No horror stuff in here. Just a little Jalph. And some transformation in Ralph.
CHAPTER FIVE
The whole tribe fell silent, surprised at the sight. Days slowly faded into nights; the night was just a blink of an eye. How long has it been since they saw Ralph? Now, he was standing at the top, by the entrance of the forbidden cave. Only Jack and a few trusted Bigguns weren't aghast by the blonde's appearance in the middle of their feast.
The boy at the top slowly descended. His right arm held on to things for balance and support as he moved down. The Chief dashed up to his aid. They all heard them, bickering in a faint argument that sounded along with the fire's voice. Jack had a defeated look and turned his back against the fair haired boy. He took a few steps down the slope. The next second, he turned around—and they all noticed his evil grin before he spun around—just to scoop up Ralph and carry him, bridal style. The boy in his arms flailed and muttered incomprehensible words. The redhead scoffed at the complains and walked down.
"Listen up, everyone!" His voice was loud and clear. "Ralph can walk now!"
The mentioned boy cut him off with a retort but Jack ignored it. Instead, he asked Ralph to tighten his grip on him. (Not wanting to fall, he did as he was told and clutched well but his face became creased with annoyance.) Ralph's palms felt hot against his neck but he enjoyed the warmth the other boy was emitting. They both enjoyed the warmth and felt it more than the beaming sun.
"See?" He kept on speaking. "I'm a good Chief. I took care of him for God know how long. Isn't it great? But, of course, he isn't all well. His left arm is still broken. You all can see that. But I wrapped it stiff so that in time, it would heal. I created concoctions everyday to feed him because he can't drink from the lagoon like we can. I also put Roger in charge of hunting because I had to be with him. And I took care of Piggy's specs in case the fire would go die. Apparently, the fire has been ablaze for about... fourteen days, I think? Yes, and, it's all thanks to those who stayed behind while the others went hunting. Seems that things are going okay now, like back from where we started."
The silence dragged on. They were surprised to hear such sensible words again; it was a shock to their brains. No one could really fathom them anymore so they simply went back to devouring the roasted pig.
Ralph was carefully placed down among the circle of bigguns. Awkwardness lingered between him and the choir boys until Jack got back with meat in his hands. The savages ate their meat and let the juice trickle down their cheeks, grease their cheeks. They mercilessly tore it down with their sharp rotting teeth. Their tongues slid all over the juicy piece. The chewing noises mingled with soft chattering and faint crackling. Their eyes occasionally fell on the injured boy. Each held a stare that conveyed a message the target couldn't comprehend. Their Chief sat with them, in between the injured boy and the hungry sadist.
He teasingly left the meat hanging just inches away from Ralph's lips and when he came at it, he pulled the meat away from the hungry boy. He received some tender slaps from him. The meat was a few inches away from him again. This time, the Chief smacked it on his face, as if revenge for giving him those slaps. Then he swallowed the whole meat. Ralph's face was creased with frustration and his fist banged at the Chief's chest. Suddenly, a piece of meat was popped in his mouth. His mouth unexpected it but welcomed it all the same. The flavour, the goodness, the meatiness of it was like a good dream. He started to chew and gnaw and devour it. Jack slid his fingers out of his munching mouth. He touched Ralph's face with his salivated hand and smeared the saliva over his cheek until his fingers were dry.
"More?" The Chief asked the boy to his left. Both of his cheeks were swollen with the food in his mouth.
"What?" Ralph asked, also with a full mouth.
"Here." He placed in his good hand a big piece. Ralph stared at it as he chewed well. He imagined that he was running wild in the forest, too. He imagined that he was with the others. He was hunting with them and they were having splendid time together. He saw the other smiling at him.
"Go on, Ralph. Chant it with us!"
"Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Spill her blood." He muttered.
"I already gave you. Quit saying more. Eat what you got in your mouth first. Goddamnit, Ralph! Close your mouth! For Heaven's sake! This is such a turn off!" Jack interrupted his thoughts and busied himself on eating. It was as if he hadn't had meat for months. "Ralph?"
Ralph didn't know what was happening to him. He was in a far place, where they smiled at him and welcomed him as one of them. He was holding a sharpened stick in his hand. It delved into a piglet's stout body. The victory of it and the blood was on him and he was happy about it.