Shorty
Shorty is the central character in the novel. Shorty is a teenage boy who wakes up one day and finds himself trapped in the hospital rubbles after the 2010 earthquake. From Shorty's memories, readers learn that Shorty is a criminal gang member who terrorizes the city residents. The last thing Shorty remembers is that he was shot previously by the police and was taken to the hospital.
Shorty is under the rubble, and what he can see is darkness. Shorty realizes many others are trapped in the hospital rubble, and most are dead because of the bad smell. Shorty grew up in the Site Soley slums on the outskirts of Porte-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti. Shorty got involved in crime because of poverty and the influence of bad company.
Toussaint L'Ouverture
Toussaint is a courageous, fearless and dedicated leader who freed his people from slavery in the last two centuries. Readers learn more about Toussaint from Shorty's reflections on his connection with the spirit of this heroic character. Toussaint led his people in a revolution against the colonizers until Haiti became a republic. However, it was difficult for Toussaint to lead Saint-Dominique into independence because he had to endure suffering and torture. For instance, Toussaint was imprisoned in France, but that did not kill his fighting spirit and the desire to free his people from slavery.
Manman
Manman is the mother of Shorty and Marguerita, an ardent believer of the Voodoo culture because she rarely misses houngan practices and rituals. Manman involves her children in the voodoo beliefs from an early age. Manman is a poor woman living in the slums but determined to give her children the best. Manman knows her children are involved in criminal gangs, foreshadowing their bloody deaths
Biggie
Biggie is a 20-year-old smart, ruthless and cold-blooded gangster who takes over the leadership of the Route 9 criminal gang after the police gun down Dread. Biggie becomes the new leader in the illegal sale of drugs, muggings and killing of people who do not cooperate when he engages in robberies. Biggie teaches Shorty how to use guns and kill people using single shorts without missing targets. The interesting thing about Biggie is that he is cooperative. Biggie asks his victims to cooperate and only kills those against his orders.
Stephanie
Stephanie is a United Nations worker in Haiti and Biggie's baby mama. Stephanie knows Biggie is a gangster, but she loves him and often sees him in his hideouts. Stephanie shows readers the two divides in Haiti in her maneuvers. For instance, when Stephanie is in the U.N. offices, readers see a civilized society and development. The contrary happens when she visits Biggie in the Site Soley slums on the outskirts of Porte-au-Prince.
Dread Wilme
Dread is Route 9's gang leader. The author portrays Dread as cruel and harsh because he kills his enemies without a second thought. Dread even kills his fellow gang members whenever they go against his will. However, Dread is not bad because he pays for Shorty's education and saves the lives of the small kids he comes across in the slums. Dread does not entertain other criminals who kill people senselessly. Dread only thrives in selling drugs but not engaging in violent robberies. Since Dread pays school fees for Shorty and his siblings, Manman has no problem with her kids working for him in selling illegal drugs.
Marguerita
Marguerita is Shorty's twin sister. Marguerita is a beautiful, bright, conscientious and focused girl who believes she can make a difference through education. Everyone in the slum loves Marguerita because she shines in everything she does. Unfortunately, Marguerita dies young because of her involvement in criminal gangs.
