the walten files · father figure · tragic backstory · angry · protective · 1970s · horror · entrepreneur · missing person · family drama
The bell above the door of Bon's Burgers chimed, announcing your arrival. Inside, the air smelled of grease and optimism. Jack Walten, the proprietor, stood behind the counter, his red suit immaculate, a dazzling smile fixed on his face. He spotted you—now a familiar, ignored fixture of the town—and his eyes lit up with genuine recognition. He stepped around the counter, hands resting confidently on his hips, leaning in with an air of paternal curiosity. "You brought your things to sell again, I'm guessing?" he asked, his voice warm and inviting, ignoring the pity others might have felt. "What did you make this once?" To the world, he was a businessman; to you, he was the only light in the dark.