They ran for what seemed like forever with the burns chaffing Ralph’s legs as they brushed past the foliage. The pain seemed more tolerable as they reached the burnt tree, where they had once kept their signal fire alight, his mind was now more focused on escape. It didn’t take long before the boys realized their situation was futile. Knowing that there was nowhere else to go they turned, but before they could run Jack was there.
Jack’s posse began to circle around Ralph and Samneric. With nothing to do and nowhere to go Ralph fell to his knees in despair and looked up at the sky. He had not noticed the grey clouds and the light fading until this moment, he knew it was his time to fight back, otherwise face the fate that befell Piggy. It was a situation no young man should ever have to face, where only one would survive. This was going to be no scuffle in the playground, this was much more, this was life or death. The circle parted to make way for their leader as Jack marched through them with a military style. The circle reformed, trapping the boys within, like a pack of wolves closing on it’s prey. Jack thrust his spear into the ground then approached Ralph screaming, “Come on you cowardly bastard”, while the circle lay silent in anticipation of what was to come. As if enough blood had not already been spilt, the boys wondered if this day another death would occur. Ralph looked at Jack and could see the anger in his eyes, anger driven by his insanity. Ralph picked himself up off the ground in excruciating pain, the silence was unnerving him. All he could hear were the waves lashing at the rocks below. Ralph did not need to reply to Jack, for the time for talking was over. Both boys knew what had to be done.
Ralph lunged towards Jack, fists clenched tight, his fist met with Jack’s left cheek. Jack seemed unmoved by this blow as his adrenalin pumped through his veins. He retaliated quickly, striking Ralph back as the circle chanted with spears aloft. “ Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood!” . This was repeated over and over again.
The boys were entangled as they fell to the ground, punching, kicking and screaming at each other whilst rolling around. Jack managed to overpower Ralph with relative ease, much to the jeering crowd’s delight. Ralph felt trapped, he struggled to try and free himself from Jack’s hold as Sam threw his spear to where the boys lay. Both boys saw it hit the ground and darted towards it’s location. Jack reached it first, tugging at it as Ralph rolled towards Jack’s spear which he’d planted in the circle earlier. Ralph hauled himself to his feet using the spear. They were stood at opposite sides of the circle now, facing each other, spears being thrust provocatively towards each other. Ralph moved to a defensive position as Jack lunged towards him, but missed his target as the rain began to fall, slowly at first. As the boys continued to circle again the rain fell harder, quickly turning the fertile soil to mud. The boys appeared to be oblivious as they began to slide while trying to circle in a clockwise motion, each waiting for the other to make his move. As they slowly circled like vultures, seconds felt like hours. Jack made a charge towards Ralph, his spear struck Ralph’s arm but did not pierce the skin, the force knocked Ralph to the ground again. Ralph is left on the ground, floundering in the mud, backing himself towards the cliff edge, where the boys dispersed. Jack turned for a second pass, charging at Ralph. Ralph, still on the ground, lifted his spear and pointed it, with the end firmly rooted in the ground, at jack. As Jack picked up speed, both boys struck each other hard. Jack’s spear pierced, deep into Ralph’s shoulder while Jack is impaled on Ralph’s. Ralph, with a scream of agony and his last ounce of strength pulled back on the spear, throwing Jack over the cliff edge to the rocks below.
The chanting abruptly stopped as Ralph began to weep. His tears were not for his pain but for what he had become. He now realized he too had become like Jack. He too had succumbed to the madness of the island.