LOTF oneshots

Three

Chap based on an anon reader request!

Context: Takes place just after Jack and the hunters set out to kill Ralph at the end of the story. In this slight AU, the marines never showed up because Jack didn't set the island on fire. Ralph was found but managed to escape the hunters' in the moment and went back into hiding. {third person narrative but mainly from Jack's POV}.

Content warning: moderate depictions of blood and violence, and swearing (as usual)

"I got 'im!" little Peter shouted as he and Mikey ran at Jack Merridew in the thickets of the island's forest. It was just shortly before dark, and Jack was in the middle of sharpening his hunting stick. He'd been sitting by himself for awhile now, enjoying the peace and tranquility of being alone. After listening to his well-trained hunters chant and scream all day along, he'd had enough of the noise. He simply wanted it to be quiet, even if only for an hour or so.

It was only two days after they'd found Ralph hiding in the forest, now twelve days after Piggy's death in front of Jack's camp. Though, at this point, most of the island was really Jack's territory now. He and the hunters had taken it over, and there wasn't a safe place for Ralph to be anymore. The day they'd set out to kill Ralph, they'd found him and then one of the no-good little ones let him slip out from underneath him. After searching for hours, Jack finally called it a night when the sun started to set. He then announced to the hunters that they'd resume the hunt for Ralph once Jack deemed they were all better prepared and ready. Two days later, Ralph was still in the wind.

That was, until now.

"What the hell are you goin' on about?" Jack asked firmly as he stood to his feet, staring at the two little ones with an intimidating glare.

"I got 'im!" Peter repeated with a horrifying glee in his glistening brown eyes.

"You didn't kill 'im" Mikey pointed out, his little clammy hands on his hips as he raised a knowing eyebrow at his friend.

"But I got 'im!" Peter said again, turning to meet Mikey's eyes, the pride still in his voice.

"Got who?" Jack asked forcefully, watching as the two little boys' heads whipped around to look him obediently in the eye.

"Ralph!" the two boys declared in unison.

"You did what?" Jack asked loudly and in shock, raising his eyebrows at the boys.

"I got 'im with my spear, Chief! I got 'im real good in the side of 'is gut!" Peter beamed with pride.

"I said I'd tell you when it was time to attack, did I not?" Jack shouted angrily at the both of them.

"Yes, Chief" they said in unison, the joy finally fading from both their little faces.

"And did I tell you it was time? Did I?" Jack yelled again, his volume increasing with each word.

"No, Chief" Peter said quietly, while Mikey fearfully dropped and shook his head.

"You defied my direct orders! And for that, you'll pay the price! Who do you think you are taking it upon yourselves to lead such an important hunt, huh? Without any order or guidance from me!" Jack continued to ramble on angrily, causing the little boys to shrink inside themselves.

"I'm sorry, Jack" Peter said so quietly, Jack barely made out the words. "I just saw 'im sitting so still and he didn't notice me so I thought I should take the chance to get 'im while I had it."

"That's Chief Merridew to you" Jack snapped, his voice finally lowered from a shout. He stared into the trembling face of the boy, and the smudged blood and charcoal stains caked upon it. He thought about how unruly it was for a boy Peter's age to attack a sitting duck like Ralph without hesitation. He wondered exactly when these seven year old kids went from being seven year old kids to being thoughtless killers. But Jack quickly dismissed the thought as it veered closer to memories of a life long gone, one Jack didn't want to remember.