Frédérique Morel is a minor character in the Enemy series, appearing and dying in The Dead. She was the daughter of Rowhurst teacher Monsieur Morel, and was a member of the coach party until it was revealed that she was infected. She was then forced out of the group, and was shot by Ed Carter during the Battle of Lambeth Bridge.
Appearance
Frédérique was a sixteen year-old girl who was "as skinny as six o'clock", with long dark hair, black eyes, and a slightly large nose and mouth. Frederique's cheeks were nearly always wet and her eyes red from crying because she suspected that she was becoming infected. Despite this, Jack describes her as "pretty," and that she was very beautiful when she smiled.
As she began to succumb to the infection, she began to grow boils in and on her ear, and under her chin.
Personality
Frédérique was a traumatised teenager who was terrified of the situation going on. As the story progresses, she got more and more depressed and often cried. Before her growing infection became severe enough to obliterate all signs of her former personality, her true nature was shown to be kind and compassionate. The love she shows her cat, the kindness with which she treats Jack and her bravery in fighting off sickos that threaten the children reflected Frédérique as she truly was. Frédérique was seen most cheerful and happy when she was eating with Brooke, Aleisha and Courtney at the Imperial War Museum.
As the disease began to set in, Frédérique grew increasingly neurotic and paranoid. Her lucid moments were full of fear and sadness, as she begged Ed to put her out of her misery before she could hurt anyone else. She also alleged that she could hear thousands of voices in her head, and could see a growing red in her vision.
History
Little is known about Frédérique's life prior to the disaster, as it was not described much in the book. She lived in Paris, France, and her father walked out on her and her mother when she was young. Some time before The Dead, Frédérique got her father a kitten named Dior as a gift.[1]
When the disaster began, Frédérique was staying with her mother in France, where she attended a school in Paris. She says that her father walked out on her mother and that her parents argued all the time. When her mother became ill, she was sent to England to live with her father, thinking she would be safer there. Frédérique travelled on the Eurostar and went from London to Rowhurst, stating the journey was "very difficult".[1] After arriving at Rowhurst, her father tried to keep her safe by going into hiding. He kept the curtains closed all day to prevent attracting the sickos. A while later, he became sick as well and left Frédérique, telling her he was going to find medicine.[1]
Synopsis
The Dead (2010)
As sickos began to advance on Morel's flat, Frédérique saw Ed Carter and Jack running across the grounds and began banging on the window, silently shouting for help.[2] The boys notice and go to rescue her by destroying the window, and Frédérique lowers Dior's cat carrier out before jumping out herself.[3] She decides to follow the majority of the Rowhurst boys to London, and along the way, a rugby player named Johnno tries to talk to her to lift her spirits. When the group gets to the Fez, they are ambushed by a group of teenage sickos, who only stop to sniff at Frédérique.[4] Suddenly, Greg Thorne pulls up in the coach bus and orders the kids to get on, and Ed shoves Frédérique onto the bus.[5]
The next morning, Frédérique and the other coach kids realize that Liam is dead, and a confrontation with Greg reveals that he has begun to turn.[6] After Greg crashes the bus, Brooke uses the emergency hammer to break the window open, only to realize that more sickos have come to attack the bus.[7] She and the others fled without Ed, Kwanele, and an unconscious Piers. She climbed over the fence at the front of the Imperial War Museum, and banged on the doors until the kids inside opened the doors and let them in.[8] After negotiating with Jordan Hordern, the coach party is allowed to stay at the museum, as long as they supply their own food. That evening, Brooke along with the other girls and younger kids tidied the museum café while the older boys retrieved the remaining food from the coach. They couldn't be bothered to ration the food, so they feasted and ate it all at once.[9]
The next morning, Frédérique released Dior into the city, telling an inquisitive Jack that she believed the cat would be better off trying to survive on her own rather than live in a cat carrier. She then takes up arms with a garden spade and goes with the expedition group to find food.[10] They went to a Tesco near the Kennington gasholders, avoiding a group of sickos on the way.[11] When the arrived at the Tesco, they found it had been looted, and no food remained. The group ran from the supermarket after some sickos, led by Pez, arrived. They skirted round the back of the supermarket and then ran for a few minutes until reaching a yard surrounded by garages and lock-ups.[12]
In an alley off the yard, they found a Tesco lorry loaded with food.[12] After Jack and Bam lifted the driver from the cab, Frédérique and the other girls to help drag his body away. While doing so, the girls were surrounded by a group of about fifteen sickos. The grown-ups became distracted by Frédérique, allowing the other three to escape back to the lorry. They climbed up onto the roof and Justin began to drive it out of the alley.[13] After running over the sickos on the way out of the alley, the lorry stopped and everyone got off the roof and into the trailer for the journey back to the Imperial War Museum.[14]
After the kids returned to the museum, Jordan Hordern officially allowed the coach party to stay at the museum. Frédérique begins to hear voices and, upon going to the women's bathroom, finds several boils growing on the back of her chin.[15] While a group of the younger kids are playing "zombies" in the atrium, she attacks Froggie and bites into his arm.[16] She is then incapacitated by Jordan Hordern and locked in the Blitz Experience by several of the kids.[17] They leave Frédérique some food, water and a bucket for the bathroom, but she doesn't touch any of it. While in captivity, she escapes her handcuffs by chewing off one of her thumbs.
When Ed returns to the museum to talk to her, Frédérique reveals that she is sixteen and had been infected all along, but it just took longer for the disease to manifest. She tries to attack Ed, and he decides to banish her to the streets rather than killing her.[18][19] During the Battle of Lambeth Bridge, Frédérique reappears in the group of adults and attacks Aleisha. Ed shoots her with a pistol, and is helped by another boy named Kyle, as Kyle finishes Frédérique off with a garden hoe.[20]
Abilities
Skillset
- Bilingualism: Frédérique was able to speak English along with her native French. She presumably spoke conversational English, as she didn't have a complete grasp of the language and often asked about the English equivalent of French words and phrases.
Equipment
Former
- Cat Carrier: Frédérique had a cat carrier that she used to carry Dior in.
Relationships
Monsieur and Madame Morel
Frédérique was the daughter of the French teacher, Monsieur Morel, and his ex-wife. Even though their relationships were not described, it is shown that her parents loved her dearly. Though her parents were not on speaking terms, Madame Morel felt confident enough to send Frédérique to live with her father, believing she'd be safer in England. Frédérique later admitted that she knew that he left her because he wanted to protect her from the illness.
Dior
Dior is Frédérique's tabby cat. She gave Dior to her father when she was a kitten, and later stepped up to take care of her after her father became sick. It was clear that Frédérique loved Dior very much, to the point where she puts the coach party in danger by refusing to leave Dior while she used the bathroom, even as sickos advance towards their parked bus.[21] Additionally, she was horrified at Greg even joking that they would eat Dior.[1] that After the children arrived at the museum, Frédérique tearfully let Dior go, saying the cat had better chances of surviving on her own and that it wasn't right to keep her cooped up. It is possible that Frédérique was becoming more aware of her own illness and knew that soon she wouldn't be able to take care of her beloved cat.[10]
Jack
Jack was the only person to open up to Frederique, despite the fact that Jack is the one who kills her father once he turned. Jack seemed to understand Frédérique and cheered her up to the point where they develop romantic interest in each other. It is shown that Frédérique cared very much for Jack as well. Even after she crossed the line of attacking Froggie and was on the cusp of becoming a full-blown sicko, she asked for Jack and says she wishes he were with her. Unfortunately, they both died before they could say anything to one another.
Ed Carter
Much of what Ed does is a result of following along with Jack since he himself was so afraid to take decisive action. Ed eventually grew to care for Frédérique, and considered her a friend. He was very upset when Frédérique became a sicko and with the actions he had take because of it.
Sightings
The Enemy | |||
1. The Enemy: | Absent | 5. The Sacrifice: | Absent |
2. The Dead: | Debut, Death | 6. The Fallen: | Absent |
3. The Fear: | Absent | 7. The Hunted: | Absent |
4. Geeks vs. Zombies: | Absent | 8. The End: | Absent |
Trivia
- According to Kwanele Nkosi, Frédérique was the only member of the coach party who "had style", as she wore an Agnes B coat.
- Despite being sick, Frédérique did not show any physical symptoms until much later into the book. This is presumably due to her age, as she was exactly sixteen when the disaster began. Because the original parasitic infection that occurred sixteen years before The Dead, the disease may have only affected her for a short while compared to those who were older than her.
Gallery
V - E - H Coach party | |
---|---|
Former members | Archie Bishop • Arthur • Brooke • Chris Marker • Ed Carter • Froggie • Justin • Kwanele Nkosi • Matthew Palmer • Thomas Rutherford • Zohra |
Deceased members | Aleisha • Coach bus driver • Courtney • Dior • Frédérique Morel • Greg Thorne • Harry Bamford • Harry Ryan • Jack • Liam Thorne • Mr. Betts • Phil • Piers |
V - E - H List of sickos in The Enemy | |
---|---|
The Fear | Bluetooth • Man U • One-Armed Bandit • Saint George • Spike • Stickboy • Stumpy • The Medusa |
Gym Bunnies | Mother with Sunglasses |
Unaligned sickos | Animal Man • Brian • Cheryl Cole • Chris Catell • Frédérique Morel • Janey • Louis Corpse • Mel • Mike • Monsieur Morel • Mr. Hewitt • Mr. Langston • Mr. Lewis • Madame Morel • Ms. Jessop • Ms. Warlock • Nick • Paul MacLaren • Pez • Rachel • Roy Peachy • Seamus • Simon Foul • Tomasz • The Collector • Threesome • Waggers • Wormwood |
V - E - H Characters in The Enemy | |
---|---|
Holloway crew | Achilleus • Alice • Andy Thomas • Arran Harper • Ben • Bernie • Big Sam • Big Mick • Blu-Tack Bill • Blue • Brandon • Callum • Curly Sam • Deke • Ebenezer • Ella • Eve • Freak • Jake • Joel • Johnno • Josh • Kahmal • Katey • Lewis • Lila • Louise • Maeve • Maxie • Mohammed • Monkey Boy • Ollie • Paddy • Small Sam • Whitney |
Buckingham Palace kids | Al • Alfie Walker • Andy Kerr • David King • Franny • George Halley • Jessica • Jester • Jonathan • Kate • Maria • Paul Channing • Pod • Red Uniform kids • Rose • Spotty • Tom |
Tower of London kids | Abdullah • Adele • Ali • Brendan Eldridge • Captain Reynolds • Carly • Courtney • DogNut • Ed Carter • Felix • Finn • Hayden • Hugo • Jim • Jordan Hordern • Kate • Keren • Kinsey • Kyle • Leo • Marco • Olivia Channing • Partha • Tomoki Ford • William McIntyre • Will • Zosia |
Natural History Museum kids | Aiyshah • Alexander • Alice • Alicia • Boggle • Bradley • Brooke • Cameron • Cass • Casper Leverson • Chris Marker • Daryl Painter • Demi • Einstein • Emma Hudson • Emily Winter • Ethan • Froggie • Gabby • Geta • Gordy • Hattie • Jackson • Jamie • James Stornay • Jason Hickley • Jasmine • Jibber-Jabber • Justin • Kwanele Nkosi • Lettis Slingsbury • Reece • Robbie • Samira • Scott • Stacey Norman • Thomas Hopgood • Wiki • Zohra |
The Squatters | Carl • Just John |
Hunters | Dom • Ryan Aherne • Torchboy • Zulficker |
Houses of Parliament kids | Bozo • Buzz Cut • Nicola • Ponytail |
Cathedral kids | Archie Bishop • Charlotte • Harry Ryan • Matthew Palmer • Nathan • Nev • Phil • Tish |
IKEA kids | Dan • Jaz • Johnny • Ricky • Saif |
Twisted Kids | Betty Bubble • Fish-Face • Flubberguts • Legs • Monstar • Pencil-Neck • Skinner • Spider-Boy • The Pink Surfer • Trinity • TV Boy • Warehouse Queen |
Brockridge Park kids | Abby • Andy • Susannah • Rav |
Bracknell kids | Daniel • Harry • Isaac Hills • Louisa • Sonya |
Slough kids | Josa • Kenton • Tyler Keene • Tyler Keene, Jr. |
Windsor kids | Golden Girl • Golden Boy • Go-Girl • Veda |
Sandhurst kids | Dara |
Ascot kids | Arno Fletcher • Henry • Green • Sean • Sophie • The Mad King |
Notting Hill kids | Anita • Big-Man • Cool-Man • Persephone • Shadowman • The Fox |
Rowhurst boys | Adam • Anthony Sullivan • Damien Sullivan • Harry Bamford • Jack • Jacob • Jamey • Jason • Johnno • Piers • Stanley • The Kid • Tommy • Will |
Unaligned kids | Aleisha • Altan • Ameena Hussein • Ant • Charlie Piper • Claire • Danny • Eve • Jamey • Jason • Liam Thorne • Little Paul MacLaren • Malik Hussein • Mark Watkins • Maxine • Nadia Hussein • Rhiannon • The Kid • Tommy • Zahra Hussein |
Adults | Amelia Dropmore • Animal Man • Big Mick’s father • Big Mick’s mother • Bluetooth • Brian • Callum’s mother • Cheryl Cole • Chris Catell • Daragh • Daryl • Dorothy • Frédérique Morel • Janey • Louis Corpse • Man U • Mel • Mike • Mother with Sunglasses • Monsieur Morel • Mr. Hewitt • Mr. Langston • Mrs. Harper • Mrs. Thorne • Ms. Jessop • Ms. Warlock • Nick • One-Armed Bandit • Paul MacLaren • Pez • Rachel • Royal Family (Marquess of Tavistock • Elderly female royal) • Roy Peachy • Saint George • Seamus • Simon Foul • Spike • Stickboy • Stumpy • Tomasz • The Collector • The Medusa • Threesome • Uncle Ray • Waggers • Wormwood |
Non-human characters | Boney-M • Charlie • Dior • Godzilla • Orion • The Gray Lady |
Groups | Ascot kids • Bracknell kids • Brockridge kids • Buckingham Palace kids • Cathedral kids • Coach party • Gym Bunnies • Imperial War Museum kids • Holloway crew • Houses of Parliament kids • Ikea crew • Inmathger • Hunters • Maidenhead kids • Morrisons crew • Natural History Museum kids • Notting Hill kids • Promithios Biomedical • Rowhurst boys • Sandhurst kids • Slough kids • Survivalists • The Fear • The Squatters • The Twisted Kids • Tower of London kids • Unseen characters • Waitrose crew • Windsor kids |
Notes and References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 The Dead, Chapter 20 (Charlie Higson; 16 September 2010)
- ↑ The Dead, Chapter 5 (Charlie Higson; 16 September 2010)
- ↑ The Dead, Chapter 6 (Charlie Higson; 16 September 2010)
- ↑ The Dead, Chapter 13 (Charlie Higson; 16 September 2010)
- ↑ The Dead, Chapter 16 (Charlie Higson; 16 September 2010)
- ↑ The Dead, Chapter 27 (Charlie Higson; 16 September 2010)
- ↑ The Dead, Chapter 28 (Charlie Higson; 16 September 2010)
- ↑ The Dead, Chapter 29 (Charlie Higson; 16 September 2010)
- ↑ The Dead, Chapter 33 (Charlie Higson; 16 September 2010)
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 The Dead, Chapter 35 (Charlie Higson; 16 September 2010)
- ↑ The Dead, Chapter 37 (Charlie Higson; 16 September 2010)
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 The Dead, Chapter 39 (Charlie Higson; 16 September 2010)
- ↑ The Dead, Chapter 40 (Charlie Higson; 16 September 2010)
- ↑ The Dead, Chapter 41 (Charlie Higson; 16 September 2010)
- ↑ The Dead, Chapter 47 (Charlie Higson; 16 September 2010)
- ↑ The Dead, Chapter 51 (Charlie Higson; 16 September 2010)
- ↑ The Dead, Chapter 55 (Charlie Higson; 16 September 2010)
- ↑ The Dead, Chapter 61 (Charlie Higson; 16 September 2010)
- ↑ The Dead, Chapter 62 (Charlie Higson; 16 September 2010)
- ↑ The Dead, Chapter 75 (Charlie Higson; 16 September 2010)
- ↑ The Dead, Chapter 21 (Charlie Higson; 16 September 2010)