Welcome to Gaia! ::

Otto hadn't meant to be out so late.

The young blonde had been exploring, as boys and puppies tend to do sometimes. The abandoned town intrigued him, exploring each crumbled or crumbling building searching for treasure. Sure, he probably should spend his spare time training, or taking up a mission. Exploring ghost towns seemed like the better option that day.

He'd only meant to stay an hour or two and then go back in time for dinner. However, he became so entranced in digging through rubble that by the time he left the last building, it was getting dark.

Too dark.

Otto began to worry. What if he didn't make it back before the sun set? Because, unbeknownst to many...

...Otto was terrified of the dark.

It was usually easy enough to hide, since he kept to himself constantly, and there was usually lights inside the building at night. However, this town seemed void of electricity, as did the path leading to it. Or at least it did that day.

Otto inwardly started to panic, speed walking away from the buildings, and soon turning it into a full blown run. His eyes focused on the waning sky, watching as orange turned to purple. Darker and darker...

Darkness.

Otto took off his shades, hoping that maybe it would help him out. However, the sun had slipped away long ago, and with no light, stars or even moonlight to light the way, Otto was marooned. His heart raced viciously. Panic set in, as he checked his pockets for his phone. It soon dawned on him that he had forgotten it in his room.

No cellphone to light his way.

The boy started to hyperventilate, long having stopped running as he stood in the middle of town. "s**t.." He sunk down into a crouch, holding his head and rocking back and forth. "Shitshitshitshit.." The darkness had eyes. Eyes that watched and waited for him to be left alone in the dark. He had no light to keep the unknown at bay. He was defenseless.

And suddenly Eva yelled at the top of her lungs, breaking the cold murky silence.

So... It was Eva. The blonde teen stayed as still as a statue, waiting for her to make her way over.

He was torn. Sure, he didn't want to be alone in the dark, but on the other hand, he had no way of hiding how terrified he was if she found him like this.
While he was no longer hyperventilating, he was breathing uncomfortably quick, his core shaking with nerves. He needed light. Any light. He hated not being able to see two feet in front of him.

Finally, he heard footsteps, though whether they were Eva's or some assailant from the dark side, he didn't know. Not until he heard her speak again did he turn his head, frightened eyes staring up at the soft glow of her cell phone.

It took a moment, but he found his voice. "...E...Eva?" He asked shakily.

Why wasn't she talking anymore?

Those few moments where she simply stared had Otto terrified. Oh no.. it was a doppelganger? Now that'd he'd made eye contact, was he dinner?
He tensed, almost leaning away as she reached out for him. Crap, he really was going to get eaten! A small squeak escaped his throat as her hand touched his shoulder, though he relaxed slightly once she finally spoke.

"I...I.. u-um..n-no.." He stammered with a small voice. "N...not hurt.." He couldn't help it. The stuttering wouldn't ease up. Not while he was nerve wrecked like this.

He watched her anxiously as she pulled away to stand. He made no move to join her right away, not until she suggested they leave. Yes, that was a good plan. With no light, he wasn't able to brave the trek back, nor able to navigate the roads. He nodded stiffly, shakily rising to his feet.

Otto didn't squirm like he normally would as Eva looped arms with him, but it didn't mean he liked it either. As much as he was a brat about things, bratiness was no match for fear. The thought crossed his mind that his fear of the dark probably made the creatures of Halloween stronger, and that made him feel sick.
Horrid, wretched things...

Her attempts to distract, or maybe it was just small talk, didn't aid the boy's edgy demeanor, as he looked over his shoulder constantly. "I was just.. lookin' around.." He answered in a mumble.

Otto's edgy gaze stilled on Eva as she noticed the shuddering. Crap. While he should have been happy that she assumed he was cold, it was humiliating instead. He narrowed his gaze in a glare, but due to his condition, he simply looked... sad.. pathetic.

"Keep'em.." He grouched, turning his gaze to the ground.

Otto inhaled sharply as Eva stopped so suddenly. No! No no no nononono not in the middle of the depths of the abysmal darkness! Not here! The teen's heart raced even faster, every inch of his psyche screaming to be back at Dues.

He appreciated being called by name, seeing as how being called puppy while near having a panic attack over a fear of the dark was... humiliating.
However, there was a pause. From her, and him. He was hesitant to openly admit what scared him.

Worse off, Eva's attempts to light her face did not help. This was all Otto saw;



"AAH!" The boy yelped, prying his arm away from Eva and staggering back. "GET AWAY FROM ME!!"

The shivering got worse, his forehead and palms sweaty with fear. Eva's firm grasp had scared him at first, trying in vain to pull away. After a moment he realized that no, that hadn't been some creature. It was still only Eva.

Wide blue eyes seem to calm every slighter, darting side to side then back to Eva.

Rationally, he knew nothing was out there. Or maybe there was, it was anyone's guess at Dues Ex. Still, that terrified little boy inside the teen's mind couldn't brave the dark.

"N-n-no..no no-thing.." He stammered, his voice quivering uncontrollably. He knew he had to fess up. "I-it's...I'm..s-scared.."

He shut his eyes tightly, his free hand pointing shakily into the dark night. "...Th...Th-the dark..."

He was still so terrified that a severed hand or something would grab his ankles, admitting he was scared was easier to deal with now than sober, so to speak.