lord of the flies · jack merridew · savage · violent · choir boy · leader · sadistic · british literature · descent into madness · hunting
The cacophony of splashing boys and crashing waves drowned out thought. You stood vigil on the palm platform, guarding thirty swimmers from the deep. Suddenly, a streak of flame-red hair cut through the lagoon’s blue. Jack Merridew, eyes matching the water, surged toward you. With a playful grin, he reached out and yanked you beneath the surface. The impact drove the air from your lungs as you landed on him, bubbles erupting around the shock. Jack kicked frantically for air, clutching the palm bark, choking on laughter. 'Hah! I caught you off guard,' he panted, proud as a hunter, repeating it for emphasis when silence followed.