Hero/Narrator: Luka Kane. 16 years old. Imprisoned in the Loop when he took the blame when his sister shoved a man (who was about to kill her off the roof)
Luka’s friends: Kina (love interest), Igby, Pander, Malachi (recently resuced from the Arc, blinded as a result), Wren (former Loop guard, still recovering from Block torture), Sam (who just gave birth), Molly (his sister), Maddox (former Loop inmate, now controlled by Happy)
Other characters:
Happy (the AI system that is taking over the world, using humans as living batteries; the harvesting process is terrifying, and that fear provides the power)
Galen Rye: World Leader, totally supports Happy’s plan
Tyco Roth: Luka’s nemesis, blames Luka for death of his brother; now controlled by Happy)
Dr Ortega/Dr Soto: was somehow behind some of the systems at the Loop, also developed part of the system used to keep the Missing “alive”
The Missing: scores of people who have somehow managed to disappear. They “live” in cylinders that make them technically dead, but easily revivable. They have spent most of their time in a virtual world called Purgatory, but Luka, Molly and Malachai tried to convince them that it was a prison, and they should come back to the world and fight.
At the start of the book, Luka, Kina and Wren are freed from the Block by their friends. The friends have been hiding out, staying hidden with the help of Igby and his jury-rigged computer system. They determine that the need the Missing to form an army. Luka is also determined to find his friends Woods and Malachai who are being kept in the Arc as preparation for being turned into Happy-controlled “zombies.” He frees Malachai, but has to tear out his eyes so Happy can’t gain control; Woods kills himself. Then, Luka and Malachai discover the Missingm along with Molly, being held in Purgatory with its creator Dr Price. After spending some time there, they escape and free the others, if they wish.
When they return to the group, Sam is in labor and their hideout is being flooded by a rainstorm directed by Happy. Tyco Roth appears, as ever intent on killing Luka. Luka makes a deal that he will go with Tyco if Happy will spare his friends, who are all in the panic room. Happy agrees, the friends escape, except for Pod who sacrificed himself so they could get out of the panic room. Luka goes with Tyco.
Luka makes another deal with Happy that if Happy will allow the friends to live safely and grow old in the Arc, that Luka will make a public statement supporting Happy’s plans. Instead, he broadcasts a recording of Galen/Happy saying what their plans are for the human race (to use them as eternal batteries). Luka is executed.