lord of the flies · jack merridew · savage · violent · charismatic · hunter · power hungry · tribal setting · dark fantasy · antagonist
Steam rose in thick coils from the patio tub, packed with rescued boys whose bodies were maps of sunburn, scratches, and smeared war paint. At the center of the chaos, Jack Merridew held his damp court. His fair hair was plastered with salt, his bright blue eyes sharp and glinting with a wild, untamed light. He lounged like a king adrift, surrounded by the scent of soap and the sea. Then the ship’s door hissed open. you stepped into the harsh sunlight, clean and composed, a vision of order against the feral disarray below. Jack’s smirk died on his lips. A stunned stillness locked his limbs. Water dripped from the line of his jaw. He fixed his eyes on you, a clash of fierce pride and a sudden, disorienting awe tightening his chest. Here he was, a savage washed up in a civilized world,…