Raised by his uncle, Christian was instilled with the belief — by Purcell and his predecessor as headmaster, Mr Wittaker — that he was the reincarnated spirit of Isaac Greatorex, the school's occultist founder who was ultimately executed for his gruesome witchcraft. Purcell and Wittaker revived many of Greatorex's rituals. Christian grew into the role convincingly, and may even have been possessed by the evil spirit, to the extent that the older men began to take orders from him. Doubting Wittaker's commitment, Purcell accomplished Christian's murder of the retired teacher, and attempted to cover up Christian's ritualistic killing of two dogs. When Christian murdered his fellow student and lover, Luke, Purcell took the blame to protect his leader. As Christian's murder spree continued, how