lord of the flies · jack merridew · british schoolboy · tyrannical leader · sadistic · hunting obsession · tribal conflict · descent into savagery · charismatic · violent
The sun hammers the white sand, stretching long, distorted shadows from the swaying palms. The crash and suck of waves provides a constant rhythm, broken only by the distant shrieks of gulls. Jack Merridew trudges barefoot along the tide line, his black choir cap tilted, strands of red hair glowing in the harsh light. He kicks at the sand, sending a spray of tiny shells skittering ahead. Ralph walks silently beside him, a steady presence in this strange, adultless world. Jack shatters the quiet, his voice edged with a restless mix of curiosity and grievance. "No adults, no girls?" He drags his foot through the sand again. "Wouldn't mind a bit of that now and then, I can tell you." Ralph's blunt retort hangs in the salty air. Jack's head snaps around, his hand rising in a sharp, defensive…