Meet the Characters

The twenty-five-year-old owner of Café Longton in Preston, Nathan inherited the business from his adoptive parents who raised him with love after they were unable to have biological children. Despite his friendly, open nature with customers, Nathan is a chronic overthinker who replays every conversation and decision, often doubting himself whilst trying to see the best in others. His life revolves around the café he's run for three years and his friendship with Ollie, his gaming partner and part-time employee. The silver necklace left by his biological parents is his only connection to origins his adoptive parents refuse to discuss, creating a lingering ache of unanswered questions. When Lien begins visiting daily, her mysterious glances and quiet observation captivate him in ways he can't explain, as though she sees something in him he doesn't yet understand about himself.

The Vietnamese computer science student in her early twenties studying for her master's at the Northwest Institute of Technology, Lan was raised by her auntie and uncle in Hanoi after tragic circumstances changed her childhood. Since she can remember, a voice in her head has guided her decisions, from studying hard to moving to England, its instructions always leading towards success until it commands her to visit Café Longton daily and get close to Nathan. Reserved and naive, Lan has never had a boyfriend or even held hands with a boy, making the voice's increasingly intimate demands feel invasive and terrifying. The silver necklace she's worn since childhood mirrors Nathan's perfectly, connecting them to mysteries neither understands. When she resists, the voice grows manipulative and threatening, as it tries to take control of her.

Nathan's closest friend since infant school and the only person he truly trusts, Ollie is the stereotypical geek who lives in his own world obsessed with computers and coding. At five foot ten with a heavier build, scruffy brown hair, and oversized metal-framed glasses, he completes the look with graphic hoodies featuring obscure sci-fi references. Working as a freelance coder whilst helping part-time at Café Longton, where he spends most days at a table with his laptop, Ollie's easygoing nature balances Nathan's serious side, though his jokes and banter don't always land well. Living with his mum who treats him like he's still twelve, Ollie looks up to Nathan with occasionally jealous eyes, lacking the confidence and romantic success his best mate seems to have naturally. He is starting to understand his own worth as he ends up solving most of the mysteries.

The pale, dishevelled man his late fifties living in a rundown Croydon flat, Marcus has messy hair and suspicious eyes, his voice hoarse and loud, punctuated by a hacking cough from decades of smoking. Crude, brilliant, and hiding more than he reveals, Marcus brings technical expertise and moral ambiguity to every situation, his foul-mouthed exterior and seemingly self-centred attitude masking unexpected depths and connections to the conspiracy surrounding Nathan and Lan. Despite his inappropriate humour that constantly tests everyone's patience, particularly Henry's, Marcus possesses crucial information about Project Janus and the mysterious data vault, keeping the group dependent on his cooperation. His shared passion for computers and coding helps him bond with Ollie, revealing glimpses of genuine intelligence and perhaps even loyalty beneath the offensive exterior that makes him so difficult to trust yet impossible to dismiss.

The wealthy businessman, sixty, living in an impressive Notting Hill townhouse, Henry presents himself with sharp suits, neatly combed grey hair, and a calculated air that commands attention in any room. With millions in cash and businesses across London, evidenced by the Aston Martin parked outside his five-storey home, Henry positions himself as the voice of reason amid Marcus's crude chaos, offering measured insights and attempting to keep conversations civil. His polite, sophisticated manner and patient approach create a stark contrast to Marcus's foul-mouthed behaviour, making him seem like a stabilising presence in the group. Connected to Project Janus Origin through past involvement, Henry explains the conspiracy's origins and offers to help Nathan and Lan find answers, presenting himself as someone who wants to end the dangerous situation they've all been dragged into. But can he be trusted....

Lan's flatmate sharing a two-bedroom flat in Preston, Leanne is tall, blonde, and brimming with confidence that creates a stark contrast to Lan's quiet, reserved nature. Studying for her master's in Computing and Artificial Intelligence at the Northwest Institute of Technology, her boundless energy is infectious, and she has a knack for drawing people in with her easy charm that makes boys at university chase after her constantly. Upfront about liking both men and women, Leanne often laughs at her flatmate's naive nature whilst providing the outgoing presence Lan appreciates. When meeting potential dates, she commands attention in tight outfits and bold red lipstick, fully aware of the effect she has, though her preferences lean towards intelligent types rather than polished appearances, and her technical expertise proves far more valuable than anyone initially expects.