Mark is a 15-year-old survivor of devastating solar flares living in western North Carolina. He carries the trauma of losing his family and life before the disaster but channels this grief into protecting his newfound community. Resourceful and brave, he steps up quickly when a mysterious airship attacks their home.

Alec is a gruff veteran pilot and former employee of the Department of Defense. He uses his tactical training and combat skills to lead a small group of teenage survivors through a lawless world. Despite his tough exterior, he acts as a father figure to the younger members of the settlement.

Trina is Mark's intelligent, book-loving neighbor and close friend from before the solar flares hit. She serves as a grounding presence and a source of emotional comfort for Mark. She faces the harsh conditions of their post-disaster world with honesty and resilience.

Lana is a tough former US Army nurse and Alec's old coworker. She acts as a maternal figure for the younger survivors, utilizing her medical background to assess threats and injuries. She provides an empathetic counterbalance to Alec's military pragmatism.

Deedee is a young girl, about five years old, abandoned by her village after a targeted attack. She appears completely unaffected by the contagion spreading through the settlements, making her unique among the survivors. She is quiet, observant, and cautious around strangers.

Thomas is a teenage boy involved in a massive experiment orchestrated by the World in Catastrophe: Killzone Experiment Department (WICKED). His memories are blocked before he is sent into an isolated enclosure to help find a cure for a global virus.

Theresa is Thomas's best friend since early childhood and a participant in the WICKED experiments. She holds onto the belief that their sacrifices and memory wipes will eventually lead to a cure for the virus devastating the planet.

Darnell is a lighthearted friend of Mark and Trina. He brings a sense of humor and levity to the group until an unexpected attack on the settlement severely alters his physical and mental state.

Toad is a teenage survivor in Mark's settlement. He is fiercely loyal to his companion Misty and insists on staying by her side when she begins to show symptoms of a mysterious illness.

Misty is a friend of Mark and Trina in the settlement. When she falls ill following the attack, she selflessly asks to be isolated from the rest of the group to protect them from whatever is spreading.

Jedidiah is a heavily scarred man missing his ears who acts as a leader for a group of infected villagers. He views the spreading sickness not as a medical emergency, but as a demonic plague, fueling panic within his community.

Anton is a worker employed by the PFC. He is deeply conflicted about the unethical orders his organization has carried out and provides crucial information about the true nature of the virus to Mark and Alec.

Bruce is an unstable leader within the underground base. He incites a mob of sick workers to turn against the organization's higher-ups in Asheville, contributing heavily to the escalating chaos in the facility.

Baxter is a younger boy who travels with Mark and Alec's group through the transit tunnels during the catastrophic flooding. He relies heavily on the older survivors for protection during the disaster.

Madison is Mark's little sister from before the world collapsed. Memories of her motivate Mark to survive and drive his protective instincts toward other young children he encounters.

Ricky is Deedee's older brother. He departs with the rest of their infected villagers, leaving his seemingly healthy younger sister behind in the abandoned settlement.

Rat Man is a WICKED scientist involved with the Glade experiments. He interacts with Thomas and the other survivors, attempting to guide them through the subsequent phases of their trials.

Newt is one of Thomas's loyal friends in the Glader group. He struggles with the long-term effects of the Flare virus after escaping the initial experiment.

Brenda is a survivor who journeys with Thomas through a dangerous wasteland known as the Scorch. She forms a close bond with him as they travel through the desolate environment.

Jorge is a survivor who assists Thomas and Brenda during their chaotic escape efforts. He provides backup in combat situations against the infected.