Disclaimer: Let me check :shuffles through various objects on desk: Nope, I still don't own it.

Note: Hey guys... glad to be back. I hope you liked the first chapter, if not I'm sorry. Well, here's the next one.

Chapter II: Of Dreams and Dreamers

"…The nightmares have come to me relentlessly… those nights…that boy…he haunts me even now…no one knew who he really was…that Christ-like figure had everyone fooled…who was going to criticize his judgement…who would criticize the murdered…"

-Jack Merridew

The ocean moved with an unseen storm of wind and rain. The temperatures had dropped and the sun had fled long before this moment on the island. The smell of salt water and seaweed was more than overwhelming as the tide pulled in. The darkness surrounding, and the frigid water swirling around his feet, Jack Merridew stood fast against the gale in his attempt to rid himself of his thoughts.

Lately he'd had to do this more often, when thoughts of home would be prodigious and he found himself on the brink of tears. He would escape the huts, and the boys who snored louder than they sang, and go to the ocean to clear his head.

It didn't always help. Sometimes, he would sit and look out to the sea for hours without ever feeling better. Those were the nights when he thought more and more about hunting and ways to finally get some food. That was what he blamed it on: food. He didn't have enough food in his system and that made his head all funny like.

That was what he was doing now; sitting and thinking about better ways to hunt for the pig he so desired. He was trying everything he knew. Being a choir boy, not really one partial to camping and doing things outside, he was at a loss. Maybe he wasn't the right person to be doing the hunting. But it left him with the leadership role that he had always wanted. Everyone was looking up to him to keep them alive.

The pressure seemed enough to destroy him.

"You worry too much." Jack heard a familiar voice whisper and strong arms wrap around his waist. He hadn't expected the boy behind him to be so strong and built, but he was wrong and he knew it now. He unconsciously leaned back into Simon's chest.

"Maybe you don't worry enough." Jack mumbled. As much as he wanted to stay in the older boy's arms, he decided it was better if he walked away. Shaking off Simon's grip of his waist, he twisted around to look at the brunette's face. A wicked grin graced Simon's lips. It was a smile that he knew no one on the island besides he had ever seen. No one thought Simon capable of such an expression.

Jack averted his eyes away from the older boy's bare chest, only to look back up at it. He had made a nasty habit out of staring at it.

Simon chuckled at Jack's feeble attempts to avoid his feelings. He really was a cute boy when he got nervous. Simon reached out and stroked Jack's cheek gently, his grin returning when Jack leaned his lips closer to the palm. Small shivers ran up the brunette's spine at the feel of such soft lips caressing his skin. He wondered vaguely how it would feel to have them on more than his hand.

Jack wasn't surprised when Simon's gentle hand turned roughly and jerked his head up to meet the other's lips. He was expecting the rush of blood to his head when Simon pulled him closer and started kissing his neck. Everything that started soft always turned forceful with Simon. The other boys didn't know what they were talking about when they said that Roger seemed violent. They didn't know Simon.

Jack's eyes exploded with stars when he felt himself hit the ground. He hadn't even noticed they were falling. Simon's weight wasn't much on top of Jack, but it was still uncomfortable. He squirmed a little under the older boy's grip and pulled his head away from the rocky ground. He blocked off his neck so Simon had to look at him. Simon's anger was apparent and Jack almost lost his resolve. Regaining his composure, he tried to push Simon off of him.

"We can't do this anymore." He said shakily when Simon pushed him back down.

"No one is going to find out," Simon reassured him, "unless you told someone."

"n…no…I didn't tell anyone."

"I can tell when you're lying to me Jack; don't lie to me. Did you tell?"

"No, I swear." Jack could feel his heart start racing. He knew Simon didn't want anyone to know what the two of them had been doing. To tell the truth, Jack didn't want them to know either. That would take his leadership right away from him. Then again, he was the one pinned to the ground now.

"I don't believe you." Simon responded to Jack's promise. "I think you did tell someone."

"No, please Simon, I swear. I didn't tell." Jack's frantic voice rose higher with fear.

Simon sat up, straddling Jack's waist and looking down from dark eyes. They were eyes that Jack had long since burned into his memory. From behind him he pulled a pocket knife, and placed it over Jack's chest. His contemplative expressions told Jack all he needed to know.

"Who did you tell Jack?" Simon asked, tracing a thin line over one of Jack's shoulders. The younger boy winced as the knife broke skin.

"No one." Jack kept to his story. He didn't know what he was going to do if Jack didn't believe him soon. He started remembering all the people in his family who had died before him. He would be the first to be murdered.

"You promise?" Simon asked. He dug deeper into Jack's skin, making blood come to the surface. Jack's pained expressions excited him a little too much. He took the knife away from Jack's shoulder, only to place it on the other one and start again.

Jack could do nothing but cry out in pain as the knife made more and more slashes through his skin. He was only vaguely aware when Simon stopped and leaned down to lick the blood from the wounds. His breathing settled slightly, but it quickened again when Simon pressed their lips together once more. This time the older boy forced his mouth open. Jack choked on a warm liquid that was pouring into his mouth from Simon's. He was only able to just swallow before he realized what it was. Simon was feeding him his own blood. The thought and taste made him sick.

He sat up quickly and was met again by Simon's mouth. His strength quickly waning, he let Simon's tongue dominate his own and fell back to the ground. It wasn't long before Jack's consciousness fled from existence.

Note: Okay, if any of you are confused, this is a flashback. It's a dream that Jack is having (hence the title) and he will wake up in the next chapter most likely. No, this is not the pairing I am intending for this story. I plan on someone else coming in soon. (can you guess who?) I love reviews. I love them almost as much as I love reviewers. Thanks guys...

-Ayumi