Marcus Downes

"*Yeah. One like that. Where we can take a walk, live our lives together happily and go to sleep that night knowing tomorrow will be the same. I have a lot of sleepless nights now, often just wondering what could be in store for us in the morning. And I just want to wake up knowing I'll be next to you, and we won't have to worry about all of the stresses out here.*"
—Marcus to Kate Bloodstone[src]

Marcus Downes is a main character and a survivor of the outbreak in Route to Paradise. A former detective, he's a skilled tracker and someone who's experienced with guns. He's a man who puts others before himself, and who isn't afraid to put his life on the line for things he believes is the right thing to do. At the start of the outbreak, Marcus was at the hospital after his detective partner was shot in the line of duty. When chaos breaks out, and his partner is killed, Marcus groups up with Fraser Stiller, Zac Barnes and Aldus Paxton. A few days into the apocalypse, Marcus' team is attacked by another hostile group, and they have important medical supplies stolen from them. Working alongside fellow survivors Albert Hanson and Robert Morgan, they're able to retrieve the supplies back. Marcus agrees to go with Albert and Robert to their base, but upon being separated, Marcus never makes it there.

Two weeks pass, until Marcus, Fraser, Zac and Aldus encounter Albert and his fellow group members, who take them to Willamette Parkview Mall, their home. It doesn't take long for Marcus to acquaint himself with the group, quickly becoming a trusted and respected member. During the war in Willamette, Marcus often remains at the mall, keeping the place defended and trying to keep Fraser and Zac under control. In the time he spends at the mall, he also meets and grows to like Kate Bloodstone. Later on during the peak of the war, Marcus joins his group as they launch an attack against The Rastas. After the failed attack, The Rastas counterattack the mall, destroying it and forcing the group to flee into the woods.

As a harsh winter sets in, the group would settle into a hardware store for shelter. Damerae Badrick and the Rastas would soon discover where they are, and attack them once more, managing to capture three of them. In an effort to rescue their friends, Marcus, Kate and Aldus track the Rastas down from place to place, unable to catch them, and unable to rescue their friends. Having given up, they eventually travel to Willamette High School where the rest of their group is. During the short time he spends at the school, Marcus confesses his feelings to Kate, and the two of them start dating.

After the school is destroyed, Marcus, Kate, Fraser and Zac would end up being captured by Nathaniel Shepard and brought to a football stadium. They're locked up in a cell, without knowing the status of their other group members. A few days go by, until they are finally freed from their cell by Daniel Rockwell, who informs them about an incoming attack from the Rastas. In the battle that ensues, Fraser and Zac are killed, which shatters Marcus. He shuts himself down, isolating himself from everyone else, struggling to cope with their deaths until Aldus has a conversation with him, helping him to move on.

After numerous weeks of travel, Marcus and his group finally stop at a motel in Kansas, creating a temporary home out of it. While here, another small group of hungry, injured survivors show up, begging for help, but are forcefully turned away by William Reynes. Marcus, Kate and a few others disagree with William's actions, and secretly agree to go after the injured survivors. However, their mission to save them goes horribly wrong, leading to the deaths of Aidan Eldridge and everyone else apart of his group. Marcus and the others are nearly killed themselves, but miraculously they all manage to escape the zombie infested city.

They return to the motel, only to lose it to a horde of zombies just minutes later. In the days that follow, William asserts his leadership, while Daniel continuously berates Kate specifically for their foolish idea to try and save Aidan's group. This ends in Marcus fighting with Daniel, and later on Daniel would finally apologize to Kate.

Later, Marcus travels with his group to the community of Worthwood.