Firestarter/Nightmare Fuel

John Rainbird is nightmare fuel personified and compared to the titular firestarter, Charlie, that's saying something:
- In his first appearance, after hearing a conversation between Captain Hollister and Dr. Wanless, regarding the danger Charlie poses; Hollister orders him to take care of Wanless after the Dr. threatens to resign. He also hires Rainbird to help in capture Charlie and Andy. Which he agrees in exchange for Hollister handing Charlie over for him to kill. While it's not quite the case and more complicated than that, said demand and the reasoning why, makes John come across as a pedophile demanding a child from what he views as a glorified human trafficking ring. A fact that a disgusted Hollister didn't let go unnoticed, even threatening to erase him. Rainbird counters by saying he's made arrangements that should he die or dissappear he has enough dirt on Hollister and the Shop that would put him and his agents behind bars for life. The man is so terrifying he was able to blackmail a government agency into submission.
- Not long after that, Rainbird is seen at Dr. Wanless' house. He first wakes Wanless up by tickling his nose with a feather, before killing him with a well timed strike to said nose, sending fragments into his brain to kill the man.
- After Andy and Charlie send their letter to the New York Times (Rolling Stone in the book.), the postal worker carrying the letter is driving down an empty road. He sees a broken down car with two people waving him down for help. The two are Rainbird and another Shop agent in disguise. When the postal worker drops his guard to help them, Rainbird strangles him to death with a rope before stealing his letter bag.
- How he's able to manipulate Charlie is especially scary. We the readers and viewers are used to seeing a cold-hearted killer like Rainbird, when he does what he does best. However when he meets Charlie and initially tries to befriend her, posing as a janitor, he is so convincingly nice and polite to the kid, that some of us wonder if he may pull a Heel Face Turn. The focal point is his second meeting with her. A freak thunderstorm occurs and causes a blackout. Because the doors in Charlie's Cell can only be controlled electronically, Rainbird is trapped with her. He feigns a panic attack, invoking his experiences as a POW in Vietnam to give a convincing performance. Which in turn, causes Charlie, whom earlier was hostile to any Shop member regardless of their job, to try to calm him down. He explains in a way he knows a kid could understand what 'Nam was all about and truthfully talks about his experiences as a POW. Giving gruesome details on what being a prisoner of war in 'Nam is about. Such as being handed handfuls of rotted rice for food, to himself going as far as eating spiders and other bugs to survive. This in turn causes Charlie to open up and tell Rainbird why she and Andy are locked up. The lights come on and Rainbird was able to manipulate Charlie into demonstrating her powers despite her initially swearing not to. Even motivating her, by saying he'll try to get her to see her father if she does. While most of this could veer into heartwarming territory, what makes it not qualify, is that it's all part of Rainbird's manipulations. He has Charlie so convinced that he's her friend, that had he not kept his word to allow the Shop to use her for demonstrations, he would have killed her then and there.
- After successfully manipulating and befriending Charlie, Rainbird finally reveals his intentions with her to Hollister. Which while not as horrible as what Hollister initially believed, it is still very terrifying. To put it bluntly, he believes that Charlie's abilities come from the gods. He also believes that if he kills Charlie before he dies, that he'll be able to inherit her power in the next life. George C. Scott's tone when describing what he planned to do is even more terrifying as it gives the impression that killing her is like swatting flies to him. Hollister, is naturally shocked.

Hollister: What are you going to do with her?
Rainbird: John, the friendly orderly, will come in. He will greet her, talk to her, get her to smile... John, the friendly orderly, will make her happy because he's the only one who can. And when John feels she has reached the moment of her greatest happiness, he will strike her across the bridge of the nose, breaking it explosively and sending bone fragments into her brain. It'll be quick. And he'll be looking at her face at the time. He will know her power. And when he dies, which I hope is very soon, perhaps he can take that power with him... into the other world.
Hollister: You are crazy.

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