A fourteen-year-old boy from Rwotobilo who excels as a student and a regional runner. Raised to find his way by the stars and to be a "good human," his life is violently upended when he is abducted by the Lord's Resistance Army. Thrust into a brutal world, he faces a constant internal struggle between surviving horrifying conditions and maintaining his humanity. He initially endures harsh training and forced marches while desperately clinging to the moral lessons from his childhood.

A bright, determined fourteen-year-old girl from Amia'bil who dreams of becoming a nurse. She works hard in school and learns about local medicinal herbs from her parents. When she is kidnapped by LRA soldiers, she draws upon her family's love and her own inner resilience to endure the horrors of captivity. She keeps a mental list of her future aspirations to maintain hope during grueling marches and camp abuses.

The terrifying leader of the Lord's Resistance Army who wages a brutal war against the Ugandan government. He claims to be possessed by multiple spirits, using this supposed divine connection to manipulate and instill intense fear in his child soldiers. He enforces a strict, hypocritical set of commandments while living in relative luxury compared to his starving troops.

A young man from Anthony's district and his former running rival. Having been abducted by the LRA years earlier, he is heavily indoctrinated into Kony's beliefs. When Anthony arrives at the camp, Patrick serves as a harsh guide, pushing his former rival to accept the army's terrifying reality in order to survive.

A fierce, cruel tracker and enforcer for the LRA. He takes visible pleasure in punishing and executing those who attempt to desert the army. His brutal methods establish the absolute, inescapable terror of Kony's regime for the newly abducted children.

Anthony’s wise and loving father who lives in Rwotobilo. He teaches his son how to travel the wilderness and imparts vital moral lessons about remaining a good person regardless of circumstances. His teachings serve as a mental anchor for Anthony during the boy's darkest moments in captivity.

Anthony's mother. She holds a highly pragmatic view of the world, warning her son that life is often about survival rather than just happiness. Though she temporarily leaves the family during Anthony's childhood, she ultimately returns, acknowledging her husband's fundamental goodness.

Florence’s fiercely devoted mother. She famously carried her daughter three kilometers home from the hospital when the girl was gravely ill with malaria. Her profound love and physical selflessness provide Florence with immense emotional endurance during her captivity.

Florence’s father who lives in Amia'bil. He encourages his daughter's academic pursuits and takes her into the brush to teach her how to identify medicinal herbs in the wild. His guidance directly nurtures her dream of entering the medical profession.

An LRA officer who occasionally exhibits small, quiet acts of mercy toward the captives. He covertly provides Florence with clothing after a brutal beating and offers her marginal protection when possible, representing the internal conflict of soldiers forced into the insurgency.

A high-ranking LRA officer who intervenes to stop Anthony's execution after a failed escape attempt. He demands unquestioning loyalty in return, forcing Anthony to serve closely under his command and sleep at his feet during harsh weather.

An older, ruthless LRA commander who selects Florence and Palmer from the group of new captives. He views the girls strictly as property to serve his household and satisfy his desires, utilizing violence to enforce compliance.

Okaya's primary wife in the LRA camp. Hardened by her environment, she manages the daily chores and ruthlessly enforces Okaya's will upon the new, younger captives, demonstrating how victims are forced into participating in the cycle of abuse.

A teenage girl kidnapped around the same time as Florence. The two girls form a traumatic bond as they are processed into the LRA camp and forced to endure the brutal whims of the army's older commanders.

Joseph Kony’s primary, "number-one" wife. Tall and fierce, she holds significant authority in the camp and dictates the strict rules that the newly abducted girls must follow upon their arrival.

Anthony's ten-year-old brother. When LRA soldiers raid their village, they violently shove Charles to the ground, prompting Anthony to bravely offer himself in exchange to protect his younger sibling.

Anthony's younger brother, who is also abducted by the LRA during the village raids. To survive the harsh environment of the camps and avoid brutal punishment, the brothers must pretend they do not know each other.

Florence's brother, who is abducted alongside her. His struggle to endure the grueling forced march adds to Florence's intense anxiety and trauma during the early days of their captivity.

Florence's cousin, whose parents passed away, leading him to live with the Okori family. He is swept up in the same terrifying night raid that captures Florence and Owen, sharing their brutal march into the Sudan.

A young boy kidnapped alongside Anthony. His tragic inability to keep up during the grueling march serves as a horrifying initiation for the new recruits, as the soldiers force the children to participate in a traumatic loyalty test.

An older shopkeeper whom Anthony encounters during a supply run. Despite suffering an injury during an attack, he imparts crucial psychological wisdom to Anthony about managing the internal "voices" of despair, anger, and fear.