A/N: Wow! Thanks for all the reviews. For those following "the demon's horn", expect an update tomorrow, hopefully early.

Joe groaned as he awoke. "Where's Frank?" he asked nervously, looking around the room.

"Franklin will be here soon, oh young one and ye of little faith."

"Why am I of little faith for asking where he is?" Joe blinked, twice, staring at the man.

"Enough questions. Go change."

"But-"

"I SAID GO CHANGE!"

"Fine. Why bright orange? Nothing looks good in bright orange."

The first man grabbed Joe and started to drag him towards the bathroom. If Frank had been there, it would have been easy to grab the man's gun and take off running, but with not knowing where Frank was… Joe didn't dare.

Joe didn't fight back as the man threw the clothes at him this time. "Dress." In two minutes Joe was changed.

"What's going on?" Joe asked.

"You have just changed," the man responded simply.

"I mean-" Joe paused, looking at the gunman. He had the same voice as the guy from last night and the same outfit. He had at least three different pistols on him, and one huge weapon on his back.

"Any more pointless questions?" the man said as he shoved Joe to the ground and started dragging him by his leg to what he presumed was his cell.

"No-"

"Stop talking then," the man snapped. Joe grimaced, this wasn't going to be good.

A few hours later, after he and Frank had each been forced to change into orange clothes, they were released into the arena, what was supposedly the wild.

"This isn't good," Joe muttered under his breath. Each team was given an entire day to make strategies, prepare, and get resources. Nobody was supposed to attack each other before they were given the all clear.

Not that Joe or Frank expected anyone to obey the rules.

"It's way better than the actual hunger games though," Frank remarked. "We don't 'actually' have to kill each other - well - and then there's the food, and… yeah."

"I should've read the book," Joe grumbled.

"Not much help in this event to be honest," Frank responded simply. "We just have to work together to survive." He frowned, "This book…."

"What?"

"This book is weird, and probably good only as toilet paper," Frank said. "Look at this page."

Joe opened it. "Poison ivy. Leaves of sixteen, let it be, leaves of three, eat it. What the heck?"

"To be fair, I'd rather the book be sabotaged than the first aid kit."

"This was our item that was messed with?" Joe asked, looking at it. "Fair point."

"Free toilet paper," Frank remarked. "Joe, does anything seem off about this forest to you?"

"It looks like a forest to me."

"I know. Something just doesn't feel right."

"Yeah. It's called we're in the middle of nowhere in a creepy forest soon to be in a fight to the death. What's our best strategy?"

"Honestly, some of these guys are murders. I'm thinking our best resort is to escape to hide out and try and escape this forest."

"Why do you think we're here?" Joe asked.

"I think either we pissed him off or Dad did, most likely. I'm not sure why he set up this version of the game. I'm guessing to him…. Joe, what if all of these people never got busted? Murder is a serious charge."

Joe caught on instantly. "We were targeted specifically, right?"

"Yeah, he knew your name and mine and took both of us. He didn't even say 'Fenton wronged me' or anything," Frank said. "I just can't shake the feeling…"

"Can't shake what, Frank?"

"Grab the first aid kit and follow me," Frank said as he made his way to the stream. "Joe, look how clear this is."

"Pretty clear for being in a forest," Joe remarked. He frowned, "Saltwater or freshwater?"

"No water," Frank remarked.

"...Are you hallucinating? 'Cus the water is right there, bro."

Frank rolled his eyes. "I mean there are no fish in the water."

"Oh," Joe responded. "Could've just said that."

"What, and spoiled the fun?" Frank sighed, "Are you thinking this is a fake forest?"

"Honestly? Yes. What a better way to make sure all participants follow your mock rules than to make a forest where you have complete control?"

Joe frowned. "So maybe the book isn't incorrect."

"What do you mean? Trees still have the same basic principals."

"Not if he altered them," Joe said as he moved towards one. "Yup. Sixteen leaves," he counted. "Don't touch it."

"No shit. Well, I guess that wasn't our sabotaged item. Do you think the water purification tablets are?"

"No. He wants us alive."

"That's what we think too," another voice said. Frank's head snapped up to look at the group, recognizing the Group Two logo shirt on their back. Frank and Joe were Group 10. "James and John. The two 'murderers' of the group."

"Don't introduce us like that, you'll scare off the kids," John retorted.

James rolled his eyes. "Want to be temporary allies?"

"Sure," Frank said, eyeing Joe who nodded. They needed all the friends they could get in this game, and besides, if the two were indeed murderers… Frank shuddered inwardly. "Why do you think it's a fake forest?"

"Because it's set up way too conveniently and it's way too clean," John said.

"Wasn't the Hunger Games forest fake as well?" James retorted.

"Don't ask me - I was in prison when it was released," John responded. "You boys are the Hardy Boys. I get why the rest of us lot are here, according to his sick plans, but why you?"

"We don't know," Joe responded.

"Maybe your dad pissed him off?" James asked. "I mean, you are pretty well known in prison…"

"Maybe," Frank said, not sharing his theories about them being specifically targeted and not their father. "I'd like to get us out of here because I'd rather nobody fight to the death."

"Me too," James admitted. "I was in jail for three months on the murder charge. My boyfriend domestically assaulted me, and let's just say that it was a violent fistfight that happened. Long story short he ended up dead. Judge thought it was a bunch of B.S. that I was even charged, so he charged me the shortest amount possible." James shoved his hands in his orange sweater that all the participants were forced to wear. Everything was orange, except for their shoes, which were white. James had brown hair and black eyes. John had blonde hair and blue eyes.

John shifted. "We all sharing our stories?"

"We may as well. Gives us power to figure out the game and outsmart him. Perhaps he thought James' justice wasn't enough," Frank said. While he believed James, he knew that the man could be lying. He could tell Joe felt the same way.

"I'm gathering wood for a fire. I'll be back," James said as he walked off towards the trees.

"I actually did murder someone." John looked away. "I did get ten years for it and served them. It was a fight, gang-violence. Used to be a member of the Bloods. Actually, I still am, and I'm one of the top runners. Hopefully they'll figure out what happened and come after me."

Frank and Joe exchanged a look. Admittedly, Frank wasn't sure if he wanted that to happen. That would be a total and complete bloodbath. No pun intended. Frank simply nodded, "Just try not to get us killed in the process, please."

"Wouldn't dream of it. Don't want your PI father after me," the man said as James came back with the wood.

"Notice how there's next to no wood on the ground?" James asked, lighting the fire.

"Yeah, and this is dry too. So where'd he get all the trees from?" Frank questioned.

"And how long did it take him to build this?"

"Do you think he's listening in on this?" Joe asked.

"Do you really think he's not?" James retorted. "He's a sadistic asshole who needs attention, probably. My bet is he never got the big box of crayons in preschool."

"He's also got a sadistic need for control," Frank remarked.

"Well let's start figuring out what we can do to avoid killing people and being killed," Joe said.

"I don't mind killing," John said.

"The rest of us do," Joe muttered, shaking his head. What had they gotten themselves into?

A/N: A lot of Joe whump fans, and at least one or two Frank whump fans! The true whmp will come in next chapter, as well as more of the boy's friends and their family. I hope you enjoyed.

Challenge: When will the first person be taken out, and how will they be taken out? What are the man's plans?

Review and stay tuned for more... If bored, go check out my other book, 'The Demon's Horn.'

Also: Should Joe or Frank get the first injury? The vote is yours...

Thanks again for your review!