Malorie is a resilient woman in her twenties trying to survive a catastrophic global event where seeing an unknown entity drives people to violence. Discovering she is pregnant just as the crisis begins, she eventually takes shelter in a shared house in Riverbridge. She is fiercely protective, highly cautious, and determined to keep her children alive, relying heavily on auditory training to exist in a blindfolded world.

Tom is a former eighth-grade schoolteacher acting as the progressive leader of the Riverbridge safe house. Driven by curiosity and a desire to improve living conditions rather than merely survive, he frequently plans blindfolded excursions to scavenge supplies. He carries the grief of losing his young daughter but remains optimistic and action-oriented.

The Boy is a four-year-old child raised entirely within the confines of a protected house. Under Malorie's strict training, he has developed an acute sense of hearing to help identify approaching dangers. He is highly attuned to his environment and relies entirely on sound to move through the world.

The Girl is a four-year-old child who has never seen the outside world without a blindfold. Like her brother, she is trained by Malorie to listen exceptionally well and follow instructions without question. She possesses a highly limited perspective of the world due to her sheltered upbringing.

Don is a skeptical resident of the Riverbridge safe house who prioritizes extreme risk avoidance. He prefers to stretch existing food resources rather than risk dangerous excursions and consistently votes against admitting new survivors. His cynical worldview frequently puts him in direct opposition to Tom's progressive leadership style.

Gary is a newcomer who arrives at the Riverbridge safe house carrying a briefcase full of controversial notes. He presents a grandiose, artificial demeanor that immediately raises Malorie's suspicions. He introduces dangerous ideological theories suggesting that the creatures' effects are merely a psychological phenomenon.

Shannon is Malorie’s intelligent roommate and sister. She is quicker to believe the initial internet reports about the spreading global crisis than Malorie is. She provides practical and emotional support as Malorie discovers her pregnancy and panic begins to overtake society.

Jules is an active resident of the Riverbridge safe house who handles practical responsibilities. He helps care for the household's dogs and regularly volunteers to accompany Tom on dangerous, blindfolded supply runs into the abandoned neighborhood.

Felix is a proactive member of the safe house who focuses on security and communication. He spends his early days calling random numbers from a phone book hoping to contact other survivors and performs routine outdoor chores like fetching water from the yard's well.

Cheryl is a helpful resident of the Riverbridge safe house who actively participates in chores and household protocols. She takes a special liking to the pet birds Tom brings back, volunteering to feed them daily despite the anxiety-inducing outdoor environment.

Olympia is a pregnant woman who arrives at the safe house several months after the global crisis begins. Her husband disappeared weeks prior, leaving her to seek out a new community. She shares a deep, sympathetic bond with Malorie as they experience their parallel pregnancies in a perilous world.

Victor is Jules’s pet dog living at the safe house. He serves as a crucial layer of security for the human residents, offering early warnings by growling or barking when he senses disturbances or approaching danger outside.

Rick is a calm voice on the telephone who manages a safe settlement established at a former school for the blind. He sets up physical markers, audio recordings, and protocols to safely guide survivors down the river to his community.

Robin is Tom’s deceased daughter. She was a highly intelligent child whose curiosity was stifled when the global crisis forced her to stay indoors. Her memory continually inspires Tom's efforts to rebuild a livable world for others.

Constance is a resident of the riverside haven who assists Rick in operating the facility. She helps welcome new arrivals and guides them safely into the windowless but well-ventilated sanctuary.

George is the former owner of the safe house who gathered the initial group of survivors. He possessed a progressive mindset, which tragically led him to test theories about safely viewing the creatures through recorded video footage.