Chapter 7


Eric tossed and turned on the sand floor of his shelter, in which he shared space with several other boys. Sleep continued to elude him, even hours after his last interaction with Sam. Eric continued to fume, and that was even after taking a swim in the freshwater pond and jerking off and furiously working out, all in an attempt to calm himself down. None of it was enough. Eric was still burned up about it.

Everyone had seen this morning how easily Larry had brutalized Ralph- a boy four years his senior! That confrontation between Sam and Larry today- Larry could have pounded Sam into the sand using only one fist! Eric stepped in to help, and how had he been repaid? With gratitude, with even a single word of thanks? No! Sam had accused him of setting the whole thing up! Being accused of that… the sheer unfairness of it made Eric's blood boil.

It had taken everything he had to redirect his surging rage toward the little tree instead of Sam. Otherwise, he would have done even more damage to his stubborn, bullheaded brother than Larry would have. Pulling up the entire plant by its roots had strained Eric's sizable muscles to the limit, but it had also taken the edge of his anger, allowing Eric to regain some self-control and stomp back to the camp. Eric had remained incensed over it, though, and he ate little- for a Hunter- at dinner, and saved nothing for Sam. Why bother, when his brother wouldn't believe in his good intentions no matter what he did?

Shouting outside brought Eric's thoughts away from that, and he sat up, wondering what was going on. Making sure his loincloth was wrapped snugly around his waist, Eric got up and followed the other Hunters in this shelter outside.

"What the hell is going on out here?" Jack yelled. "I'm trying to sleep! There better be a good story behind this shit!"

"Ralph and Piggy were trying to escape, Chief," Rapper said, standing tall, dark and muscular in the moonlight. "They tried to get away in the raft. Andy and Will and me stopped them."

Jack stared at the two dejected boys who had been dragged ashore along with the raft, his eyes hard and unforgiving. But he shook his head after a moment and said, "I'm going back to bed. The punishment can wait until tomorrow, so throw 'em in the pig pen. Somebody needs to stay up and watch them."

"That's a Hunter," Roger said sharply. "Slaves don't get to be guards."

"I'll do it," Eric said. He couldn't sleep anyway. Might as well do something to keep busy.

"Okay," Jack said, nodding. "You'll also stay behind tomorrow at camp. Maybe catch some rest after that."

"Sure," Eric said. "I'll watch them."

Andy and Rapper herded Piggy and Ralph to the enclosure, and then physically picked them up and threw them over the fence.

"Ralph," Andy said with a grin, "Roger is gonna split your back open with that whip of his."

"That goes for you, too, Piggy," Rapper chuckled. "Have a good night, guys."

XX

Bitter, bruised and angry, Ralph stared at the sand as the rest of the camp went back to bed. After all the punches and kicks he'd taken in the last few days, he felt like one big bruise all over. He'd gotten to wake up to Andy urinating in his face. That was how low Ralph had sunk in the world; a kid who'd once had no problem with him at all now gladly pissed on him. His throat still hurt where Rapper's huge bicep had almost crushed it. One humiliation after another, and all he'd done was try to do the right thing. Here he was in a dirty pair of red boxers, hungry and tired and battered, and with Roger, that bastard, set to beat him tomorrow. What fun this all was.

Eric, decked out in thick, bulging muscle and wearing nothing but a loincloth, sat watching him from a few feet away. Ralph looked at him and, unable to help it, decided to taunt him. "What? You wanna beat up on me and Piggy now, too?"

That touched a nerve with Eric, and he stood up immediately, heading for the pen. "Yeah," Eric said quietly. "of course I am, because that's all Hunters do, right?"

Eric stepped into the enclosure, visibly furious, and he headed towards them.

"What're you doing?" Piggy asked, alarmed.

"I'm gonna hurt Ralph," Eric said, a dark look in his eyes. "and then I'm gonna hurt you."

"What? Why would you do that?"

"It'll be fucking easy," Eric said, walking closer. "I could do it without breaking a sweat. Maybe then I can sleep. If Ralph's got any balls he'll fight me."

"But I better not do that, huh?" Ralph asked.

"I'll break your jaw if you do," Eric promised. "You hit me once and I'll kill you, Ralph." He sounded like he was looking forward to it. Looming over the two captives, tall, heavily-muscled Eric had never looked angrier. His hands were clenched in fists, ready to strike at any second.

Ralph maintained a kind of stoic calm; part of him even figured that being killed by Eric now might well be a mercy compared to what Jack might do with him if this all went on long enough. Roger had Jack's ear, and nothing good was going to come of that.

But Piggy couldn't stay calm. Easily frightened, he cowered and started crying, and he hid his face from Eric- as if that would offer him any protection if the other boy attacked. "Don't, Eric," Piggy begged. "Please don't. Ralph didn't mean it. They're already gonna hurt us tomorrow. Don't do it."

Eric stared down at them, his expression unreadable. The sight of Piggy pleading and cowering before him, helpless and no challenge at all, deflated some of Eric's anger. Eric didn't say anything, but simply climbed back over the fencing and resumed keeping watch on the other two boys.

It was all silent for a while; the only sound was the wind in the jungle trees and the waves advancing and receding. The moon shone down from above and Ralph wondered where Tony was now. Well, he wondered where the boy's body was. Tony was dead. There was no doubt of that.

"I'm sorry, Eric," Ralph heard himself say. "I know you're not some monster."

"You should tell that to Sam," Eric said bitterly. "I've been trying to look out for him and I don't get why he's being such a dork. Whenever we talk we fight. I didn't start this. He's being so dumb. You guys should be glad you don't have a twin. It's hard being mad at someone who looks and talks like you." He paused. "Well, used to. I don't look or sound like him like I did." Another pause. "I still wanna look out for him. He won't let me."

"How'd- what happened with you guys?" Ralph asked.

"I dunno," Eric said, shrugging one broad shoulder. "We had some argument. He called me a dork and I got mad and joined the Hunters and now he won't trust me no matter what I do. I don't even remember what the fight was about. We're just mad at each other."

"Are you guys twins?" Piggy asked.

"Just figured that out, did you?" Eric snapped, then paused and calmed down. "Yes, we are. We have the same birthday and it's always been impossible to tell us apart. Mom and Dad even called us Samneric because we always did the same things and talked the same way anyway. We're twins. We're basically two copies of the same person."

"That means you're genetically identical," Piggy said, thinking. "So… how come you look like this but Sam doesn't even though he's wearing himself out?"

It was true. In spite of the drastic cut in rations for the non-Hunters, Sam continued to punish his body relentlessly as he tried to build up the kind of muscle Eric had. Sam had made some progress- admirable progress for a normal kid his age- but it was nothing next to Eric.

"I don't know," Eric said.

"He's been at it for more than a week," Piggy said. "There has to be some other factor, like something in the environment. It has to be something you've gotten since you came here and he hasn't."

"I can't think of anything," Eric replied. "I told you, I don't know." He hesitated. "I know my temper's a lot shorter. I get angry really easy and I can't control it sometimes. I have to do a lot of physical stuff or I go crazy. I can't sit still. And it feels good when I beat somebody in a fight or something. I love to do that."

"There has to be something in the jungle…" Ralph turned and stared out into the dark. "It has to be out there. It's the only place the Hunters have gone that the rest of us haven't." He looked at Eric, who was doing pushups. "Can you think of anything you guys might've found out there?"

"No, nothing," Eric said, shaking his head. "We eat a lot of meat but you guys get some and you haven't been getting like us."

"Can you please talk with Simon tomorrow? Tell him he needs to look around for anything in the environment that might be causing this. And tell him what we've been talking about today."

"I could get in trouble, Ralph," Eric said hesitantly. "I'm not looking to get into anything. I just wanna make things right with Sam."

"I'll talk to him," Ralph promised immediately. "He'll listen to me. I'll tell him you wanna talk and fix things with you two."

"Okay," Eric said, just as quickly. "I'll talk to Simon."

They talked a little more after that, but before long Ralph began trying to get to sleep, and Piggy followed suit. They both had a hard time of it, knowing that tomorrow would bring the punishment for their failed escape.

XX

Ralph and Piggy woke up with nothing in their stomachs and nothing to eat. Piggy felt a little faint, and Ralph couldn't think of much besides all the food he'd eaten in his life, all the types and kinds and how much he wished he'd appreciated it better. No matter how much you disliked one food or another, it was all so much better than starving. So much better. And here on this island, with Jack and Roger calling the shots, starvation was a very real possibility.

Andy wandered by and started to untie his loincloth, and he, Will, Rapper and Steve laughed uproariously when Ralph instinctively shielded his face. They taunted Ralph about the size of his genitals and the fact that he was not going to get any food until Jack shouted for everyone's attention.

This morning, Jack got attention the second he demanded it, and anyone could see that pleased the blond immensely. His powerful bodybuilder's frame had developed a suntan that complimented his naturally-handsome looks wonderfully; wearing only that loincloth and all that muscle, Jack would have made heads turn at any pool or beach in America. Here, on the island, Jack's strength, added to the deepening of his already-strong voice, made him a powerfully charismatic adolescent. Virtually everyone was here. Even Pablo, who looked terribly frightened that he'd be killed if the fire went out while he was away.

"Ralph and Piggy tried to escape in the raft last night," Jack began. "I want you to know they tried to steal half of our stored food in that raft. They tried to make the little ones go hungry and they say I'm the one who only thinks about himself! I'm selfish, Ralph says, but he's the one who wanted to let the little ones starve!"

Greg, Sheraton, Peter, Mikey, and Tex were all getting the worst of what was happening. They couldn't fight or hunt or even really work, so Jack was already cutting their rations. They were already scared and confused at the change in leadership and the way the camp was run. Now they were being told that the boy who'd claimed wanted to treat them better had tried to not only leave them, but steal their food.

Mikey looked at Ralph and then looked away, feeling hurt and betrayed. The smallest and most simple-minded, he had retreated into himself since Ralph's beating. He believed Jack. Ralph had lied to him and that hurt worst of all.

Peter looked confused- all the other little ones did. But Peter, who had also trusted Ralph especially well, was visibly questioning if that trust had been misplaced. He tried to comfort Mikey, who began to cry at the mere thought of being forced to starve. The small boy was terrified that each day would bring something worse, and as Peter tried in vain to help calm Mikey, he threw Ralph such a look of pain and hate that Ralph winced as if he'd been struck.

The others would not look at Ralph and Piggy. It was like they didn't want to get caught still trusting them… or they didn't want to even acknowledge them anymore.

"The heroes are Rapper, Andy and Will," Jack went on. "Rapper saw Ralph and Piggy trying to get away with our food and they went out and stopped them. They saved the little ones' food and looked out for the camp." Jack looked at the last two boys, smiling broadly. "You two get to miss out on the first rotation of Hunters that has to stay at camp. You're hunting today."

Red-haired Andy and blond Will grinned, both of them flexing their powerful muscles excitedly. They were ready to go out and take something down. Praised so highly and so publicly by Jack, they felt ready to take on the world.

"And Rapper," Jack continued, "I, the Chief, say that he gets that and more. Rapper is the only black kid here and he saved our asses. So you know what? He's the first one who gets his own slave. Pick whichever white kid you want, Rapper," Jack said with a sweep of his hand, laughing.

Rapper and the other Hunters laughed along with him, enjoying the humor in Jack's decision. Rapper, the ebony-skinned Adonis, smiled as his eyes ran over the various "inferiors," the ones Jack had decided were the lower of the two classes here on the island. His eyes settled on small, skinny Peter, and Rapper pointed. "You," he said. "get over here."

When Peter hesitated, Roger lashed out with his whip, and Peter screamed in fright and pain as one of the vines lashed into his back. He ran quickly over to Rapper and stood in front of him, whimpering.

"You know what this means?" Rapper grinned.

"I'll do whatever you say," Peter said hurriedly, and Rapper kicked him to the ground and planted a foot on the boy's tiny chest.

"You call me 'Master' or 'sir'," Rapper corrected him. "Or you get whipped. Do whatever I say the second I tell you to or you get whipped. I get to decide if you eat each day."

"Rapper owns you," Roger said. "You're his property. He can do whatever he wants to you. He could kill you if he wanted."

"You get it yet?" Rapper asked.

"Yes, Master," Peter said, weeping and nodding as fast as he could from down on the sand. "Yes, sir. I'll be good, sir, I'll be good, I promise."

"Anyone got a problem with this?" Jack asked, looking around as Peter was allowed to get up and stand, head lowered, beside Rapper. "I didn't fuckin' think so."

"I'll stay behind today, Jack," Rapper announced.

"You sure, Rapper?" Jack asked. "You don't have to this time."

"It's cool," Rapper shrugged. He smirked. "I wanna get waited on by my new slave."

"I'll make sure you get Patterson's whip," Roger said. "Punish him the second he's too slow or does anything you don't like. He won't learn otherwise."

"Okay," Rapper nodded. "Sure."

XX

At Jack's orders, Andy, Will, and Rapper- the three boys who had stopped the attempted escape last night- pulled the raft out of the cove and set it adrift. The ocean current began to carry it away, and many of the boys felt crushed, like their hopes had sailed off with it. Some of the Hunters privately wished the raft had not been set adrift, wished it had been kept around so they could use it if there was a need. But even the most moderate Hunters knew better than to question Jack.

Then Jack turned to the assembled boys and said with a grin, "Now about that whipping we were gonna do!"

"Whip me," Ralph said quickly. "The whole thing was my idea. Piggy wanted to stay but I talked him into it. You shouldn't punish him. Just do it to me."

"Do it to me," Roger smirked. "Listen to the Colonel, guys!"

Jack scoffed. "How noble of you, Ralph."

"It's the truth," Ralph insisted. "Piggy didn't do anything."

"Nobility is sorely overrated."

"I'll take whatever you had in mind for both of us."

The Hunters all laughed, sneering and smirking at Ralph. Briefly, Ralph wondered if his effort had failed. Jack shrugged. "Fine. Whip the Colonel, Roger. I wanna see him cry."

Andy and Will went into the enclosure and seized Ralph, dragging him over to one of the coconut trees and tying his arms and legs to it with vine. Andy yanked Ralph's underwear down as a last-minute thought, and the Hunters all laughed and jeered and pointed.

"You," Jack said, pointing at Piggy, who was attempting to avert his eyes. "You better watch . Anyone else wants to join noble Ralph, you go ahead and look away! Roger will get to you next!"

No one looked away.

Roger walked up behind Ralph, tall and heavy with thick, powerful muscle. The brown-haired teenager grinned, raising the home-made whip. "Fifty demerits, Colonel," he said mockingly, and brought it down on Ralph's back.

The blows rained down, one after the other. Ralph shut his eyes as the vines lashed out and began tearing into his skin, and white-hot pain lanced across his back. It didn't take long before blood started to flow. Roger, grinning like a demon that seizes lost souls, whipped Ralph with all his strength, and pretty soon Ralph could not help crying out each time he was hit. Roger barely even paused, bringing the whip down again and again. The louder Ralph screamed and the more blood appeared on Ralph's back, the more enthusiastic Roger seemed to become.

While this was happening, while the cracking of Roger's whip and Ralph's pained screams echoed around the otherwise-silent cove, a tired-looking Eric moved over to stand beside Simon and said something to him.

"All right, Roge," Jack said finally. "Untie him."

Roger set the whip down and obeyed, spitting in Ralph's face as he did so. He smiled as Ralph struggled to look up at him with eyes glazed with pain. "You don't know how long I've wanted to do that, Ralph." Roger said it in a warm, almost kind-sounding voice. It was grotesque, how pleasant and out of place it was.

Yelling and gesturing, Jack gathered up the Hunters and they gleefully herded Piggy, who looked dazed and horrified at what he'd just seen, and Ralph, who was struggling to hold himself together, back into the enclosure with the pig they'd caught. The beast squealed as the boys were shoved in with it, moving away to the corner it had chosen earlier, but soon settled down and continued watching them.

Ralph didn't hear Piggy saying how brave that was and thanking him. He was in too much pain. There was something wrong with Roger; no one else here would have been quite so happy about causing pain to others. Roger loved doing it. And while Ralph was probably a special target since he had once been in charge and outranked Jack and Roger at school, Roger had been equally pitiless when he whipped Peter, who still had the scars of his punishment. Roger liked hurting people, simple as that. Ralph had suspected this at school, had sensed something off or missing from Roger, but had never imagined it went so deep. He'd been waiting for a chance to be this cruel all his life.

The sun began to beat down and the heat rose, and Ralph's stomach growled louder and louder. He had fallen even lower, and some part of him knew there was still lower to go. He would never get to be just another slave like the others. He was the cadet lieutenant colonel, the high-profile former leader. Humiliating him would always be a goal for Jack and his Hunters. They'd probably make him starve until he begged and pleaded for food. Ralph wanted to defiantly say he'd never do that, but as wracked with pain and tormented by hunger as he was, Ralph realized he was weakening. He'd do his utmost to hold out, but he hoped that not too much else happened. He wasn't sure if he could stand it next time.

XX

From the enclosure, Piggy and Ralph watched as Rapper ordered Peter around for his own amusement, sending the terrified boy running all over the cove to pick up sticks, rocks, sea shells, and handfuls of sand and move them around. The threat of starvation and further whipping was at the forefront of Peter's mind, and sweat ran off him in rivers as he ran back and forth between the fresh water pond, bringing Rapper half-coconuts of water while the dark-skinned boy sunned himself.

When Rapper finally let Peter drink a little, the black-haired eight-year-old broke down and cried, again promising he'd be good. He was allowed to rest for a little while, but not all that long; Rapper needed a great deal of exercise as usual. Ralph and Piggy watched as Peter was ordered to act as a wrist-weight, clinging to Rapper's thick wrist as Rapper raised a basketball-sized chunk of rock in one hand, his mountainous left bicep rising ever higher. Then he switched, doing another one hundred reps with his right arm.

Eric eventually left for the fresh water pond, bringing back two more half-coconuts and washing the water down Ralph's back. Having noticed it coming, Ralph was able to choke back a scream, and Eric quietly explained this was to help keep the wounds from getting infected. After that, he let Ralph and Piggy drink what was left, and then brought some water in the makeshift bowl they'd found for the pig. Rapper ignored him, completely focused on his exercise and training his new slave. Peter, Ralph noticed, was already getting used to instant obedience to any order, living in fear of harsh punishment, and addressing his owner as "Master" or "sir," but never by his real name.

Mikey and the other little ones wandered around uncertainly. They, like the other 'inferiors', were all ranked as slaves and were permitted to do pretty much nothing without orders or permission. Jack had given them no orders and neither had the two Hunters left to guard them, so they sat around. Mikey's eyes kept sliding toward Peter, and it was obvious he didn't like Peter being owned by someone else. But he couldn't help. The little ones stayed far away from Ralph and Piggy, either because they believed they'd been betrayed, or because they'd been promised a beating if they got too close. Maybe it was both.

"I'm going swimming," Eric announced to Rapper, who was now using Peter as if he was a dumbbell, raising and lowering him with one arm. "Sure, okay," Rapper nodded. "Sounds good, man."

Ten minutes later, Rapper finished one hundred situps and a hundred flutter kicks, and decided to rest in the shade for a little while. He lay down and closed his eyes while Peter stood over him, waving some palm tree leaves.

Ralph watched helplessly, wondering again what this all had to be doing to the little ones. They truly didn't understand what was happening to them or anyone else. They were tired and hungry and scared, and they wanted to go home. But Ralph knew even these small boys had been taught about slavery at Bunker Hill, how graduates of the school had fought for the liberty of the South- and the liberty of colored men in chains. Slavery was an evil, an inexcusable, unmitigated evil. And now Roger and Jack had restored it. Left to their own devices, able to act without society's authority figures and laws in the way, they had made human beings property again. The little ones, who had been told like the rest of these boys how terrible slavery was, were now being made to learn that it was a fact of life they needed to accept.

If I ever get out of here, Ralph vowed silently, I will come back and free everyone. Or maybe I'll just have to free them here, with whatever help I can get. I have to free these guys. I have to.

It was strange, but here, with his back in incredible pain and his body beginning to slowly starve, with it all gone wrong and his rank and status lost, Ralph still wanted to help. Just like in the beginning, all he wanted to do was run things right and keep everyone safe until they were rescued.

Jack, though… he was out for himself. This was a chance to be the boss- that's how Jack saw it. And he had Roger there, the savage, tribal Himmler, telling his Chief the best way to do things. Cruelty, savagery and brutality were all Roger understood, and he was doing an excellent job of getting Jack to adopt them.

With one Hunter who was on guard away at the pond- though Eric was okay, regardless- and the other napping, Ralph thought about trying to escape now. But as much pain as his back was in, Ralph didn't know how much he'd be able to do. He couldn't fight. His hunger was weakening him. He thought about yelling for everybody to just run for it, at least take a shot at escape and perhaps freedom in small bands, but that would wake Rapper up. He was dozing, but he wasn't out completely. He'd heard Ralph yelling.

And what would Peter or any of the little ones do, even if you yelled at them to run? They had no idea how to take care of themselves. They were completely dependent on the older boys for food and even water, since they kept getting lost on the way to the pond. If Ralph yelled and the camp broke out in a panic as Rapper tried to grab everyone who attempted to run, the little ones might take off with no plan of what to do or where to go. They might be worse off than if they stayed, especially if they were caught and punished.

No. Escape would have to wait for now.

Sam was wandering around, poking a stick in the sand. Ralph caught his eye and motioned quickly for him to come closer.

"What?" Sam asked, cautiously eying Rapper.

"I wanna talk about Eric," Ralph whispered.

"So?" Sam asked.

"He's sorry and he wants to be friends. He can't help how he is. Something's happened to him and the other Hunters and it's changed them."

"Like what?"

"We don't know. But we think it must be something out there in the jungle. It's the only place the rest of us haven't gone."

"You went out there once," Sam pointed out.

"Yeah," Ralph said. "But whatever it is they found, I didn't see it that time."

"What, they found like a gym or something?"

Ralph suppressed a laugh. Sam stared curiously at him, clearly wondering what was so funny, but Ralph just shrugged. "I don't think it's that, Sam."

"Okay. So what is it?"

"I don't know. I'm gonna try to find out."

"So is Eric gonna help or something?"

"He wants to. He really likes you, Sam. But his temper's shorter now and he's frustrated. He thinks you won't trust him no matter how he tries to help."

"You're saying he didn't just fake that whole thing with Larry?" Sam asked, still suspicious, but a little curious as well. "I thought he faked it so I'd un-call him a dork. He was the dork, not me."

"What is it with you guys and that word?" Ralph asked, confused.

"It's what we say to insult each other. Usually we don't really mean it but that time we did. When we argued." Sam hesitated. "It's weird not having a twin. I mean, Eric and me used to look exactly alike. We were the same. Now he's so different."

"He feels that way, too."

"I think he's a dumb dork and he's trying to fool you," Sam said. "But he can talk to me, I guess." Sam's stomach growled and he looked down unhappily. "I wish you were still in charge, Ralph. I wish we were back at school. I wanna go home."

"You and Eric can still make up again. That way you can both go home."

"He doesn't need me," Sam said, bitterness clear in his voice.

"He misses you," Ralph insisted. "Will you at least listen to him when he tries to talk to you? He's a Hunter but he really did save you from Larry the other day."

"Okay," Sam said uncertainly. "I hope he doesn't try to fight me again."

"Larry or Eric?"

"Both." Sam paused, looking around. His eyes settled on Peter, who was still fanning Rapper and looking more miserable than he'd ever been in his life, and Greg and Tex, who were trying to calm Mikey, who was about to cry. "I'm scared, Ralph."

"Me, too."

Piggy stayed quiet the whole time, watching and listening. When Sam wandered off again, Piggy whispered, "Ralph, we need to get out of here."

"I know, Piggy," Ralph whispered back. "We'll try something. We have to. But we need more time."

XX

Today's hunt was about catching, not killing. Jack wanted to catch a female to match up with the boar they had managed to capture. Out on a hunt as important as any they'd done before, the Hunters moved like they always did- as a pack. If one saw something, they'd all freeze and close in on it, swift, silent and deadly. Or loud, swift and deadly. Either way, nothing got away from them once they started a chase.

"I wish we could catch some girls," Andy said wistfully. "I mean, the point's to get the guy pig a girl pig and get 'em to fuck, right?"

"Breed," Will said from nearby. "I think they call it breeding."

Andy grinned. "I'd sure like to do some breeding, know what I'm saying, guys?"

The Hunters all laughed. Jack high-fived Andy, who looked absolutely delighted to receive obvious praise from the Chief.

"If we had a girl," Jack said, "I'd like that Arianna Lovejoy to be here. I'd breed with her. Make a whole lot of little Jacks."

"What about me?" Patterson asked.

"You'd get your turn with her," Jack assured him. "Roger would get her after me, though."

"I could have her, right?"

They all turned, startled. That was Simon. Quiet, philosophical Simon, asking if he'd get his turn with the stunning beauty that was Arianna, if she was only here.

"Sure," Jack said. "I guess you'd want Simon Junior?"

"I just wanna fuck," Simon blurted, and they all cracked up, crowding around Simon and slapping him on his broad back, hitting the broad side of their spears against his thickly-muscled shoulders.

"Damn, puberty's been good to you, Simon!" Jack laughed.

"Shut your fucking trap, Jack!"

The other Hunters were stunned, but Jack just laughed and high-fived the other boy, clearly impressed with his nerve.

"I can't stand it when we start talking about that girl," Roger grunted as they got moving again. "She's so stuck-up. I'd set her right. She'd learn how to behave."

"Damn right, Roge," Andy agreed.

"Right on," Steve added.

"I guess we'd all get a turn with the girl if we had one, right?" Larry asked hopefully.

"Sure, Larry," Jack agreed, smiling and patting Larry on one of his muscular shoulders. "You'd have to wait till the older guys have her first, but you'd get a turn."

"Okay," Larry nodded. "I just wish she was here."

"Believe me," Jack sighed, "so do I."

Suddenly the leaves of a bush up ahead rustled, and the Hunters all snapped their spears and looked that way. A pig darted out of the brush, running like hell to get away. The Hunters all exclaimed and cursed; they had gotten so distracted that they'd let their guard down, and were thus about as surprised as the boar was.

"Take it alive! I want it alive!" Jack yelled.

"I got it, Jack!" Larry shouted, as he sprinted forward, throwing down his spear and putting all his effort into running. He jumped over and darted around mossy rocks and fallen trees, but the boar leapt off a twenty-foot drop and somehow landed safely, continuing to run.

Larry didn't even hesitate. He sprang off the edge and dove, doing just what he'd seen Roger do when he killed the first pig on this island. Larry briefly wondered if he'd aimed right, if he would land correctly. If he didn't, chances were good that he'd die.

Better that than disappoint Jack. Larry adored him and was desperate for a chance to impress him. Maybe this was it.

As he came down on the running pig, Larry made a much greater impact than he would have weeks before. He was a lot heavier now. His weight suddenly landing on it made the boar squeal in surprise and fear, and Larry wrapped his strong arms around its body as they tumbled to the ground. His first instinct was to grab its neck and try to break it, but that would make Jack mad. He wanted this one alive. So Larry wrapped his legs around it, too, and wrestled fiercely as it struggled to get free. After rolling over a few times, in which Larry received several cuts and bruises from the rough and uneven ground, the blond boy managed to hold the boar down. With a tremendous effort, he held her in place, refusing to allow the boar to escape.

"I got him, he's down here!" Steve shouted, and suddenly the older boy was there, also helping to pin the boar down. Andy and Will showed up moments later, then Roger, Jack and Patterson.

"Damn," Jack said. "Tie her up! Come on!"

They got some vines and tied the pig up, and Larry hurriedly shoved his loincloth in the boar's mouth, largely silencing her cries. Then he stood, hefting the boar's front legs as Steve raised the back.

"Larry, you wrestled her down all by yourself?" Jack asked.

"Yes, Chief," Larry nodded.

"That's amazing, fucking amazing," Jack grinned. "And that jump you did- that's some courage there, man." He clapped Larry on the shoulder, looking down with admiration. "I'm fucking impressed, Larry. That was awesome."

The younger boy's deep, broad chest swelled with pride as he stood up straighter, feeling like he could take on an army by himself. He looked up at Jack with admiration, with respect, and with love. "Thank you, Chief," Larry managed to say.

"Stick with me and you'll learn a lot, Larry," Jack said, with another clap on the shoulder. "And you don't always have to call me Chief. You can say Jack sometimes."

"Th-thank you, Jack," Larry said, unable to keep himself from grinning. "I'm glad you're in charge. It's so much better now."

Jack just smiled. Larry wondered if maybe he wasn't becoming a kind of kid brother to Jack. He figured he'd better try even harder from now on, just to be sure he didn't ever disappoint his mentor and hero. Jack was impressed with him, and he was carrying a heavy, struggling boar on his shoulder like it was nothing as they took it back to camp. Larry had no complaints, none at all. Well, the lack of girls- that was one. But all the Hunters were griping about that. Sometime, somehow, Jack would get them girls. Larry knew it. Jack could do anything he wanted.

XX

Simon was at the back of the group as they marched back to camp, bragging and boasting. Larry got some teasing for being naked, but not that much. Apparently his advancement to his teenage years had worked out well, and he was impressive enough not to be seriously mocked. Simon knew Larry was proud of that.

As great a success as the Hunt had been, Simon was downhearted. He hadn't been able to find or observe anything that suggested what was the start of all this, why the Hunters were so different from the rest of the boys.

He'd been thinking about it all through the hunt, even while discussing fucking Arianna Lovejoy like some piece of meat like the rest of the guys were doing. The sincerity in his voice as he'd talked about it scared Simon, but he couldn't much help it. He needed that and thinking about a girl as beautiful as Arianna being here, available to the Hunters… it was tempting, more than tempting. But even while he'd talked and thought about that, Simon had wondered how they'd all gotten this way. There had to be something behind it.

But they were heading back now, and Simon hadn't seen anything. He'd probably just have to quietly tell Eric and Ralph that he'd failed and try again tomorrow.

Spotting some red berries, those familiar red berries, off to the right as he marched, Simon reached out and pulled some off the bush, popping them into his mouth. He savored their familiar sweet, almost sour taste, wishing he had a bucket of them. Then Simon abruptly stopped walking and turned to stare at the bush.

XX

"I love it when I win!" Jack yelled in triumph as he led the Hunters back into the camp. "Hey, losers- Larry here jumped twenty feet to tackle this boar that was getting away! He's a fucking badass!"

Larry couldn't have looked prouder.

"Put her in the pig pen," Jack ordered. "Andy- get Ralph and Miss Piggy out of there. If they're too slow, kick their asses."

"Sure," Andy said, grinning. As the boar was brought into the enclosure and set down, the red-maned boy strode in and jerked Piggy and Ralph to their feet, then dragged them from the enclosure and threw them onto the sand. Then Andy turned and called, "Hey, Rapper!"

"What's up?" the dark-skinned boy asked. He was drinking some water that Peter had brought him. From the exhausted, desperate look on the small boy's face, he hadn't had a rest all day.

"Can I borrow your slave? Me and Steve were gonna do some arm-wrestling when we got back to camp."

"Sure," Rapper said, then yelled at Peter, "Get over there! Run or I'll make you eat sand! Run!"

"Yes, Master!" Peter cried, sprinting over to Andy. "Yes, sir, I'll do whatever you want, sir!"

"Get down on all fours," Andy said. "You're gonna be a table."

"You got no chance," Steve said, leering. "None." He stepped up on one side of Peter while Andy stood on the other.

"I think Andy's gonna do it," Larry called out.

"Maybe it'll be Steve," Rapper said.

Suddenly the air was filled with Hunters calling out support for one contestant or the other, and the blond and the redhead got down and set their elbows on Peter's back. Jack stood right over Peter, powerful arms crossed imposingly over his barrel-like chest, and said, "Okay. This isn't a wrestling match, you fucking retards, so when one of you goes down that's it. Understand?"

"Yes, Chief," Andy replied, nodding.

"You got it, Chief," Steve agreed.

"Go."

Cheers and yells broke out as the Hunters all moved in even closer, shouting right in the ears of their favorites. Grinning and grimacing at the same time, Andy and Steve battled fiercely, the muscles in their respective arms bulging and straining, showing not only how immensely strong they were, but how closely matched they had become. The two boys leaned in close, pressing hard on the 'table' as they fought with all their strength. Below them, Peter held back screams of agony, tears streaming down his face. His back cried out for mercy as Andy and Steve's elbows dug into it, but he would be harshly punished if he collapsed or tried to move away. They would starve him and beat him and make him eat sand or sea water. Peter had told them he would be good and he wouldn't disobey. So he trembled and wept and wished for death, but he stayed still.

"YES!" Andy suddenly yelled, as he finally overpowered Steve and jumped up, his fists raised high in the air. In his excitement, he kicked Peter in the stomach and the little one crawled away, moaning, to throw up on the sand. The Hunters were all so busy talking about the arm-wrestling match and how close it had been, they didn't notice. Peter, like all the non-Hunters, was only worth noticing when a Hunter wanted something.

Ralph approached Peter as he was dry-heaving near the water, and had his arm around the boy's bony shoulders in a second. "Breathe," he advised. "Just breathe. Take it easy. It's okay."

Peter wept helplessly. "I-I wanna go home," he said, again and again. "I wanna eat. I wanna sleep. I wish I was dead."

"It'll be all right," Ralph said with a calm he didn't feel. "We're gonna get rescued."

"No, never," Peter said with terrible conviction. "We'll be here forever."

Ralph tried to argue, but someone else came up to them and Peter's eyes widened in fear. He scrambled up and lowered his head. "Yes, sir, I'll do it," he said. "I'll obey and I'll be good, promise."

"It's okay," Simon replied gently. "I'm not gonna hurt you."

"My Master says I better do anything a Hunter says or I'll get punished. I don't wanna get punished."

"Well, I'd like you to go and eat a banana," Simon said. "I want you to eat one and rest a little. Then I'll take you to go get some water."

Peter nodded. "Yes, sir." He ran off and got a banana from the storage, then brought it back and held it up. Simon had to explain again that Peter could eat it, and it wasn't for Simon. Then the little one found Mikey and gave half to him after peeling it and they both sat under one of the trees, talking about Play-Doh. It was almost a little scary, how quickly they calmed down and assumed everything was safe when you were even a bit nice to them. They understood so little of what was happening that it actually made it easier for them to adjust, in a way, to life on the island. But there would only be so much adjusting to live as the Hunters' slaves.

Once Peter was safely occupied, Simon turned to Ralph. "I found out how it's all been happening."

"How?" Ralph asked breathlessly.

"Berries," Simon said excitedly. "It's a special kind of red berry that grows on this bush on the island. Jack found some and he and Roger were the first to eat them three weeks ago. We've all been eating them- all the Hunters, I mean."

"Berries," Ralph repeated in disbelief. "Berries. I never would've- I don't know how-"

"This is it. These berries. I'm sure of it. They're the only food we've never brought back and shared. Everyone who's a Hunter has eaten them. I don't know how it works, but this is what's doing it."

"Good work, Simon," Ralph said, smiling. "We might just figure this out somehow. Can you try to get some for me and Piggy?"

"I'll try."

"Thanks."

Moments after Simon nodded politely and headed off, Jack walked over to Ralph, looking down at him. "Get up," Jack ordered. "I'm taking you with me."

"Where are we going?" Ralph asked as he stood.

"I'm not answering any fucking questions," Jack said impatiently. He grabbed Ralph's arm and all but dragged him out of the camp, heading into the trees in the direction of the fresh water pond.

XX

"Seriously," Ralph asked. "What is this about, Jack?"

"I guess not even ripping your fucking back open could shut you up," Jack grouched. "Fine. I got a question for you. You wanna eat tonight? You want Miss Piggy Tits to eat? And how about the little ones, Ralph? Roger killed a pig on his own just now and we're gonna cook it. But nobody eats unless I say so. You want them to eat? Do you wanna eat?"

They were getting within sight of the pond now. "Well, yes," Ralph said. "I don't get it."

"You will." Jack unwrapped his loincloth and carelessly tossed it aside. Naked, he looked like an incredibly buff eighteen-year-old more than ever. Ralph wasn't even remotely comfortable glancing below his waist. There was no way Jack was that big before.

But he was hard. Why the hell was he-

"No, Jack," Ralph said immediately.

"I haven't had sex in months," Jack hissed. "Fucking you in the ass will have to do. If you don't fight, everyone gets to eat, even you, you worthless piece of shit. If you fight, it happens anyway and anyone who's not a Hunter starves."

"You bastard, Jack," Ralph said, his voice and his body shaking. "There was a monster. It was you."

"Whatever you say," Jack said. He forced Ralph to get on all fours and pulled down the other boy's underwear. "I'm gonna enjoy this."

XX

Eric had just come back from the latrine trench and was sitting by himself when he noticed Sam heading his way. He looked up, not sure how to greet his twin. They'd been on poor terms for almost a month, and did not even look as much like twins anymore. That wasn't Sam's fault- or Eric's, come to think of it. The whole thing had just happened.

"Ralph says you didn't fake that thing with Larry the other day," Sam said.

"I didn't."

"Thanks."

"About time," Eric snapped, his temper flaring. With effort, he calmed himself a little and added, "I mean, no problem."

"Ralph says you guys are all short-tempered and stuff."

"We are. We need to fight and run and do pushups and stuff. We all get mad really easy."

"We were always the same," Sam said. "Now we're different. It's weird."

"I didn't know it would happen," Eric insisted. "I didn't. I'd want us to stay the same, too. I don't know how this all happened."

"Well, what do we do now?" Sam asked, standing there uncertainly. "It's weird not having my twin around." He cracked a smile. "Can I have some of your muscles? We should share."

"If I could, I'd do that," Eric said sincerely.

Just then Jack strode back into camp, sitting down beside Roger as the fire got going. The tall blond looked more satisfied and relaxed than anybody had seen him in weeks. He leaned over and said something to Roger, who grinned wolfishly and high-fived the Chief. As Eric was about to wonder aloud where Ralph was, the former leader of the cadets half-walked, half-stumbled out of the tree-line. His hands kept wandering back to the seat of his red underwear, and Eric could have sworn he saw blood trickling out. Wide-eyed and dazed, Ralph went to the hut he'd been confined to before and didn't come out.

"What was that about?" Sam asked. "I bet Jack beat Ralph up again or something."

"He's never gonna leave him alone," Eric said. "Jack listens to Roger too much."

"Roger just wants to hurt people."

"Even some of us are careful around him," Eric replied. "So, are you still mad at me or what?"

"I don't really remember what we were mad about."

"You said I was a dork."

"You called me a dork."

Eric felt his temper flare up, felt his aggressive, competitive instincts urge him to tackle Sam and prove his side right with a wrestling match. But his twin couldn't handle that, not with him, not anymore. So he made himself calm down and just said, "I don't think you're a dork."

"Then I guess you're not a dork, either."

The twins wound up sitting beside each other as Andy and Rapper began cooking the pig Roger had killed, talking about some different things, catching up. When Eric went up to get his food, he got an extra slice of meat and some fruit for Sam. Nobody challenged him feeding Sam, and Eric thought he might have heard Rapper talking with Jack, having assumed Eric had taken Sam as his personal slave. The idea infuriated Eric, but he resisted the urge to beat Rapper up over it. If those dorks wanted to think he'd enslave his own brother, then fine. If it meant he'd have an easier time getting food for him and looking out for him, whatever. That was just fine.

XX

Simon had watched Jack take Ralph out of the camp, and acting on a hunch, Simon had followed. He saw the whole thing. Jack, obsessed with humiliating Ralph and unable to keep his sexual urges satisfied on his own, had raped Ralph by the pond. Simon had wanted to help, had wanted to take Jack down and stop it, but Jack would have yelled and Roger and the others would have come running. The time for a fight wasn't now. So Simon had done nothing. He just sat there and watched, then left as silently as he had approached once Jack had finished. Simon returned to camp without being noticed, just as he'd left without being noticed. Even when buff and strong with so much muscle, Simon was quiet and easily overlooked. It helped him here, because he was a witness to something Jack didn't know he had seen.

Whippings, slavery, and now rape. How long would it be before Jack wanted someone else to force himself on, or Roger decided he wanted to rape Ralph as well? The longer things went on, the quicker they seemed to descend further into barbarism. Simon had held out some hope that Jack would retain some of his small but earnest redeeming side, the joker and the preening romantic. The kid who underneath it all was not evil, just a moral coward. That side of Jack seemed to be on the verge of being lost forever.

Seeing Jack talking with Roger, Simon knew Jack had told his best friend what he'd done, and that Roger approved. Maybe Roger had encouraged Jack to do it. Maybe Jack had still been reluctant to go that far, and Roger's counsel had helped him summon the will to carry it through. It had happened once. Simon was absolutely convinced it was going to happen again. And Ralph might not be the last non-Hunter it happened to.

The time was coming for Simon to go against the current- he could see that now. Jack was Chief and had no intention of changing his course. He was the current, and Roger was his trusted advisor, telling him which way was the best one to go. Simon would not be able to go along with all this much longer.

But Jack was never going to let anyone leave. His will was one of steel, and disobeying it held promises of starvation, of forced labor, of whipping, and death. Anyone who wanted to get out of here needed to do it without being seen. By the time Jack or any other loyal Hunters noticed anything, they needed to be gone. Long gone.

The question, then, was how that was going to happen.

XX

Roger had never been enjoying life so much as he had since he'd landed on this island. Here, he was stronger and healthier than ever, his natural superiority over ordinary boys plain to see. Here, with Jack having taken charge as Roger knew he would, Roger could do what he wanted. Whipping Ralph, the boy who'd gotten in his way so many times back at Bunker Hill, was a revenge sweeter than anybody could imagine. Roger was so pleased with Jack, with how he was toughening up, shedding those little doubts, those elements of weakness and hesitation left in him. He'd agreed to make the non-Hunters slaves. He'd let Roger whip Peter and Ralph.

And now he'd finally listened to another piece of advice Roger had given. When it was just the two of them, Jack had been complaining about how jerking off was just not doing it, he needed more. There were no girls, no women. So a few days ago, Roger had suggested Ralph. Jack had recoiled at the idea, at first. But Jack's mental addiction to sexual satisfaction, combined with his lust for power and his desire to crush and humiliate Ralph any way he could, proved too much for what little conscience he had to handle. Jack had dragged Ralph away from camp and come back looking like he'd relieved a hell of a lot of stress, while Ralph looked dazed and shell-shocked.

Now, having taken a swim all the way out to one of the two small isles for some serious exercise again, the two power-packed teenagers were lying on their backs, water lapping at their feet, staring up at ten thousand stars.

"So," Roger said. "I just gotta know how it went."

"I told you, it went good."

"I want the details, Chief."

Jack sighed happily. "It was better than I imagined. God, he was tight."

"Ralph's ass is so tight you could put a lump of coal up there and have a diamond in a couple weeks."

"Roge, how come you can talk when it's just us? Around everybody else you hardly have anything to say."

"I don't waste time talking to losers. You're not a loser. So I talk to you."

"Thanks for giving me that idea," Jack said gratefully. "I feel so much better now. I was going crazy. It's still not pussy, but… it sure is better than nothing."

"You think I could try him out?" Roger asked.

"What, you mean- you wanna rape him, too?"

"I got needs, just like you. And I always wanted to rape somebody."

Jack shook his head in amazement. "You'd have made a great SS trooper, Roge."

"Sure I would've. Hitler was awesome."

"I'm awesome," Jack retorted.

"So I can have him?" Roger asked with hungry eagerness. "I want him tomorrow."

Jack shrugged one broad shoulder. "Sure. Take him after dinner."

"Thanks, Chief," Roger grinned, already looking forward to it. "Trust me. We'll break him in a few more days, tops. He'll crawl around and beg from us. We can use him until we get out of here and then we'll go say hi to Arianna."

"You're a badass, Roge," Jack said. "And you're right. I'll get us out of here. Once we go home every one of us Hunters will be getting so much we won't even be able to keep up with it."

"You can have her first," Roger offered.

"Who? Arianna?"

"Sure. You can fuck her first but I want her next."

"How are we gonna be able to do that more than once each?"

"Threaten her. Scare her. We'll make her keep quiet. So you get to have her, and so do I. But you get her first, Chief. It's only fair."

"Okay, Roge," Jack agreed. "Sure."

Roger smiled. "It's too bad we didn't win up on this island with her, Chief. We could've gotten her pregnant a bunch of times and built a little kingdom here."

"Yeah," Jack agreed, fascinated just thinking about it. "I wish that had happened. If I could, I'd stay here forever and just never go back."

XX

After swimming back to the main island, Jack and Roger made a headlong sprint through the dark to camp. They arrived just as the fire was starting to die down, and Jack realized he hadn't posted night guards yet.

"Uh, Roge- did you have anyone on guard?" the blond asked, looking around.

"No, Chief."

"Damn. Fuck, I was sure I picked somebody."

"I'll do it, Chief," Simon said, approaching with Eric, the both of them looking like the teen bodybuilders they were. "Eric and I want a whip each, along with our spears. Then we can do some punishing right away if someone tries to run."

"He's turning vicious," Roger said admiringly. "They both are."

Jack nodded. "They're Hunters. Every one of us should be vicious. This isn't kindergarten."

"Fucking-A it's not," Eric agreed. "So do we go on guard?"

"Sure," Jack said. "Roger, get 'em those whips and let's get to bed."

XX

Simon and Eric had thrown together a plan while Roger and Jack had been away. They hadn't been able to let anyone else know; there was too much of a chance someone would hear. So they waited as the night grew deeper and darker, making sure that no one would be up when the two of them tried to free a few of the boys.

The little ones were going to have to be left behind, as would most of the other boys. The more they involved in the escape, the greater the chance some movement or sound would give them away. The best Simon could come up with was to work to free the rest of the boys as soon as possible.

Eric found Sam coming back from the latrine trench and convinced him to stay out there. Simon got Piggy out of the shelter he was in and simply lifted him up and carried him over his head to where Sam was waiting. Piggy was not as quick or quiet as Simon; not even close. So Simon simply moved him where he needed to be on his own.

Then it was time to get Ralph. Simon cautiously moved into the deposed leader's hut- Jack let him have his own as a form of banishment and isolation, not as a privilege- and gently shook his shoulder. As he did, Simon marveled at how thin and weak even Ralph was. He was stronger than Jack and was in great shape for fifteen. But next to Simon, next to any of the Hunters, he was a hopeless runt. Simon could scarcely believe that eating some berries had made such a difference in all this.

"What?" Ralph exclaimed, sitting up sharply. He must not have recognized Simon, because his eyes widened in panic and he tried to shove Simon away and cover his rear at the same time. Simon felt guilt again at what that meant. Ralph, abruptly woken up, recognized at least the build of a Hunter and feared he was going to be raped again. Simon knew he could have stopped it, or at least tried. He'd have to make up for that somehow.

Acting quickly, Simon clamped a hand over Ralph's mouth to silence him, and moved back toward the entrance so the moonlight shone on his face. Ralph's panicked struggles slowed, then ceased, and he looked at Simon curiously.

"We're getting out of here," Simon whispered. "Can you go with us?"

Ralph nodded.

"Okay. Let's go."

XX

It was hard to persuade Ralph to leave without everyone else. He bargained hardest to bring the little ones, but the chances of getting them out of here on the first night, in a high-risk stealth operation, were not good. Simon pointed that out as they huddled in the trees, and Ralph just kept coming back to "We gotta get 'em out. We gotta get 'em out of here. We have to do something."

But the boys already in on the plan were all here, and going back to get more risked the whole thing. Simon had to spend a few precious minutes reasoning with Ralph, holding back his short and volatile Hunter temper. Just when Simon was ready to knock Ralph out and carry him away, Ralph looked back at the camp and sighed. Then he said quietly, "Okay, Simon, let's go."

Moving quickly and quietly, a handful of boys left the camp, heading further inland as fast as they dared go. They each held a few pieces of fruit they'd taken from the food storage; it was not as much as any of them would have liked. The light of the moon was cut off as the fugitives passed under the trees, and after a few moments they had completely vanished into the dark.

XX

Jack woke up better than he had in all this time since he'd landed here on the island. He was well-rested, well-fed, and in charge, and now, he had finally found a way to satisfy his sexual needs. Deprived of any chance to charm his way into a pretty girl's pants, Jack was forced to look for a substitute. As always, loyal Roger had shown Jack the way, had told him what he needed to do. Jack knew he still hesitated at times that Roger wouldn't, but Roger seemed willing to be patient and served his chief without question. Jack's groin still ached, a dull, happy sensation. The rape had been that good. Jack's mind was cleared now, and he could think straight again.

Arianna had been in Jack's dreams last night. With this super-powered body and the inches he'd added between his legs, Jack had blown her away. The prissy, arrogant Dean's daughter had been sweating and gasping under Jack in that bed, begging for it. Satisfying his needs temporarily had only increased Jack's lust for the Lovejoy girl. If he ever got out of here, Jack was going to court her relentlessly. He would be as charming and romantic as he could, and she'd see. She'd see that letting Jack have what he wanted was best for both of them.

The muscular blond adolescent woke up hard, as he always did. Jack got up and glanced at Roger, who was almost as powerfully-muscled as Jack was, and wondered how many pregnancies the two of them would have caused by now if there'd been a good number of pretty girls on the island. Roger was right. If they were here, if even one was here, they wouldn't be given a choice about that. The needs of the men came first.

Jack strode confidently through the trees, naked except for the loincloth wrapped around his waist. As he reached the freshwater pond, Jack tugged at the leather and dropped it, then started tugging at himself. He got behind a tree and closed his eyes, thinking of Arianna. In his mind, Jack undressed her slowly, one item of clothing at a time. Then he was there in that bed again, having her, having the beauty who had rejected him again and again, only to make Jack want her even more. Out near the cove, far away, Jack thought he heard someone calling for him, but he didn't pay attention. He was busy. Unless Arianna was here asking for him, Jack didn't care. This was too good, too enjoyable. Everything was going Jack's way, and he was lost in a fantasy of pleasure. He'd bother with his tribe later.

Once Jack finished, he sighed and leaned against the tree for a moment. Then he grinned, looking at himself, and he jumped in the freshwater pond. As he swam back and forth, his powerful muscles propelling him effortlessly through the water, Jack thought of his blond hair, now grown to almost shoulder-length. Maybe he'd keep it this way. Fuck Bunker Hill's regulations. He'd sure as hell have it like this on the island, as long as he stayed here. Jack loved being the Chief. Ralph, all noble and lame, had never made things as fun as they now were. He'd insisted everybody be equal and that there be rules and crap. He hadn't even made the boys who were clearly his inferiors serve him, like Roger had talked Jack into doing with the non-Hunters.

And Jack's disciplinary system- whippings, hard labor, beatings, cutting of food rations- were already producing a system of blind and total obedience to the Hunters. There was order, and that was something Ralph could never promise. No discussion happened at the camp now. You did what you were told, and each cadet was only worth something if he could contribute to the camp as a whole. Jack's way would keep everyone safe as long as they had to stay here. Maybe not that comfortable, not unless you were a Hunter, and especially not if you were Ralph. But safe all the same.

"Jack!" Andy called, "Jack!"

"Yeah!" Jack shouted, still swimming around the clear waters of the pond. Andy sounded kind of worried, but Jack wasn't. He was the Chief. Nothing worried him now.

Andy, his mane of red hair flowing behind him, ran into the clearing. He'd clearly run all the way here, but he wasn't breathing hard. He clutched a spear tightly in his hand, and Jack thought for a moment of how far he had come. Andy's pale skin, like Jack's, had given way to a handsome suntan, and he looked sixteen now- a very buff and athletic sixteen, years ahead of his actual age. Andy was as strong and confident as any Hunter on the island, and nothing bothered him easily. Jack wondered for just a moment if there was a problem worth his concern, after all.

Jack swam over to the grassy side of the pond and heaved himself up. He stood and faced Andy, hands on his hips. "Well, what is it? What the hell's going on?"

"Roger sent me out here. He says you need to come back to camp."

"What the fuck for, Andy?"

"It's Ralph, Chief! Him, Piggy, Sam and Eric, Simon- they're all gone!"

XX

The big mountain, the dormant volcano that had created this island a long time ago, had more than that one cave on its slopes. Simon and Eric led their group to another, up steep, difficult, and increasingly rocky terrain while the Hunters and their newly-designated slaves slept. It was narrow at the entrance, which was positioned in such a way that you could easily miss it if you weren't looking carefully at the vines hanging over it and along the rock wall around it. In fact, it had taken Eric stumbling in the dark as they ascended, over a mile from the first cave where they'd found Captain Benson, to find it. Eric had misjudged the terrain and nearly rolled his ankle as he set his foot down on a rock, then fell right through when he put his hand against the hanging vines to steady himself.

Simon, after making sure Eric was okay, had started looking further into the tunnel, and the surprisingly-generous space it opened into after going around a curve. The boys, though tired and frightened, had quickly settled into the cool, damp place, thankful they'd found somewhere that Jack, as he and his group swept the island today- no one among the escapees doubted that was happening- would almost certainly never find them. They were sheltered from wind, rain and Hunters alike here.

They'd all gotten a few hours' rest, and what little food they'd made it up here with was stored in a small pile. Simon and Eric headed out to watch for the Hunters, insisting that the others stay and be safe. Glad for a chance to rest but unable to sleep now that they were sure the Hunters were out looking for them, the boys stayed up and talked.

Ralph's back continued to experience searing pain, and he was thankful for the cool leaves that Simon had brought into the cave and set out for him to lie on, saying they'd help. The damage from his whipping, agonizing as it was, would heal. Ralph was less sure about what else Jack had done to him. He had never felt such humiliation in all his life. He wanted to cry and curl up and hide from everyone, but he also wanted to kill Jack and do it as slowly as he liked. Ralph found himself talking about going out and finding berries, and his voice grew heated as he envisioned becoming as strong and muscular as the Hunters were. He wanted that for himself, wanted it more badly than he could say.

Piggy talked about it too, and in his voice Ralph heard a different kind of hunger. Piggy saw a chance to escape his pudgy, unimpressive body, to be someone that instantly got respect. He wanted to be the one who other people were scared of for a change, instead of always being prey to bullies and macho jerks.

"We can't do that," Sam spoke up, and his voice echoed slightly in the silence of the cave as Piggy and Ralph turned to look at him.

"Why not?" Piggy demanded, sounding frustrated. "Why wouldn't that work?"

"There isn't time," Sam answered. "It took weeks for the Hunters to get like this. We're lucky two of them defected with us. We need to feed Simon and Eric any berries we find. We need to make those two into absolute beasts. We might stand a chance that way."

Piggy and Ralph fell silent, disappointed at their fantasy being turned away. They realized Sam was right. What they didn't realize was that Sam wanted those berries as badly as they did, maybe more so. He hungered for a chance to be equal to his twin brother again, to be powerful and fearless and the idol of every girl. Sam needed that. He would have gladly killed for it right now. But he just knew he was saying the right thing. His brother and Simon were the protectors of the other three boys now, and they would need every berry they could find.

"I won't go back," Ralph said, staring at nothing, a haunted look in his eyes. "I won't go back. I want those berries. I want to fight. I wanna kill Jack."

"You need to do planning and stuff," Sam said. "You can be our strategy person or something."

"I guess," Ralph said.

"That'll matter too," Piggy said. "Even with two Hunters we can't outfight them. We'll have to outsmart them."

"They're not gonna leave us alone," Sam said, wondering, once again, how he was so sure of any of this. "We're gonna have to fight sooner or later because Jack's gonna keep looking. We need to be ready for that."

"We will be," Ralph said, heat coming into his voice. "I'm not letting that motherfucker do anything to anybody again."

Sam and Piggy looked at Ralph with some curiosity, wondering where this distracted, nervous but angry Ralph had come from, why it was that Ralph kept away from everyone and didn't like being touched. Even now he sat by himself, and while he'd let you come near him, he obviously didn't like it and didn't ever seem fully relaxed. Maybe that was just the tension of everything going on affecting him. It wasn't like Sam or Piggy were that calm, either.

The Hunters didn't find them on the first day. Eric and Simon eventually came back with a little scavenged food and the two spears they'd taken from camp, reporting that the Hunters had passed by far below, and had searched the cave that Benson had made it to at the mountain's base. But Simon and Eric agreed that Jack was not going to give up looking just because he didn't find the fugitives today. The Hunters would go out again tomorrow, and they might even launch a search at night. The escapees would have to be constantly on guard and noise would have to be kept at an absolute minimum in the cave.

This was especially important since there were some sounds of wind within the cave, hints that it had more to it than this main room and the path to the outside. If you made too much noise in one area, it would be broadcast to any other places in the cave. Until they could fully explore it, the boys would have to be extra careful. For all they knew, there might be some kind of underground link to the cave Benson had been found in. They needed to ensure that the Hunters would never suspect, never guess where the escapees had found refuge. If forced to flee from here, they would never get this near-perfect a location again.

After scavenging for some food in the last hours of daylight, the five boys tried to get some rest. Simon and Eric were badly deprived of sleep, so Sam and Piggy volunteered to stay up for the first shift during the night. Ralph, after a brief mental struggle to calm himself and convince himself he was safe and could sleep, lay down on the cool stone floor. His body, long punished and deprived of food and rest, soon began to relax. Ralph was exhausted and needed to sleep, so he let his guard down. The last thing he saw before his eyes shut was Piggy carefully and methodically counting and arranging the food they'd scavenged on some big tropical leaves, and Sam, skinny and small, sitting upright, spear in his hands, a determined look on his face as he guarded the fitful sleep of his brother.


A/N: 6-25-2017. Completed another chapter! Hope my readers like it. Thanks to AM83220 for his steadfast encouragement and support.