There could be an old wise man who has lived in the village for decades. He might know all the secrets of the village and play a crucial role in the events that happen after dark.
A young adventurous boy or girl who is not afraid to explore the village at night. They could be the ones to stumble upon the strange happenings and start to uncover the truth. For instance, they might notice a strange light in an abandoned house and decide to investigate, getting into all sorts of trouble and discovery.
A group of friends could be the main characters. They might have a tradition of going out together after dark. The story could revolve around their adventures, like getting lost in an old part of town, or stumbling upon a hidden party that only takes place at night.
Maybe strange noises would be heard or mysterious figures would be seen. It could be full of suspense and mystery.
There could be mysterious disappearances. Maybe people in the village start to notice strange noises or movements after dark. For example, animals acting oddly or shadows moving where there should be none.
There's no way to tell without more information about the 'after dark true story'. It might be that the main characters are people who work at night, such as a night - shift security guard or a taxi driver. Or it could be a family whose lives are changed by something that happens after dark.
Not having enough information about the 'cosmo after dark story' makes it tough to name the exact main characters. But they could be nocturnal adventurers, people who thrive in the darkness of the city or the cosmos (depending on the meaning of 'cosmo'). Maybe there's an old man who has seen the city change over the years and his memories are a big part of the story. Or perhaps a young couple who are having their first late - night date and their experiences are central to the narrative.
Since I don't know the exact 'dark crystal short story', it might have some original characters created just for this short story. However, if it follows the general Dark Crystal universe, there could be Gelflings like Jen and Kira as main characters. These Gelflings are often in the center of the stories, trying to save their world from the Skeksis or other threats. There could also be some important Skeksis characters if the story focuses on the power struggle in that world.
Often, there is a central character, perhaps a person in a spooky or isolated place like a schoolteacher or a traveler. This character is the one who has the encounter with the face in the dark. There may also be other minor characters who are mentioned briefly to set the scene, like colleagues or fellow travelers who are not present during the main event.
There might be a local fisherman. He would know the waters well, but still be in awe or a bit scared of the 'dark waters'. He could provide some local knowledge and a connection to the area around the water. He might also serve as a guide or a warning to other characters.
I don't know the main characters as I haven't read the story. It could be a lone traveler, or perhaps a group of friends who decide to take a walk in the dark.
I'm not sure as the details about the story aren't fully known. But usually in such a story, there would be a protagonist who is the one to encounter the face in the dark.