Alex is a 16-year-old Black teenager living on Chicago's West Side who assumes immense personal and financial responsibility following the sudden death of his parents. He possesses a psychic ability that triggers visions of the future whenever his bare hands touch a person or object. The constant influx of these visions causes him severe physical and psychological anxiety, prompting him to wear heavy-duty gloves when possible. He works diligently to provide for the people he cares about but routinely isolates himself emotionally to hide his struggles.

Isaiah is Alex's 12-year-old brother, a boy who copes with depression and isolation following the loss of their parents. He harbors his own psychic ability to see visions of the past and witness the deep regrets of the people around him. To escape his overwhelming environment, he spends his time writing lyrics, making beats on his phone, and dreaming of becoming a successful rapper under the name Izzy.

Known to her nephews as Aunt Mackie, she is a highly successful Chicago real estate agent whose face appears on local advertisements across the city. She took custody of Alex and Isaiah after her sister's death, moving them into the affluent, gated community of Santiam Estates. She maintains an impeccably professional, composed exterior to shield her nephews from her own personal grief and the systemic discrimination she faces.

Talia is Alex's cheerful girlfriend, easily recognizable by her electric blue dyed hair and bright disposition. She lives with her single mother and faces ongoing financial instability following the tragic loss of her brother, Shaun. She genuinely cares for Alex and desires a long-term future with him, but she grows increasingly frustrated and insecure when he establishes sudden physical boundaries without explanation.

Mrs. Zaccari is a white resident of the affluent Santiam Estates who frequently interacts with the Rufus family. She presents herself as a concerned community member aiming to protect the neighborhood, but she routinely voices prejudiced assumptions about hip-hop fans and young Black men. Her behavior forces her neighbors, particularly Alex, into the uncomfortable position of placating her fragile feelings.

Mr. Zaccari is Karen's husband and a former police officer residing in Santiam Estates. He maintains an intense focus on securing their gated community and patrols the neighborhood to monitor any individuals he deems suspicious, applying his law enforcement background to his civilian life.

Eli is the teenage son of Karen and Brian Zaccari. He navigates the same social spaces and attends the same local events as the Rufus brothers, though his behavior often starkly contrasts with the pristine, law-abiding image his mother projects about their family.

Shaun was Talia's brother and Alex's best friend. He died in a fatal car crash three years prior to the events of the story. His memory casts a long shadow over the surviving characters, deeply influencing their present-day decisions, fears, and relationships.

Mrs. Gomez is the single mother of Talia and Shaun. Following the tragic loss of her son, she relies on disability checks to support her household and struggles consistently to pay her rent, leaning on external support to keep her family housed.

Scoop is the demanding owner of Scoop's ice cream shop and Alex's employer. He expects total reliability from his staff and frequently places Alex in challenging situations by moving him to the busy front counter, unaware of the severe anxiety the constant physical interactions cause the teenager.

King Takaa was an ancestor of the Rufus family who ruled the Unguzi tribe in West Cameroon four hundred years ago. According to family history, he asked a water spirit for the ability to live without fear and to know the unknowable, inadvertently cursing his descendants with psychic visions.

Also known as the Black Dragon, Shiv Skeptic is a highly successful rapper whose upcoming concert stirs controversy among the conservative residents of Santiam Estates. His music tackles serious social issues and provides a deep source of comfort and connection for both Alex and Isaiah.

Cobra is a bandmate of Shiv Skeptic who actively participates in the rapper's live shows. He helps manage the energy of the crowd and interacts directly with the audience during performances.

Nyein is a 20-year-old violin virtuoso. Her classical music is praised by residents of Santiam Estates, who weaponize her success to make biased, disparaging comparisons against hip-hop artists, completely unaware of her actual musical affiliations.

Ena is a redheaded woman who owns a local consignment shop. She frequently attempts to offer Alex employment opportunities, often using language that inadvertently highlights her own societal biases through microaggressions.

Mabel is Ena's seven-year-old daughter. She visits Scoop's ice cream shop alongside her mother during standard neighborhood errands.

Galen is a barber working in East Garfield Park, the South Side neighborhood where the Rufus family originally lived before moving to Santiam Estates. He offers a trusted, listening ear to young men in his community.