Lost Angel

A foundling raised by the Institute of Child Psychology as part of a controlled experiment to produce a genius. By age six she speaks multiple languages, plays music, and studies complex subjects, yet she yearns for the joys of a normal childhood. Her curiosity and warmth reveal both the wonders of her intellect and the fragility of her emotional needs.

A newspaper reporter assigned to cover Alpha. He starts skeptical and often irritable about the assignment, but his growing bond with Alpha reveals a sense of responsibility. He struggles with commitment and ultimately seeks to do the right thing for Alpha and Katie.

A nightclub singer and Mike's girlfriend. She treats Alpha with kindness, earns the child's trust, and serves as a moral counterpoint to Mike's initial irresponsibility. When Mike proposes, she declines, highlighting the limits of Mike's readiness to take on a family.

An escaped convict who befriends Alpha during the quarantine period. His presence catalyzes the interaction between Alpha and the outside world, and he ultimately helps pave the way for his own exoneration. His alliance with Alpha adds an unexpected warmth to the story.

One of the Institute's scientists overseeing Alpha's upbringing. He embodies the clinical mindset behind the project and the ethical debates surrounding it.

Another member of the Institute's faculty contributing to the experimental program and its philosophical discussions about child development and intelligence.