"To love is to risk not being loved in return. To hope is to risk pain. To try is to risk failure, but risk must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing." -Anonymous

Hope

"They're coming, I can feel it. I can see both of them, falling right into my trap," Akacia said with her usual evil smile sweeping across her face, I think I'm going to be sick, "Ah mon cher, don't be frightened, your fiancee will be here soon, along with your friends. What a lovely little reunion it will be."

I struggled to find a more comfortable angle to have my hands, but there is no comfortable way to have your hands in shackles. My feet barley touched the floor and it felt like my wrists were going to break any second. I struggled with the chains for the hundredth time to no avail. As I struggled Akacia gave me a hardened glare which I returned with a defiant one.

The sticky duct tape over my mouth pulled at every movement, leaving me completely helpless to stare Akacia straight in the eyes and take it. She closed her eyes again, concentrating and then a small laugh escaped her crimson lips.

"They're getting closer Miss Peters, ah and Allen has arrived," she must have seen the fear in my mind, because she quickly answered the question that popped into my head, "Don't worry, he is fine, for the moment that is. Tony will have some nice company now. Three lives hanging in the balance should suffice...Oh, that is a bad choice. It seems the Hardys decided to split up. Never a good idea when you're dealing with a hunter such as my father."

I cringed at the word hunter. That's exactly what they're doing, waiting for the perfect moment to strike, when their "prey" was most unsuspecting. I couldn't fight back the stray tear that escaped my eye, and Akacia quickly brushed it away with her ice like fingers.

"You realize if you hadn't aided them in the murder of my brother and cousin, you might not be in such a predicament Hope. But you did and for that you must pay. You know Hope, I am quite jealous of you. What with your perfect life, perfect friends, perfect fiancee. You really don't deserve it!" Akacia rambled angrily. Dammit. Just what I need. This mad woman to be jealous of me. That's certainly not helping my situation. She practically hates me to death!

"But of course I hate to kill such a beautiful woman. Maybe there will be a way out for you in the end if you cooperate?" she whispered in my face. I just glared back into her cold golden eyes. But then the sound of footsteps made me look away and to the door.

Before I knew it Akacia was gone, and I could see three burly men awaiting whichever Hardy was coming. I couldn't see any weapons in their possession, except for their huge muscles. But of course that didn't mean they weren't prepared to pull a gun out of their jacket. I prayed with all my might that they wouldn't open this door, or that Frank would have enough sense to realize this was too easy. This is all my fault, if I hadn't gotten myself kidnapped in the first place...but the sound of the door broke through my thoughts.

...

Tony

I've never known anyone as headstrong as Joseph Hardy.

Not to say that Frank isn't determined as well. But Joe, well sometimes he sounds plain crazy when his impulses take over, but you know he's gonna get the job done.

That's why, in the back of my mind, I just knew he was going to find us.

I sighed. But now the 'us' isn't just two.

"So...how long was I out?" Biff asked, rubbing his temples. I'm sure he had one hell of a chloroform hangover.

"Mmm, hard to tell. See I've been in and out of it since they...drugged me--"

"Drugged you? What the hell is going on? Are the Bernhearts crazy or something?--"

"Bingo."

"But what do they want?"

"Revenge."

...

Frank

"So...uh...Frank?" Joe's voice actually cracked. We were driving to the warehouses at the edge of Foresburg, about an hour away from Bayport. Apparently that's where Hope, Biff, and Tony were being held. I was really hoping that Joe's mind was right about this one. But at the same time I couldn't help feeling that this was going to be one of those things that I was going to regret.

"Yeah?" I said hesitantly.

"Are you okay?"

"What do you mean?"

"Are you...you know, freaked out or anything?" Joe's question caught me slightly off guard.

"No...of course not. Why would I be--"

"Don't lie Frank."

"I'm not--"

"Frank," Joe looked me straight in the eyes as we sat at a red light.

"Joe. It's not that I'm 'freaked out.' Just worried that's all."

"Worried?" he scoffed as the light turned green.

"Yes. Is it such a crime to be worried about my brother?" I replied, startled by his reaction. After all he was the one who brought it up.

"Sorry," Joe said with a sigh, "I'm just a little...stressed."

"Me too."

We drove in silence for a while. The sun setting down into a red, gold glow. Foresburg was a small town, but Joe seemed to be confident that this was where the warehouses he saw in his head were.

"So," I began after the quiet became uncomfortable, "Do you think Akacia's father has been using these warehouses for a while? Maybe we'll bust up a whole ring of...well, whatever he's into nowadays."

"Maybe," Joe replied. He sounded really tired. More tired than usual. I was hoping that his visions weren't keeping him up all night long. Vanessa hadn't mentioned anything to me lately. Maybe it was just the stress of having a baby. I really hoped so. I also really hoped that Joe wasn't inside my head at the moment.

As we drove down a small side street I thought about what our father had told us. Be safe. Take care of each other. Don't take unnecessary chances. Remember, you're only going to investigate, not become heroes...or target practice. Call me if you confirm your suspicions. Most of all, don't get caught. He'd fired the warnings and advice if rapid succession.

"Frank," Joe's voice brought me back to reality, "Turn right here."

I followed his order and looked straight ahead. There they were. The three warehouses that Joe had described to me. They were just how he had envisioned in his dream. Scary.

"They're in the building to the left," Joe said, his eyes not leaving the warehouses. I pulled in behind the first building, that way we would be less conspicuous...I hope.

"Okay, let's do this," Joe said, determination heavy in his voice. I grabbed his arm and felt an intense feeling of deja vu.

"Hold it, remember what dad said--"

"I don't care what dad said. I'm going to save my friends here and now. I can do it, I know exactly where they are. It will be simple Frank. I've been pushed around enough lately. I want to be the one doing the pushing for once. Now are you with me or not?"

I stared at him, reeling from his opinionative monologue. I suppose he was right. Maybe. Sort of.

"Well?"

"Uh...okay, but stick close," I said and caught the small eye roll he gave me, "It's my job Joe. Big brother here."

"I know, I know."

We got out of my car silently. I followed Joe...and for once in a long time, I was scared.

...

Hope

I saw Joe creep through the door, being extra careful, but when he saw me, he lost all of his attentiveness. I started to shake my head vigorously. No no no! Can't you be rational! I screamed at him from inside my head.

"Hope," he whispered, but he had a look about him, like he'd been expecting to see me. But before he could take another step forward one of the men jumped full force at him. Thank God, Joe was prepared for a fight. He immediately jumped out of the way and sent a punch straight at the man's face. He fell to the floor in a daze. Then the second and third man came out of hiding and charged at Joe. I stood there helplessly pulling at the chains above me, I couldn't even scream for help. Where was Frank when you needed him?

The fight lasted about two minutes at most. Joe held is own for a while like I knew he would but when the third man recovered from the first blow, Joe was overpowered. I felt a presence behind me and realized that Akacia had returned, to capture her prize no doubt.

Once Joe's breathing was back to normal in the vice like grips of the men, he looked up to see Akacia standing in front of him.

"Akacia," Joe hissed. She dissolved into laughter at his angry expression.

"Thought you wouldn't get caught Joe?" she paused to think, "I guess your instincts are a little off, hmm?" Joe growled through clenched teeth, but to my surprise kept a cool head. I knew what he was thinking. Tony.

"He loves you, you know," Joe countered softly.

"Who? Tony? Of course he does, he's supposed to," Akacia replied still grinning.

"Yes, but you know something else? I think you are just as much in love with him," Joe said cooly. Way to go Joe! Get her where it hurts! And it worked too. I saw her face soften and her smile vanish, it was almost as if she was daydreaming. Lost in her own thoughts of Tony. But then she shook herself out of it and in anger backhanded Joe across the face, her sharp finger nails scarping his skin. I flinched as I saw a small trickle of blood come from his mouth. He can't keep up this level-headed attitude much longer. Joe gritted his teeth in anger and pain but still managed to stay calm.

"I may love Tony, but what's that got to do with you?" Akacia shouted still flustered.

"Yeah, I was kind of wondering that too Akacia, what does all of this have to do with us?" I heard a voice come from behind me. I couldn't see who it was but I didn't have to I already knew.

Frank Hardy came out from behind me, keeping his distance from the guards and Akacia. None of us were really sure if anyone here had a weapon, so it was good to be cautious.

"Ah, now the whole gang is here," Akacia exclaimed icily. Her eyes were even more intense, glowing with menace and satisfaction. But one thing I did notice was that she went out of her way not to make eye contact with Joe anymore. What is up with her and Joe?

Frank pulled out a small pistol, and leveled it at Akacia's head. I saw her flinch slightly, but she held her ground.

"Didn't think you carried guns around Frank," Akacia said, her bravado fading slightly now.

"And I thought you did," Frank countered, his face emotionless.

"Well here's the thing Frank," Akacia answered, glancing back at Joe for a second, "I knew that I wouldn't need any weapons. See Joe isn't the only one who has...visions."

I saw Frank falter slightly, his eyes filled with anger and confusion, but he stayed silent. Akacia laughed slightly under her breath.

"My father will be very pleased you know. Revenge is a sweet thing."

"All this for revenge, greedy aren't we?" Joe commented in disgust. But Akacia ignored him. She stared into Frank's eyes. Reading his emotions, his thoughts, his next move.

I saw a figure flash behind Frank, but before either Joe and I could send him some sort of warning, a large black jack came down on the back of his skull.

That's when I lost the last ounce of hope I had left.

A/N: Sorry, really late update. Hope you like it, thanks for the reviews!