ALEX CUNNIGHAM

Age: 24

Role: The Cautious Gadgeteer / The Human-Supernatural Bridge

Profession: HVAC Specialist & Independent Tech Inventor

Pronouns: They/Them

Core Identity & Background

Alex is the youngest member of the group, a brilliant but deeply cautious HVAC specialist and freelance inventor who gets pulled into the orbit of J.R.’s Family Pizzeria. Unlike Adrian, who views machines as predictable, Alex understands that systems—especially old, neglected ones—have a “breath” and a life of their own.

They are the person Adrian calls when the standard tools fail. Alex doesn’t just fix vents; they crawl through the dark, forgotten arteries of the building, meaning they see the things the others overlook. While Frederick ignores the unsettling elements and Adrian rationalizes them, Alex is the first to actually measure them. They invent and modify gadgets that can detect anomalies, acting as the crucial bridge between the physical and the inexplicable.

Defense Mechanisms

The “Nope” Protocol

Alex has an incredibly strong sense of self-preservation. When Adrian leaves a voicemail begging them to come fix the vents, Alex’s outgoing message says it all: “If it’s making a noise, hit it, turn it off, or move away.” They do not walk blindly into danger.

Technological Buffers

Alex rarely interacts with the unsettling elements of J.R.’s directly. They prefer to view things through screens, thermal scanners, or modified EMF readers. If they can quantify something, they feel they can manage the fear.

Hyper-Awareness

Because they are younger and haven’t spent 15 years being numb to the town’s trauma, Alex is hyper-observant. They spot the tiny dangers—a frayed wire, a sudden drop in temperature, a shadow in the vents—long before anyone else does.