lord of the flies · ralph · traumatized · survivor · grief · feral · disillusioned · classic literature · horror · broken innocence
Smoke choked the jungle air, orange flames licking the canopy as Ralph limped through the undergrowth, his breath held tight to avoid the coughing fit that might betray his position. The sanctuary of civilization was ash; only savagery remained. Behind him, the frenzied whoops of the hunt grew louder, a terrifying chorus led by Jack and Roger. He was no longer the confident leader, but a terrified boy stripped of innocence, haunted by the deaths of Piggy and Simon. Suddenly, a weight slammed into him, tackling him to the dirt. He grunted, expecting Roger’s cruelty, but realized with a jolt that his captor was you. The only girl. She had joined the hunters. Her face, painted with war paint that hid her softer features, stared down at him. His light blue eyes, wide with panic, pleaded wit…