Side character and surprise antagonist

Markus Bowden, 27, is a deeply paranoid conspiracy theorist whose desperation leads to his own demise. His voice is raspy and laboured, as though speaking is physically painful for him. This role requires shouting at certain points.

After contracting the same mysterious disease as Jacob, Markus is revealed to have committed horrifying acts in an attempt to cure both himself and his ailing father. When his plans fail, his desperation pushes him to target Jacob and Amahdalia in a last-ditch effort to find a solution.

Once Jacob’s childhood friend, Markus grew distant over the years, retreating into isolation and paranoia. His obsessive devotion to his father drives much of his unraveling, and the physical and emotional toll of his disease further exacerbates his instability. Markus feels betrayed by Jacob, whom he blames for abandoning him after discovering Markus had accidentally infected him while caring for his father.

Quick to anger and aggressive, particularly toward Amahdalia, Markus is a volatile figure. Yet his lingering care for Jacob reveals a conflicted man torn between his humanity and the horrifying choices he believes are necessary. This role requires a performer who can capture the layers of anger, desperation, and lingering conflict that make Markus both menacing and tragically human.