JACK THE KING (Lord of the Flies reimagined)

Part 3 - SAM WITHOUT ERIC

They found the distressed boy, dangerously close to the edge of the cliff. Below were rocks, if he jumped he would die instantly

When the boy saw them coming toward him he moved even closer to the edge ''come any closer and I'll jump'' he said

''Ok guys stop here, give him some space'' Ralph said and everyone stopped moving  

''What is his name?'' Ralph whispered to Jenny

Jenny shrugged ''He wouldn't tell me but I know what is wrong with him. He says his twin drowned in the ocean after the crash. He dragged him to the shore but when they got there he wasn't breathing. He gave him mouth-to-mouth and tried to resuscitate him but it was too late. His twin was dead and now he says he can't live without him. Well you know what twins are like, they have a very special bond don't they'' 

Ralph and the others looked grim ''I see, how awful'' Ralph said solemnly ''this could be tricky'' 

''What is your name?'' Jack asked, almost demanded

''Sam'' the boy said tearfully

''Sam we know your twin died and I'm very sorry'' Ralph said kindly ''what was your twin's name''

''His name was Eric and I can't live without him''

''Of course, you can live without him mate'' Ralph said with a gentle tone in his voice ''Come on I know it hurts and it's hard right now but do you really think Eric would want you to jump? If I had a twin and I died and left him behind I'd want him to carry on living, I wouldn't want him to kill himself''

''But we can be together in Heaven!'' Sam cried ''you see Eric and me, we both worship the Lord! I know he is waiting for me with the Lord right now, he wants me to go and join him!''

''Oh, this is all we need!'' Jack said angrily ''a religious nutter!''

''Jack be quiet you aren't helping at all!'' Ralph snapped

''Oh if he wants to jump let him!'' Jack cried ''I have no patience for people like him. You stay here and waste time if you like but I'm heading back to get my tribe together, I am hungry and I want to hunt a pig today before it gets dark''

Jack turned and marched off

''Why did he even bother coming up here with us?'' Dani said ''he was no use and has no patience''

But Ralph wasn't listening or paying attention to Jack, he was already walking toward Sam

''Listen I said I'll jump if you come closer!'' Sam exclaimed

But Ralph carried on walking to him, the others were watching nervously

''You  can jump if you want, I won't stop you but first I want to show you something'' Ralph told him ''I want to show you that if you carry on living you will have friends who care about you, we can't replace Eric but we'll still be there for you''

Ralph hugged the crying boy and comforted him ''if you jump now we'll all be very sad''

''Yes Ralph's right Sam'' Jenny said and Dani and Simon nodded their heads as well ''if you jump we'll all be very sad to lose a friend''

''But how can you call me a friend, you hardly know me?''

''But we want to get to know you, Sam, don't you see? We want to be your friend, if you die now we will miss out on having you as our friend''   

''You know Sam you really don't even need to jump right now'' Ralph told him ''you could wait a few weeks and then if you still feel the same way, if you still want to end it all, it's your choice and no one will stop you. But you might find that you are glad you held on and waited, you might find you still want to live, then you'll be glad you didn't jump. But in either case what harm is there in waiting just a few weeks?'' 

Sam glanced down at the rocks below and then looked back at Ralph with tears in his eyes ''I don't want to die but it hurts without Eric''

''I know it does man, I know''

Sam collapsed on his knees in tears and Ralph knelt beside him to comfort him 

Back on the beach, Jack had already gotten his tribe together. Roger was foaming at the mouth with excitement at the mere thought of killing a pig

''We'll go and hunt a pig for dinner!'' Jack told them and Roger nodded his head furiously 

''Did Ralph give you permission?'' Piggy asked

''Sod Ralph, I don't need his permission. I can do what I like, Ralph and I got an equal number of votes remember so maybe that makes us joint leaders''

''Well I don't know how you can even think about food while that poor boy is up on that cliff about to jump'' Piggy continued ''it's very selfish of you''

''Yeah well at least I went up on the cliff to help'' Jack sneered ''I didn't see you go up Piggy''

''Oh I would not even have hesitated to go if only I could have, but with my asthma, it's simply impossible. Climbing that hill would have set off an awful attack''

''Sucks to your asthma!''

Jack was very excited and eager to go before it got dark

''I am starving Jack'' Roger said ''please let's go and get the meat!''

''Between you and I, I wish I hadn't even wasted time going up to talk to that idiot on the cliff'' Jack whispered to Roger ''I wanted to push that silly wimp over the edge myself''

This caused Roger to burst out laughing and Jack too

''Care to share the joke?'' Piggy said ''I like a laugh as much as anyone''

''Not with you Piggy!''

Jack and his hunters were about to leave to hunt the pig when Ralph and the others returned. Sam was with them, being comforted by Jenny

''So you managed to talk him down then?'' Jack said

''Yes''

''Good...well I am taking my hunters to get some dinner for everyone now''

''Jack before you go there is something important I need to tell you'' Ralph said, somewhat warily ''Sam and Jenny both voted for me as chief, that means I won the vote. I'm sorry Jack but I am officially the chief now''

Piggy looked very happy and Jack looked like he was about to murder Ralph