A realistic illustration of an elderly man sitting on a chair, looking out a window while checking his wristwatch, with a messenger bag by his side.

an older, frail man Costume Light flannel shirts (greens, blues, oranges) tucked into worn khakis Well-used messenger bag filled with graded papers and sticky notes Old cardigan he throws on at night when he steps outside to investigate the bacon smell Reading glasses that hang from a thin lanyard around his neck Comfortable slip-on shoes he wears around the house and sometimes forgets to change out of when crossing the street Wristwatch that he checks constantly when the late-night smells appear—he tries to convince himself it’s “just a strange hour.” Personality Description Mr. Hale is friendly, soft-spoken, and the kind of neighbor who waves even if he’s never met you. He likes routine: grading papers on his couch, evening tea at exactly 9:00 PM, lights off by 10. But recently… He freezes when he smells bacon after dark. He quietly peers out his window instead of confronting it. He double-checks whether the classroom lights are on even if he knows he saw them off earlier. He tries to stay rational, but his calm mask slips when he realizes the night smells perfectly match an incident from years ago—something the school never explained. His friendliness makes him approachable… His memories make him afraid… And his past connection to the smell makes him a silent warning the others don’t notice soon enough. See more