A/N : Yup, exam's over!
17 November 2002, 2327
Fenton Hardy stopped dancing. His puzzled wife still held his hand on the dance floor. "What's the matter, darling?" she asked.
"Did you hear someone scream?" he asked, worried.
"No, dear," she chuckled, "It must be our old ears."
Then, there was a loud, strangled scream coming from the lawn. Fenton dropped his wife's arms and ran out. He saw Nancy lying on the ground, bleeding. Under the willow tree was Frank, getting up slowly, wincing in pain. He watched helplessly at the two men walking sinisterly towards his fiancée. Joe lay somewhere beside Nancy, out cold and bloodied.
"Honey, call the cops," said Fenton, calmly - more calmly than he actually felt. Laura nodded obediently and went bank into the house, trembling in fear.
"Hey, you!" Fenton shouted loudly to the men. "No one touches my family."
The white man looked up and grinned, exposing a set of crooked teeth. "Then, we can have your son's fiancée, since their not married yet."
"She's part of my family, whether married or not. So, get your slimy hands off her. NOW!" he demanded.
The black man broke out into loud guffaws of laughter. "Look at this puny guy. Who do you think you are, old man?" he said rudely. "Your son owes our boss something and we're here to get it back."
"Too bad he can't have it back, 'cus pitiful, blond Joe Hardy couldn't get it on time," said the white man, "But he can always repay the boss with his "oh-so-valuable" life and his brother's hot chick here. Boss's been eyeing this Drew girl for a long time."
He knelt down and looked at Frank mockingly. He yanked Nancy up by her hair. She screamed. He slapped her hard. With the palm of his hand, with the back of his hand, with the palm of his hand, with the back of his hand. The black man whispered something into the white man's ear. The latter stopped abruptly and dropped Nancy to the ground where she landed in a heap. She cast a "help-me" look at Frank. Her face was streaming with tears. Then, the black man lifted her from the ground on to his shoulder. She fought valiantly in the losing battle against the huge man. "Let go! Frank!"
Fenton ran and attacked the black man but was shoved away violently. Suddenly, they heard a loud siren.
"It's the cops! They're on to us," said the white man. He started running to the black sedan. "Ditch the gal. There's no time."
His accomplice threw Nancy to the ground and ran after him. "We'll be back to get boss's 50 percent." By the time the police arrived, they were gone.
2343 hours
The ambulance arrived and paramedics emerged from the wailing vehicle. Frank, Joe and Nancy were put on stretchers and carried in. Fenton, Laura and Dana trailed behind the ambulance in their car. Relative were left standing at the doorway, bewildered. Joshua and David, hidden from the horrific scene, were left with their baby-sitter, Amy.
When they arrived, Joe was immediately sent to the emergency room. Frank and Nancy, with multiple injuries were sent to two separate doctors. Nancy, who could barely walk, collapsed to the ground, conscious. Nurses rushed to her aid and sat her on a wheel chair.
Fenton and Laura Hardy and Dana stood down the white, anti-septic smelling hallway, weeping silently as they gazed at their loved ones, hurt.
18 November 2002, 0105 hours
Frank and Nancy emerged from separate treatment rooms. Frank immediately hugged his father and mother. Nancy collapsed in exhaustion on the plastic chair. She fingered her bandaged forehead gingerly.
Frank leaned over and bent down. "You okay, Nan?"
She nodded unconvincingly. "Yea, I am," she said, her voice parched and dry.
He took her hands in his. They were cold and clammy, stained slightly with blood and soil. He rubbed them careful not to injure them further. He kissed the top of her head.
A nurse walked out of the emergency room. Laura rushed to her. "How is my son?"
"I'm sorry, ma'am," said the nurse, "but you have to wait."
She patted Laura's shoulder reassuringly. Then, she bustled off. Laura dropped to her knees immediately. Fenton kneeled down beside her and cradled her in his protective arms. The silence of the white hallways of the hospital was broken by the sobs of a distraught mother.
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