Even though it was a free-for-all, several campers still decided to team up (at least for the moment).

"Anyone else think this is stupid?" Duncan asked his group, which consisted of Cody, Jared, Gwen, Courtney, and Owen.

"Not really," Owen said, despite the nods given by Gwen, Jared, and Courtney, "though I do think that Chris may have run out of ideas if he needs to resort to parodying other reality game shows."

"So… are any of the hunt…uh, I mean, man hunters activated yet?" Gwen asked.

As if on cue, Chris's voice blasted out of the loudspeaker. "Attention, campers: the first man hunter has just been activated. Keep on the look out for… Noah!"

The entire group couldn't help but laugh.

"When Izzy or Leshawna get activated, then maybe we'll be worried," Courtney guffawed.

Cody's smile dropped. "Or the Twins…"

Duncan shrugged. "Eh, they don't look so tough."

"You have no idea…"

"AY-AY-AY-AY-AY!"

"What the heck was that?" Duncan asked.

The loudspeaker came on again. "Justin and Beth have been eliminated already. Wow…"

Every eye in the group widened.

Owen was the first of them to speak. "Boy… Izzy must've taught him well."

Duncan chuckled. "Maybe she used the 'wax on, wax off' method," he said suggestively.

"Duncan!" he heard Courtney shout in his ear.

"OW!"

"Hey, that's my best friend you're talking about, Duncan," Owen said with an angry tone.

"That reminds me," Cody began, "what happened between you and Izzy?"

Owen shrugged. "I dunno… but I think it may have had to do with her watching the rerun of the psycho killer episode of TDI, 'cause she was afraid I'd throw her into another serial killer again."

"Oh… that sucks, man," Duncan said, empathizing with the big man.

"Yeah, but at least we're still best bud. Besides, it might be for the best. I'd hate to be tied down by a chainsaw-wielding maniac."

Duncan laughed about how "kinky" that sounded, while Cody started freaking out again. "Oh… crap," the criminal mumbled as he recalled the day's earlier events.

Gwen turned to Owen as Jared started to snap the Warden out of his hysteria. "Do you think Noah would hate it?"

Owen shrugged again. "I dunno. I'm not Noah."

Chris's voice came back on the loudspeaker. "Lindsay and Trent have been eliminated. Also, Harold: you're up."

"Saving the best ones for last?" Courtney asked.

"Doubt it," Duncan replied. "Besides, Noah's doing a pretty damn good job so far."

Owen suddenly stopped. "Hey guys?"

The rest of the group halted and turned to him.

"Maybe we should split up or something. If we're huddled together, we'll be easy to pick off."

"Not necessarily," Duncan responded. "I say we should stay together until one of us spies a man hunter. Then, we run in different directions. That way, the man hunter will have to choose one of us to chase, and the rest of us can get away."

Chris's voice was heard once again on the loudspeaker. "Time for Mini-Challenge Numero Uno! Head over to the thousand-foot-high cliff, which is a man-hunter-free zone. There, you will attempt to jump and land in the target area in the water, in reference to your first challenge on TDI! However, this time there are no sharks, BUT the target is SMALLER! Hahaha!

"If you manage to land in the target area, you earn a reflector, which is really one of those boxing glove props found in those old Warner Bros. and MGM cartoons, and whatnot. I really hope I don't have to explain it any further.

"You can use it to take out any man hunter following you. Use it wisely, for it can only be used once. If I catch you using it again, you are disqualified.

"Also, if you don't land in the target, you CANNOT jump again… well, you can, but you won't get a reflector…"

Duncan grinned. "Perfect! We're already near the cliff. Let's go."

"Um… guys?"

The group turned to Owen again. He pointed to a suited figure over the horizon: Harold.

"RUN!"

The group ran as fast as they could in the direction of the cliff. Unfortunately for Owen, he was tagged.

"Owen has been eliminated!" Chris said over the loudspeaker.

"Crap! Hurry!" Gwen shouted to the group. Harold was close behind them…

…and he was gaining on them…

-X-

Ooh, this doesn't look good for Cody and company. Who will win Extreme Manhunt? Who will be the next one eliminated? Will it be Cody? Gwen? Maybe Jared? And what about the Twins? Will they follow the rules? Or will they cheat? And will they cause extreme bloodshed? Or is Jared right about them not wanting to throw the Warden too far over the edge, thus resulting in the loss of their freedom? What is the meaning of life? What came first – the chicken or the Eggman? And why are you reading this? Shouldn't you be watching the Super Bowl? Tsk. Tsk.

Some of these questions MIGHT be answered in the next chapter.