Disclaimer: The Lord of the Flies is a novel written by William Golding, and I don't own any of the characters (unless they are OC).
Chapter One
All that could be heard was the mad screams of savage boys, their spears raised and their minds set on murder. The blonde boy in the midst could only listen to his own frantic breaths while he scurried over the flaming forest to the light ahead. Run run run! It was clear they were gaining on him and could pounce at any moment. His strength had vanished as quickly as the trees eaten away by flame's fury. Run run run! Tan arms swung wildly towards the upcoming light. SAVE ME! SAVE ME! SAVE ME!
"SAVE ME!" The cry echoed off the blackness of the room, yet no one heard. Ralph gasped for air in heated desperation, almost as though his dream was the reality it once was. No…that was a solid five years ago. "It's still so darn vivid," Ralph muttered through his hand, running it every which way on his face to try to end his night sweat. The taste in his clenched mouth grew bitter, bringing forth whatever was eaten earlier. "Oh god…" The gagging echoed off the blackness of the room…and still…no one heard.
Vibrations of the alarm clock disturbed the otherwise quiet morning. Ralph remained in his slumber in hopes of never having to wake. The grey clouds hovered above the bustling boy's dormitory, encouraging consciousness. "Should we wake him up?" "We gotta wake him up!' Two identical voices whispered incoherently back and forth on either side of the blue sheeted bed. The form below them seemed dead to the conversation, but to their surprise, he rose.
"What are you doing Sam? Eric?" The groggy blonde asked, half frustrated and half awake. The two stared at him for a few moments before turning towards each other again. "I told you he would wake up!" "Yeah, but we need to get going!"
Ignoring the argumentative hollering of the twins and not questioning how they got into his room, Ralph reached a hand forth, slamming it down on the wake up to society. His mind had traced back to the night's memories. Such grief they brought him. The feeling of being back on that island surrounded with the hate and losses of the fellow boys who had been there would never leave him it seemed, but that was once upon a time. Ever since the ship had dropped them off, Ralph had seen not a one of them besides Sam and Eric…not a one.
His sweaty palm clasped around a precious golden cross hanging from his neck. Any traces of dents or bending were far gone. Where did they go? Ralph barely even remembered where he'd gotten the necklace from. All he knew was that it was strangely special to him. Strangely… "He's spacing again. I told you something was wrong Sam!" "Ralph, hey Ralph! We need to get going-" "Class is starting in ten minutes. We can't be late to morning prayer."
The two had interrupted a deep thought unintentionally, not noticing how fazed the thinker had become. "Just go without me," was his only reply. The sentence itself seemed to be sin, and sent the eccentric boys into frenzy. "Ralph no! You know that the pastor gets angry when someone skips class-" "And today isn't the day you visit the gr…" "QUIET!"
The duo stumbled back from the wind of the primary word that passed Ralph's lips. "I say SUCKS to school and SUCKS to the pastor! I'm not going! Go without me!" The temperamental boy sank back beneath the sheets, his shell closing. "But Ralph, you're a leader. You're supposed to be there," one of the two, Ralph didn't care which, protested in a tired tone. "How many times do I have to tell you this? I'm not a leader. I never was, and I never will be." And I never want to be…ever again…
To Ralph's satisfaction the door shut, opening a new silence to the room. Why do those idiots always talk about the past? A hand pressed into the cool pillow, which a few years ago seemed a luxury. Anything was better than sanded ground huddled close to fearful boys. It was impossible not to remember their hardships, and it was impossible to forget Ralph's change…Everyone's change. The change in the littuns and bigguns alike, the change in the wise Piggy, the change in the spiteful Roger, and the change in the once proud leader Jack.
"Jack…" The name that made Ralph smile and cringe all in the same. Jack was his friend. Jack was his enemy. What was Jack? What does it matter? Jack is gone, just like the rest. Gone from my life forever. Reassurance was not working, and Ralph could not help but think of those who lost their innocence on that island. His mind continued its restless thinking for what felt like hours, but what did it matter? Not one thing in this world was dragging him from his solitude…until…
What's the matter Ralph? Are you afraid? You're supposed to be leader, and look at you! What do YOU have to be afraid of? "Jack…" Get up Ralph! GET UP! "Jack…" Do you really think it's all over? Heh, we aren't quite through just yet. "JACK!"
Springing up from the covers, his light eyes darted every which way. There was no one there. No one. Why do I keep hearing his voice? The voice haunted him day in and day out, never stopping. It was clear at this point that staying in bed was useless. Darn him…
Light rapping made its way along the cobblestones on the dreary morning. Ralph held the sides of his grey blazer together as the wind fought him for it bitterly. His black shoed feet quickened in the view of the church that seemed to rule the entire area. The graceful looking people depicted in stained glass stared down shamefully. Late for prayer! Tsk tsk tsk! Heaving heavily against the door, Ralph pulled the large wooden doors open, wincing as they creaked, announcing his late arrival. No one noticed, giving Ralph time to shut the door and start towards the open room. He slid to a stop to dip his fingers within the holy water, gracing himself with the trinity. He sucked in one more silent breath before entering the room.
The space was filled with boys, big and small, praying on their pews silently. At the front, unfamiliar boys in long choir tresses were organized by their leader. The pastor was quick to Ralph's sneaking in, calling him out. "Late again I see Mr. Kenrich." Stopping in his tracks, Ralph swallowed as he was approached by the fast walking pastor who loomed over him like a father. "I was told you were sleeping in..." Darn those two! They could never stay loyal for more than five minutes! "I…I apologize," he said without a second's thought, grinding his teeth anxiously along his lips. "Just don't let it happen again."
Their feet stepped along a red carpet, leading them towards the shining lights and many boys. "I'd like you to meet the St. Michael's school choir. It seems that their church is undergoing some construction and as I always say…" "We giveth as the lord hath taught us to do so," Ralph finished on command. The rest of the lecture was nothing more than buzzed words while the seventeen year old returned to his quiet and listless state. "Now come. As the head of your class, I believe it would be Christian if you greeted them accordingly." Wonderful. Another pleasant morning. How I wish I'd stayed in bed…His arm was taken within the older man's warm palm that sailed him across the way. The eyes of his schoolmates were upon him, and Ralph could feel his cheeks burning a noticeable red while he was paraded.
"Excuse me," the pastor interrupted in loud politeness. "The young scholar I was telling you about has arrived." The choir leader, whose robe flourished with the many shades of red, white, and gold, lowered his ready hands patiently and slowly. The pastor began babbling again, giving Ralph time to study the head boy. His rich red locks were longer than most boys'. They waved steadily just above his shoulders, surely concealing his face. His stance was strong, and gave the short, blonde haired Ralph a shiver of fear. Why…?
His odd staring stopped with the touch of the pastor's hands pushing down lightly on his shoulders. "Ralph Kenrich, I'd like you to welcome the choir master…" "Merridew," a deep voice interrupted, filling the entire room with its velvety presence. A half turn brought the choir master's eyes to Ralph. "Jack Merridew." A smirk streamed from behind the red bangs that held to the side of the young man's face. Ralph was sure his heartbeats could be heard by everyone else within the room, his body burning with every emotion he'd kept secret. Jack…Jack…
Jack lifted his robe slightly to ease the walk down the steps, the distance between them closing. Each step, a louder heartbeat. A flashback of that same boy, his face tarnished with paint and blood. The images that kept Ralph awake every night. This was that boy. The very boy! Jack! Jack! Jack! The last thing Ralph could see was Jack moving faster and faster under the statue of Christ that watched everything below it, and with that last view of movement, Ralph and the floor became one.