Bound for Danger Read Online Free

row, were five people in long black robes, wearing weird masks that hid their faces. The masks had been painted with bold white designs that caught the black light in a seriously creepy way.
    I glanced over at Joe, who was staring, openmouthed, at the figures in the masks.
    Then I looked down at my feet. Joe and I had both been placed on pedestals about eighteen inches high. As I’d assumed, each pedestal was the size and thickness of a cinder block, but they had us standing on the narrow end. Mine wobbled ominously as I struggled to keep my balance.
    As I went to put down my foot, I was startled by the loudest buzzing sound I’d ever heard. Both Joe and I were so stunned we fell off the pedestals. I managed to catch myself with my foot, but Joe landed in a heap.
    â€œ That’s strike one ,” the bizarre voice intoned. “Brothers, hand down the punishment.”
    One of the masked figures stepped forward, holding a mug. He walked behind me, pulled down the back of my shirt, and poured the contents of the mug down my back.
    â€œAuuugh!” The mug was full of hot water. Not hot enough to cause serious burn damage, but hot enough to hurt—especially when coupled with surprise. The water soaked the back of my shirt so that it stuck to my skin.
    The figure walked over to Joe and did the same, pouring more water down his back. Joe yelped.
    â€œThat water is one hundred and sixty degrees. Each time you fall off the pedestal, the water will get hotter, all the way up to boiling point. Make your choices accordingly. Brothers, help them back onto the pedestals.”
    I looked at Joe, sending him a silent thought. This is not good. Whatever these guys were up to, they were obviously willing to hurt us. And I had no idea who they were, which meant they could do so without consequences.
    Two masked people came over and got me back up on the pedestal, and others did the same for Joe. When I was back up, I tried to focus on my balance and stay upright. It wasn’t easy. It took constant focus; my legs began shaking after just a few seconds.
    After a brief silence, the lead figure spoke again: “Frank and Joe Hardy, you have destroyed the sanctity of our brotherhood by joining us uninvited and unwanted. For this, you deserve to be punished. We’ve brought you here tonight to get answers. Are you willing to give them?”
    â€œThat depends,” I said honestly.
    â€œ Brothers ,” said the lead figure.
    Without further ado, one of the figures on the right stepped forward, reached up, and punched me in the kidneys. This caused me to swoon and nearly fall off the pedestal—but I managed to catch myself just in time.
    â€œThat is the wrong answer. Let’s see if you can follow along. It’sclear that Coach Perotta was told that you would join the team—this wasn’t his idea. So whose was it?”
    This time I was silent. I glanced at Joe, whose mouth remained shut. He looked resolute.
    â€œ Brothers ,” said the lead figure.
    This time two of them came forward. The one on the right wound up and punched me in the stomach, causing me to double over, while the one on the left walked up to Joe and punched him in the kidneys. He moaned.
    â€œWhy do you want to know?” I managed to squeeze out through the pain. “What difference does it make?”
    â€œ It matters very much ,” the lead figure said. “Our brotherhood has much at stake in the next few weeks. We need to know who our enemies are.”
    Brotherhood? Much at stake? We had to be talking about the basketball team, right? But why were they acting like they were some kind of secret fraternity instead of just a school-sponsored sports team?
    â€œWhy do you assume it’s an enemy?” Joe asked. “Maybe we were sent to help.”
    The lead figure threw back his head and laughed—still distorted by the voice modulator. “That’s very funny. Clearly you didn’t see