Brendan was about to do something illegal. He was standing in front of inactive mine, holding an pickaxe and wearing basket on his back.

This year's winter was harsh. There was a lack of coal and many people already died from frostbite. People started to steal coal and wood from each other, everyone was doing everything in their power to survive.

And so was Brendan. To keep his siblings and himself warm, he decided to mine some coal from this cursed place.

Why cursed? People claimed that there are ghosts haunting that old mine. That's was one of the main reasons to close it - many miners died from unknown force and others went missing. Everyone knew better than to go there.

But Brendan had no choice. Being the oldest, it was his duty to keep his siblings alive. So without much thinking, he decided to take that risk and go to the mine.

So he walked up to the boarded-up entrance and with the help of his pickaxe, he managed to rip wooden planks.

He turned on the light on his hardhat and entered the mine. He was going further and further, looking around for coal deposit, while also keeping his ears open. He didn't want to anger ghosts.

Soon he saw a huge coal deposit. He felt so lucky! Without hesitation, he started to hit the coal wall. He then tossed coal pieces into the basket, until it was full.

But suddenly, his light turned off and he couldn't make it work. He guessed that battery had run out. Luckily, he had a matchbox with him!

He took one match out and lit it up. He didn't know that methane concentration here was high. And it led to catastrophe.

Air above Brendan went "BOOM!". It caused the mine's ceiling to collapse, luckily boy managed to avoid the debris.

He coughed heavily, when dust blew away from the impact. It pinched his eyes, he had to rub dust out of them. He blinked furiously, to sharpen his vision. But it was for nothing, he couldn't see anything, for it was so dark.

He reached out his arms and touching the wall, he managed to find the debris blocking the corridor to the exit. He tried to pull rocks out, but they didn't budge. His only way out was buried.

Brendan felt that he was losing control. He had nyctophobia and being in the darkness for such a long time was stressing him out.

He punched the debris wall few times and began to yell:

- HELP ME! I'M STUCK HERE! I NEED HELP! CAN YOU HEAR ME?! HELP ME, PLEASE! SOMEBODY... Anybody!

But of course it didn't work. Even if someone dared to come near the mine, they wouldn't hear him, he was really deep in here.

He let out a cry of hopelessness and slid down, hiding his head in his knees. He broke into sobs, his arms were flinching violently. He didn't want to die, he had siblings to take care of!

Suddenly, he noticed a weak glow, few feet into the corridor. He got up and headed there, not thinking much about what it could be. The most important thing was that it was giving a light, a safe light.

The corridor expanded to a cavern, which Brendan entered. But he wasn't prepared for that view.

There was plenty of little, humanoid, bioluminescent creatures. They looked like fairies, but had bat wings instead of insect ones, additionally they had tails, like dogs.

But whatever they were, they looked adorable and harmless. Brendan was taught that fairies like to help people, so maybe these similar creatures would help him too?

He timidly approached the creatures, but they didn't seem to notice him - they were too infested in dancing.

Brendan tried again, this time he cleared his throat, to signal that he was there. It worked, he drew "fairies" attention. He shyly waved his hand and was about to ask a question, when creatures panicked.

- A human!!! Run for your lives!!! - one creature yelled. "Fairies" were flying around like startled birds, then they began to hide in small holes in the wall, soon causing the cavern to be absorbed in the darkness.

Brendan started to panic too, his nyctophobia was kicking in. He got to one of the walls and gently knocked.

- No, no! Don't be afraid! I don't intend to hurt you! I was actually hoping that you would help me get out of here... - he said in meek voice, not wanting to show that he's scared.

There was no response. Panicked boy lost control:

- PLEASE, HELP ME PLEASE!!! I DON'T WHAT TO BE HERE!!! I JUST NEEDED SOME COAL!!! Please... PLEASE!

Still nothing. Brendan laid down, curling up and soon broke down in tears.

***

Though human was scary and noisy, Shanna couldn't help, but feel pity for him. He seemed to be afraid of the dark and lost.

- Please, don't tell me that you're believing in those crocodile tears - older Twinkler whispered.

- But Paps, he's not pretending. He got lost, I'm going to help him - she whispered back.

- Do you have a death wish? Do you really want to end up as one of their ornament? - he replied.

- Paps, it was so many centuries ago. Our cousins told us that many humans don't believe in us anymore, remember? - Shanna said.

- But he saw us. And I don't think that humans gave up on their greedy nature - Paps replied.

- Please, give him a chance! If something goes wrong, we can always stun him with our dust - she suggested and made puppy eyes. Old Twinkler groaned in annoyance.

- Fine, whatever! - he grumbled.

- Thanks Paps! - Shanna thanked and gave other Twinklers a signal to come out.

***

Brendan was laying in fear, when suddenly cave became lit up again. He raised his head and saw multiple bioluminescent creatures surrounding him.

One of the creatures flew up to him and waved her hand.

- Hi! I'm Shanna! What's your name human? - she asked.

- I'm Brendan - boy replied.

- What are you doing here? This mine was closed for years, it was very reckless of you to come here - Shanna scolded him.

- You see, winter this year is really harsh and people are suffering from lack of warmth. I needed coal for me and my family and knowing that there is plenty of it in this cave, I took the risk - Brendan explained.

- That's it? Come on, I know you came here to collect few Twinklers! - old "fairy" joined the conversation. Boy blinked in confusion.

- Twinklers? - he asked.

- We are the Twinklers - Shanna explained.

- I thought you were fairies - he replied.

- We are... kind of. But fairies like the open and sunny space, we prefer to hide in dark places - she said.

- But why would I want to collect you? - Brendan asked.

- Well, in the past your kind was catching us and using us as decorations, lamps and miners were using us for detecting the methane - old Twinkler said. He got surprised, when human's face filled with sympathy.

- Oh no, I'm sorry to hear that! I know that us humans are full of selfishness and greediness, but I promise I won't do anything to you - boy crossed his heart. 

- In that case... You were yelling something about getting out? - Shanna smirked. Brendan blushed.

- Yes. I accidentally caused an explosion and cut off the exit... And I was wondering if you would like to help me? - he pleaded, folding his hands.

Shanna smiled and took the lead.

- Follow us - she ordered boy.

***

Twinklers were leading Brendan through the old track. Little creatures were curious about human and asked him thousands of questions. Even Paps, who was sceptical at first, he warmed up to the human and was sitting on his shoulder.

The track led them to second entrance of the cave, which was on its other end. Brendan still had a long road ahead, nevertheless he was thankful for Twinklers help and gave them few sugar cubes - he heard that fairies loved these. Twinklers loved sugar too, they gladly accepted human's gift.

- Are you sure you will get to home safely? - worried Shanna asked.

- Yeah, the basket isn't that heavy and I still have my pickaxe in case if something attacked me - Brendan replied.

- Well, in that case... goodbye Brendan, be safe and warm! - Twinker said. Other creatures said their goodbyes too and after that, they came back to the mine.

Brendan headed towards his home, hoping to see Twinklers again one day.