe said, getting out of the van and closing the door. "For everything."
"Anytime," Biff replied, his tone a bit soft as he saw the anguish Joe couldn't quite hide.
Joe gave a deep sigh as Biff pulled the van out of the drive. "You okay?" asked Frank in concern.
"Yes," Joe replied with a decisive edge to his voice. He smiled at his brother. "Thanks to Biff, and you, I feel like a big burden has been taken off my chest. I've been so afraid that I would hurt someone that I haven't been able to relax since this happened," he explained. "But knowing you know and that you will do whatever it takes to keep me from hurting someone...well, I feel almost like my old self."
"Good," Frank said, pleased. "That's what I have been wanting. And you really don't have to worry," he continued. "I'll arrange for the tranquilizer darts before dinner."
"I'm not worried," Joe replied. "Not anymore." Not much, he amended silently. He had realized on the way home how his situation was affecting his brother and had decided not to add to his stress by revealing how he truly felt: terrified. But letting Frank know how scared he was wouldn't help the situation so putting on a happy face and pretending to not be overly concerned was what he was going to do.
He followed Frank up the steps and into the house. "Let's grab something to eat," Joe said, rubbing his belly as it growled loudly.
"Later," answered a deep baritone from Joe's left.
"Duck!" yelled Frank, spinning around at the sound and seeing the intruder taking aim at Joe with a baseball bat.