Jess is a 31-year-old aspiring actress working the graveyard shift at a Los Angeles diner. She struggles with severe anxiety and abandonment issues following the recent death of her father. Her life turns upside down when she encounters a runaway child and his terrifying pursuer. Despite facing a potential medical emergency after pricking her finger on a discarded syringe, she decides to protect the young boy.

A young boy fleeing an isolated, highly controlled life with his father. He lacks basic knowledge of modern society, having never seen a television or been permitted to read fiction before his escape. He possesses highly dangerous, reality-altering abilities that activate during moments of intense emotion, particularly fear.

A former military sergeant who participated in a secret combat enhancement initiative called Project Albatross. He lives off the grid as a fugitive, exerting strict control over his son to suppress the boy's unusual abilities. He pursues his runaway child relentlessly across the country, transforming into terrifying animalistic creatures along the way.

Jess's wealthy mother who resides at the Sky Blue Senior Freedom Residences in Scottsdale, Arizona. She frequently argues with Jess over the phone but serves as her primary source of support and stability. She harbors painful secrets regarding her deceased ex-husband in an attempt to protect her daughter.

A special agent for Department 925, a classified division of the FBI. He receives orders to track down Peter Calvert Jr. and return him to military custody. He operates entirely alone, feeling intense pressure to prove his value to his superiors while experiencing strange, hazy memories and physical sensations.

Jess's estranged father, whose recent death leaves her with unresolved grief. He abandoned his family when Jess was young, retreating to a secluded cabin in Pennsylvania to live out his days. His memory functions as a constant, critical internal voice in Jess's mind.

An older waitress who works alongside Jess at Poppy's diner in Los Angeles. She provides practical advice to her younger coworker and offers her home as a temporary refuge when Jess faces sudden, severe danger.

The director of Department 925, a secret division of the FBI. He possesses classified information regarding military experiments and dispatches Agent Santos on a dangerous retrieval mission.

Tommy's cousin, who helps maintain a family cabin in Pennsylvania. He recalls Jess from her childhood visits and offers her a quiet place to stay.

Jess's roommate in Los Angeles. She is highly practical and keeps a firearm in her bedroom for self-defense, stepping up to investigate when danger arrives at their home.

Mickey Santos's mother, who lives in Nevada and experiences severe emotional distress tied to her son's complicated existence.