What Not To Do In The Valley

Micheal

Micheal Donner is not an authority. Nor is he an adult. He was left at the Harrow House like anyone else. 

He's stayed there for a lot longer than the average resident, but nobody has gotten him to talk about why. He's not a fan of sharing emotions.

Donner was there for at least six years, according to Will, the second longest-term resident of the house. They got along fairly well despite their opposing views. Acting as the substitute caregivers for the other kids there. There was a running joke they were married.

Most of Micheal's problem-solving boils down to "tell Will," or "go away." Though he was quick to step in when someone wanted to tell Mrs Hive or pull a stunt to draw her attention.

Mrs Hive did not have a mouth. She was an eldrich horror and as old as the woods itself. Every plank and board of the Harrow House was part of her, but she was a busy creature. 

Micheal had been given special privileges, living there as long as he had. Joining her on shadowy excursions and taking place in rituals. She pitied how he hadn't moved on yet. The other kids heard "her" muttering in the halls. Would he ever be able to leave?

It was unclear what he needed, but he seemed fine with what he had. He just felt a little put off by how much of her he had picked up. The way she held herself, her accent, her taste in music. 

The worst was when she spoke through him. She tells him he's not the first to merge with her power, and he'll gain her abilities, too, if he stays much longer. He was just annoyed by how she'd started bringing him along so she could lecture the other delinquents like an offended victorian lady. He went along with it, though. Sometimes calling her attention to rulebreakers if he was in a bad mood.

He just didn't like arguing with her. It left him tongue-tied. 

There was no way he'd give up his hobbies to avoid it. Some nights he would sneak off with a mask and axe and get some target practice. Sometimes he'd agree to take the others to the road out of town so he could sneak off and kill someone. 

He's loved it ever since Mrs Hive started training him. These days killing the odd camper wasn't enough. He liked their fear and panic, it made time seem slow. 

Most people knew not to go into the woods. It was boring as hell without them. Especially because he had to share with the housemates.