Labyrinth of Rats (eBook)
176 Seiten
Bookbaby (Verlag)
979-8-3509-6173-7 (ISBN)
Michelle crafts narratives that delve into complex themes and evoke strong emotions. With 'Labyrinth of Rats,' her debut novel and the first in a thrilling trilogy, she establishes herself as a promising young voice in the realm of psychological and dystopian fiction. Michelle draws inspiration from her experiences and the vibrant discussions she engages in with her peers and mentors. She continues to explore and expand her writing abilities, eagerly embracing the challenge of unfolding new worlds and intriguing characters for her readers.
Through vivid prose, Michelle explores themes of betrayal, innocence lost, and the relentless quest for truth. The symbol of the rat-used throughout the novel-serves as a poignant metaphor for the children's plight, innocent yet cunning, embroiled in a deadly game they never chose to play. "e;Labyrinth of Rats"e; is not just a story of adventure and suspense; it is a profound commentary on the manipulation of the young and vulnerable by those in positions of authority. This novel is perfect for fans of dystopian narratives who crave depth and complexity, akin to the unsettling realities of "e;1984"e; and the twisted trials of "e;The Maze Runner."e; It challenges the reader to question the very fabric of societal norms and the ethics of scientific overreach. As Jack confronts the darkness of his reality, readers will find themselves rooting for him, feeling every heartbeat of his fear, and ultimately, his triumph. Prepare to be gripped by a story that is as intellectually provocative as it is thrilling. "e;Labyrinth of Rats"e; promises to be a page-turner that will resonate long after the last page is turned, a vivid exploration of the resilience of the human spirit against overwhelming odds.
CHAPTER 1
Often there is a single, defying moment that drives the iron fist of curiosity. A lesson, perhaps even a story. For Jack, it was a curiosity veiled by bewilderment and a sense of betrayal.
Thomas had given no warning that he would be leaving so soon. Jack sat with a blank expression, his fork raised halfway to his mouth. As the rest of the class bustled with excitement at the grand announcement, Jack’s eyes fell.
He’s gone, Jack thought to himself, setting down the fork on his plate. He glanced up at the smiling children whispering excitedly to their neighbors. Gripping the ends of his plain, gray T-shirt, Jack pulled at the hems as he attempted to block the now loud laughter from his mind. A tinge of guilt poked at his heart for not feeling joy or pride.
“Can you believe it, Jack?” his classmate said, jabbing him with his elbow. “Thomas gets to graduate to the Gold Class. I didn’t think he was that smart!” Jack ignored him and stared down at his food, twirling his fork in his mix of mashed potatoes, peas, and dry chicken. Jack wished many things as he sat silently and forced himself to try to finish his meal. He wished Thomas’s promotion would not have been so sudden—even a simple goodbye would have satisfied his sorrows. He wished he could have played more with him or laughed at more of his silly jokes instead of rolling his eyes. He wished he could have asked his friend for more advice
on the things he thought he knew so well but hadn’t. Thomas was wise, much wiser than him. It was a revelation when Jack had discovered this, raising him to new levels of discovery beyond the borders of his egotistical mind.
“He is smart,” Jack muttered, mostly to himself.
“What was that? You should speak up more!” the classmate said, nearly yelling in order to be heard over the sound of the others. Jack sank down further in his seat, bringing bits of food slowly to his mouth. He knew he was being selfish: His best friend had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work in the glorified Gold Class, and here he was moping over that success. Jack appreciated he should not be sad but rather laughing cheerfully with the rest of his classmates as everyone celebrated the rare occurrence. It was not often a diligent pupil was selected to move classes so early, or that the news would cause the cafeteria to be filled with such joy. “Jack?”
“Yeah, it’s great,” he said, finally looking up. He forced a small smile, shoving every emotion of regret and sorrow to the back of his mind. “I can’t believe it.”
Jack let out a slow breath and studied the large room, leaning back on the bench. The hall stretched up high above their heads, decorated with elegant golden carvings and velvet carpeting. Large crystal chandeliers hung above the extended wooden tables, though the sun entering from the big windows provided plenty of light. The beams of sunlight reached across the detailed flooring, highlighting its complex patterns. With different shades of brown in each line of wood, the refined floor created a smooth design that Jack enjoyed studying, even if it contained so many intricate details he could never hope to spot them all.
Three brown oak tables—made from the same high-quality wood—stretched across the length of the hall. The twenty currently dining lined the center table, and the sounds of their plates hitting the surface echoed throughout the hall. Though the room was mostly decorated with wood, it somehow managed to maintain an astonishingly regal beauty.
“Children,” called a tall man at the end of the table, tapping his fork against his glass. The man scanned the room with his dark, serious eyes. The room fell silent, and Jack lowered his head from his daydreaming. “I know this is exciting news, but let us cheer on Thomas in privacy and calmness in order to maintain the decorum of the dining hall.” The man adjusted his glasses on his pointed nose and cleared his throat. The children, exchanging small smiles with one another, quickly went back to wolfing down their chicken. Jack, having been brought back to reality, followed their example.
However, as he forked the last bits of mashed potatoes from his plate, the eerie thought resurfaced from the back of his mind: Why would Thomas leave me?
Jack stood up from his seat, the scraping sound of the bench reverberating through the now quiet hall. The children all turned to stare, most only halfway through their meals. The clanging of his fork sounded as he picked up his plate.
“Jack?” said the man, raising an eyebrow.
“I’m finished,” Jack said quietly, holding up the empty plate. All twenty pairs of eyes felt heavy on his skin, causing his voice to clog. He did not understand why he had stood up. His heart banged in his ears, and his saliva felt sticky in his mouth.
“You are supposed to wait for the rest of your classmates to finish before leaving, Jack.”
“I’m finished,” he repeated, more quietly. All of his previous feelings were rushing back rapidly, this time with more intensity—feelings he thought he had pushed away. Grief, confusion, regret, and now fear, the grand whisk adding a final touch to these harsh emotions, mixing them into a large lump in his throat. He missed Thomas. Would this be the end? He was afraid one day he would forget him: The creased dimples whenever he smiled, or his kind eyes that raised every time he laughed. Thomas was in a better place, but what would that mean for him?
Sweat began to cover Jack’s fingers, accompanied with rapid shaking. The plate slipped from his hands and shattered on the floor. The room seemed to fall into an even greater silence than before. All the secret smiles had vanished, as the children were upset their peaceful meal was interrupted.
“Jack, go to your room,” the man said, his hand tightening around his fork. Jack glanced down at the broken plate, back at the man, then back down again. His hands were now shaking violently. The fear had spread down his arms and to his fingertips. When Jack remained still for a few moments, in as much shock as his classmates, the man stood up, breathing hard. “Now!”
Slowly, Jack made his way across the long hall, averting his eyes from the disappointed frowns of his classmates, and through the large wooden doors. As he walked to his bedroom, he tried slapping his arms. But they would not stop shaking. He then tried slapping his throat in an effort to clear the huge lump. But it would not stop growing. He didn’t understand what was wrong with him. This had never happened before. He was always in control of himself. But now his body was slipping away from him and falling into the arms of fear, mixed with grief, confusion, and regret.
The man entered his bedroom as Jack sat, waiting anxiously. Sweat dripped from his forehead and down his neck, trickling onto his back. Jack had never felt fear around the tall man before, and he waited patiently for the terrible scolding he knew he deserved. He had shown great disrespect to everyone—surely he deserved a punishment. Jack grasped his blanket, swallowing hard.
“You seem troubled, Jack,” the man said, taking a seat next to him on his bed. Jack wanted to throw himself into the man’s arms or even just cry into his shoulder. Jack was nothing but a confused child in need of comfort.
Jack glanced up into those serious eyes. “I’m sorry, sir,” he said quietly. “I don’t know what overcame me.” He expected the man to yell something along the lines of You should be sorry! How could I ever have a student who is so ignorant and disrespectful as you! Jack slumped down, staring at his feet. However, there was no tirade. Instead, the man wrapped his arm around Jack’s shoulders, pulling him closer. Jack’s eyes widened shock, but he eventually rested his head on the man’s chest, finding comfort in the sounds of his slow heartbeat.
“Why don’t you tell me what’s wrong?”
“Thomas’s graduation . . . it wasn’t what I expected it to be like,” Jack said. “I thought we would go together.”
“Ah, I understand you two were very close.”
“I know I should be happy for him, but how could he leave so quickly, without warning? How could he leave without saying goodbye?”
“Do you trust me, Jack?” asked he man. Jack looked up at his smiling eyes. Of course Jack trusted him. If it was possible, he trusted the man more than he did himself. Continuing to rest his head on his white coat, Jack’s eyes fell on the embroidered title sewn onto the breast.
“Yes, Doctor,” Jack responded. “More than anything,”
“Then trust me when I say this,” the doctor said, smoothing Jack’s hair. “Thomas is in a better place now. It is all according to my plan.”
“Yes, Doctor,” Jack muttered.
“Look at me.” Jack slowly lifted his head, his eyes meeting the doctor’s. “Do you trust me when I say it is all according to my plan?”
“Yes, Doctor,” Jack said again, this time with more belief. He grasped onto the doctor’s sleeve, holding on to him tightly, wanting to never let go. The reassurance of knowing the doctor was there prompted a wave of calmness to wash over his grief. The doctor had always been there for Jack, and in that moment, Jack was certain everything would be okay. Thomas was in a better place, working in the Gold Class, and safe in the doctor’s hands.
“Good.” The doctor smiled and rubbed his hand...
| Erscheint lt. Verlag | 1.8.2024 |
|---|---|
| Sprache | englisch |
| Themenwelt | Kinder- / Jugendbuch |
| ISBN-13 | 979-8-3509-6173-7 / 9798350961737 |
| Informationen gemäß Produktsicherheitsverordnung (GPSR) | |
| Haben Sie eine Frage zum Produkt? |
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