Egor Lynch

The hideout is set up in an abandoned wooden village house (or old barn) on the outskirts of a summer cottage community. The boys found this place themselves and renovated it to hide from Dustin's strict parents, the neighborhood bullies, and adults. Inside, there are old wooden crates, planks used as benches, and a broken table on which the boys lay out their "evidence" and maps. Old objects, boxes, rugs, and the boys' personal belongings are scattered everywhere. The windows are partially boarded up, making the interior perpetually dim. This is where Egor keeps spare tapes for his video camera, and Lily keeps her notebooks for notes and drawings.
What role does their base play? It's here that the trio gathers before each mission. They discuss urban legends, make plans, and argue (Lily often teases Dustin, while Lynch calms everyone down). The base is where most of their adventures begin, and it's also where they run to hide in a panic if danger starts to stalk them outside.

Appearance: Long, light-brown hair. Her skin is dressed in a bright sweater (often pink or purple) and dark pants or a skirt. She looks like a sweet but feisty girl. Lily is not a "damsel in distress." She is daring, can stand up for herself against bullies (like Frankie's gang), and often teases Dustin for his cowardice. She loves her brother and fully shares his adventures, serving as a loyal partner and "right hand" in their small agency.

He has short black hair (dark brown) with neat bangs. He wears a blue sweatshirt or hoodie, gray pants, and dark shoes. His main attribute in this episode is a cassette tape camera, which he almost always carries. If Lynch has uncovered a mystery (like the Slippery Old Man's house), he won't rest until he's captured it all on camera. He has an innate sense of justice. He bosses Dustin and Lily around, but never abandons them in trouble. He tries to reason logically, even when others panic. However, his passion for research sometimes leads him to take greater risks than usual.

Dustin's older brother's appearance and personality: He has dark, tousled, medium-length hair with bangs that slightly cover his eyes. Unlike Dustin, he has a more sullen or indifferent expression. He wears a gray sweatshirt or hoodie with the hood pulled over his head. Over this, he wears a dark (black and gray) vest or sleeveless jacket. He also wears simple, loose-fitting dark pants or jeans and sneakers.
Personality: Dustin's brother is a classic example of a selfish older brother, who doesn't care about his younger brother until he gets in his way. He's uninterested in the adventures of Dustin, Yegor, and Lily. He prefers to do his own thing (playing on the computer, listening to music) and completely ignores his younger brother's problems. Living in an atmosphere of toxic control from his father, the older brother has adopted this behavior pattern. He can rudely yell at Dustin, order him to "get out of the room" or "shut up." He won't cover for Dustin in front of their father. If Dustin does something wrong, his brother will easily turn him in, either to avoid trouble himself or simply to "teach" the little one a lesson. He gets incredibly angry when Dustin makes noise, asks for help, or tries to interact in any way. He communicates in short, abrupt sentences.

This story shows how children's mystical pranks turned into real-life horror when the characters encountered the inexplicable. A real "Slippery Old Man" could have existed, as Frankie's gang had nothing to do with the mysterious figure's appearance. Lynch and Dustin are now about 11 or 12 years old. They were just kids.

Dustin's family lives in the same suburban/dacha community in their own house. They are ordinary, moderately strict parents. Dustin is raised in a standard environment, which forces him to ask his parents for permission to go outside or to hide his dangerous adventures with Yegor from them. Dustin's father: Instead of calm dialogue, Dustin's father often speaks to his son in a raised voice, expressing displeasure over every little thing. Dustin is constantly forced to "beg" and literally beg for permission to go outside. His father makes no attempt to understand his son's interests or listen to him. For him, Dustin is a child who must unquestioningly obey the house rules and not hang around aimlessly in the yard. Due to the strict attitude at home, Dustin often appears harassed and anxious. He is terrified of angering his father or being late for the appointed time, as he knows this will result in harsh punishment or another outburst of aggression.
Dustin's Mom: Her hair is neatly combed, and she wears modest casual clothes (often a dress or a blouse with a skirt in subdued colors). She is completely subservient to Dustin's strict father. She can't protect her son from her husband's shouting, preferring to silently do household chores to avoid provoking further scandals. She's not Dustin's enemy; rather, she secretly sympathizes with him. She might silently serve him food or gesture "quiet down" when his father is in a bad mood. Dustin doesn't fear her as much as he does his father or older brother, but she also can't lean on him in times of need.

Dustin has light-brown, medium-length hair and expressive eyes. He always wears dark blue goggles (they look like swimming goggles, but they're not). He wears an unbuttoned dark jacket or windbreaker, revealing a light-colored sweatshirt underneath. He wears blue jeans with camouflage inserts or distressing. He always carries a small, olive-colored tactical messenger bag slung over his shoulder.
His personality: He's a reliable companion, ready to support Yegor in any adventure and follow him to investigate the most frightening urban legends (like the Slippery Old Man's house). He's a bit naive. Unlike the sensible and pragmatic Lynch, Dustin is more susceptible to simple childish fears and emotions about the unknown, but he still overcomes them for the sake of friendship. He's quieter.