Short Horror Stories

Untempted

TW: C0rpses, attempted forceful(ish) s3ducti0n, and a disturbing d3ath

Pepper had never felt quite as comfortable before as he did right then. Well, his real name was Marty, but ever since his childhood friend, Damien, had discovered his beautiful pepper garden, he'd been stuck with the nickname. 

Not that he really minded. Damien was the reason he was so comfortable. Pepper loved nature and had grown up in peaceful Buckow Forest, while Damien had always lived in the city and only met Pepper through their trips to Buckrow Summer camp as a child. 

Damien, a timid and sort of pampered boy, had hated the summer camp, but he stopped feeling so bad when Pepper had started spending time with him. They just clicked, almost like magic. And it felt pretty damn magical too. 

Nowadays, Pepper and Damien were nearing the end of their teen years and had outgrown their summer camp, or at least they were supposed to have outgrown it. Either way, they were beyond the age limit. But the two of them had decided to try becoming junior counselors at the camp so they could still see each other each summer.

Pepper smiled to himself. He was showing Damien around the empty camp and forest area, which he had gotten more familiar with than Damien had, so the two could get an idea of what their future might hold if they followed through and became junior counselors. And, clingy as ever, Damien was holding his hand.

The two had only ever been friends, but they were fixated on showering each other with compliments and physical affection. Damien especially always felt his best when he was holding onto Pepper in some way.

''I'm glad you're so on board with this. I know these woods were never really your thing'', Pepper remarked as they walked across the uneven ground where they'd flown kites and jumped in rain puddles together year after year.

''I'd put up with the bugs, rough activites, and lack of air conditioning every day if it stopped that stupid camp age limit from keeping us apart. Look, I'm ready to be an adult, but life's so bland with no Pepper'', Damien explained, grinning at the last part. 

Pepper scoffed, but in a cheerful way. ''Feeling's mutual, except I'd ''put up with'' this camp anyway. I love this place. Yknow, I've always been the one to protect you'', he replied.

''I can't argue with that. Thank you'', Damien said happily, speaking much more softly now as the calm environment made his voice seem even sweeter.