Chapter Text
North Carolina, 1918
Ellinor Fawn swung from side to side, delicate fingers strumming the strings of the guitar. "Got one more song for y'all tonight, one many of ya like. 'Bout a girl who's tricked by her lover, and pays the price."
Her eyes were closed as her foot began to tap the stage lightly, some of the listeners joining her.
"Come listen to my story, I'll tell you no lies
How John Lewis did murder poor little Omie Wise
He told her to meet him at Adams's Springs
Promised he'd bring her money and other fine things.
So, fool-like she met him at Adams's Springs
No money did he bring her nor other fine things
“Go with me, little Omie, and away we will go
and get married and no one will know"
So she got up behind him and away they did go
Down to the river where deep waters flow
"John Lewis, John Lewis, won't you tell me your mind?
D'you intend to marry me or leave me behind?"
"Little Omie, little Omie, I'll tell you my mind
My mind is to drown you and leave you behind"
"Have mercy on my baby and spare me my life
I'll go home as a beggar and never be your wife"
So he kissed her and he hugged her then he turned her around
And pushed her in deep waters where he knew that she would drown
He jumped on his pony an' away he did ride
As the screams of little Omie went down by his side
'Twas on Thursday morning, 'n rain was pourin' down
When people searched for Omie but she could not be found
Then two boys went a-fishin' one fine summer day
And they saw little Omie's body go floatin' away
Then they threw their net around her and drew her to the bank
Her clothes all wet and muddy, they laid her on a plank
They called for John Lewis to come to that place
They set little Omie before him that he might see her face
He made no confession, they carried him to jail
No friends nor relations would come an' go his bail."
She kept strumming the guitar lightly, humming along with it as the song concluded. None of the white faces that filled her crowd really payed her any attention, but her voice pleased them enough...
"That's all I got for ya tonight. I can never thank y'all enough for your kindness."
...Pleased them enough to elicit a few groans as her night came to an end, at least. A few dollars in her jar, too, and that was enough for her.
She looked to her brother, John Henry, a light smile painting her features as he collected cash in his hat. He played piano alongside her, and their little band was enough to keep their stomachs full and burn a fire, all they really required.
Plucking her glass jar from the front of the stage, she walked gingerly to the side, John Henry already holding out a hand to help her down. She gladly accepted it. They earned more than expected tonight, so there was joy in hopping off the stage. "'Scuse me, ma'am."
Ellinor looked in the direction of the voice, even though at first she didn't think it was for her. A white man stared at her, hat pressed against his chest thoughtfully. "Your voice— it must be the most beautiful I ever heard. I really would be pleased to buy you a drink."
She smiled warmly, but shook her head. "I thank ya kindly, sir, but I cannot. There's many a pretty ladies over there at the bar that'd be glad to be bought a drink, though."
"I'm sure, but they ain't got a voice as angelic as the one I just heard. C'mon. Jus' one drink." The man insisted again, to which she shook her head again.
"You mus' be from somewhere else, sir. I ain't allowed to drink over there. I ain't even allowed t' congregate 'round here for too long. I am sorry, truly."
"Why not?" He clicked his tongue, stepping closer. Ellinor Fawn gave him a look, like that was a stupid question to ask. Is a white man really acting like he don't know about Jim Crow? "Well where can I see ya? I have t' get to know that voice."
"Me an' my brother's here Wednesday, Friday, and all weekend singin'. You come see us then." Ellinor Fawn looked over to the bartender, who was already casting her sideways glances. Her presence certainly hadn't gone unnoticed. "I do appreciate ya, sir, but I hav'ta get goin'. I hope to see ya Friday."
"I ain't get'chur name."
"Then I guess you'd better show up Friday." She nodded to the stranger, the white man who didn't seem to understand segregation, before headed for the side door, where she and John Henry left from after all their performances.
"Now, what in the hell was that? Cracka's warmin' on up t' you now?" The boy laughed, receiving a light push from his sister, her smile wide.
"Music got that kinda power over people." She shrugged, pulling her guitar strap across her chest, shifting the instrument on her back. "Makin' white men forget themselves 'n all."
"That man's probably drunk as a dog," He excused, waving a hand dismissively, "approachin' you askin' to buy a drink. White man that got his wits about him would never."
Both of them laughed, John Henry grabbing her shoulder. "Oh, but think of how proud ole' granddaddy would be. Got himself a lil white girl all them years ago and now you got white men singin' your praises."
"Ain't no white man singin' my praise, boy." She shrugged him off. "Don't you be talkin' bout Daddy's mama like that, neither. She the nicest white person I ever met to this day."
"That's 'cause last time you ever seen her was when you was seven, Elli. Ain't no nice white people out there, you just wasn't old enough to see it."
Ellinor pursed her lips, holding the strap of her guitar. "Nah, they out there. Probably a one in a goddamn million, but they out there. They ain't all hate us."
"Keep thinkin' positive like that, it's gon' bite you in the ass one day."
"You keep thinkin' negative like that and you gon' die a very unhappy man, John Henry." Ellinor Fawn looked over to her brother, brow raised. "You wanna die unhappy?"
"At least then I ain't gon' die soon." He hummed. The night was warm and still, creating a quiet atmosphere around them. John Henry stared up at the sky, bright with dotted stars. "Start trustin' them white people too much, you gonna end up a star. Just like Mama did."
"I ain't gon' be scared of it." She decided, looking up to the sky as well. A long time ago, before they even started performing, they had decided when their mama died, she became a star. She was the brightest star in the sky, they decided, always telling them what direction they needed to head in. "She makes the sky pretty. I'll decorate that sky too someday."
"Glad you so happy-go-fuckin-lucky." John Henry chuckled, hands tucked into his trouser pockets. Ellinor began to laugh, too. Their difference in thinking was so funny, somehow it just made them a better duo. The perfect band, too.
"Alright, you get home now. I'll be there 'fore the sunrises."
"You ain't never gonna tell me where you go, are you?" He hummed, tucking his hands into his pockets.
"Ruins the mystique." She said, her hand finding his shoulder and squeezing lightly. "Don't wake Daddy up when you get in. You know the kinda days he has."
"Fine, but you better not be late again." He gave her a pointed look. "Minute past sunrise an' you gon' have me out here yellin' for ya."
"I'll be home 'fore sunrise. I'm 'bout dead on my feet, but I'll get some rest later." She hummed, pulling her guitar around to sit on her stomach, fingers buzzing to start playing again. "See ya."
"Yeah, bye." The younger nodded, allowing her to stray from the road, closer to the woods. She had created her own little footpath, albeit still covered with brush, through the woods.
It took only five minutes to get to her spot. It was a pretty yellow tuliptree that sprung up in the middle of the woods, in a spot that received just enough sun to maintain it.
Ellinor Fawn found that the moonlight shone beautifully through it, especially when she settled against the trunk. For a moment, she allowed the ambiance of the night fill her ears, before strumming light notes out into it.
She didn’t know how long she was there. She was bad about playing until dawn, even though John Henry hated her being away that long. He was a good brother in that way, protective.
It wasn’t until the wildlife went silent around her that she too stopped making music. Something was wrong. This far into the woods, crickets and birds didn’t stop unless they had reason to. Ellinor began to look around curiously, pushing herself up. Maybe it was a sign she ought to get home…
“One more song.”
She whipped her head around, searching for the source of a whisper she could’ve sworn she heard. There was nothing around her but dark forest. Dark forest that now seemed much more intimidating.
“C’mon now…”
Ellinor looked in the other direction, squinting into the darkness.
It took her a moment to notice the two red in the brush. Red eyes, she realized, staring directly at her. It was an animal, she figured. That must be why the birds stopped singing with her.
For a moment, she stood still. A moment longer than she should’ve, probably. Ellinor slowly used her fingers to hike up her skirt, before taking off back in the direction of the road. She was out of breath by the time she was spat out of the woods onto that dirt road again, a sweaty and exhausted mess.
The sunlight began to grace her with its presence, which she didn’t take long to enjoy before she was hightailing home. She and whatever she just locked eyes with shared one thing in common, they were nocturnal, but she wouldn’t be giving up her tuliptree so easily. She’d see the animal again, she was sure of it, and they’d fight for the spot.