For this entry, I decided to bring Epel and Darrian back for a cute comfort from the scariness of the dark story.

To introduction of Darrian post: https://www.reddit.com/r/TwistedWonderland/comments/xxk7h5/twstober_day_6_magicamepelxdarrian_oc/

Link to original post: https://old.reddit.com/r/TwistedWonderland/comments/xe5lzy/twstober_prompt/

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Epel, Darrian, and the other locals of Harveston gathered around the campfire in the center of town. They shared some pastries they baked earlier in the day, marshmallows to roast, and corn on the cob to cook. After the cooking and the roasting, then came the best part of the meeting.

“And so, whatever you think is important in those woods at a full moon at night, wait until the mornin’ unless you want to be the next victim of the Moonlit Phantom.”

Some of the kids cowered in fear behind their parents. Others rolled their eyes.

Epel was the only outspoken one around the campfire. “For the love of Pete, really. There ain’t no such thing as a Moonlit anything.”

“Epel, don’t be so stingy,” said one of the townsfolk. “All we’re doin’ is tellin’ stories.”

“That’s right. Stories are all in fun n’ nothin’ else.”

Epel side-eyed Darrian to get her opinion on the matter, but all he caught sight of was Darrian’s hands trembling as she tried to put the cob of corn to her mouth. When she bit into the cob, her shaking hands caused the corn to smack her lips, not fancy like. “Darrian? Are you okay?”

Her body shivered to Epel’s voice. “Who me?” she asked. “Oh, I’m fine. It’s just a bit chilly out here.”

A soft “hmm” rushed out of his nose as his lips were flatlined shut as possible.

As the fire slowly died out and the stories came to an end, everyone began to return home for a good night’s sleep. Hand in hand, Epel guided Darrian back to her house before he would head home to his. The yawns wouldn't stop coming when Darrian rested her head on his. Epel couldn’t help but smile at Darrian’s cuteness when she was fatigued after a whole day’s work and play.

“Now, you better get some shut eye, Darry. Tomorrow’s a new day.”

“I promise I will. You get some safe and don’t scare your grandma, ya hear?”

Epel chuckled. “No need to fret. It’s just a three minute walk from here. Goodnight.”

Darrian bid him good night as she shut the front door and commenced her bedtime routine. However, falling asleep was not going to be an easy task when she had the Moonlit Phantom story running through her mind. She knew Epel was right and that ghosts weren’t real (at least not in Harveston), but she couldn’t help but wonder if Epel was alright walkin’ home alone. She grabbed her phone from the night table and texted him.

Hey, Epel Apple. Did you make it home yet? Just checking.

Uncharastically, Epel did not reply as soon as the text was delivered to his phone. This made Darrian’s heart skip a beat. She waited thirty seconds. With no response still, she sent another message.

Are you ok?

A moment went by. Still nothing.

Epel?

Her instincts at the back of her brain told her that something was very wrong. If he was still outside, he was exposed to all possible night dangers: wolves, bears…the Phantom.

Darrian snatched her jacket that was hanging from the coat rack and ran outside quietly, so that she didn’t freak her parents out of the sleep. The chill of the outside evening air sped past her, sending chills up her spine. Even with the stars and the moon to help shed some light, it was difficult to see what was in front of her. Darrian could be injured tripping on some tree roots, or she could be itchy from the bugs crawling up her night dress. Even with her shoes on, she irked at the thought of mud slipping in between her toes.

“Epel!” she called. “Scream if you can hear me!”

Silence.

Darrian checked her phone once more. No messages, and her battery was at twenty-five percent. She prayed that this search would end quickly, so she’d have enough power to light the flashlight function. That turned to be a mistake when the first thing she saw when she turned on the light was a deformed tree that had the likeness of a ghost. She screamed at the top of her lungs and dropped the phone, its screen facing downward. The light pointed at the upward stretching branches, causing a flock of birds to fly away from the scene, bringing Darrian to shriek some more. Once she regained composure, she began to see that with the fog covering up the forest, she couldn’t see a thing. Did she come from up the path or down the path? How was she to know? Every tree looked the same anyway. Everything around her looked the same.

Was this how Epel got lost on the way home? She now knew how he must’ve felt to be alone in the dark. “Epel! Can you hear me?”

A faint voice finally replied. “Darrian!”

Her eyes beamed to the familiarity of her own name and who the voice could belong to. She faced the upper direction of the path. “Epel! Where are you?”

“Don’t move! I’m comin’ to ya!” From down the foggy path, the sound of footsteps emerged. An outline of a short man appeared, breaking through the fog to reveal Epel Felmier, tuckered out but safe in his comfy nightclothes. Through his gasps, he managed to let out Darrian’s name once again.

As her heart painfully eased, Darrian ran and grabbed him as tightly as she could, bawling her eyes out. “Epel! You scared the dickens outta me!”

“I scared you? I saw your texts, and it made me panic!”

“Wait. You were home? Why didn’t you reply to my messages then?”

“My phone died at the campfire tonight. I ran home as soon as I could to charge it. Took it so long for it to even come back to life that it made me anxious. I should’ve stayed at your place to charge it instead.”

“Then, you knew I was out here?”

“I didn’t, but knowin’ how much you fear the dark, it wouldn’t hurt to see if you did run out lookin’ for me. I’m so sorry I gave you that fright.”

Darrian hiccuped more sobs. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize that happened to ya. I was worried you got lost on the way home.”

“You know what? I’m glad you came out here.”

“Why? Did you hit your head?” she shrieked.

Epel giggled. “You silly gal. It means you care, and you were so brave to see if I was okay, even if you were so terrified. That’s what heroes do after all, and I’m proud to call you mine.”

Darrian whimpered some more. If she could speak, she would tell Epel how much of a dummy he was, but she would thank him at the same time. With the misunderstanding settled and done with, Epel suggested that he’d spend the night with Darrian, just so that they can transition to the next morning with clear heads. Darrian couldn't agree more.