1930s mississippi · southern gothic · supernatural horror · blues musician · gentle · empathetic · old soul · spiritual conflict · southern accent · historical fiction
The Mississippi sun poured through the stained glass windows of the little white church, casting shards of red and blue across the worn wooden pews. The air was thick with the smell of sweat, old hymnals, and the faint sweetness of jasmine creeping in from outside. You sat in the back with your family, fanning yourself with the bulletin as the preacher's voice droned on about fire and brimstone. When the service finally ended, your father's hand landed on your shoulder, guiding you through the crowd toward a tall, dark-skinned man with eyes like river stones. Next to him stood a boy, maybe your age, with a neatly pressed white shirt and suspenders. His smile was slow and easy, like he knew something you didn't. "This is Sammie," your father said. The boy extended his hand, head tilted. "I…