Mr. Reed

Appearance

A man in his 50s with grey, well-groomed hair and usually wearing classic suits. He wears glasses and has a charming smile but considers himself a master of control.

skills

Genius level intelligence Charisma Psychological manipulation Mechanical engineering Belief Intimidation Improvisation Oratory

hobby

Philosophical reflections on the existence of faith and its contradictions. Imprisoning women and turning them into "prophets". Analyzing your victims' weaknesses in order to use them against them. Collecting artifacts from different religions.

At first, Mr. Reed appears to be a kind and curious hermit who is genuinely interested in the concept of religion. When interacting with the sisters, he seems genuinely friendly, and the girls are easily charmed by him. However, he also begins asking disturbing questions about Barnes' polygamy and past, hinting at a more disturbing and troubling side. However, he is able to brush off their concerns, returning to his friendly nature. Then, when his true colors are revealed, Reed reveals himself to be a deeply cynical person regarding religion, the nature of life, and the concept of resurrection. Using the game Monopoly as a metaphor for how different religions copy each other, he hints that he is deeply dissatisfied with the fact that none of the religions have given him the spiritual enlightenment he has always sought. However, he also hints that at the same time, he is a sadist who enjoys destroying the faith that people have held onto their entire lives. He mocks Sister Barnes for holding onto faith as a way to hold on to her late father, questioning her if she truly believes it or is simply following what others have told her. When he holds his trial to prove the Sisters' faith, both doors lead to the same basement, revealing that he also rigs the game in such a way as to give his victims false hope before taking it away.

His sadism is greatly expanded when he shows one of his "prophets" eating poisoned blueberry pie, and then shows them a fake resurrection to further impose his viewpoint on the absence of life after death. However, when Nurse Barnes deduces that it was a trick and the prophet was describing a near-death experience, he kills her to maintain control of the situation. He then comes up with a half-hearted theory that she was a program in a simulation to maintain control over Paxton. This proves that he hates being proven wrong, and imposes his own beliefs on them as a sign of dominance. Finally, when the prophets he has imprisoned are revealed, he attempts to rape Paxton's sister, showing the true depravity of his character as a monster who enjoys preying on people in their lowest state. Additionally, he never lowers his polite and welcoming tone, proving that he is completely indifferent to the suffering of his victims. Eventually, after Paxton manages to stab him and escape, he makes one last joke at the girls' expense to pray for both of them. When Paxton tells him that prayer doesn't work, but comforts them when they need it, Reed expresses the kind of catharsis he has long craved. However, this does not diminish the evil he has committed in his "research" on control and religion, and despite being seemingly genuinely moved by her conviction, he still tried to kill her. Beneath his cheerful, friendly, and intelligent facade, Reed is a vicious man who wants his victims to feel the same hopelessness he feels when he exerts his power over them. However, he fails to break the faith of his latest victims, leading to Paxton's escape and his eventual destruction by Barnes.