The Island

Fire On the Mountain

Lizzie's POV

I looked around at everyone's happy faces. Ralph was smiling form ear to ear. Jack sat with a scowl on his face and his arms crossed, but he didn't look genuinely angry. The noise was horrendously loud, and I covered my ears. Ralph noticed how uncomfortable I was and called for everyone to be quiet.

'We need some rules. First of all, we can't be calling out, so we need a hands up rule, like in school. Once you raise your hand, I'll give you the conch so you can speak.' He explained.

'Yeah! And nobody else can talk without the conch.' Piggy interfered.

'We need to look for food, We're all hungry and we're all thirsty!' Jack butt in. 

'First we need to make a signal fire, then we can check this place out and see if there's any people.' Ralph said.

"Jack's right, we should look around first, then we can figure out where to put a fire." I spoke up. 

'Good idea. But you're staying here.' Ralph answered. Stay here? I shook my head in disbelief.

'No way! I want to come with you!" I uttered angrily, 'We've been together since we got here! It's only fair that I come too." I tried to argue, but Ralph's expression didn't change as he shook his head. 

'No. We don't know what's out there, and I don't want you getting hurt. I'll take Jack and one other boy  with me.' He said. 

"We can bring Simon," Jack spoke, pointing to a brunette boy in his choir. He stepped forward shyly and smiled. I could feel my anger growing as I stared Jack down, waiting for him to interfere and let me come with them.

'Sorry sweet cheeks, but I don't want you to come either. Chief said no, and you're too delicate to risk getting hurt anyway." Jack winked and pat my shoulder as they passed me. I shook off his touch and crossed my arms, glaring at the three boys. Simon stared apologetically at me, but Ralph and Jack just laughed. 

'Watch the little ones.' Ralph stated before the three boys disappeared into the bush. 

'Fuckin hell. ' I groaned. The twins gaped at me and I pushed them in the direction that Ralph, Piggy and I had come from toward the beach. 

'What are we going to do?' Piggy asked, following behind me as I lead the boys to the beach. 

'Like Ralph said, watch the fuckin kids.' I replied. Piggy looked at me in disbelief. 

'Aren't ladies not supposed to cuss?' He asked, raising his eyebrows. 

'Who gives a shit what people think? It's not like we're gonna get rescued any time soon. Might as well say whatever we want!" I scowled as we emerged from the bushes. The humidity was much thicker than it was in the forest, but the boys all padded into the ocean before I could think about corralling them back to the pond. 

The boys whooped and hollered as they jumped on each other and screamed gleefully. I stepped ankle deep into the water and watched them play, smiling as they enjoyed themselves. Even Piggy sat in the water and splashed a bit when the heat became a bit too much. I sat next to him and leaned my arm against his as we waited for Ralph to return. 

****

The boys returned after a few hours. They were damp with sweat from their trek, but they didn't seem to mind as they laughed and joked together. 

'So what did you find?' I asked Ralph as soon as he got within earshot. 

'We're on an uninhabited island, and there's pigs we can hunt! And we found a place where we can build a signal fire.' He replied. I smiled as Jack whispered something in his ear and he laughed. My eyes scanned him. He looked dirtier than he did when he left, and it didn't take me long to realize that Jack's shirt was wrapped around Ralph's right arm and chest in a sling.