Eli is a 13-year-old middle school student who lives a comfortable and rule-abiding life in the crime-free town of Serenity. As the son of the town's mayor and principal, he generally trusts the adults around him and values the community's core tenets of honesty, harmony, and contentment. His perspective begins to shift when a sudden illness and a secret message prompt him to question the perfection of his hometown.

Malik is an athletic 13-year-old student and the star of the school's water polo team. Unlike his peers, he is scornful of Serenity's idyllic atmosphere and actively cultivates a rebellious, slacker persona. He frequently challenges authority and uses his physical size to intimidate others, though he secretly harbors a protective streak for those smaller than him.

Tori is an observant 12-year-old who aspires to be an artist. She maintains a studio in her family's attic and prides herself on noticing visual details that others miss. She shares a genuinely warm bond with her parents, which makes her uniquely hesitant to disrupt her comfortable life in Serenity.

Amber is an organized, high-achieving 13-year-old who fully embraces the peaceful lifestyle of Serenity. As the only dance student in town and the daughter of the local schoolteacher, she feels a strong obligation to set a positive example for her peers. She relies on lists and strict schedules to maintain a sense of control over her environment.

Hector is a small, optimistic 13-year-old who struggles to find his place among his peers in Serenity. He lives with parents who are unusually distant, leaving him to seek validation and friendship elsewhere. He compensates for his physical size with persistence, refusing to be excluded from the activities of his older, larger classmates.

Felix is the mayor of Serenity and the principal of the local school. He projects a strict but caring demeanor toward his son, Eli, and works diligently to maintain the town's peaceful, crime-free environment. His dual leadership roles give him immense influence over the daily lives of the town's citizens.

Randy is Eli's best friend and the town's resident prankster. His adventurous nature and disregard for Serenity's strict rules frequently lead him into trouble. When a stunt goes wrong, he is abruptly sent away to live outside the community, leaving behind clues for his friends.

Mrs. Delaney is a newcomer to Serenity who relocated to the isolated town after marrying a local security officer. She serves as the school's water polo coach and offers a sympathetic ear to her students. She maintains a careful distance from the town's internal politics and avoids asking too many questions about the community's oddities.

Tamara Dunleavy is a wealthy tech billionaire residing on a sprawling ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. She has a history of funding ambitious scientific research but is known to withdraw her support when projects cross her ethical boundaries.

Dr. Bruder is the primary physician in Serenity and Malik's father. He manages the health of the town's residents and administers treatments with a clinical, detached efficiency.

Mrs. Bruder is Malik's mother and a local ballet teacher in Serenity. She fully supports the town's artistic and cultural endeavors, much to her son's annoyance.

Steve Pritel lives in Serenity and is Tori's father. Unlike many adults in the community, he forms a genuine emotional attachment to his family and struggles when town rules conflict with his personal feelings.

Mrs. Pritel is Tori's mother. She works within the community and helps uphold the standards set for the town's youth.

Mrs. Amani is a manager at the Plastics Works factory and Hector's mother. She views her son through a detached, clinical lens, valuing him more as an asset than as a child.

Mr. Amani is the town's repair person and Hector's father. While he occasionally displays protective instincts, he generally maintains a considerable emotional distance from his son.

Mrs. Laska is Serenity's schoolteacher. She reinforces the town's core values in her classroom and places high expectations on her daughter to serve as a model citizen.

Mr. Laska is Amber's father. He completely supports the sheltered, incident-free lifestyle that Serenity promotes and reacts poorly to outside influences.

Mr. Delaney is a member of the Surety, the indigo-uniformed local security police. His career keeps his activities largely classified, even from his own family.