Ella is a therapist who survived the horrific Blockbuster Video murders fifteen years ago in Linden, New Jersey. She uses her firsthand knowledge of trauma to help her patients but struggles with her own demons, including a reliance on Xanax and a compulsion to cheat on her fiancé. She carries deep survivor's guilt while trying to maintain a functional public life.

Chris is a public defender representing clients with drug charges in Union County. Born Chris Whitaker, he changed his last name after being adopted to distance himself from his older brother, Vince, who is the prime suspect in the Blockbuster murders. He battles apathy toward his job while harboring a desperate hope that his missing brother is still alive.

Sarah is an FBI Junior Agent who is eight months pregnant with twins. She is professional, highly competent, and fully dedicated to her law enforcement career. Brought in to officially rule out the suspect from the fifteen-year-old Blockbuster cold case, she works methodically alongside local authorities to find connections between the two crimes.

Jesse is a high school junior living in the foster care system. She is the sole survivor of the recent mass murder at the Dairy Creamery. Cynical, distrusting, and resilient, she presents a tough exterior to hide the extreme vulnerability caused by her difficult childhood and the recent violent attack.

Dale is the principal of Union High School and a widely respected community figure. He previously taught at the school fifteen years ago and has maintained a supportive presence in Ella's life since the Blockbuster tragedy. He acts as a comforting authority figure for both his students and their parents.

Atticus is a rookie detective with a sharp, analytical mind. He serves as the local precinct's resident expert on the Blockbuster murders, having studied the old case files meticulously. He is eager to prove himself and hopes to eventually join the FBI.

Vince is Chris's older brother and the prime suspect in the mass murder from fifteen years ago. He disappeared after being released from jail on a technicality and has been a fugitive ever since. His alleged crimes cast a long shadow over his brother's life and the entire town of Linden.

Rusty is the deeply abusive father of Chris and Vince. He is an unscrupulous man involved in illegal activities, including a counterfeit cigarette ring. He displays a callous attitude toward his missing older son and the physical and emotional damage he inflicted upon his family.

Mary is the mother of Chris and Vince. According to the story Chris was told as a child, she abandoned the family to escape her husband's violence, leaving her sons behind to face his abuse alone.

Bob is Sarah Keller's husband of five years. He is supportive of her demanding career but naturally worries about her safety as she works field cases while heavily pregnant.

Clare is a successful lawyer at a prestigious Manhattan firm. She dates Chris, who often feels out of place among her wealthy corporate colleagues and doubts his own worthiness in their relationship.

Joe is the lead detective on the recent Creamery murders. He coordinates with the FBI to investigate the new slayings while managing the local police response.

Katie is one of the four teenage victims of the Blockbuster Video murders from fifteen years ago. She came from a highly religious family and was known for being a reliable employee alongside Ella.

Chad is a former English teacher and newspaper advisor at Jesse's previous high school. He was fired following an undisclosed scandal and now runs a landscaping company.

Mr. Nirvana is an anonymous travel vlogger who travels the world posting videos of his adventures. Chris obsessively watches his content, holding onto a desperate theory regarding the vlogger's true identity.

Phyllis is Ella's wealthy mother. She struggles to discuss difficult emotions and largely avoided talking about the Blockbuster tragedy after it occurred, creating a lingering distance between her and her daughter.

Madison is a high school student and one of the victims of the Creamery murders. Prior to her death, she had a hostile relationship with Jesse Duvall involving malicious gossip.

Hannah is Madison's sister and another teenage victim of the mass murder at the Dairy Creamery. She attended Union High School.

Mandy was a high school senior and one of the victims of the Blockbuster massacre. She worked alongside Ella but was known for being irresponsible on the job.

Candy was a high school senior and a victim of the Blockbuster murders. She was close friends with Mandy and shared her casual attitude toward their shared employment.