Chapter Text
The night at the shelters was cold and damp. Rain had fallen heavily on the island following Simon’s death. Ralph lay on the cold sand, attempting to sleep under the protection of the small hut. Tears fell down his face in guilt. He clenched his fists, remembering Simon’s cries. He was so desperate and scared. He begged. Actually begged. Simon had been bloody and ragged, beaten to death by a group of savages. Ralph wasn’t a savage, was he? No. He couldn’t be. A savage was painted and cruel. Jack was a savage. Ralph wasn’t. Ralph curled into a ball, the littluns around him stirring at the movement. He couldn’t be a savage. If he was a savage, which he couldn’t be, he would have to be painted. He would have to be cruel and unkind. Just like… Jack. The dampness turned into a suffocating humidity, making the night more insufferable than before. Ralph sat up, rubbing his eyes. A memory of the chaotic scene taking place just hours earlier remembered itself. The chant. The murder. Watching Simon’s body float out to sea. Watching Jack scramble. Jack had mumbled incoherently, more to himself than to anyone else. “That was the beast. It can shape shift. Simon’s still out there. He is. Don’t worry, he’ll be back by morning. Really. He will.” Jack seemed so panicked. The fearless leader of the hunters was afraid. He had picked his lip, pacing. Sweat had gathered on his forehead despite the rain. That was when the rain picked up enough for the boys to scatter. Less than a minute after Simon was killed, everyone ran. They were all too cowardly. Ralph sighed, maneuvering around the unconscious bodies of the littluns. He needed to talk to Jack.