Okay... this would be chapter two! Woo-hoo!

Um this chapter is dedicated to my good friend Megan who was supposed to have recieved this chapter day's ago...-also a carrot top mind you!- and also to my other readers! Thanks for the support and intrest in this story.

ENJOY!

Thefew day's later:

Jack squinted deeply as he entered the cave. The quick change between light and dark had his eyes stinging with discomfort. He stood from his spot and looked around the dimly lit cave, his eyes stopped on the figure that lay in the corner of the space. The object of attention was snoring softly, the sound slightly muffled due to the many pigskins it was buried under.

"Ralph," Jack near whispered at first. "Ralph!" Jack boomed this time and watched in mild amusement as the blond-headed boy jerked then tried to sit upright. This action proved faulty as the bonds that had been placed about him last night did their job effectively.

"It's about bloody time," Jack muttered. He's never admit out loud that he had been a little antsy when Ralph managed to sleep through the entire day without cracking an eye open. The chief had reasoned with himself that exhaustion was the lone cause and not the nasty blow to the head the day before.

Dusk had settled over the island when Jack returned from hunting. The chief had come back to Castle Rock with a fat pig as his prize. It was time to feast and Jack was set on showing his pet to the entire tribe, they'd ogle him and give him great respect.

"Sam. Eric. Come here," Jack shouted, his eyes never leaving the Ralph's sleep leaden ones.

"Yes Chief?" the boys asked obediently as they entered the cave.

"Take him outside and put him next to my throne," Jack ordered then left the cave again.

Samneric sighed deeply as they saw a slight flicker of betrayal enter Ralph's eyes then quickly disappear. "We're sorry Ralph," both boy's muttered at the same time as each boy took a spot at either ends of Ralph and hoisted him into the air. Moment later Ralph was sitting on a pigskin next to a makeshift chair that was obviously dubbed as Jack's throne.

Ralph let his eyes wander the outdoors; he was disappointed to realize that the skies were growing dark. Soon he wouldn't be able to see anything beyond the bright fire Jack's hunters had put together when the sun had still been high in the sky.

"Hello slave," Roger spat as he leered over Ralph. The dark haired boy squatted next to the blond, clearly content when the prisoner visibly flinched.

Roger looked around, trying to spot if anyone was watching, when he saw no prying eyes he brought his hand up against Ralph's cheek and caressed it almost lovingly.

"Don't touch me," Ralph whispered his voice hoarse from lack of water.

"Tut, tut, tut, Ralph. You know not to talk to a superior like that," Roger warned as he took his hand from the blonde's cheek.

"Yeah right," Ralph muttered then recoiled as Roger's hand made sharp contact with his face.

"Roger," a warning voice spoke from behind the boy.

Roger's eyes immediately opened wide he stood up then turned around to greet a suspicious Jack Merridew. Without a word, Roger moved around Jack and crept into the jungle.

Jack twisted his body around and took his seat on the throne that sat higher than the logs layed out around the fire for the rest of the soldiers. Sharp blue eyes moved down to watch the blond who's own attention was fixed upon the massive glowing fire.

"If you stare any harder you may bore a hole through my head," Ralph spoke his eyes never leaving the glowing fire. He held down a smirk when he felt Jack shift uncomfortably next to him. So the chief had been caught on unawares, not knowing that the blond knew he was watching.

"All the better to catch you with if you try to make an escape," Jack defended. Only Ralph would be naïve enough to accuse the chief of anything. "Who are you to question me? You are nothing but a slave now anyway."

"Incase you have forgotten Jack Merridew, we used to be equals in our doings, and I wasn't questioning you," Ralph sneered, his eyes finally meeting Jack's blue ones. "And do enlighten me my dear Chief how would I make an escape? I am tied up like a … a…"

"Pig?" Jack asked all the while knowing that he had just properly finished Ralph's sentence. "It fits you well doesn't it?"

"How dare you," Ralph shouted as he spat in Jack's face.

Jack's expression turned instantly from amusement to furry and before thinking about his actions he raised his right hand and brought it down hard against Ralph's already sore cheek. He watched with a sick glee as Ralph's head swung back like a rag doll.

The blue eyed chief looked up towards the stars and took a deep breath slowly calming himself down. After he had his temper under control he let his eyes move back down to Ralph. His eyebrows furrowed when he noticed Ralph was now lying down no longer sitting up in that uncomfortable position. "Ralph?" he asked questioningly. When the boy didn't respond Jack knew he had gone too far. He'd knocked Ralph out.

The chief let a sigh flow from his mouth. Things would undoubtedly be better for the both of them if he could control his temper, and if he could somehow teach Ralph to hold his tongue… and his spit.

Jack's attention was drawn from the unconscious boy when he heard two identical grunts come from above him. The chief looked up into two sets of eyes. Samneric.

"He started it," Jack began. He didn't understand why he was so set on defending himself around these two boys; perhaps the reason was they besides Ralph were the only ones left alive from the old tribe, before he had taken over.

The chief jerked his head towards Ralph and ordered, "Take him back to the cave, I do not wish to see him again until tomorrow." Tonight he'd much rather eat in bitter silence without having the boy that constantly plagued his mind sitting right next to him.

The twins shook their heads sadly as they lifted their friend into the air again to hand between the two. Both boys were thankful for Ralph's unawareness, they did not know if they could take the betrayal that beamed like the morning sun in his eyes.

A moan cut through the silence of the dark cave as a certain blond slowly came back into awareness.

Ralph rolled his head from side to side, groaning as the motion shot knife-like pains through his head. "Mmm," he moaned. It was then that he realized his bonds had been removed all except for one, one that he didn't notice. His eyelids opened and all he saw was darkness, at first he thought he was blind but soon his eyes focused and he could make out the outlines of the cave.

The pigskin had been removed from the entrance, letting the light from the stars shine into the medium sized space. The fire that had been billowing not long ago was half it's original size, shadowed figures huddled around it for warmth, all appearing to be asleep.

Ralph's eyes shot to the platform he lay next to. Upon it was a softly snoring chief named Jack Merridew. Immediately Ralph's eyes narrowed in contempt.

Slowly Ralph got to his feet but was jerked back down into a squatting position when something tugged on is wrist. His eyes shot to the offending object. He silently cursed when he saw a thick green creeper wrapped around his boney wrist. Bringing his other hand up, he tried to untie the knot, failing at first he tried again. Eureka! His mind screamed as the creeper fell from his hand.

After checking to make sure Jack was still in the land of dreams, Ralph darted out of the cave and into the fresh night air. A few feet behind the fire his steps slowed and he watched for any sign of consciousness from the boys draped beside each other.

Once he thought he was far enough from the fire, Ralph made a run for it, encouraging his feet to fly unlike any bird in the sky.

It wasn't long into his second escape that week when he heard vicious cries tear through the night sky, jarring awake the animals that slept in the high tops of the green trees.

They know I'm gone!

The blonde's feet moved faster, despair welling in his chest at the thought of going back to Castle Rock. The place was marked with death, a death of his friend.

A sudden force plowed into him from behind, knocking him to the rocky ground. Ralph ignored the pain that shot up through his knees when they collided with sharp rocks. A pained grunt left his mouth as he rolled with the body on top of him until they finally coming to an abrupt stop.

"Did you honestly think I wouldn't be watching you Ralphy-boy?" Roger growled from his place on his knees next to a heavy breathing Ralph.

Ralph ignored him as he got to his feet again and renewed his run. Seconds later he was face planting the ground again, only this time a strong arm wrapped around his neck, squishing his adams apple into the crook of the arm. The blond gasped, his breath being stolen away by the strong arm.

"Jack will be mighty disappointed in you slave," Roger whispered into his ear.

"Let go of me," Ralph ordered as he tried to squirm from his captor's grip.

Roger laughed at the demand and squeezed Ralph's neck more, causing the boy to go completely rigid and momentarily stilling his attempts to get free. "I don't think so. You see, Jack will be here soon and his hunters will encourage him to punish you… what shall it be? Cut off your hands? Your feet? Perhaps you will become a concubine for the hunters."

"You're sick," Ralph gurgled. His vision was darkening, the lack of oxygen was growing harder to ignore.

"Roger!" a voice echoed through the thicket of creepers.

"Chief, I have him," Roger called back as he released Ralph who slid to the ground gasping as if there wasn't enough oxygen in the world to save him.

The sound of leaves being pushed against skin sounded through the air until a redhead popped through the cacophony of plants and trees. Makeshift torches lit up his face as other hunters followed their chief on the hunt to find the missing fair headed boy who had escaped for the second time that week. One could clearly see anger written on Jack's tired face.

"You have misused my graciousness Ralph. I will not make the same mistake again," Jack sneered in a voice so powerful his followers had take a step back for fear of angering the chief further.

A strange stab of guilt entered Ralph's consciousness, and he averted Jack's gaze. It almost felt as if he had betrayed a friend rather than his captor.

"You have to punish him Chief," Roger told him.

Numerous shouts of agreement followed giving Jack no choice but to comply.

"What shall his punishment be?" Jack asked the crowd, obviously set on getting their approval.

"Beat 'im!" "Throw rocks at 'im!" "Whip 'im!"

"Jack, I have an idea," Roger spoke. His grip was still strong on Ralph's neck; the pressure was even turning their captive's lips blue.

"Speak," Jack urged.

"We tie him out on a wooden frame in the sun. It will be extremely hot, he'll be very uncomfortable for hours…"

Jack nodded softly. The punishment didn't seem too bad; he knew the pain of being in the flaming sun for even a short length was a horrible punishment, it sounded fair. If Ralph were out there for hours he'd be begging for shade and water-adding to the impact of the punishment. Ralph would then think twice before committing another act that was so idiotic.

"Then it shall be done," Jack ordered over the magnanimous cheers.

TBC...