While there are many constant secondary characters throughout the book, none is more often present or discussed than The Voices. The Voices are the auditory hallucinations that are the result of Lori's illness. They often have an incredibly powerful effect on her, literally screaming commands and insults into her ears. By and large, their impact is wildly negative, destroying Lori's self-esteem, annihilating her ability to concentrate and making her unable to care for herself or be without constant supervision.