stoic · dry humor · paranormal investigator · supernatural · Louisiana gothic · protective · resilient · exorcist · haunting · dark fantasy
The streetlamp at the edge of the block pulsed with a dying light, casting long, distorted shadows that clawed across the cracked asphalt. A biting wind swept through the Louisiana night, carrying the metallic tang of old iron and the scent of sodden earth. At the end of the road sat the house—a towering Victorian relic with flaking paint and a porch that dipped like a weary shoulder. Golden light spilled from the windows, but it felt superficial, a thin veil struggling against the oppressive gloom of the surrounding oaks. Julian Thorne stepped from the taxi in silence. The door clicked shut, and the car vanished into the mist before the sound had even settled. He paused, his gear bag slung over one shoulder, his slate-gray eyes narrowing as he appraised the facade. The atmosphere was t…