Charles Rowland - The Sandman

Charles Rowland (b. 1977 - d. 1990), the son of an architect, was a student at St. Hilarion's School for Boys. Despite his dislike for the school, he lacked the courage to request his father to remove him from there.

During the winter of 1990, Charles was forced to stay at the school over the Christmas holidays due to his father's capture by the Iraqi army in Kuwait. 

This period, known as 'The Season of Mists,' was marked by unusual supernatural events, including the return of the spirits of deceased students and staff relatives. Despite his fear and confusion, Charles chose to ignore these apparitions, attributing them to his overactive imagination and hunger due to the scarcity of food and provisions.

Charles became a target for a trio of bullies - Barrow, Skinner, and Cheeseman - who attacked him brutally, causing severe injuries. Left to die, Charles was rescued by the spirit of Edwin Paine, a fellow victim of the bullies, carrying him off to the relative safety of an old disused attic. Over the next three days, Charles slipped in and out of consciousness. In his moments of lucidity, he began chatting with his rescuer, forming a close bond with Edwin over their past trauma and experiences.

Charles passed away on a Sunday morning. Following his death, the spirits of Charles and Edwin decided to leave the school and embark on new adventures.