In the Fire

A New York-born alienist who travels to rural Colombia to help Martin. She challenges local beliefs with a scientific perspective, advocating that Martin's abilities may have a neurological basis rather than a supernatural one. She becomes a compassionate mediator between the boy, his father, and the village.

The son of Nicolas, a boy with unexplainable abilities who is kept away from the village and then drawn into the center of its fear. He reveals a traumatic past and shows moments of power, such as controlling fire, which escalates the village's paranoia. He is both a target and a catalyst for the conflict.

A ranch owner torn between protecting his son and placating the fearful village. He refuses to exile Martin and tries to shield his family, even as violence closes in. He sacrifices and fights for the boy and Burnham, ultimately succumbing to his injuries.

A local priest who tries to reason with the mob and support Burnham and Martin. He represents a more tolerant, compassionate approach but is drawn into the conflict and is fatally wounded during the mob's attack.

An antagonistic priest who inflames fear of the Antichrist and pushes for an exorcism. He commands the mob and directly contributes to the village's violence, opposing Burnham's rational approach. He is killed when his gun backfires amid the confrontation.

Martin's mother, whose death and burial are central to the village's grief and the backstory. The decision to bury or revisit her grave underpins the emotional landscape the characters navigate.

A local ranch hand who participates in the mob's violence against Burnham and Martin. He embodies the village's hostility toward the unknown and serves as a catalyst for the escalating conflict.

A ranch worker who informs Nicolas of the spread of disease among the animals and the village, contributing to the growing sense of danger and fear surrounding Martin.