A/N: First off, I want to thank everyone who has supported me through my first two stories, and I hope you stick with me through this one too. In this story everyone is much older. Some have children of their own and many are married. This narrative touches on many different situations that are not usually found in other traditional Hardy stories. Some aspects of the story are more mature because the characters are all adults. I really hope that you enjoy it and I do suggest that you read the first two stories in this series (The Forgotten Year and Drops of Crimson) before you read this one. It does play off other characters and situations from those previous stories. Also there are many original characters in this narrative, mainly because I had to create the main character's families. Once again thank you for reading!
Disclaimer: I have great sorrow that I do not own any of Mr. Dixon's characters...but my original characters and plots are my own. However, I am just borrowing Nicko Prito and Jamie Hooper from another wonderful writer, United. Most places referred to in this story are real, but the plot revolving around them is fictional. I don't own any lyrics or quotes either. I apologize for ruffing the boys up, but I do promise to put them back nicely when I'm done...hopefully in one piece. This is the disclaimer for the whole story and I'm only posting it once, right here. There you go.
Prologue:
Memories
Memories are heartbeats
Sounding through the years
Echoes never fading
Of our smiles and our tears.
Moments that are captured
Sometimes unaware
Pictured in an album
Or a lock of hair.
Images that linger
Deep within the mind
Bit of verse we cherished
Once upon a time.
Through the musty hallways
Of the days we knew
Ever comes the vision
Beautiful and true.
Memories are roses
Blooming evermore
Full of fragrant sweetness
Never known before.
Life must have a meaning
Goals for which to strive
Memories are lights that burn
To keep the heart alive.
-Grace E. Easley
...
Fifteen years ago I ran away from this place, knowing exactly what danger laid ahead. I can see everything play out before me in a mad rush of anger, revenge, and power.
A secret organization only known to the few with privileged eyes lays just East of the town of Bayport. No one who lives there knows about it and the few who do won't live long enough to tell about it.
But now I have to return to this place. To appease the curious minds of the memories of my past. I have to keep my head above. Always know what others don't.
But I will never be the same after this, that I know for sure. I am damning myself from this moment forward.
Though my name may still be Joseph Hardy, I will never truly be him ever again...