Tegan is a 23-year-old grocery store worker living in a seedy apartment complex in small-town Maine. She is almost eight months pregnant following a one-night stand and suffers from severe sciatica pain. Hoping to afford nursing school, she initially considers a massive financial settlement from the baby's wealthy father before a repressed memory causes her to flee into a blizzard. Stranded and injured after a car crash, she relies on her fierce maternal instinct to survive captivity in a stranger's basement.

Polly is a former hospital nurse living in an isolated rural cabin. She lost her job following an incident triggered by severe depression over her inability to conceive a child. When her husband brings home an injured pregnant woman from a blizzard, Polly's intense desire to become a mother takes control. She uses her medical knowledge to treat the woman's injuries while simultaneously constructing lies to keep her trapped until the baby is born.

Hank is a tall, heavily bearded auto shop owner who lives quietly in the woods with his wife. He pulls a pregnant woman from a wrecked car during a blizzard, bringing her home when the roads prove impassable. He avoids conflict at home and often defers to his wife's decisions. His desire to keep his wife happy directly opposes his growing discomfort with the secrets kept in their basement.

Dennis is a professional ski instructor living in Maine. His competitive athletic career ended abruptly after a severe car accident on icy roads shattered his leg. As the only remaining immediate family for his younger sister, he regularly checks in on her well-being. He works closely with wealthy real estate developers to fund new ski resort projects.

Simon is a wealthy, married real estate developer with two children. He wears a distinct, unusual cologne that triggers dark memories for the women he encounters. He uses his vast financial resources and legal team to force nondisclosure agreements, prioritizing his public image over ethical behavior. He views money as a tool to control others and silence accusations against him.

Jackson is an attorney employed by a wealthy real estate developer. He travels to a seedy apartment complex to secure a nondisclosure agreement from a young pregnant woman. He maintains a polite, gentle demeanor that contrasts sharply with his client's arrogance. His kindness during the negotiations creates an unexpected mutual attraction with the opposing party.

Sadie is a seven-year-old girl living in an isolated cabin near the Thompsons. She frequently appears unbathed and hungry due to neglect under her father's strict rules. She eagerly accepts sandwiches and cookies left on the porch by a neighbor. She is innocent and vulnerable, trapped in a harsh domestic environment.

Mitch is a heavy-drinking man who lives in an isolated cabin with his young daughter. He resents his neighbors' interference in his life, particularly when they offer food or care to his child. He becomes aggressive and territorial when intoxicated. He readily threatens women but backs down quickly when challenged by men who can match his physical size.

Mrs. Walden is an older woman living in the same run-down apartment building as the protagonist. She adheres strictly to traditional social expectations and frequently comments on the lives of other tenants. She regularly directs condescending remarks toward her young neighbor regarding her unwed pregnancy.