A/N: Some foul language and abuse mentions will be in the next few chapters. I will try and keep you posted on any warnings. I hope you enjoy this!

Summary: Frank and Joe are recruited for a madman's view of the Hunger Games. Will they be able to team up and survive until Fenton can find them?

"Frank," Joe groaned as he awoke, "Where the hell are we?"

"I don't know, but it can't be good," Frank winced as he tried to move.

"What makes you say that?"

"Chains?" Frank retorted, looking at his brother to see if he'd been injured. Seeing no major injuries, he turned his eyes back to the situation at hand.

"Oh crap," Joe said, struggling to get awake. "Where the hell are we?" He opened his eyes and looked around the room, seeing all the other people in cages. "Holy… Frank…"

"I see," Frank said, looking around. There were cages all around them, with people equally chained up, two to a cage. "What the heck is going on?"

"I don't know, but I don't like it. At all."

At that a light flickered on. "Welcome to your doom, boys."

Frank and Joe shared a look.

"You may have all noticed you've been paired with a partner. Welcome to the Hunger Games, 21st century style. I will be sending my minions into move you shortly. You've all been selected because you are, I believe, the worst people in the world. I will love it when you die. Two people will survive, and you will be highly rewarded by me. You will be released in the morning into the wilderness. The game can go on for as long as it needs too. This is, in fact, my Saturday Morning cartoons. Your guards will give you the instructions and items you'll be allowed. Good luck."

Joe and Frank were quickly moved before they had a chance to react. Once in another room, their chains were taken off. Joe wanted to try and escape then, but the man who was releasing Frank's handcuffs had a gun and someone covering him.

This wasn't good. This wasn't good at all. These men were on the top of their game, and would have no problem proving it to Frank and Joe should they attempt anything. And what was this about the fighting to the death and almost death? Frank din't like that part either.

"These are the items you have," the first woman said. Joe recognized she was a woman only by her voice. Her full body armor would have given him no clues. "You have four bottles of water, six water purification tabs, a book of plants to eat and not eat, a first aid kit and a VERY small knife. If you try and use that in here it WILL be taken away."

"Your objective," the second person - a man, Joe recognized - said, "Is to be the last man standing. Have you read hunger games?"

"Um. Not yet," Joe admitted, figuring Frank probably had. "Why?"

"Good. The rules are similar but not identical. You don't have to fight to the death - just until the other person surrenders. Then, the boss shall kill them."

"Lovely," Frank muttered, "So what you're saying is we're basically being held by a serial killer who gets his jollies from either watching people being killed or killing people - ow! Hey, it's a fair question."

"You are being given an opportunity to participate in the Hunger Games," the first woman said. "Do not underestimate how serious this is. You are going up against the worst of the worst. Murderers…. Rapists…. arsonists…"

"So why are we here?" Joe spoke up.

"That is for him to know and you to find out," the man responded back. "No food, nothing else. You'll have to eat what you can find on the trail."

"When will it start?" Frank asked.

"Tomorrow morning. The exact time doesn't matter. Get some rest, you'll need it."

"This is seriously sick," Joe whispered as he left. "Did you read The Hunger Games, Frank?"

"I did," Frank responded, looking at his brother. "Do you want-"

"Don't give me any details." Joe leaned back in the cell that the boys shared. "I think escaping tonight is useless. You saw how they were armed."

"To the teeth," Frank nodded, glancing around their immediate space for cameras. "I'm guessing there will be water out there, since we have water purifying tablets. I don't know about you, but I'm dying of thirst. I vote we share one tonight and save the others for the journey."

"I agree," Joe responded, and the two slowly shared the bottle of water. Joe's stomach rumbled, and he quipped, "Do you think Aunt Gertrude will be worried when we aren't back for dinner?"

"Honestly? I think we're probably past curfew."

"I don't know where the boys are, Fenton," Gertrude said into the phone. "No. Laura's here now too. She's placed a phone call into Chief Collig, who's arriving shortly. No. They haven't been looking into anything that I know of for awhile…. Should I call Nancy? You will? Okay. Bye."

"No new updates, I take it," Laura said, picking at her supper. "I don't understand. They said they'd be back hours ago and it's late now. This isn't like them." She got up and let the chief in, who stood in the kitchen. "Any news?"

"We found the boy's van," Chief Collig said. "The bad news is that there's no sign of the boys but the good news is that there was no majorly obvious signs of trauma. There was some blood but nothing seriousness. As of right now, I'm labeling this investigation foul play."

Laura nodded, frowning. "Any thoughts on who might have taken them?"

"This was left at the scene," the Chief responded. "Is Fenton on his way home?"

"Yeah. Maybe he'll have more insight into this thing," Laura said, her stomach sick at the flyer. It was white but had some blood on it that she hoped wasn't her boys. "Have you tested the blood?"

"Already done, put a rush on it and sent it off to the lab. I'm hoping the flyer will give us some clues."

The flyer read:

HUNGER GAMES, NEW EDITION, YOU HAVE BEEN SELECTED AS PAIR #10

"Pair #ten?" Gertrude read. "I don't remember that series, but if there's ten pairs…."

"Then there's at least nine other missing pairs out there," Chief said. "Excuse me, I need to step out for a minute."

"This isn't good," Laura muttered, looking at the flier. "This isn't good at all."

"We'll find them Laura, don't worry," Gertrude responded as she turned back to supper.

"I'm more worried about what condition they'll be in when we find them," Laura remarked, a sinking feeling in her gut.

A/N: Don't worry, regular updates for "The Demon's Horn" will still continue.

Your question of the day is: Would you rather see Joe or Frank whump? Cast your votes… Now.