A/N: Thank you to all my lovely reviewers! So, as you requested, here is chapter number two! I hope you enjoy it... Maybe you can find a hint of plot development here, but for you slash-seekers, there won't be anything for a while (heavens, the boys are only thirteen or so!) – be patient.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of them, and I don't plan on owning them (but I do have a copy of the book).

"Get on the ground," Jack muttered as soon as he and Ralph entered the small lean-to that was designated as the chief's shelter. Ralph was surprised to find that the tribe had, in fact, gotten around to constructing primitive huts of their own, although they were nothing compared to the one that the boys had constructed when they had all worked together. That was before everything went to hell, he thought to himself bitterly. "Get on the ground and shut up."

Ralph rolled his dark eyes and crashed to the damp earth. A new pain fanned up through his spine, but he ignored it and stared blankly ahead. His vision was adjusting to the new, diffused shade, and he found it strangely welcoming. It was earthy, wild, yet, at the same time, it was familiar.

The other boy stood in front of him, his arms crossed over his bare chest, encrusted with paint and grime and blood. Jack frowned, slightly, and cleared his throat. "I'm going to make you do what ever I want you to."

The fair haired boy shook his head, dirty blonde tangles bouncing back and forth. His breath came out in a tired sigh and he said, "I'm not doing anything until I get some water and something to clean up this," he pointed at the torn flesh on his chest. There was still a trickle of blood running from the wound, and Ralph was sure that it was hurting. He had, however, pushed the sense of pain and feeling into the very back of his mind, and so he felt nothing but numbness.

"No," Jack replied, his voice smooth and even, as if the mess of a boy in front of him was someone he had never seen or cared about before.

"If I'm your pet," Ralph spat the word, "then you've gotta feed me. You've gotta let me get some water because you know that it would kill you to see me die without your help. You have to have a hand in it, don't you, Jack?"

The other boy's face crumpled into a look of distaste, and he lashed out a bare foot at Ralph. "And I will have a hand in it." Jack thought for another moment, and his normally expressionless face lit up with an idea. "You can't leave the shelter without my permission. You need water? Samneric can get it for you."

"Then can't you just send one of them here?!" Ralph hissed, not caring if he sounded rude to the so-called ruler of the tribe.

Jack frowned again and bit his lower lip, then exited the lean-to without saying another word. Ralph took this moment to heave something between a sigh of relief and a hiccup of terror. He didn't know what was in store for him in the near future, and at the same time, he didn't really want to find out. He hoped that the tribe's infamous hangman wouldn't have a hand in any pain inflicted upon him. As much as Ralph hated to admit it, Roger frightened him. He had known from the very start that the quiet, shy boy would mean trouble for everyone else on the Island. Ralph himself had seen Roger evolve from an antisocial youth to a sadistic, mean-spirited savage who took pleasure in seeing the other boys scream and bleed.

There was a rustle of dry leaves on the sand outside the shelter, and a moment later, one of the twins stooped down and crawled into the shade. "Hullo."

"Hullo." Ralph hesitated. He wasn't sure who it was – Samneric were nearly identical, and the flaking paint on the boy's face made matters even worse. Ralph took a shot at guessing the boy's identity and said, "I really meant it, Sam, when I said I'd rather die instead of see you get killed."

The boy glanced up from the hollowed-out coconut shell that he was carrying – full of water, Ralph hoped – and smiled slightly. "I know. If anyone's going to say something that they actually mean, it would be you."

"Where's Eric?"

Sam shrugged. "I – I don't know. He might be walking about with some of the littluns. I haven't really seen him around for a while."

"Oh."

"Anyway, I uh, brought you some water." The younger boy handed the makeshift bowl to Ralph, who took it very thankfully. "So, you're Jack's... captive now?"

He nodded. "Looks like it. But..."

Sam gave the hurt, bleeding boy a confused glance.

"There's something kind of queer, you know – as if he still doesn't have full control over me." Ralph brought the hull of the coconut to his lips and took a long sip. The water was cold and fresh and clear, but even if it was warm and dirty, he wouldn't have cared. He was half-starved, and certainly dehydrated, and was feeling slightly light-headed, most likely from the considerable blood loss that he had suffered in the past day. Ralph paused in his drinking and muttered, "I think that he still sees me as the old chief. He still remembers what it was like when matters weren't as screwed up."

Sam scratched the peeling, black paint that was plastered on the side of his face. "Could be," he replied.

"It's so stupid."

"Huh?"

"This," Ralph grumbled, taking another sip of water. "The fact that we're still here. A bunch of kids killing each other and running around in paint."

"I guess."

"I really wanna go home."

Sam nodded enthusiastically. "Me, too."

"Look, when you see Eric around, tell him to come see me. Tell him I'm alright, okay?"

"Jack would probably kill him for going into his shelter."

Ralph gnawed at his lower lip, and didn't flinch when the bitter taste of blood billowed into his mouth. "Alright, well, at least tell me when you see him again. Think you can convince Jack that I need something to eat?"

"You look like you haven't eaten in days."

The older boy smirked. "You're right."

"I'll do what I can," Sam said, then turned around, ducking to exit the lean-to.

"Oh, Sam?" Ralph called.

"Yeah?" came the small voice from outside.

"Thanks. Keep clear of Roger."

"I will," he replied. And then, he was gone.

A/N: Hope you liked that installment – I know it was kind of short but I have a hockey game to go to tonight and I wanted to get as much of the story online as possible for all you wonderful people to read! Feedback is greatly appreciated because it makes me want to write even more! Have a great weekend, folks!

-mo