Jess is a methodical man with a background working on fishing boats. He and his friend find themselves trapped in a violent regional conflict while returning from an isolated hunting trip in northern Maine. His past as an aspiring poet and his tendency to spend extensive time alone in the wilderness contributed to his recent divorce. He observes his surroundings carefully and relies on practical survival skills to stay alive.

Storey is an emotionally volatile father and husband whose primary motivation involves returning to his family in Vermont. Finding himself caught in a war zone, he acts with swift decisiveness and increasing aggression to ensure his survival. His protective instincts surface readily when he encounters vulnerable individuals, contrasting with his quickness to use lethal force against attackers.

Collie is a traumatized young girl discovered hiding inside a boat amid a combat zone. She possesses sophisticated survival capabilities and carries vital geographic coordinates sewn into the lining of her jacket. Her presence shifts the priorities of her adult companions from mere self-preservation to active guardianship.

Hannah is Storey's mother and a central figure from the protagonists' childhoods. She provided an ebullient and nurturing presence for her son's friends, offering a warm contrast to more rigid households. Her history of infidelity and impulsive relationship choices deeply affected her family and created lasting complications for those around her.

Jan is Jess's ex-wife who ended their marriage the previous year. She left him due to his infidelity and his habit of spending months alone hunting and fishing. She gave him a small prayer stone that he continues to carry in his pocket.

Lena is Storey's partner living in Vermont with their daughters. Although physically separated from the unfolding conflict in Maine, her safety serves as the primary driving force behind her partner's desperate attempts to escape the war zone.

Collie's Father is a military colonel deeply involved in the violent regional conflict spreading across Maine. He balances his authoritative position within the resistance forces with his fierce emotional devotion to his child. His military responsibilities force him to make incredibly difficult choices regarding his family's physical safety.

Carol is a math teacher and Jess's mother. She maintains a distant and cold demeanor toward her son, establishing a household dynamic entirely lacking in warmth or emotional support.

Jess's Father is an architect living in Putney. Alongside his wife, he provided a rigid and emotionally distant upbringing for his child.

Lamar Blodgett is a Maine secessionist whose extreme actions spark a massive federal military response. He assassinates the president of the United States, throwing the region into a devastating armed conflict.

Crystal is Collie's beloved pet dog. She serves as a vital emotional anchor for the young girl during the extreme violence and chaos of the civil conflict.

The Young Attacker is a 12- or 13-year-old child combatant wearing a uniform patch bearing the number 49. He participates in a coordinated assault from a lighthouse and a nearby house, representing the tragic inclusion of children in the ongoing war.

The Belligerent Old Man is an armed local resident guarding a property along a rural road. He confronts outsiders with a shotgun before fleeing into the woods on an ATV.