Ralph froze, his hands still on the spear. Jack's arms were tight around his body, pinning his arms to his side. What was Jack doing?

"Jack?"

Jack didn't answer. He leaned forward and rested his forehead on Ralph's shoulder. The tears were flowing freely. Jack had never cried like this before.

Ralph turned around within Jack's arms and faced the crying boy. Jack had his head down, and his arms were limp. His sobs were barely noticeable.

Ralph hesitantly raised his arms. Jack was crying. The fair-haired boy felt that he needed to do something.

He cautiously put one arm behind Jack's back. When that didn't get him killed, he put the other there as well. Jack's back was warm, and his chest shook.

The two stayed in the embrace for a few moments more. Then Jack withdrew, his eyes red.

"I'm sorry, Jack."

Jack shook his head. "No. I'm sorry." He wiped his eyes. "That was too far."

Jack was so different. Ralph had never seen him do anything but kill and control. Now he was…crying…and showing a softer side. Jack was crying.

Jack abruptly stood up and started to walk away. Ralph was surprised.

As he walked away, Jack silently cursed himself. Why did he have to do that, damn it? Now Ralph thought he was soft.

Still, Ralph hadn't pushed him away or laughed at him. He had, in fact, returned the hug. Whether that was out of pity or attraction still had yet to be defined, though.

"Where are you going?" Ralph asked from the water.

Jack stopped. Wherever he was going, it had to be away from Ralph. Before he pushed any more boundaries or did something even more monumentally stupid than what he'd already done.

"You don't have any place to stay, do you?"

Jack reluctantly shook his head. His eyes were dry now, and except for some redness there was no sign that he'd been crying.

"Well…maybe you could live with me for a while…"

Jack shook his head again. "Roger started a hunt."

"…on who?"

Jack turned around, anger flickering across his face. "Me."

Ralph saw the anger and smiled. Jack was starting to become himself again. Not that crying boy he had seen before. Jack was angry, and violent.

"Why are you smiling? He's after you, too."

"I know," Ralph said, sighing. "Nowhere on the island is safe. Oh well."

"Oh well??" Jack said incredulously. "Roger wants to kill us and all you say is 'oh well'?"

Ralph looked at Jack pointedly. "What can we do? There's now two of us, against all the other boys. All we can hope is that some of them don't follow him."

"You don't know Roger." Jack said, shaking his head. "He's ruthless. He'll make them do what he wants any way he can. We're going to die."

Ralph stood up and walked to Jack, who had his head down. Jack looked up just as Ralph slapped him.

Jack's head jerked to the side. He immediately came at Ralph with a punch, which was easily deflected.

"What the hell was that for?" Jack yelled angrily.

"You can't give up! You do that and we will die!"

Jack didn't speak. Normally, he would have come up with a sly retort or some comeback that verified his position, but now he didn't have one. Ralph stepped back and sat down on the sand.

"Why…why did you…hug me earlier?" Ralph asked, biting his chapped lip.

Jack's eyes widened slightly. He didn't want to give Ralph the answer. He looked down at Ralph, at his long, blonde hair blowing in the breeze. His skin was tanned, his shoulders muscular. Jack felt a small flutter in his gut watching him.

"Well?"

Jack opened his mouth as if to speak. Ralph shook his head.

"I guess it doesn't matter, if you don't want to tell me."

The red-head looked down. Ralph was so much…so much kinder than Jack could ever be. So much more understanding. Ralph was perfect. Absolutely perfect.

"Jack?"

Jack crouched down to Ralph's level. The blonde's head was tilted up, watching the water upside down.

"What?"

"I feel really stupid for asking. But you seemed really upset before…was there anything going on between…you and Roger?"

Jack shook his head immediately. "Nothing."

Ralph nodded. "'Kay then."

A bird fluttered out of the forest and up into the sky. Jack watched it with a sense of serenity. He heard Ralph take in a sharp breath. A second later, Ralph was standing and pulling on Jack's arm. Jack was jerked up into a standing position.

"What?" Jack asked, confused. He shook his arm from Ralph's grip. Ralph started to run down the beach.

"Where are you going?" Jack called.

Ralph stopped only for a second. "All the birds sleep at night! Someone's coming!"

Jack watched the forest. There was a crunch of a stick from somewhere in the quiet woods.

He blinked a couple times, then started to run after Ralph. He got about fifteen feet when a shout made him turn around.

Roger led a group of boys out of the woods. They each held spears, and each one was sharpened at both ends. Jack's body flooded with adrenaline and he ran as fast as he could. Ralph was twenty yards ahead of him. Roger sent the boys after the two.

"Jack!" came Ralph's frantic cry. Jack watched as a few hidden boys intercepted Ralph and started to drag him by the arms up the beach.

"Don't kill Ralph!" Roger yelled.

"What about Jack?" one smaller boy asked.

"Do as you will," Roger said offhandedly. Jack's heart started to beat out of his chest. He pressed harder, running at top speed until he reached one of the cliffs that overlooked the ocean. He stopped at the slippery pink stone and turned around.

Roger had Ralph and was dragging him into the woods. Ralph's head was limp. They had knocked him unconscious.

Jack watched in panic as the boys descended on him. He tried to get a foothold in the cliff, but his bare feet just slid off the wet stone.

Something hit him on the head, and his vision faltered. Someone pushed him over, and he struggled to keep his balance. A fist connected with his gut while another hit him on the back of the neck.

He held out his arms to stop the flurry of punches and kicks. His eyes came back into focus, and he managed to kick one boy to the ground.

Suddenly, there was something at his throat. He looked back. A boy was holding a knife to his neck.

"I'm sorry, Jack," came the familiar voice. It was Sam.

Jack was about to reply when someone hit him in the stomach. He doubled over and fell to the ground. Then something else hit him in the head and everything went dark.