Summary: There's always someone who's loyal. And loyalty can get you killed. Loyalty can save a life. But there are always consequences.

Answers to the reviews:
Hardy boys fan: I'm glad that you like it! Thank you for reviewing!
Sophia: Aw, thank you so much, Sophia! I had a lot of fun writing it. I don't really thinking of myself as a good writer but if you say so! Ooh, that would be epic! ;) That guy who was trying to protect the Hardys well... you'll find out. Thank you for reviewing!
Candylou: Yeah, I think he does...Thank you for reviewing! :)

Everyone deserves flashbacks or conversations about the past so...here ya go! It's a dark...dark... sad.. angsty... story...

Hope you enjoy and don't forget to review!

Chapter Two

Joe leaned closer to the closed bedroom door, hoping to find out what Mom, Dad, and Frank were talking about. It was as if they were having a secret meeting about something they didn't want him to know about. The muffled voices got a little clearer.

"I'm really worried about Joe, Dad," Frank said quietly. Worried? Frank was always worried about him.

"What do you mean?" Dad asked.

"I think he remembers more of that year."

"Oh, that year." Joe stiffened as he couldn't hear their voices anymore. Yes, of course he remembered that year. It was the most horrible year he had ever experienced. He still had nightmares from it.

"How do you know that, Frank?" Mom asked, her voice the clearest that Joe could hear at the moment. Joe bit his lip, his ear closer to the door.

"Well... there was this creepy guy in a car that was driving slowly down the road...and he froze..."

"He froze? Why?" Joe inwardly groaned, he didn't know that Frank had caught that. Great.

"I don't know, Mom, but something's wrong. Should we go talk to him?"

"Frank," Dad sighed just as Joe opened the door with a lot of force as he gripped the doorhandle.

"Talk to me about what?" He demanded.

"Were you eavesdropping?" Mom asked, her eyebrows raised at him. He shrugged in return and stared at Frank who didn't give him any kind of look but just his usual I'm-concerned-for-you look.

"Please, why are you guys talking about me behind my back? I just want to know."

"We just want to protect you." Dad offered softly. Joe sighed, running his hand through his hair as he took a deep breath of air.

"I remember, Dad... I remember everything." Joe whispered, his eyes on the ground before looking back up at them. "I remember seeing Lia dying...I remember getting kidnapped by the guy who murdered her. I tried so hard not to be scared and frightened to death, but I was. The evil man...I don't even remember his name but in my mind that's what I called him...he would want to know what I saw but I remembered that Dad told me never to let any bad guys know what I know... So I didn't."

"Oh, Joe," Dad groaned as Mom's eyes started to glisten with tears. "I'm sorry."

"Lia was too young to die..."Joe mumbled before going on. He needed to pull through this. He needed it to get out into the open. He needed to talk to somebody other than a wall beside his bed. But he was afraid. If he said anything...he could be found out that he...Stop it Joe! Stop it. Frank was studying his face, looking for a clue what was bothering him.

"I'm going to my room." Joe said breaking the echoing silence.

"Don't you want to talk about it, honey?" Mom asked, her face hopeful. A flashback hit Joe as soon as she was done speaking.

"DON'T YOU DARE SAY A THING ABOUT THE MURDER! Do you understand me, boy?!"

Joe nearly felt a rush of sudden emotions attack him, as he staggered backwards into the doorpost, not noticing the pain in his back from the wood.

"Uh, no, I'm okay. I don't need to talk about anything."

"Joe?" Frank called as the younger Hardy boy turned around and ran into his bedroom. He shut the door, breathless, his heart pounding. He leaned his back against the door, he slid down all the way till he could sit down. He pulled his knees to his chest and wrapped his arms around his legs... And he cried.

"What is wrong with him? Should I go talk to him?" Frank asked worriedly. He didn't know what was going on with his brother...it was almost just like the time that year... it had been three years and they still weren't acting normal.. The wounds hadn't fully healed. The physical wounds had but not the emotional and mental ones. His heart ached for his little brother so much.

"No..." Dad shook his head holding up a hand to stop Frank from going to his bedroom. "I think he had a flashback."

"Oh no." Mom squeaked.

"Was it the guy we saw today that could have triggered it?"

"Maybe...but I think we should give some time to Joe...Watch him like a hawk at school, okay?"

"I promise, Dad, I'll protect him."

The only problem was... You should never give a promise that you can't keep. Frank realized.

Joe was sitting on his bed, surfing the internet when he got a notification for a new email. He clicked on his Email app and read the New Email's subject: Don't You Dare Tell Anybody. He gulped, not knowing what it is. He hovered his mouse over the email address...it was legit. Should he click on it? His guts told him not to but he clicked it anyway.

From: rarelandinc
To: Joe Hardy

Subject: Don't You Dare tell Anybody
Hello Joe

You might remember me from a long time ago. You know who I am, don't you? Remember three years ago, you were missing for three months or so?

Joe swallowed hard, reading the rest of the message. He blinked twice before scrolling down.

My son...yes... You remember my son don't you? Jordan was a wonderful son...until he told your father what I was doing. Then you saw me give Lia a very quick and silent death. That definitely ruined my plan. Anyway, I shut you up real quick, didn't i? I had a wonderful three years of silence and protection... but then recently... Did I tell Jordan is still alive? Yes, he is. Isn't it a shocker? Recently I found Jordan trying to email your father. And... here I am contacting you...

Don't you dare tell anybody who I am or I will kill you and your family...and your friends since I know them.

I know you're really loyal to your family so I can trust you.

Have a nice day.
Rareland Inc

Joe clicked the email app off and started to breathe in deeply so he would not freak out. How was he not gonna tell his parents? He had blocked most of his memories out and now he was finally remembering almost everything that happened that year. He ran his fingers through his hair and decided to listen to music for awhile on Spotify. He turned on his BTS playlist really loud to block out the memories, the beatings, and everything that had happened on his first day at school.

-To Be continued-

I hope you liked it! Please review! ~VRT