Ellis French is a young, gay Black man, rejected by his mother and with few options for his future, decides to join the Marines, doing whatever it takes to succeed in a system that would cast him aside. But even as he battles deep-seated prejudice and the grueling routines of basic training, he finds unexpected camaraderie, strength, and support in this new community, giving him a hard-earned sense of belonging that will shape his identity and forever change his life.

12-year-old Griffin Campbell and his family move to the small town of Sulphur Springs and take ownership of an abandoned hotel rumored to be haunted by the ghost of a girl who disappeared decades ago. Griffin befriends Harper, a bright-eyed, mystery-obsessed classmate and together, they uncover a secret portal that allows them to travel back in time. In the past, they’ll attempt to uncover the key to solving this unsolved mystery, a mystery that affects everyone close to them.