You’re definitely right and I think I’ve done an okay job so far. I’m pretty far into chapter 2 or what might be considered character 2 of a story and I think I’ve come up with an interesting way to do it. Basically, each character has their own somewhat different relationship to the main villain character and I’m telling the story of different ways they came to be taken over by the villain. Kinda built around similar themes.
So for instance, character 1 has resisted many things about the villain all throughout the narrative. Their story is all about kinda finally giving in to everything. However, with character 2, it’s more of a twisted love story where they think the villain is in love with them only to realize once it’s too late that isn’t their dynamic at all. I’m also sorta outlining character 3 and this one is more about the character’s ego and how the villain metaphorically strokes it for their own purposes. Whereas character 4 it’s a mystery they’re trying to unravel.
At least that’s how it’s kinda playing out story wise. We follow the characters at different stages and how this lead to their downfall.