breaking free - jalph (lotf) ੈ♡

Chapter 1

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Ralph was not doing alright.

They had been rescued by that condescending man, led onto the ship, shown where to go. Everything was such a blur. One moment he had been running for his life through the creepers and across the sand, the next being brought through rooms that seemed all too safe. All too clean. Ralph could still feel the blood coating him; most of it was only in his head, but he could still feel it running down his skin. Reminding him of everything that had happened. It's sticky presence made him shudder involuntarily, all the grief and guilt kept coming back in droves. He knew he'd never be able to forget what he had endured. What they all had endured.

Jack wasn't doing much better. After stepping onto the ship, things were silent until the boys slowly started chattering away. It was like nothing had happened, like they were just on a weekend getaway from school, but the false sense of peace didn't fool Jack. He could still feel the commanding power running through his veins, even though he wished it would just go away. He just wanted to go back. Back home, back in time. Back to when he had still deluded himself into thinking he was untouchable, that nothing could go wrong. Back when accidentally singing an incorrect note was the worst thing that could happen. 

Not paying attention to where he was going, Jack bumped into one of the littluns walking in front of him. The child stumbled a bit, then looked back with a bewildered face. Jack glanced away and continued walking into the room. It seemed to be a sort of cafeteria, there was a table stacked with fruit and sandwiches. The starving boys rushed forwards and grabbed handfuls of the stuff, Ralph and Jack included. It felt as if their consuming hunger would never cease.

Ralph snatched a few sandwiches and an apple, and walked to a corner with his head down. After sitting down on the floor, legs crossed, he looked up for a second and saw Jack staring at him. Both boys froze, eyes widening, before looking away and ignoring each other again. Ralph felt his cheeks burning as he stared down at the carpet. It was because of the way Jack's piercing blue eyes had shone when their eyes met. The exact way they had shone in the darkness the night Simon died. The way they had shone and sparkled when the two argued, daring Ralph to contradict him. 

Jack sat down in the opposite corner of the room and ran his hands through his hair. "Stupid, idiotic Ralph," he muttered to himself. The shorter boy only stood to remind him of how he had let himself go, and how he gave in to his darker desires. How could he had let himself do that? Why? Why?  He told himself he hated Ralph, that he was the reason Jack had turned from a proper young man into a monster.

But Jack... whispered the voice in his head, What if you're only making yourself hate him so that you'll feel better about what you've done?  Jack ignored this voice. He didn't want to think about that.

The day quickly turned to night, and the boys were sent to the few rooms of cots the ship had. Ralph and Jack ended up next to each other. They didn't say anything about it, but neither of them were happy about such close proximity. 

Ralph settled into the blanket, sighing in relief at the comforting feeling he had missed. Eyes closed, he didn't notice a tall figure standing right at his side.

"Ralph," the figure spoke quietly, "We need to talk."