Characters

Kai

Kai is a boy living in constant fear of his father and his peers. As an only child, he has grown up under intense overprotection from his parents, a life that has left him isolated and vulnerable rather than secure. Daydreaming has been the escape from his reality for many years.

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He works full-time in his parents’ shop without pay, delivering customer orders of groceries and hardware across town in his sturdy, reliable Tank Kart. During his rounds, he collects tips and finds brief moments of connection, spending time with Boo, Maureen, and Bernie as he moves through the town.

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He is bullied by Baxter of the Wolf Pack in particular, left vulnerable to his threats even more so now that Kai’s best friend and protector Mort has disappeared. Baxter has forced Kai into stealing from his parents’ shop and deliver the items to Baxter in a timely fashion, or suffer harsh consequences. The image of Baxter’s knife blade hovering before his eyes, has often been the last thing Kai sees before he sleeps.

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Despite this, Kai’s escape is motor kart racing, a passion introduced to him by his friend Boo. He has proven to be a highly skilled kart racer, with a natural instinct for speed and control. However, Boo is firmly against Kai entering the most dangerous of races, fully aware of the risks involved. Kai understands the risks yet still dreams of winning - the deadly competition that calls to him.

Butler

Boris Butler is a complicated young man who, despite still being a teenager, carries the weight of experiences far beyond his years. Beneath his confident exterior lies a troubled soul haunted by loss, regret, and secrets from his past that he has spent years trying to forget.

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The greatest source of his pain is the death of his mother. Butler has never forgiven himself, believing that if he had been less reckless and not stayed out at a house party until the early hours, he might have been able to save her. Whether that guilt is justified or not, it continues to shape his life.

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Born into privilege, Butler grew up surrounded by wealth thanks to his father, Owen, and his grandfather, the Mayor of Greightown. Yet his family name often made him an outsider. Many children judged him for his connection to the Mayor, leaving him struggling to find where he belonged.

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A skilled boatsman and talented mechanic, Butler is happiest repairing engines or working with machinery. However, searching for acceptance led him to join The Wolf Pack, a decision that further damaged his reputation among the townsfolk. While many see him as a troublemaker, those who know him understand that loneliness played a large part in his choice.

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Away from the gang, Butler’s protective nature is most visible in his relationship with his younger brother, Kope. The pair are often seen travelling around town together, with Butler pushing Kope around in a customised skate kart. Although many residents find the sight unusual—especially since Kope can walk perfectly well—it has become a familiar symbol of the brothers’ close bond.

Caught between family expectations, past mistakes, and his desire to forge his own path, Butler remains one of Greightown’s most misunderstood young residents.

Joy

Joy was raised by her now-deceased grandparents on a farm in Soowin, a country her mother  fled with her, hidden in the hold of a boat arriving in Greightown in the middle of the night. From an early age, Joy’s life was shaped by the daily routine of farm work and a deep bond with the animals she cared for daily—feeding them, cleaning the barns, and tending to them when they were ill.

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She was also introduced early to the harsher realities of life and death. When animals needed to be put down, her grandfather taught her how to use a shotgun to carry out the task humanely. Though it always left her in tears, she refused his offer to do it for her, insisting on seeing it through herself.

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Joy shared a close relationship with her father, particularly through traditions like attending the Dragon Boat Festival with him each year, when visiting her parents. Despite this, she never felt entirely comfortable in city life and often clashed with her mother. After the deaths of her grandparents in a vehicle accident, she moved to the city, leaving farm life behind much to her dismay.

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At school, Joy often felt like an outsider among classmates who had never took to the farm girl. However, her fiery temperament quickly earned her a different kind of reputation. When confronted by bullies, Joy rarely backed down—and more often than not, she won. Over time, she became known as someone not to be crossed.

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Quick to anger and prone to jumping to conclusions, she has caused her fair share of trouble, including several incidents that required apologies to other parents after children were injured by her infamous red wellington boots.

Kai’s Father

A handsome and charismatic man in his youth, Kai’s father dreamed of becoming a movie star. As the eldest of nine children, he grew up in poverty and carried the burden of helping support his family from an early age. He took whatever work he could find, sacrificing his own ambitions to put food on the table.

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His fortunes changed when a modelling scout spotted him waiting at a bus stop. Before long, he was modelling for major brands, his face appearing on billboards across the city. The exposure made him something of a local celebrity, and for the first time, his dream felt within reach. He saved enough money to enrol in acting classes, determined to break into the film industry.

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Despite his natural presence and charisma, he struggled to land anything more than minor roles. His limited literacy made it difficult to memorise scripts and compete for larger parts, leaving him frustrated as opportunity after opportunity slipped away.

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Then fate intervened. When he witnessed a devastating car crash, he rushed into the wreckage and pulled an elderly woman to safety moments before the vehicle burst into flames. The woman turned out to be the mother of a respected film director, who believed he was perfect for a role in an upcoming production. An audition was arranged, the script was adapted to accommodate his needs, and at last the breakthrough he had been waiting for seemed within his grasp.

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But his chance at stardom was ruined by someone from his own family. The betrayal shattered more than his career prospects—it left wounds that never truly healed.

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Since then, he has wrestled with the bitterness and anger that took root in the aftermath. Deep down, he wants to be a good husband and father, but his impulsive nature and quick temper often gets the better of him. Tension hangs over the household, and his reputation extends beyond it. The children of Shop Street know him as a stern and intimidating figure, so much so that they are forbidden from entering his shop unless accompanied by an adult.

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Behind the anger, however, is a man still mourning the life he almost had, searching for a way to turn his regrets into something that might benefit the family he sacrificed everything for.

Kai’s Mother

Kai’s mother was once a pharmacist and never expected marriage to become part of her life. Yet at thirty-eight, she was introduced by a mutual friend to the handsome man who would eventually become her husband, and her life took an unexpected turn.

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She is gentle by nature, but beneath that softness lies a quiet, stubborn strength that she rarely reveals. Kai’s father respects her deeply, and her presence has a steadying effect on him, often keeping him away from dangerous temptations and illegal activities. In many ways, she is the emotional anchor of the household.

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Spiritual and highly intuitive, she has an uncanny ability to sense trouble before it arrives. Those instincts have, more than once, helped steer both her husband and son away from serious danger.

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Her pharmaceutical background carries over into everyday life in unexpected ways. She is an exceptional cook, able to measure ingredients with precision by instinct alone, without ever needing scales. Her skill is so respected that she is often consulted by the town’s women for advice on cooking and baking.

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She is also a deeply protective mother. That protectiveness is shaped by profound loss—she endured five miscarriages before Kai was born, and that history has made her both fiercely devoted and constantly anxious about his safety.

Lina

Lina grew up on her parents' farm, surrounded by endless fields and hard work, but she always dreamed of a life beyond the countryside.

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Her life changed when one of her father's regular customers, a struggling vegetable shop owner, arrived at the farm to settle a debt. Unable to pay with money, he instead offered a treasured possession: his late wife's grand piano. The instrument captivated Lina from the moment she laid eyes on it.

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Obsessed, she spent every spare moment teaching herself to play. Her father, recognising her passion, bought her music books whenever he travelled into town, and Lina devoured them. Through determination and talent, she mastered the instrument largely on her own. Years of saving and sacrifice eventually earned her a place at a prestigious music college in the city.

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For the first time, Lina was living the life she had always imagined. She excelled in her studies and went on to perform at the city's opera house, surrounded by the music she loved. It seemed that every dream she had chased since childhood was finally coming true.

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Then she met the man who would become Joy's father, a kind-hearted farmhand whose warmth and sincerity grounded her in ways music never could. The two fell deeply in love, married, and eventually purchased a florist shop together in the city. When Lina became pregnant with their daughter, she embraced the future they were building.

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But motherhood brought challenges she never expected. After Joy's birth, Lina suffered from severe postnatal depression. Concerned for both mother and child, her parents brought Joy back to the farm and raised her during her earliest years while Lina struggled to recover.

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Although it was done out of love, the separation left scars. Joy grew up idolising her father, who visited whenever he could and seemed larger than life in her eyes. By contrast, she resented Lina's absence during her formative years. Lina has carried the guilt of that distance ever since, though her love for her daughter has never wavered. If anything, it made her fiercely protective, determined to make up for the years she lost.

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In later years, her husband developed a passion for jujitsu and encouraged Lina to train alongside him. She discovered the same dedication and discipline that had once driven her musical ambitions. A gifted student, she progressed quickly and eventually entered her first competition.

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The day of the tournament should have been one of the proudest moments of her life. Her husband was away on a rescue mission at sea but had promised he would be there to watch it. Lina fought brilliantly and stood victorious atop the winner's podium, clutching her medal as the crowd applauded.

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Yet as she searched the audience, he was nowhere to be seen. In that moment, before anyone had spoken a word, in her she knew something bad had happened. A single tear ran down her cheek as she stood beneath the lights, celebrating a victory that would forever be tied to the day that she lost the man she loved.

Owen Butler

Owen Butler owns an independent export company and spends much of his life at sea. His family history is closely tied to Greightown—his grandfather once served as Perry Greighton’s butler—which made his relationship with Mayor Greighton’s daughter, Christine, all the more contentious. The Mayor strongly opposed their courtship, but Owen and Christine married against his wishes, creating lasting tension between the two men.

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Despite this, the Mayor later became entangled in Owen’s business dealings, discreetly facilitating a series of illegal exports involving stolen goods, narcotics, and exotic animals shipped across borders.

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Owen’s life took a darker turn following the death of his daughter in childbirth, after which Christine was never the same. He began drinking heavily, and his temper grew increasingly volatile. After a violent altercation with his brother—who subsequently disappeared amid rumours that Owen had killed him and disposed of the body at sea—his reputation deteriorated further.

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When Christine later died under mysterious circumstances, Owen was left a single father to his sons, Boris and Kope. Grief and alcohol pushed him further away from home, and he began spending even more time at sea, leaving his teenage sons to raise themselves in his absence.

Mr Wardley

Mr Wardley, a tall, svelte man now nearing retirement, was once a prize-winning dancer in his youth. Graceful and expressive on stage, he has since become a man of few words, his silence as defining as his past achievements.

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For twenty-five years, he worked as the janitor at the now-closed Greightown School, keeping largely to himself and avoiding attention. When he was honoured by the Mayor with a gold watch to mark his long service, the ceremony ended in shock as Mr Wardley dropped it to the floor and stamped on it before walking away.

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The event came shortly after the death of his wife, a loss that deeply unsettled the town’s perception of him. Around the same time, he was questioned in connection with the death of the town doctor, after reports placed him wandering the streets in the early hours carrying a gun.

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Since then, Mr Wardley has all but withdrawn from public life. He is rarely seen in Greightown, and when he is, he does not speak or acknowledge those who greet him.

Hagne

Hagne, sister of Marta and sister-in-law to Jorge, is known in the town for a deeply embarrassing involuntary condition that occasionally affects her in public, making her both awkwardly avoided and quietly pitied by those who know her.

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She is the daughter of a high-ranking Army officer and grew up on a farm with her parents and sister. Socially withdrawn from a young age, Hagne preferred tending the land and animals over interacting with others, finding comfort in routine and solitude. Her father taught her how to use a rifle for pest control, and she quickly showed an unusual natural talent for shooting.

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Deeply attached to her father, she once secretly stowed away and ended up accompanying him during a military deployment. However, instead of combat, she was placed in a support role as a tea lady within her regiment, an experience that left her disillusioned and more withdrawn than before.

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After returning home, she demonstrated her marksmanship to her father, who was surprised and described her skills as world class. Despite this, her time in the military seemed to deepen her introversion, and she became even quieter and more isolated in everyday life.

Baxter

One of seven children, Baxter grew up in poverty and neglect. His father regularly squandered the family's grocery money on moonshine and gambling, leaving Baxter and his siblings hungry for days at a time. On occasion, their desperation became so severe that Baxter survived by eating dog food.

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Home was a place of fear rather than comfort. Baxter's father was violent, sometimes striking his wife with a frying pan, and Baxter learned early to stay out of his way. Whenever possible, he avoided going home altogether, choosing instead to sleep in a derelict caravan on Cole Judge's property. To earn his keep, he carried out the jobs no one else wanted—cleaning up messes, running errands, and even stealing to order for his landlord.

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The hardship of Baxter's childhood left deep scars. He despises anyone who challenges him or his Wolf Pack friends, seeing defiance as a threat that must be crushed. Though small in stature, he is quick with a flick knife and has no hesitation about using it. Loud, aggressive, and constantly seeking to intimidate others through threats and bluster, he works hard to project an image of toughness.

Yet beneath the bravado lies a troubled and vulnerable young man. In private, away from the eyes of his peers, Baxter often breaks down in tears, struggling to reconcile the person he is with the person he feels he has become.

Sheriff Cane Baylor

A sheriff with a shady past, Cain Baylor was headhunted by Mayor Greighton to keep order in Greightown. A former soldier, Cain left the military under a dark cloud after being accused of killing eight unarmed enemy soldiers following the death of his brother in action. Although the evidence was insufficient to convict him, he chose to leave and start afresh.

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After working security jobs in dive bars and wherever he could find work, he eventually landed a permanent role at the City Casino. There, his ability to fight and disarm a group of men harassing customers was noticed by the Mayor, leading to his recruitment as personal bodyguard.

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At the time, Cain was being pursued by a gangster, Chong Li, whom he owed money to. The situation escalated when Cain was forced to defend the Mayor, killing two of Chong Li’s assassins. Realising the severity of the threat, he struck a deal with the Mayor: upfront payment for five years’ service as Sheriff of the town, in exchange for ensuring the Mayor’s safe exit from the country.

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Under his stewardship, the town felt safe for a period. Cain led a team of eight strong deputies whom he personally recruited. However, when the Mayor left Greightown, most of his network departed with him, including Cain’s deputies.

Now largely operating alone, Cain is a keen fisherman and prefers a quiet life. As long as the townsfolk do not cause too much trouble, he remains in the background—only stepping in when crimes are severe enough to warrant his attention.

Judge

Joseph Judge is the leader of the notorious Wolf Pack, a gang that has long cast a shadow over Greightown’s youth. From an early age, he showed a tendency toward intimidation and control, becoming a bully almost as soon as he could walk. His upbringing played a significant role in shaping him—raised solely by his father, Cole Judge, he was effectively groomed into a life of crime.

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On the surface, Judge rules through fear. Within the gang and among those who cross him, his presence alone is often enough to enforce obedience. However, beneath that hardened exterior, he lives in constant fear of his own father. Every month, Cole demands “rent” from him, and failure to pay on time results in brutal punishment. Judge bears the physical scars of this abuse across his back, the result of years of beatings and electrocution at his father’s hands.

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Despite a lifetime of run-ins with the law, Judge has somehow managed to avoid imprisonment. His influence within the Wolf Pack has only grown, fuelled by a mixture of necessity, survival, and learned cruelty. He understands power not as something earned, but as something taken and maintained through fear.

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Judge has used the gang to expand his reach across Greightown. He and Baxter were the founding members and then Butler was recruited. When seeing a distressed Leighton crying on the street, Judge seized the opportunity. He set him up with a moonshine operation hidden in a disused caravan on his father’s property. This meant his father was paid on time, saving him from his monthly beating.

Quiet and reserved, Joseph Judge is a young man of few words but heavy intent. Every action he takes is calculated to maintain control, avoid punishment from his father, and keep the fragile structure of his criminal world from collapsing around him.

Leighton Biggs

Leighton Biggs is the eldest child of Marlon and Enola, and by far the largest of the siblings. Though he was never particularly academic, his impressive size, strength, and natural athletic ability offered him a path to success. He dreamed of becoming a sports star, and for a time it seemed within reach.

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Everything changed when his father uprooted the family and moved them to Greightown. The opportunities Leighton had worked toward disappeared overnight, taking his ambitions with them. At home, life became even harder. As Marlon's temper worsened, Leighton often placed himself between his father and the rest of the family, becoming the target of his father's rage in an effort to protect his mother and younger brothers.

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Despite their turbulent relationship, Marlon took Leighton under his wing and taught him the art of making moonshine. To his father's surprise, Leighton proved exceptionally talented, demonstrating a level of creativity and intuition that even Marlon lacked. For a brief period, father and son found common ground. Marlon was proud of him, and life seemed to settle into something resembling peace.

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That peace shattered the night Marlon finally lost control. Faced with the worst of his father's violence and unable to endure it any longer, Leighton fled. In doing so, he left behind his mother and younger brothers when they needed him most. Shortly afterwards, Marlon vanished, leaving the family broken in his wake. He was found by Judge on a street, crying, Judge seized the opportunity to take him in to The Wolf Pack and benefit from his moonshine making skills.

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The guilt of that decision has followed Leighton ever since. His younger brothers, known as the Hats, have never forgiven what they see as his abandonment. Sensitive and soft-hearted beneath his imposing frame, Leighton has come to believe that his only real family now is the Wolf Pack. Desperate to belong, he constantly seeks the approval of Judge and Baxter, hoping that one day he will earn the acceptance he no longer feels he deserves.

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For all his strength, Leighton remains a man haunted by the people he left behind and the family he can never quite replace.

Marlon Biggs

Marlon Biggs, husband to Enola and father of Leighton and the Hats, vanished without a trace. Some believe he fled Greightown with Mayor Greighton and a fortune in stolen money. Others whisper that his own sons finally turned on him. Whatever the truth, his disappearance has only added to the town's fear of the soul-singing brothers.

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Before his life fell apart, Marlon was a talented musician who could light up any room. Charming, charismatic, and always smiling, he made a living playing wherever he could find an audience. Everything changed after he was shot following a gig. Though he survived, the injury left him unable to properly play his instrument. Losing music felt like losing a part of himself.

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As he struggled with chronic pain, Marlon became dependent on painkillers. The cheerful entertainer gradually gave way to a bitter, volatile man. Seeking stability, he found work as a croupier in a city casino, where he formed a partnership with Mayor Greighton. Together they secretly scammed the casino for years until they were eventually caught.

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The Mayor's connections spared them from prosecution, but Marlon lost his job and found himself blacklisted. Forced to rely on increasingly illegal means to support his family, he eventually used his knowledge of the Mayor's secrets to secure a fresh start in Greightown.

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When he later lost his job at the Greighton Furniture Factory through poor attendance, Marlon turned to making moonshine. His powerful "Island Style" brew became popular among the town's loggers and labourers, earning him both money and notoriety.

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By the time he disappeared, Marlon was a man consumed by resentment and regret—a once-beloved musician transformed by pain, addiction, and bad choices into one of Greightown's most feared figures.

Enola Biggs

The daughter of a strict pastor, Enola grew up under rigid rules and quiet expectations. In her youth, she fell deeply in love with Marlon Biggs and made the bold decision to run away with him, eloping against her family’s wishes. Together they travelled the country, living a restless but free life—Marlon working as a travelling musician, taking whatever gigs he could find to support them on the road.

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Their life changed dramatically when Marlon was shot in a back alley after a performance. Though he survived, his ability to play music was permanently damaged, and with it, the foundation of their former life. Stripped of his passion and direction, Marlon became bitter and volatile. Unable to sustain their travelling lifestyle, the couple eventually settled in the city.

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Enola took work in a supermarket to keep them afloat, often arriving at shifts with bruises she rarely spoke about. Marlon trained as a croupier, gaining steady access to gambling halls and alcohol, which only deepened his drinking and worsened life at home. Despite her beauty and the attention she frequently received from other men, Enola remained trapped in a cycle she felt unable to break.

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Her strict upbringing in the church instilled a deep sense of loyalty and duty, which kept her bound to Marlon even as their relationship deteriorated. She endured rather than escaped, believing she had made a vow she could not abandon.

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Together, they had four children—three boys and one girl. Their daughter’s life was tragically cut short after becoming a victim of a violent gang known as “The Force,” a loss that left a permanent wound on the family and further fractured what remained of their household.

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Enola Biggs remains a woman shaped by love, duty, and endurance—quietly resilient, yet carrying the weight of a life that did not turn out as she once hoped.

Mort

Mort, known at school as “Mort the Millionaire” (a nickname that barely scratched the surface of his billionaire upbringing), grew up in a life of extreme privilege in the city. One costly mistake, however, earned him a one-way exile to live with his grandfather, Mr. Dialotta.

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Like his grandfather, Mort was a keen inventor and received an unusual birthday gift from him. The box read: “For the winning moment”—a reference to the National Championships football final, where his parents’ team, Savannah Storm, were competing against Falcon Ridge Fury on Mort’s birthday.

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Excited and impulsive, Mort activated his grandfather’s invention: a motorised flying bird decorated in Savannah Storm colours. But during the decisive moment of the match, the remote malfunctioned. The device flew onto the pitch and collided with the ball, sending a crucial goal wide and costing Savannah Storm the championship. The invention was destroyed, and so was Mort’s future at home. He was immediately sent to Greightown to live with his grandfather.

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In Greightown, Mort found an unlikely friendship with Kai, often protecting him from gang members targeting vulnerable kids. He lived in Mr. Dialotta’s house deep in the forest, but his prankster nature and sharp tongue eventually drew the attention of the Wolf Pack. During one final confrontation, he was chased into the vast woodland—and was never seen again.

Bernie Crouch

A hardworking mechanic who grew up by the sea, Bernie seemed destined for a life on the water. Unfortunately, a chronic bout of seasickness had other plans. Fortunately, his natural talent for fixing things found a different outlet, and he soon became one of the most skilled mechanics around.

Recognising his expertise, the Mayor personally recruited Bernie to Greightown to maintain the wide variety of vehicles used throughout the Greightown Furniture operation. Whether it has wheels, gears, or an engine, Bernie can usually get it running again.

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Known for his jovial nature and cheeky sense of humour, Bernie has one persistent problem: his height. Standing well above average, he spends much of his day ducking under door frames and low ceilings—though not always successfully. It is said that hardly a day passes without him banging his head on something.

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Bernie is also an enthusiastic kart racer, much to the annoyance of his wife, Maureen. The pair have entered every annual motor kart race since it began. Despite Bernie's ambitious engineering ideas and increasingly elaborate kart designs, victory has always eluded them. More often than not, a crucial technical failure—or a complete lack of suitable weaponry compared to their rivals—has brought their campaign to an untimely end.

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A certified hoarder, Bernie’s workshop is packed floor to ceiling with an astonishing collection of tools, gadgets, and "spare parts" that he insists will be useful one day. Among the clutter are 21 drills, 13 chainsaws, 8 broken cassette players, 7 damaged Betamax machines, 15 radios, and 32 complete sets of screwdrivers. Maureen dreams of the day she can finally clear out the workshop and transform it into her own personal sanctuary. Bernie, however, remains stubbornly defiant and quietly adds to his collection every few weeks—carefully ensuring that Maureen never notices the latest additions.

Boo

A solitary figure who lives on the banks of the forest river, Boo serves as both the town’s fireman and the guardian of the vast woodland that surrounds it. A veteran of war, he lives by his own strict code and keeps largely to himself. Aside from Kai, who delivers supplies each week, Boo has little interest in company.

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Much of Boo’s past remains shrouded in mystery. The townsfolk often speculate about how he came to own the land on which he built his riverside home. Some believe he knows too many of the Mayor’s secrets to be ignored, while others are convinced, he is secretly paid to watch over the forest and keep unwanted visitors away. Whatever the truth may be, Boo has never offered an explanation.

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In his younger years, Boo was an avid motorcyclist with a reputation for speed and daring. These days, he channels that passion into designing and building some of the most powerful motor karts in the region. Kai has often had the dubious honour of testing these machines on the winding forest track near Boo’s home, with varying degrees of success.

Boo’s military career as a fireman was marked by bravery and distinction. He is credited with saving countless soldiers from certain death and earned the respect of all who served alongside him. Rumour has it that he joined the military after suffering a devastating heartbreak, though Boo has never confirmed the story. When the war ended, he returned home with no permanent place to live. The town was astonished when he began constructing a house on the riverbank, as that area had long been considered the preserve of the wealthy and well-connected.

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Despite his rugged exterior, Boo has a notorious sweet tooth. His fondness for sugary treats has led to frequent bouts of gout, which can leave him in considerable pain and unable to work for days at a time. Yet Boo is a man of habit, and his stubborn nature makes him reluctant to change his diet or the quiet routines that define his life.

Reserved, resilient, and endlessly enigmatic, Boo remains one of the town’s most respected—and least understood—residents.

Maureen Cosgrove

Maureen Cosgrove, the former school secretary, is a natural leader with a disciplined edge and a warm heart. Raised in Middleton near the Forest of Bandits, she learned early how to read danger, trust her instincts, and handle herself in difficult situations.

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In her youth, Maureen loved to travel. It was on one of these journeys that she met her husband, Bernie, a dockyard mechanic. When her car broke down and she risked missing her ship, Bernie stopped to help despite knowing he would be late for work. He fixed her car without hesitation, and the two agreed to meet again when she returned from her cruise. They married within a year.

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Their honeymoon only strengthened their bond—when Bernie’s car broke down, they found themselves stranded together overnight, laughing as they sheltered inside and turning misfortune into a shared memory.

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Back home, Maureen became the backbone of the school. As secretary, she was far more than administrative support; she acted as an unofficial security presence for a headmaster who attracted his fair share of trouble. She also became a quiet protector of vulnerable students, including children like Kai, offering them refuge in her office with cocoa, cookies, and a firm insistence that homework still be completed.

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Outside of school, Maureen is known for her fiercely protected garden. Her award-winning flowers are her pride, and anyone foolish enough to attempt theft quickly learns she guards them with the same determination she once used to navigate the Forest of Bandits.

Mayor Greighton

Hamish Greighton, son of the wealthy entrepreneur Perry Greighton, inherited Greightown under mysterious circumstances following his father’s suspicious death - just a month after Perry had purchased the town outright. On his birthday, Hamish came into full control of Greightown, and over the next five years rapidly transformed it, constructing vast furniture factories, hundreds of homes, and generating widespread employment.

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In his youth, Hamish was a dedicated squash player with ambitions of reaching the Olympics. When those dreams failed to materialise, his disappointment hardened into ambition, and eventually into ruthlessness. He redirected his drive into business, surpassing even his father’s harsh methods in pursuit of success.

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As Mayor, he travelled extensively, headhunting skilled individuals to run his expanding industrial empire. However, many of those recruited appeared to have little or no background in furniture production, raising quiet suspicions among the townspeople. His operations expanded globally, with Greightown furniture exported across the seas—though rumours persisted that not all shipments contained legitimate goods. Despite speculation, nothing was ever proven.

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For a time, Greighton thrived, obsessed with growth, wealth, and control. But after the death of his wife from cancer, something in him shifted. He grew colder and increasingly withdrawn. The 25th Annual Greightown Parade marked the last public sighting of him. Witnesses later said he stood among the crowds of smiling citizens. He stood staring as everyone looked filled with joy. He was unable to understand how he—despite all his wealth and power—had become the most unhappy person in the town.

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Shortly afterwards, he disappeared, fleeing Greightown with both his fortune and significant debts owed to the criminal Chong Li, who sent men across the world to find him. He also left the town in debt with the government, stealing funds which were intended for the school, which subsequently had to close. Since then, rumours have circulated that Greighton has been captured and is being held hostage, suffering at the hands of Chong Li—though his true fate remains unknown.

Jimmy Dialotta

Known to the townsfolk as Mr. Dialotta, he and his wife arrived in Greightown in a black limousine, immediately attracting attention with their quiet authority and air of secrecy. Today, both are laid to rest in the town cemetery, their lives ending under circumstances that remain the subject of persistent speculation.

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A former high-ranking military man and gifted engineer, Mr. Dialotta earned a reputation as a brilliant—but controversial—inventor. His work in advanced weaponry led to devastating enemy losses, and he was deeply affected by the consequences of what he had created. Haunted by the scale of destruction, he ultimately left the military, even refusing a direct request from the President to remain in service.

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His departure made headlines, and it was through these reports that Mayor Greighton discovered him. Seeing an opportunity, the Mayor headhunted Dialotta to Greightown, where his engineering expertise was used to revolutionise the town’s furniture production. His machinery dramatically increased output within a year, though at the cost of numerous factory jobs, which caused quiet unrest among workers.

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Impressed by his capabilities, the Mayor relocated Dialotta to a secure, heavily guarded facility on the outskirts of town, where his work continued behind closed doors under strict secrecy. Whatever projects were underway remain unknown to this day.

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However, everything changed after the sudden and mysterious death of his wife. Following her passing, tensions between Mr. Dialotta and the Mayor escalated rapidly. The two were reportedly seen arguing at the factory offices.

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The full truth of what happened in those days has never been confirmed, and both his work and his death remain surrounded by unanswered questions.

Deevon & Drayvon

The twins are the shortest of the Biggs brothers, but what they lack in height they make up for in fierce loyalty and quiet determination. Working in perfect sync, they are capable of taking on much larger opponents when together, relying on coordination rather than brute strength. Most days, they can be found singing alongside Tall Boy in Shop Street, their voices carrying unexpectedly well through the bustle of town.

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The twins prefer weapons over bare-knuckle fighting and often practise knife throwing and baseball bat drills in their back garden. Despite this, they are known for their soprano singing voices, which once made them surprisingly popular at school—so much so that girls would compete for their attention, much to the amusement of their brothers.

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At one point, a visiting music producer—who was in town visiting his granddaughter—heard them perform a short medley and was highly impressed. A recording contract was briefly on the table. However, when their father Marlon Biggs became involved in negotiations, the deal quickly fell apart, and the only public performances the twins now give are their daily songs in Shop Street.

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In earlier years, their small stature also made them useful to their father during nighttime thefts. Small, agile, and able to slip through tight spaces unnoticed, they proved effective at breaking and entering. Their usefulness in these schemes often spared them from Marlon’s harsher punishments, as he valued their skills more than their obedience.

Tall Boy

Tall Boy is the youngest of the Biggs brothers, yet the tallest by far. A lean, imposing teenager, he carries himself with a calm, almost measured demeanour—but beneath that restraint lies a ruthless and highly dangerous fighter. Skilled with knives and unnervingly precise in combat, he is feared across Greightown more than many of the adult men. He’s been tested by a few of the men, who arrogantly thought he would be no match for them. But they suffered public humiliation and a severe beating infront of the crowds who gathered at Shop Street for free entertainment.

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Despite his reputation, Tall Boy is the natural leader of The Hats. His deep, baritone voice carries through Shop Street each day, commanding attention without effort. After the disappearance of his father, he took responsibility for his younger brothers, Deevon and Drayvon, leading them into the town to earn money and support their mother.

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Musically gifted, Tall Boy is a student of soul, blues, and reggae, using song as both expression and identity. His moods often shape the music he leads—reggae when business is good and his hat is full of money, and blues in the early mornings when hardship weighs heavier on them.

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Observant and calculating, he keeps a close watch on everything that happens in Greightown. While he allows local gangs to operate, he maintains strict unspoken boundaries. Those who cross them learn quickly that his patience is limited—and his response is swift, controlled, and unforgiving.

Sam

Sam is a former military communications expert who was banished from the front line for being too vicious. The son of a wealthy man, Sam was destined for a life in the corporate would like his father. However, his temper would often get the better of him and his father realised his son wasn’t suited to the finance sector.

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He was given an option by his father, to start a business his father would fund, or to go back to college to study. He took neither, and joined the military instead. Sam was a feared boxer in the armed forces, winning titles in every division he competed in.

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He lost the use of one of his eyes as a result if an accident. A rookie soldier shot him on a training exercise, he decided to leave the military with a substantial sum of compensation.

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He arrived in Greightown after seeing the town had vacant premises on Shop Street. He opened a repair store which also sells televisions, radios, walkie talkies and binoculars along with other miscellaneous items. He never gives discounts but is open to making a shady deal if there are high value items involved.

Otto

A former military man, Otto is a man who prefers to spend his time at sea rather than on land. He arrived in the town after saving Owen Butler from a bar fight, despite being outnumbered four to one.

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Otto had just arrived back from a funeral for a former fisherman friend whom he had known since childhood. After disposing of the four men, Owen took him to a seafood restaurant to sober up, where he ordered and made his way through the entire menu. He was convinced by Owen to travel the seas with him, being his right hand man. It didn’t take much to convince the burly man as he wanted a fresh start far away from his homeland.

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Otto is a fair man, one who stands for justice and is respected by the townsfolk for not only his size but his morale compass.

Claude Kapinski 

Claude Kapinski is the son of a detective in the City Police Department and has been raised solely by his father for most of his life. His mother disappeared years ago and has not been seen since, a mystery that has only strengthened Claude’s fascination with investigation and criminal cases. 

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Determined to follow in his father’s footsteps, Claude is intensely focused on becoming a detective. He devours books on investigative techniques, body language analysis, forensic psychology, and notorious serial killers. While most teenagers have a variety of interests, Claude’s passion for detective work borders on an obsession. 

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Over the past few months, Claude has been battling leukemia. Despite the challenges of treatment and recovery, his determination has never wavered. His doctors remain optimistic about his prognosis, and Claude refuses to let his illness distract him from his ambitions. 

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Academically gifted, Claude attends school but finds it frustrating rather than stimulating. Having advanced two years beyond his peers, he often views classes as an inconvenience. His father occasionally has to persuade him to attend, usually by promising to share stories from particularly interesting cases he has worked on. 

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Outside of his studies, Claude has a notable sweet tooth and a particular fondness for pineapple juice. When his health allows, he loves to run, often imagining himself chasing down dangerous criminals. The fantasy serves as both motivation and a reminder of the future he is determined to achieve. 

Kope Butler

The younger brother of Boris Butler, Kope is a quiet, shy boy who has faced hardship from an early age. His childhood was marked by rejection from his mother, who had hoped her Kope would be a daughter, not another son. As a result, Boris became far more than an older brother—he became Kope’s protector, role model, and closest friend.

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Kope possesses an extraordinary mind, with a natural talent for mathematics, logic, and problem-solving. Time and again, he has astonished teachers by solving complex equations and puzzles far faster than his classmates. Despite these gifts, he finds social interaction and many aspects of daily life challenging. Doctors identified him as autistic, though few people around him truly understood what that meant. Instead, they simply referred to him as "special," often without appreciating the unique way he experiences the world.

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Life in Greightown is not always easy for Kope. While he is capable of walking, Boris often pushes him around town in a custom-built skate kart—a skateboard welded to a metal frame and attached to a pushchair. The contraption allows Kope to stay close to his brother and provides comfort in busy or overwhelming situations.

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Unfortunately, the townsfolk, especially the local children, frequently mock both Kope and Boris when they see them together. Yet despite the ridicule, Boris never leaves his brother’s side. Their bond is unshakable, forged through years of adversity and mutual trust. To Kope, Boris is a hero; to Boris, protecting Kope is simply what family means.

Zak

Zak is the resident hippy who owns the only video rental store in the town. He's a jovial and peace loving young man with an insatiable thirst for music and movies.

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Zak has faced tough times, losing his older brother who died at war. But he has the love of his girlfriend Lolo, who is definitely the right match for him.

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Zak likes to believe that aliens will at some point come down from space and take away the world leaders. He is a ferocious advocate for the saving of the rainforest and dreams of going there to fight the good cause.

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Zak arrived in Greightown after he tossed a coin  to either start a video store in a random town picked out on a map or join an organisation called the ‘Rat bandits’ who brake into science laboratories to save rats and other animals from being tested upon.

Marta

A former beauty queen in her younger years, Marta grew up on a farm with her parents and her sister Hagne. Marta was always protected by Hagne who was a bodyguard for her sister when boys would harass her.

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Being so attractive didn’t benefit Marta as much as people may have thought. She was often overlooked for serious parts in acting, especially in her early career. She took novelty parts which often meant she was ridiculed when walking around the town she grew up near. This made her want to stay on the farm, where she bonded with her sister even more.

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Her parents asked her to promise them to always look after her socially awkward sister, Hagne, no matter what. When Jorge, the son of the butcher came to the farm to buy some animals, it was love at first sight. Although physically opposite, they bonded over humour, shared interests and wanting everyone around them to be safe and happy.  

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When Marta’s parents had died, her and Hagne felt the desire to carry on farming wain. Jorge had done his military service and was ready to move to the city. All three of them went to the city and Jorge bought a butcher’s shop. But Hagne couldn’t stand the sight of blood so it was decided the two sisters would run a separate business. The two sisters decided upon a pet and pet supplies store. Mayor Greighton offered the sisters a free store as an incentive to move to Greightown. Jorge was against the move.

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Marta spends most of her time at the pet and diy store on Shop Street, charming customers and making sure her shop is always tidy. She never lets Jorge in the shop or the apartment above it unless he had washed in the yard after he had been fishing, no matter how cold it was.

Jorge

The husband of Marta and brother-in-law of Hagne, Jorge is a quiet man who’s passion for fishing takes up most of his life. Jorge grew up a a butcher’s son and learnt the trade as a young boy, becoming an expert of his craft. He was successful in his work but not so much in his love life. He had many failed relationships, often due to the fact that he was covered in blood or hadn’t washed “bits” from his hair before he went on a date with a girl.

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His fortune change one day, when he went to Marta’s farm, in place of his father who was ill. She saw his kind eyes and he saw her beauty, it was love at first sight, they married and have been inseparable ever since. They have also been inseparable from Marta’s sister, Hagne. But Jorge has always shown compassion to his sister in law and realised early that the two sisters, in some form, came as a package deal.

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When he isn’t going to the city to buy supplies for their DIY and pet supplies store, Jorge is found fishing at lakes and rivers, depending on his mood. He often takes a small bottle of Ouzo with him and a picnic. He like to sleep by the lake, between catching fish which often startles him to wake, if it’s a big one.

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He is a lot quieter than he used to be, the Mayor of Greighton head hunted Jorge to be his and the factory kitchen’s butcher. Their relationship was good, until Jorge was asked to butcher a dead body for the Mayor. He wasn’t asked directly by Mayor Greighton, but he was given the ultimatum, do the job or lose the job.

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Jorge chose to lose the job and began working in his wife’s shop, he began having nightmares of cutting up dead bodies and feeding them to the factory workers, dreams that might have been a reflection of his reality.