Naomi is a Seattle-based wedding photographer who survived a brutal stabbing in the woods of Chester when she was eleven years old. She bears significant physical scars from surviving seventeen stab wounds, leading her to develop a tough exterior. Her traumatic past creates distance between her and others, fueling a strained relationship with her neglectful father and causing friction with her boyfriend Mitch.

Cass is the capable, put-together manager of a successful local lodge in Chester, where she lives with her adolescent daughter. Coming from the town's wealthy mayoral family, she possesses a commanding presence and an assertive personality. She acts as the primary decision-maker among her childhood friends, projecting flawless confidence while advocating for keeping their childhood secrets buried.

Liv is a sensitive, artistic woman who still lives in her childhood home with her parents, Marcus and Kimiko. She has experienced mental illness and emotional fragility since she was young, often struggling to separate fantasy from reality. Despite her delicate nature, she possesses a strong sense of ethics and pushes to finally reveal the truth about the skeleton in the woods.

Ethan is a true crime podcast producer and researcher visiting Chester to investigate a series of murders in the Pacific Northwest. He displays a knowledgeable, patient demeanor and treats the victims of the crimes he studies with respect. His investigation into the inconsistencies surrounding decades-old attacks draws him into a reluctant working alliance with Naomi.

Cody is a married father working in politics who grew up in Chester alongside Naomi and her friends. Decades earlier, he was the young man who found a severely injured Naomi in the woods and carried her to safety. He maintains a reliable, upstanding reputation and serves as a comforting, protective presence from Naomi's past.

Oscar is Cass's older brother, a man who grew up with the wealth and entitlement associated with the town's mayoral family. He has a history of inappropriate, aggressive behavior, frequently taunting and objectifying Naomi during her youth. His continued presence in Chester serves as an uncomfortable reminder of the power dynamics and abuses Naomi faced growing up.

Stahl is a convicted serial killer who targeted women in the Pacific Northwest over a five-year period. He was identified by Naomi, Cass, and Liv as the man who attacked Naomi in the woods when they were eleven. His sudden death in prison prompts a reevaluation of the events surrounding the attack and the missing gaps in his violent timeline.

Jessi is a young woman who worked as a waitress at a local diner in Chester before vanishing abruptly. She arrived in town with little background information and left just as suddenly, approximately two years before Naomi was attacked. Her disappearance becomes a focal point for Naomi and Ethan's investigation.

Mitch is Naomi's boyfriend in Seattle who struggles to understand her deep-rooted trauma. He holds judgmental views about her profession as a wedding photographer, believing she should channel her survival story into more serious art. His lack of tact frequently causes friction in their relationship.

Amanda is Cass's adolescent daughter. She lives with her mother in their immaculate home in Chester, representing the stable, successful life Cass has built and fiercely protects.

Marcus is Liv's father, a resident of Chester whose family was historically unpopular due to their political beliefs regarding environmentalism. He is deeply devoted to his daughter, carefully managing her delicate mental health and fiercely protecting her interests over the decades.

Kimiko is Liv's mother, sharing her husband's devotion to their fragile daughter. She watches over Liv with a practiced, anxious care, accustomed to her daughter's erratic behavior and woodland wanderings.

Jim Green is the patriarch of the wealthy Green family and the former mayor of Chester. He wields significant social and financial power within the small community, operating with an entitled expectation that his family's status shields them from consequences.

Naomi's father is a lifelong resident of Chester who struggles with alcohol use disorder. He maintains a derelict home and has a highly strained, resentful relationship with his daughter, frequently minimizing the lasting impact of her childhood trauma.

Bishop is a local police officer tasked with untangling the events occurring in Chester's woods. She approaches the residents with professional skepticism and asks difficult questions when timelines fail to align.