Martin Maple
Martin is the novel's central character, a young boy living with his father in a secluded forest away from people. Martin is curious, attentive and a lonely boy. Throughout the novel, Martin is curious to understand what is happening around him and why certain things occur. Martin keenly observes his father as he makes a strange machine, which he declines to say its purpose. One day, the father goes to look for raw materials to complete the machine but fails to return.
Out of boredom and curiosity, Martins decides to get out and look for his father's whereabouts. Martin is astonished to realize everyone has vanished. When Martin arrives in Xibalba village, he finds only strange children, with all adults missing. Since Martin is used to staying alone with his father, he finds interacting with these strange children hard. However, Martin is welcomed in the village, and he makes friends whom he requests to help him finish the strange machine his father was building. Martin's simplicity and humility are witnessed when he attends church and sits on a stool while other students sit on luxury sofas.
Martin’s father
Martin's father is a loner who detests living with people because of the atrocities he witnessed in the Vietnam War when he was a soldier. The corruption and inhumane nature convinced Martin's father to live alone with his family in the forest. Martin's father is a secretive man. The father makes a strange machine and refuses to tell the son its purpose. He never returns when he leaves the house to look for raw materials. Martin's father depicts human nature when dealing with trauma. The father decides that by living away from fellow humans, he will be at peace.
Darla
Bossy Darla is a strange kid who drives an enormous truck. Darla is friendly, welcoming and curious. Darla is among the few young people who survive the mysterious disaster that kills all adults. When Darla sees Martin for the first time, he discovers he is nervous, but he assures him of his safety.
Lane
Lane is a cynical boy who loves building mobile sculptures in Xibalba. Lane is unsure if things will ever be the same again. Martin requests Lane and others to help him complete his father's machine. Martin believers the machine might give them the answer to the previous mysterious events that resulted in the vanishing of all adults.
Nigel
Nigel is a mysterious boy with the ability to talk with animals. The inhabitants of Xibalba call Nigel a young prophet. Nigel is a social and optimistic boy who inspires Martin to pursue his dreams. Nigel also believes Martin can solve the puzzle of the mysterious disappearance of their parents after completing his father's machine.
