The bullet hit the wall behind Joe. He jumped. "What the heck?"

The men laughed. "We weren't really going to shoot you. We're just trying to scare the girls."

Joe stared at the men. He didn't believe them. They were going to shoot him, but held back. Why?

"What's going on here?" The Emperor appeared in the doorway.

"Nothing. We're just messing with the girls."

The man didn't seem to go along with their explanation either. "Well, if you want to do so, stop shooting holes in the ceiling. Get that bullet out!"

Pirate saluted the man. "Yes, sir." Emperor gave a cold stare before retreating.

OOOOO

Nancy's head whirled with worry. Had Joe been shot?

"Get up," Nancy felt herself being brought to her feet. Through her darkness spell, she felt bewildered. Joe Hardy, are you still alive? After minutes of moving, Nancy was dropped to the floor. She heard a door slam, then nothing.

The teen reached up and felt around her. It was a rather enclosed space. She recognized it as a closet. She leaned against something made of wood. It was the door. To her great dissatisfaction, she could hear nothing. Nancy laid on the floor and heaved a sigh. She was terribly worried for Joe Hardy.

It took her hours to fall asleep.

When Nancy awoke, she heard a voice. She opened her eyes, temporarily forgetting her loss of sight. It was her captor. After a moment, she realized he was talking on the phone. Pressing her ear on the door, she listened intently.

"You did what?!" Pirate was screaming.

There was a long pause followed by, "Dang it! We weren't supposed to..." An interrupted pause. Then a sigh and a huff. "Alright. I guess there's nothing we can do about it, now. You listen to me. Keep your mouth shut, you hear me? Don't you dare let anyone know. Urg!" The receiver was slammed down. The shuffling of feet was all Nancy heard, until a door slammed against the wall.

"Pirate!" It was one of the other captors. "He's dead! He's dead!"

"What? Slow down, Hammer. Who's dead?"

"Emperor! We found him this morning! Someone tied him to a chair and burned him!"

OOOOO

As the day passed, Nancy grew more and more bewildered by the death of the Emperor. He had, indeed, been burned to death. The only evidence that it was truly him was part of his shoes and his glasses. Frank and Joe had done their best not to look too interested in his death, with fear of blowing their cover. There were no fingerprints, no real evidence. All the possible evidence had been burned to toast.

No bidding had gone on, and the Hardys weren't seen for the rest of the day.

That night, Nancy was awoken from her slumber by someone shaking her. "Amy, wake up!" It was Pirate's voice.

"Wha-what- what's..."

"Shut up and stand!" The girl shook as she listened to his command. Nancy missed her sight more and more. She was dragged all through the hotel, until it suddenly felt cooler. It was fresh air. They were outside. But why?

"I got the last one," Nancy was shoved into the wall of... something. She heard a slam, followed by a roaring sound. An engine. They were in a car! Inside, she heard the crying of two small girls, as well as the comforting of an older woman. She also heard Maybelle's voice. She had talked to Maybelle a lot recently, and immediately liked the girl.

What was going on? "Stop crying!" It was Hammer. He was there, too. What were Pirate, Hammer, and another kidnapper (Nancy remembered him as the John Doe) doing with seven of the kidnapped girls?

Nancy ashened. Now it made sense. The trio was to find the best girls, take them in the middle of the night, and... what would happen to the others? Nancy figured the only way they could make sure no one found them, was if they destroyed everybody. Frank and Joe. Where are you?

The truck finally stopped, and Nancy, by the sound of waves, realized they were back at the ocean. She felt herself being placed in a boat, alongside Maybelle. The poor teenage girl couldn't have shaken more if it was 50 degrees below freezing.

The sound of dipping oars came, followed by the conversation of the kidnappers.

"Are you sure this is gonna work?" "Of course it is, nimrod. We got 'em."

"Yeah, but what if someone saw us leave?"

"They didn't. No one could've. I made sure The Kid Napper had all the girls together in the gym. And the others are at the bar getting drunk. We are going to make it. They, on the other hand..." chuckles were exchanged.

Nancy figured they had been paddling for a half hour. Finally, the boats came to a stop.

"Okay, let's get this over with."

"What are you doing?" Naturally, Nancy couldn't know.

"Don't worry, honey. We're just blowing up the island, and everyone on it, including those two detectives, Frank and Joe Hardy!"

They figured it out! Nancy felt herself weaken. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh, stop it. We know that they are detectives and so are you! And now, we've made sure that none of you stop us!"

"What have you done to them?"

Pirate laughed. "Don't worry. I can guarantee they will die heroically! I can't say the same for you, however." Nancy was grabbed at the shoulders. She slowly felt herself being tipped over the edge of the boat.

"Don't!" It was Maybelle. She had lunged at Hammer. He fell backward, unprepared, and soon was in the midnight blue water. He splashed around widely, like a cat. Pirate was still on top of Nancy. She felt her reddish-blonde hair soak in the sea water. She tried fighting him off, but he was very strong. Her head was now entirely under water. He was trying to drown her!

Nancy kicked Pirate in the stomach. This did help her, because it sent him flying. But it also sent her flying... into the water! She twirled and spun through the blue. She did not go for air, but instead tried to think of her next move. She couldn't tip the boat over: The children couldn't swim. But surfacing close to the boat would only make Pirate more determined to drown her.

However, before she could make up her mind, the engine of the boat roared. The boat was leaving without her!

Nancy heard splashing going on around her. Sharks. The word hit her mind like a blow to the head. Absent-mindedly, the girl grabbed at what was at reach. She had grabbed something hard. Suddenly, she was flying over the water.

Now, imagine if you will. You are blind, are now being pulled by a speeding boat (whose engine is so close to you can FEEL the wind); and there are big sharks swimming around you. How would you feel? Scared.

The water stripped Nancy of her feelings. It cut into her throat, and reddened and soared it. The taste of salt was terribly irritating and choked her at each breath. If she did not get help soon, she would surely drown.

It was then a hand wrapped around Nancy's wrist. With the help of the unknown person, the teen detective was brought back into the boat. "What the..." Pirate had clearly seen her. "You won't give up, will you?" Nancy felt a hard slap against her face.

It hurt, but not nearly as much as her eyes. Suddenly, her pupils widened and Nancy let out a shrill of pure pain! She covered her eyes, which flowed tears a waterfall. Her sight was slowly returning, and the sudden color hurt oh so terribly! She continued to scream. This took Pirate and John Doe off guard. Even though her eyes stung as though someone was poking them, she leaped at her assailants.

John Doe grabbed her, and proceeded to throw her into the water. But even though her sight wasn't totally clear, Nancy realized the man had only one arm! She put one wrist on his left knee, and the other hand wrapped around his leg. She pushed in both directions, and Doe immediately lost his balance. he dropped Nancy onto the boat, and began tipping over the edge. Maybelle, who had been the one to pull Nancy out of the water, gave the kidnapper a shove and watched as he sailed into the blue. There was a soft thud, which Nancy guessed was the man head, hitting the underbelly of the boat.

Nancy caught a brief look at the three boats. Callie was rowing one, her arms looked as though they were cramping. The beautiful girl stared at Nancy. Realizing Nancy could see, she pointed towards shore. Nodding, Nancy watched as Melanie, and one other girl were oared towards Hawaii.

Pirate seemed to be pondering his mind. Maybelle and Nancy were strong, and they could take him. He had no weapon. He really hadn't expected Nancy to foil his plan. At first, he considered jumping off the boat, but what would that do? The man sighed, and sat in the boat. He raised his hands and spoke, "I surrender. You win."

OOOOO

And so ends the cheesy part of the mystery. This was the first segment. The second is much more intense. Even though Nancy has her sight back, she is still very unclear about a few things….

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