THIS.

IS.

IT.

CHAPTER 17

"JACK!"

With bloodied arms, Ralph dashed and caught him in the nick of time. He was too heavy. Nonetheless, they collapsed.

There were two spears.

"CHIEF!"

That was Roger's voice. He was now bent by Jack's side.

Dull blue eyes stared straight ahead. Blood spewed out of his chest.

"You said it was the beast!" Ralph eyes sparkled like crystals with his tears. He looked at the dark boy who remained silent and the slowly dying boy who was silent.

"Dark. Big. Coming for us..." Roger suddenly spoke. "Beast... like that. Same... the beast..."

The fire crackled. The island was now some insane-looking inferno with no way out. Was it the heat or the craving that drove them to this? How could they have mistaken their chief for some beast? Their hearts thudded; what they did was unforgivable.

"Jack... talk me."

Right now, fear and panic settled in his heart. Wake up! he begged. But all Jack could do was to stare blankly at him. Did he hit him right on the vital spot? Well, there are two spears...

"Talk..."

Tears fell on his stoned face but the redhead didn't even make a sound. He only took Ralph's arm. With blood and the last of his strength, he scribbled a word. Ralph wasn't so sure but if remembered correctly, he knew the word.

Love.

That's all he had to say.

"I love you," the fair haired boy whispered.

"What are you kids doing?"

Their heads turned around and they saw a tall man in a white suit. His face was contorted with disgust and worry.

"GOT HELP HIM!" Ralph screamed. He clawed and screamed incoherently at the white stranger.

"Say, lad, get a hold of yourself!" The man blocked the showering fists. "Are there more boys?"

"SAVE JACK!"

"Yeah, sure, roger that. But we've got to take you back to where we are. To keep ya'll safe. Are there more of you boys out there?"

"Yes," Roger answered and was never heard from again.

~*BbAaHh*~

The boat was sailing, but not back to England. The wind tasted different. The people looked a bit different. Their accents were odd-sounding. When one of the boys successfully asked where they were headed to, they said an unfamiliar place.

"To America! Land of the free! What? You ain't know what America is, yo? You'll love it there!"

None of them knew what America was. But soon enough, they will. And they may even have to live their ways.

The island grew smaller and smaller but a smoke still wafted and stained the perfect blue sky.

They didn't let bloody fire out, Ralph thought. They didn't even take you.

His tears were swallowed by the ocean. The pain, the memories, the thought alone gave him a headache. But he didn't know which among the three gave him the worst heartache.

"Is your arm better?"

Eyes were opened in shock. He knew that voice! He stared right below the clear waters.

The reflection on the ocean- Jack was right behind him!

"Jack!" He reached out for the reflection on the ocean.

"Ah-ah-ah! You might fall over to the ocean!" He caught him before he leaned outside the ship's bars. After clearing his throat, he asked once more. "Is your arm better?"

Too surprised by the apparition, he gave the handsome lad a nod.

"How about your heart?" Ralph managed to stutter.

The redhead chief smirked but gave a strange reply.

"How do you feel?"

"I..." His vision started to blur. "I miss you."

"Then my heart misses you, too. After all, Ralph, you are my heart."

END