Free Deathgame by Franklin W. Dixon

up to our expectations or who become a threat, get to play our survival game." Hammerlock paused, raising his head from the knives to pierce Terry with his gaze. Terry's eyes did not blink, nor did he look away. "For real!"
    Hammerlock picked up the knives and walked around the table, dropping a knife before each of them. "Hunting you down—gives me the chance for a little rest and relaxation."
    Terry picked up not only the knife that had been provided for him but Biff's as well. "We'll set you up with this later, Biff."
    "You want to get on with it?" Lauren asked coldly.
    "The five of you will be set loose in the jungle terrain beyond our fortress." Hammerlock thought for a moment, his expression grave, then nodded, as if in agreement with himself. "I'll give you until dawn and then start after you. I think that's a sporting chance.
    "I'll probably be back in time for breakfast, but it will be a pleasant surprise if the five of you are tough enough to make the hunt last until lunch."
    Hammerlock drew his Super Blackhawk pistol. He twirled the gun around his forefinger.
    "Just consider this the final exam."
    Hammerlock suddenly stopped the spinning gun. It was pointed right at Joe's head.
    "And I mean just that. You flunk this course— and you die!"

Chapter 12
    "THIS IS THE place," Frank Hardy agreed, looking back along the trail. The dawn light rose in a milky haze over the palmetto trees. "If we're going to ambush Hammerlock, we should do it here."
    The Hardys, Terry, and Lauren had made their way as quickly as possible along a sandy trail that cut through the scrub and palmetto. They took turns carrying Biff.
    Lauren had suggested they use the fireman's carry, straddling Biff over both shoulders. "But how could you — " Joe began.
    Lauren answered by slinging Biff over her shoulders and stalking into the woods. They'd had no choice but to follow her.
    There was little light among the trees and they had to watch out for tangled roots twisting up in the sandy path.
    Joe followed closely behind Lauren. Hanging over her shoulder, Biff looked back at Joe in desperation.
    "You won't tell anyone back home about this, will you?" he pleaded. "Me, saved from death by a girl barely five feet tall."
    "They'd have to tear my fingernails out first," Joe assured him. "They'd have to boil me in oil, pluck my eyebrows. And I still wouldn't give them word one."
    "Yeah, I've heard that before," Biff said.
    Frank nudged Joe, who was staring at Biff, bobbing slightly as Lauren made her way along the path.
    "I'll bet Lauren could get it out of you in three seconds flat," Frank said with a grin.
    Joe looked sharply at his brother. He hoped Lauren hadn't heard Frank's comment. She kept walking.
    "I saw the way you were looking at her," Frank went on. "Definite interest — maybe even admiration?"
    Joe stared at him, exasperated. "Will you shut up? She'll hear you."
    Frank shook his head in mild amusement. "In about an hour we're going to have a certifiable homicidal psychopath using us for target practice, and you're worried about what Lauren is going to think."
    "Yeah, well, you're the one who brought her up. Are you just jealous because she likes me better than you?" Joe asked.
    "Oh, right, can't you see my heart is breaking?" Frank replied. "Lauren," he called, putting an end to the conversation. "Why don't you let me take Biff for a while?"
    With seemingly no effort Lauren transferred Biff to Frank's shoulders.
    "You've go to stop eating all those burgers, Biff!" Frank grunted as they started off again.
    They discussed possible scenarios against Hammerlock as the sky slowly brightened. Frank was the strategist.
    "I think the major thing that we have to keep reminding ourselves is that we can't afford a physical confrontation with Hammerlock. He's skilled at this sort of hunting and far stronger."
    "So, what you're saying," Joe said as he accepted Biff on his shoulders, "is that our only chance is to outwit him."
    It was just before dawn.