Jess is a curious, mild-mannered nine-year-old boy living in Marshall, North Carolina. He deeply loves and protects his older brother, Stump, treating him as an equal despite Stump's disability. Jess's innocent observations of adult actions pull him into a confusing and dangerous adult world that he struggles to understand.

Stump is Jess's thirteen-year-old brother. He has an undiagnosed disability from birth that prevents him from speaking, though he communicates his interests and feelings through a quiet box filled with small treasures. He is deeply loved by his family, who seek to protect and care for him in their own ways.

Adelaide is an elderly, independent Sunday school teacher and a respected elder in Marshall. Acting as a self-taught midwife and healer, she relies on natural remedies and her deep-rooted faith. Her deep suspicion of the new charismatic church drives her to protect the community's children by moving her classes out of the sanctuary.

Clem is the county sheriff of Marshall, marked by a no-nonsense but careful approach to his job. He carries the heavy, quiet grief of losing his own son, Jeff, in a workplace accident years earlier. His dedication to justice drives him to thoroughly investigate the local charismatic church and its secretive leader.

Carson Chambliss is the secretive pastor of a charismatic church in Marshall. Bearing severe burn scars from a mysterious past, he commands absolute authority over his congregation, utilizing venomous snakes in his services. He thrives on reverence and uses his position to manipulate vulnerable townspeople.

Julie is the mother of Jess and Stump and the wife of Ben. She is deeply religious and increasingly desperate to find a cure for her eldest son's inability to speak. Her vulnerability leads her to place intense faith in the local charismatic church, drawing her into a dangerous web of secrets that creates tension within her family.

Ben is the father of Jess and Stump and the husband of Julie. Having distanced himself from his own father to break a cycle of trauma and alcohol use, he is a fiercely protective parent who treats his nonverbal son with profound respect. His distress and growing suspicion regarding the church's practices push him toward intense anger.

Jimmy is Ben's estranged father and Jess and Stump's grandfather. He is a tobacco farmer whose history of alcohol abuse and negligence cost him his relationship with his son and caused tragedy in the community. Despite his rough exterior and past mistakes, he cautiously attempts to provide support to his grandson.

Joe Bill is an eleven-year-old boy in Marshall and Jess's close friend. He is adventurous and bolder than Jess, often encouraging him to break the rules. He tries to rationalize the frightening adult behaviors they witness to comfort his younger friend.

Jeff is Clem Barefield's deceased son who worked as a linesman. His accidental death on the job left a lasting void in his father's life and created a permanent rift between the Barefield and Hall families.

Molly was a seventy-nine-year-old parishioner. Her death following a snakebite during a service served as the reason for Adelaide Lyle's departure from the congregation.

Mr. Thompson is a member of Carson Chambliss's charismatic congregation. He actively participates in the physical and intense rituals of the church, helping to orchestrate the services that frighten outsiders.

Scooter is Joe Bill's older brother. He is a typical older sibling who asserts his dominance by ordering the younger boys around and intimidating them with his BB gun on the makeshift basketball court.

Mr. Stuckey is a member of the local charismatic church. He acts on behalf of the congregation during moments of crisis, serving as a silent chauffeur who refuses to answer Jess's questions about the night's events.