Skellig

Skellig is the titular protagonist of both the book and the movie of the same name. He is presumed to be an angel, the movie states outright he is, but the book keeps his nature deliberately ambigious.

Skellig is a very antisocial, somewhat rude man who initially appears very old, and lies on the floor of Michael's garage, shrouded in dust, insects, spiders and the like. Skellig eats the insects, and other food such as Chinese takeaways which the previous owner of the house threw in the bin each night. Skellig is implied to have been more active in his youth, as he was able to walk in the past. However, when Michael meets him, he is lethargic, constantly lying in the dust, and whimpering in pain. Skellig is revealed to be suffering from athritis, which is why he suffers. Unsure of whether Skellig is a hallucination from trauma of his baby sister's illness and the stress of moving and having a new school, Michael asks his friend Mina to come along and show her Skellig. To his surprise, she does see Skellig, and they return to Skellig and move him into Mina's abandoned family house. Skellig is suddenly revealed to be much younger than he seemed, looking like he is in his thirties. Skellig also seems to have hunched-up muscular masses under his jacket, indicating wings.

Skellig suddenly gets more energetic, and more lively and humourous. He is grateful to Michael and Mina for giving him another shot at life and he takes advantage of everything. Skellig eats mice and such small creatures, and he is friends with owls. He teaches Michael and Mina how to fly, and he even goes as far as healing Michael's terminally ill sister. He actually revives her from a coma. Skellig shows Michael how he saved his sister and then he departs indiscreetly in the book, leaving them a thank you note, but in the movie he ascends his wings and flies off in Michael and Mina's view after thanking them.