Let's Meet Gabriel

In preparation for the release of Lab Rat tomorrow let's meet the main character. Gabriel, and have a glimpse inside his head - if you dare. It's scary in there

LAB RAT

NEPHY HART

At thirteen, Gabriel was subjected to experimentation designed to awaken latent psychic abilities.

 He’s been locked in a downward spiral of self-destruction ever since.

Then one night he meets Laurie, who is the antithesis of everything Gabriel’s become: cheerful, optimistic, and comfortable in his own skin.

Laurie pursues Gabriel. But Gabriel no longer believes in love. With a dark past and a history of disastrous relationships, he’s promised himself ‘no more’. Laurie, however, won’t let go, no matter how many obstacles Gabriel places in his way.

When Gabriel starts hearing voices in his head, he realizes they belong to the scientists who experimented on him. Worse, they’re trying to track him down.

With the past nipping at his heels, Gabriel and Laurie flee together.

Can they outrun the enemy? Can they save Gabriel before either his life or his sanity are forfeit?

And is Gabriel as helpless as he, or Laurie, thinks he is?

1)       What or who is the greatest love of your life?

Myself. Ha, yeah right. That’s probably what everyone else thinks, though. I’d like to say it’s Laurie, and it probably is, but this whole love thing is new to me so I’m not sure I can say that anyone is the love of my life yet.

2)       What is your favourite journey?

From the bedroom to the kitchen to get a cold beer. Seriously, I’m not too keen on the outside world. It still hasn’t quite sunk in that I’m safe, so I still prefer to hide away at home where I feel secure.

3)       What is your most marked characteristic?

My optimism and sunny disposition. What? Okay, probably my sarcasm.

4)       When and where were you the happiest?

When I was a kid. Before everything turned to shit when I was 13.

5)       What is it that you most dislike?

People asking questions, and talking about myself. No, seriously. It makes me very uncomfortable. I guess it’s because I have to think about myself and the way I feel about things and that’s not something I like to do.

6)       What is your greatest fear?

Being taken back…there. I can’t say any more because I lost my mind over it all once and when I look back I feel…brittle and I don’t want to snap again. I think if you read the book the answer to this question will become very clear.

7)       What is your greatest extravagance?

Clothes and make up. And hair products. And Jack Daniels.

8)       Tell me something about Laurie

He puts up with me. That has to put him in line for a place on the next honours list. Honours list? That’s when the queen gives medals and stuff to the little people she doesn’t really care about. I think it’s something to do with her birthday. Load of shit really, but it gets you fancy sandwiches and tea with the queen, and I think Laurie would like that. Not that he’d admit it. He’s a bit posh really – and a bloody amazing artist.

9)       What is your greatest regret?

Ooh, this is a hard one. I’d have to say causing the death of two previous boyfriends has to rank high on that list.

10)    Which talent would you most like to have?

I love to draw and paint. Over the past couple of years I think it’s the only thing that kept me sane, and I’d kill to be as talented as Laurie.

11)    Where would you like to live?

In a castle. A huge gothic castle with red velvet everywhere, a torture chamber in the dungeon and a moat all the way around to keep people out. Although Laurie would probably build lots of bridges.

12)    What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

Oh. I’ve been down there often enough. I don’t know. I guess the feeling of having nowhere left to run.

13)    What is the quality you most like in a man?

Perseverance. And a killer smile.

14)    What is the quality you most like in a woman?

Knowing when to keep her mouth shut.

15)    What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

What? Are you crazy? I deplore absolutely everything about myself. I’m poison inside and out. That’s what I keep telling Laurie. But does he listen? Yeah right, of course he does.

16)    What is the trait you most deplore in others?

Falseness

17)    What do you most value in your friends?

What friends? Oh alright; I know I’ve got friends. I’ve got more friends than I allow myself to acknowledge, but I just don’t let people get close. It makes me very uncomfortable and I don’t like people caring about me. What was the question. Oh yeah. Um. Honesty, I guess. I like that Carrie always tells it as it is, even though it’s uncomfortable.

18)    Who is your favourite hero of fiction?

Zombies. No, really. They keep moving forward even when they have nowhere to go and their brains are turning to mush. I identify.

19)    Who are your heroes in real life?

What’s real life? What counts as a hero? Okay, okay, umm… Laurie. Laurie’s my hero. He saved me, then saved me again, then…well he keeps on saving me. I suppose I should be careful not to get used to it.

20)    Which living person do you most admire?

Haven’t I just said that?

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21)    What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

What are you counting as virtues? If we’re looking at the four cardinal virtues I’d have to say temperance. I overdo everything and why not?

22)    On what occasions do you lie?

Whenever it’s necessary. I have no problem with lying.

23)    Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

No. Go away. Leave me alone.

24)    If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Everything

25)    What are your favourite names?

Favourite names? What kind of question is that? Bleargh. Anastasia and Gaylord. No of course not, but it was a stupid question wasn’t it?

26)    If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?

Bloody pissed off

27)    What is your motto?

Fuck off.

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