Sinners Among Us (sneak peak)
Pairing: Elijah “smoke” Moore x black f! Oc (Agnes)
Warnings : cursing
Summary: Agnes, Annie's sister in blood and magic, moves back to Clarksdale Mississippi to reunite with her sister. What happens when her estranged husband returns?
Agnes stands at the edge of the platform, eyes locked on the train as it slows to a stop. She exhales deeply, the sound more weary than relieved. Going back to Clarksdale, Mississippi, is the last thing she ever expects. The place is drenched in memories she'd rather forget—echoes of a past she's spent years trying to outrun. But family is family, and now, it's calling her home.
"Clarksdale... here I come," she mutters, stepping onto the train, her heart heavier than her suitcase.
...
The train screeches to a slow halt at the small Clarksdale station. Agnes steps down onto the platform, the heat of the South hitting her like a familiar wave. She takes a look around—the same chipped benches, the same rusting signs, the same quiet stillness hanging in the air.
"Nothing has changed," she mumbles under her breath, adjusting the strap of her worn leather bag.
Agnes steps into the corner store, the bell above the door jingling softly. She takes a quick look around, then spots a familiar figure stacking cans near the back. With a smile, she calls out, "Well if it ain't Bo Chow."
Bo straightens and turns toward the voice. His eyes go wide, then a grin spreads across his face. "Well I'll be damned—Agnes, is that you?" he says, walking over to her. "It's been so long"
"That it has" Agnes says with a smile. Bo wipes his hands on his apron and walks over with that same easy swagger he's always had. "Girl, look at you," he says, giving her a quick once-over. "Thought you done disappeared off the face of the earth."
Agnes chuckles, shifting her bag on her shoulder. "Felt like I did for a while. But Clarksdale has a way of pullin' folks back." She says making bo chow hum in agreement. "Yeah I hear that.You here to stay... or just passin' through?"
Agnes hesitates. "I don't know yet. Thought I'd stop by the old house first. See Annie." Agnes answers as Bo's face shifts just a bit—fondness and concern flickering behind his eyes. "She'll be glad. She never said it out loud, but... she missed you somethin' fierce." He says with a gentle tone causing Agnes to look down with a soft smile.
"I missed her too. Just didn't know how to come back. Not after everything"
..…
After a little while, Agnes steps out of the store and into the thick afternoon heat. She pauses for a second, casting Bo Chow one last look through the window. He meets her gaze, gives a slight nod—quiet, firm, like he's sending her off with more than just a goodbye.
Then she turns and walks on, her figure slowly disappearing down the long road toward the edge of town—toward the house she once called home.
Bo watches until she's gone. He exhales, the rag in his hand limp now. With a shake of his head, he heads into the back room.
Suddenly, The bell above the door jingles again—a short while later.
Smoke steps inside, his boots clicking across the worn wooden floor. He moves slow, steady, eyes scanning the store. A few customers glance his way before going back to what they were doing. He approaches the register, where a teenage girl looks up at him. "You're not Little Lisa, is you?" Smoke asks. "Guilty as charged," she says, coolly. Smoke nods once. "Your daddy here?"
Lisa doesn't look away. She just calls out, "Daddy!"
From the back, Bo's voice responds, a little muffled. "What?"
Seconds later, Bo Chow steps into the main room, wiping his hands with the same faded rag. He stops mid-step when he sees who's standing at his counter. "Bo Chow," Smoke says, eyes locked on him. Bo stares for a moment, then tosses the rag aside like it don't matter anymore. "Well, look at what the damn cat dragged in," he mutters as they go in for a hug.
Smoke cracks a grin that doesn't reach his eyes. "What can I do for you?" Bow chow questions. "I'm throwing a big event tonight" smoke answer.
"What you need?" Bo chow questions. "I need catfish for a hundred people." Smoke answers. "Y'all do good up in Chicago?" Bo chow quesrions with a smile. "Mm-hmm." Smoke hums. "
"I heard about some of them casinos up there. Y'all hit it big?" He questions as smoke looks behind him at Lisa before turning back. " We hit. Just not the way you're thinking." He mumbles in a lower tone. "What kind of way?" Bo chow questions with a grin when all of a sudden a horn is heard. "shit" he mumbles before walking out the store and to his car with his car pulled out.
"I'm trying to make sure they ain't watching that shit." A voice says sneakily. "Just get your own damn thing, man." Another voice says. " I'm trying to help you." the voice responded when suddenly smoke shoots the leg of the first voice causing him to cry out in pain. The people around scatter as the guy limps around in a circle."The fuck you going, n*gga?" He screams at the guy who stops running and pits his hands up.
"What the hell you tryin' to do, you motherfu—" Terry curses, limping around the truck, only to stop short. "Whoa, whoa, whoa... Smoke?"
He pulls off his hat, squinting at the man pointing a gun at him. "Smoke, that you?"
Smoke keeps the gun steady. "Terry?"
"Boy, how you been?" Smoke asks, eyes sharp.
"I was doin' better before you shot me in the ass," Terry mutters, wincing. "Why the hell you tryna boost my truck?" Smoke snaps.
Terry throws up his hands. "Your truck? Man, I didn't know it was yours, I swear—"
Before he can finish, a little girl standing guard near the truck scoffs. "Bullshit. I told you it was his," she cuts in, arms crossed. Smoke glances at her, then back at Terry.
" Wait, wait, Smoke. I thought she was lying. Told I was supposed to be in Chicago working for Capone." He quickly says with his hands up. "Yeah, we back now." He says putting the gun down and looks at the other thief before shooting in the leg. "gotdamn!" He yells in pain. "What you do that for?" He yells out in pain. "Can't have some nigga talking about how he almost robbed the twins. Not without a limp to show for it." He says simply.
"Who gonna patch me up? I ain't got no money. What if I get sepsis or some shit, man?" He questions nervously. "Y'all scoot on out the street. Put some pressure on them." Smoke says putting his gun away. "Get up, boy." Terry scolds. "nigga, I need help!" The man says laying on the floor as smoke walks back in the store.
.….
Agnes stands frozen in front of the old house, the weight of memory pressing down on her chest. The paint is more chipped than she remembers, but the porch still groans under her step like it used to. This place—this house—held everything: laughter, rituals, late-night whispers, and the bond she and Annie once shared. Sisters in blood and in spirit, tied together by hoodoo and survival. But after what happened with Smoke, Agnes couldn't breathe here anymore. She had to go. Annie understood—but that didn't make the goodbye any easier.
Now she's back.
Agnes takes a deep breath, fists clenched at her sides, and walks up to the door. She knocks.
No answer.
She knocks again, harder this time, her pulse quickening with each passing second. Still nothing.
She raises her hand a third time, but the door swings open fast. "Who knockin' like they don lost their damn—" Annie begins, but the words die in her throat. She freezes in the doorway, eyes wide, mouth parted, stunned. "Agnes?" Annie questions as her eyes began to tear up. "Annie!" Agnes yells happily. Agnes doesn't wait. The tears are already stinging her eyes as she steps forward. Annie doesn't move—until she does. They meet in the middle like the years never passed, like distance never happened. Arms wrap tight around each other, the kind of hug that's half relief, half apology.
Neither says a word.
They just hold on, because right now, that's the only truth that matters.
