Skylark

Skylark explores timeless themes through two storylines separated by nearly three centuries. Time is an illusion—but human traits and actions transcend it, shaping lives across generations.

In 1664, Alouette Voland, the daughter of a master dyer, dreams of escaping her constrained existence. One morning, while drawing water at the river, she notices a tanner downstream at his work. In that instant, a single movement of his inspires hope for the secret experiment she’s been conducting—her quest to achieve the legendary indigo color. But her discovery is forbidden. As her father tries to protect her, both find themselves ensnared in dangerous circumstances.

Alouette’s misstep leads her to the Saint-Lazare ward, where women are confined for daring to think and question knowledge deemed off-limits. She has heard whispers of the interrogations that take place within such institutions—but not of women sent there by their own husbands, as punishment for defiance. Now, imprisoned and isolated, Alouette begins to dream bigger than ever before.

In 1939, Kristof Larson, a medical student completing his psychiatric residency in Paris, believes his duty is to help people. Discussing resilience and survival is one thing; living those principles is another.

Kristof performs his duties without question—until he begins to notice that food shortages in chronic wards are no accident. Starvation, he realizes, is a quieter method of eliminating those deemed “unworthy of life.” It leaves fewer traces. His trust in the wrong people blinds him to what has been before him all along. It takes a friend’s betrayal for him to finally see the truth.

Despite asking himself countless times how he might make a difference, when the opportunity arises, he hesitates. In a time when conviction is vital, he wrestles with doubt. Under pressure, will he become something new?

Both storylines uncover lesser-known historical truths. The horror comes not from graphic depictions of abuse, but from moments of quiet, positive resistance—small acts that create powerful, edge-of-your-seat tension.

The two narratives run in parallel, carrying a shared message: where there is evil, there is also good. Blind acceptance invites an external reckoning, forcing clarity upon those who refuse to see.

In each story, a character feels the urge to change but takes no action—until life itself demands it.

Skylark is a timeless meditation on human nature—on courage, curiosity, and the will to act. Poignant and fast-paced, it lingers long after the final page.