The City of Children

Krank is exceptionally intelligent yet deeply malevolent, a being whose power derives from draining dreams. He cannot dream himself, and that deficit ages him, twisting his mind and body over time. He wields a dream-extracting device aboard an abandoned oil rig, keeping a small army of clones and other creations as his household.

One is a carnival strongman-dominated by loyalty to the kidnapped Denrée. He gets drawn into a criminal underworld as he pursues the abductors, balancing brutal impulses with a protective streak towards the vulnerable.

Miette is a resourceful, resilient girl who survives the city’s dangers and becomes a key ally for One. She navigates both the carnival world and the Cyclops' lair with courage and imagination, often driving the plan forward.

Denrée is the adopted little brother whose kidnapping sets the chase in motion. His captivity reveals the human cost of Krank’s dream-hoarding and becomes the emotional center that motivates the protagonists.

Marcello is a circus performer hired to retrieve One; he uses wit and pragmatic tricks, including his trained fleas, to influence the rival factions and aid in the escape.

The Diver begins as a diver whose memory ties him to a scientist who created Krank and the clones. He becomes the orchestrator of the plan to topple Krank, eventually detonating the rig to save the children.

Irvin is a brain in a vat among Krank's creations. His presence links memory, science, and control, and his whispered message finally reawakens the will to confront Krank.

Martha is the dwarf clone who shares Krank's laboratory and who experiences moments of danger and loyalty within the crew. She becomes part of the fragile balance of power aboard the rig.

The Octopus is a gang of orphans led by conjoined twins who hijack a safe and chase Denrée, turning the carnival world into a shrinking maze of schemes and counter-schemes.