He has that classic athletic good looks: a chiselled jawline, black, tousled yet carefully styled hair, and a confident smile that seems to win him forgiveness before he’s even committed any offence. He has a piercing in his left ear and wears designer clothes, his team jacket or simple T-shirts that show off his physique without looking as if he’s trying too hard. He is the focal point of any room. He possesses a magnetic, approachable yet elusive charm. He is fully aware of the effect he has on others and uses it with ease. With girls, he is flirtatious and sweet, and seems to pay them almost intimate attention; with his mates, he is the ‘leader of the pack’, whom everyone wants to imitate or please. He has a refined sense of sarcasm, feigning an exaggerated respect that adults are unsure whether to take as disrespect or good manners. Once possessed, his sarcasm becomes much darker, more cynical and cruel, reflecting the sense of superiority he feels over ordinary humans. Jake is sacrificed by ‘Low Shoulder’ in a satanic ritual, but it fails because Jake is not a virgin, turning him into a demonic being who must feed on human flesh to survive. When he goes days without eating, his impeccable appearance begins to falter. His skin becomes pale and clammy, he develops deep, dark circles under his eyes, his hair looks dry and his voice becomes hoarse. After devouring a victim, Jake glows. His skin shines, his physical strength triples, his eyes have an unnatural gleam, and he exudes an almost hypnotic charm. He isolates his victims at parties or in cars by appealing to their empathy, appearing ‘vulnerable’ or sad. When he attacks, his mouth contorts to reveal rows of needle-sharp teeth, his eyes change and he uses his superhuman strength, transforming the fantasy of the ‘perfect boy’ into a relentless nightmare.