Authors note: Hi everyone! Sorry for not uploading yesterday, I actually wanted to do it thanks to your wonderful reviews. Time just wasn't on my side. To write two stories on the same time is actually pretty hard work! (If you don't know what I am speaking about, please check out "Your Brother is a Murderer")

Disclaimer: I don't own the Hardy boys.

Chapter two – The ultimate test

Makeup. Lots of makeup. Dye her hair. Black sunglasses covering her eyes. Green contact lens just in case. High heels, red dress, a pistol. Okay, perhaps a little overwhelming, but she was used to it. She liked it. Actually, this was going to be the big adventure of her life; an ultimate test if she really could do it or not. Was she good enough? Powerful enough? Could she break him? Could she break Joe Hardy?

In the least, it was good he was in love. Usually, he was a little too… perceptive. Besides, that love was the whole reason why she was doing it. When that man had come to her and asked her if she wanted to join in…

First, she didn't believe it. Who was he, after all? Not just a random criminal. No, this man's past was much more complicated. It wasn't about some kind of a sweet revenge for a long-forgotten mystery Joe had solved. This man's relationship with Joe made the kidnapping way more interesting than what appeared to the surface…

Bright red lipstick lubricated in thick layers over her bone-dry lips. Too much makeup too often. She was never herself anymore. But it was okay – she had chosen it. It was her dream.

F&J F&J F&J F&J F&J

Blindfolded. Gagged. Tied up. Hauled out of the car, inside a house. Down a stair. Thrown at the floor in a dirty, cold basement. So cliché.

Okay, so most people don't place getting kidnapped in the category boring. Joe Hardy, nevertheless, had experienced the whole thing too often. Not that he liked it, not at all, he just didn't understand why everyone had to kidnap him in the exact same way. And why him? Why was it always him?

Sometimes, he thought being the trouble magnet of the family was okay. In the least he didn't have to worry too much about the others. Now, he hated it. He was supposed to get marry, not lie in a lonely basement waiting for his faith!

Vanessa. Just the thought of her sent a warm feeling through his whole body. She was so… beautiful. And kind. And smart. Intelligent, caring, funny. Not to forget she was his equal in sarcastic comments and bad humour. Well, not ecaxtely bad either, he realised with a small laugh. It made him smile whenever he needed a smile. Right now, he really did. (Except from, of course, it was pretty hard to laugh gagged. If you don't believe it, feel free to try it out!)

Before he could think another thought, a big screen on one of the walls lightened up. Surprised since he hadn't noticed it before, Joe turned his whole attention to it. What on earth was a TV doing here in this cold, damp basement?

First, the screen was totally white, before a TV reporter entered the stage. While a big map lightened up behind him, he started to explain how the weather would be the next few days. After assuring it was supposed to be brilliant sunshine and blue skies, the screen went dark again.

"What?" Joe thought, completely confused "They put me in a basement like this and let me watch TV? Of all thing: TV!?"

Before he could come up with any crazy conspiration theories, the screen faded into a picture again. This time, nevertheless, the sight of it made his heart skip a beat.

There, in front of him, sat Frank, bound tightly to a chair and gagged as himself. His face was pale, and a desperate twinkle filled his usually calm brown eyes. Not really surprising though: A gun was pressing at his temple, and two men, both completely dressed in black, stood by his side, watching his every move. One of them was about seven feet tall and unbelievable muscular. The other one was not at all as high, but pretty thick. Except from that, there was impossible to know how they looked like. Joe was rather sure it was the same men that had kidnapped him, though.

In the same moment, a woman entered the threesome. Her small frame looked a lot higher thanks to a gleaming pair of black high heels. Ash blonde hair framing her small, shapely face contrasted sharply to the bright red lipstick. Her dress was short and red as blood, and her hand squeezed a gun.

Throwing a victorious glance at the screen, she started speaking "Dear Joe Hardy"

Something with her cadence made Joe discount the word "dear". Instead he tried to notice as much as possible about her look, at the same time as he made sure to remember her every word.

"As you can see, I have your brother." The arrogance in her voice made Joe feel both angry and uncertain "Point is, I don't care about him."

'Okay, one good thing in the least' Joe thought relieved, only to be cut of by the woman's next words. "But I care about you. The only way to make you do what I want you to, is through him. That's the only reason he is here. Well, I suppose you are exited to know what I want you to do? I won't keep you waiting. Fact is, you are going to get married."

'Married? Help, no, I already am engaged! One wife is more than enough, I am sure of it!' Joe thought desperate, not at all liking the way things evolved.

"You see I have a friend" the woman explained, an evil smile crossing her beautiful face "and this friend of mine, is madly in love with you. I am not that kind of a friend who refuses your greatest wishes. I was sitting in a cell for five years straight, and now that I am finally out, nothing shall keep me from using my freedom. If I want someone to get married, I make them marry. If I want someone to die, I kill them."

On the last words, she shot Frank a warning glance. Turning to the screen again, her voice lowered to a whisper. Her piercing cat-green eyes was burning of seriousness and malice. "If you marry my friend and never, ever return to Bayport, your brother will live. If you marry her and promise to never, ever do anything to keep in touch with your "old life", I will let your brother go without a scratch. If you refuse, I will kill him. Slowly, painfully, I will squeeze the life out of him until there are nothing left. And you will watch. You are going to hear his screams, see his blood. I will shatter him, break him, smash him like a vase. You will watch him die, and then, you will die too… The choice is yours."

Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Again, I want to thank you for your reviews. Without some encouragement I quickly loose my inspiration! So thanks a lot, and next chapter will soon be up…