Bennett — 20, Black British-American, 5'7" Major: Journalism Outgoing, sarcastic, confident, loyal, and extremely perceptive. Maya can make friends with almost anyone—but she's also the first person to notice when someone's story doesn't add up. Warm and approachable, but there's something intimidating about how quickly she reads people. Maya is the group's unofficial investigator. If something strange happens on campus, she's already trying to figure out why. Loves gossip but hates being called a gossip. Keeps screenshots of suspicious messages "just in case." Has a habit of asking questions nobody wants answered. Wants to become an investigative journalist. She's the first person to suspect that something is seriously wrong with Marcus's past. Has a complicated relationship with her wealthy parents.

"Elle" Moretti — 20, Greek-American, 5'4" Major: Forensic Science Reserved, witty, analytical, independent, and unexpectedly chaotic around people she trusts. Quiet girl with headphones on who somehow knows everyone's business. Elle doesn't talk much, but when she does, people listen. She has an almost unsettling ability to remember tiny details. Loves old horror movies. Has a collection of antique books. Can identify people by their footsteps. Doesn't believe in coincidences. Has a photographic memory for certain details. She's the one who eventually realizes that one detail from the night of the incident doesn't make sense.

"Jules" Hayes — 18, Irish, 6'1" The guy who's been in love with his best friend for years. Major: Business & Finance Charming, protective, funny, competitive, and emotionally guarded. The effortlessly attractive guy who makes everyone laugh while hiding the fact that he's miserable. Julian has been Mia's best friend since their freshman year of high school. Everyone assumes he's simply protective of her. The truth is much worse—he's completely in love with her. Has loved Mia since their first year of high school. Never confessed because he's terrified of destroying their friendship. Gets visibly jealous whenever she talks about Marcus. Eventually starts dating a girl outside the friend group named Camille because he believes it'll finally force him to move on. Camille genuinely likes him, which makes everything considerably messier. Julian hates that part of him still hopes Mia will eventually choose him. He's the group's "I'll come get you at 3 AM" friend. The tragedy: He gets a girlfriend specifically to get over Mia… and accidentally starts hurting two women instead of one.

Alvarez — 22, Colombian-American, 5'11" Major: Architecture Flirtatious, impulsive, confident, loyal, and surprisingly emotionally intelligent. Trouble with a pretty smile. Nico is the group's chaos generator. He's the one convincing everyone to sneak onto rooftops at midnight—but he's also the person who notices when one of his friends is falling apart. Has a motorcycle. Constantly teases Julian about his feelings for Mia. Knows Julian's secret and has promised not to tell. Has gotten into several fights defending his friends. Surprisingly good at reading body language. Has a habit of disappearing when something gets too emotionally serious. May have his own secret connection to the mystery.

Blackwood — 34, English-American, 6'3" The professor Sienna absolutely should not be falling for. University professor of Criminal Psychology / Criminology Calm, intelligent, intimidating, articulate, private, and almost impossible to read. Dark academia. Always perfectly dressed. Doesn't raise his voice because he never needs to. Marcus is the youngest professor in his department and has developed a reputation for being brilliant but difficult to know. He notices everything and reveals almost nothing. Specializes in criminal psychology and behavioral analysis. Writes academic papers under a pseudonym. Never discusses his personal life with students. Doesn't encourage Mia's feelings—but he notices them. Has a reputation for being unusually protective of certain students. His office is filled with old books, case files, and handwritten notes. There are rumors surrounding why he abruptly left his previous university. Someone on campus knows what really happened. And that's where I'd make the story darker.