Run: 2026-02-17-01KHMMC98G1YXH4ZW4HPEHAY2G

Detective Harlow Quinn stepped off the last rung of the rusted ladder and into the dimly lit expanse of the abandoned Tube station beneath Camden. Her boots echoed against the cracked tiles, the sound swallowed by the oppressive silence of the underground. She adjusted the worn leather watch on her left wrist, a habit she had picked up since losing DS Morris. The memory of her partner's death lingered like a shadow, always at the edge of her thoughts. The Veil Market, a hidden supernatural black market, had chosen this forsaken place for its latest incarnation. The market moved locations every full moon, a fact that made it notoriously difficult to track. Tonight, it was a crime scene. "Quinn, over here," called a voice from the shadows. Eva Kowalski emerged, her curly red hair a stark contrast to the gloom. She adjusted her round glasses and tucked a stray lock behind her left ear, a nervous habit Harlow had come to recognize. "Eva," Harlow acknowledged, her tone clipped. She respected Eva's expertise in the occult, but the younger woman's presence at a crime scene always made her uneasy. "What have we got?" Eva gestured to a cluster of stalls, their wares abandoned in haste. "The market was in full swing when it happened. Witnesses say they saw a flash of light, then chaos. By the time anyone could react, the victim was already dead." Harlow's sharp brown eyes scanned the area. The stalls were filled with enchanted goods, banned alchemical substances, and other arcane items. The air was thick with the scent of incense and something metallic, like blood. She approached the body, a middle-aged man sprawled on the ground, his face frozen in a rictus of terror. "Cause of death?" Harlow asked, crouching beside the corpse. Her fingers brushed the man's neck, feeling for a pulse she knew wasn't there. "Heart attack, according to initial reports," Eva replied, her voice uncertain. "But there's something off about it." Harlow's gaze shifted to the man's hands, clenched tightly around a small brass compass. The casing had a patina of verdigris, and the face was etched with protective sigils. She recognized it immediately. "A Veil Compass," she murmured. "Points toward the nearest supernatural rift or portal." Eva nodded. "Crafted by a Shade artisan. Expensive and rare. Why would he have one?" Harlow stood, her mind racing. "Good question. Let's find out." She turned to the crowd of onlookers, a mix of humans and supernatural beings, their faces a blend of fear and curiosity. "Who saw what happened?" A murmur rippled through the crowd, but no one stepped forward. Harlow's jaw tightened. "I don't have time for this. If you know something, speak up." A young woman, her eyes wide with fear, finally spoke. "I saw him arguing with someone. A tall man, dark hair, wearing a long coat. They were near the portal stall." Harlow's eyes narrowed. "Portal stall?" Eva pointed to a nearby booth, its shelves lined with various devices and artifacts. "That's where they sell items related to rifts and portals. The Veil Compass would have come from there." Harlow approached the stall, her gaze sweeping over the items. "Anything missing?" The stall owner, a wiry man with a nervous twitch, shook his head. "No, Detective. Everything's accounted for." Harlow's eyes lingered on a set of runes carved into the stall's counter. "These runes. What do they do?" The man hesitated. "Protection. They keep unwanted entities from crossing over." Harlow's mind worked quickly, piecing together the fragments of information. "The victim was holding a Veil Compass, arguing near a portal stall protected by runes. He saw something, something that scared him to death." Eva's green eyes widened. "A supernatural entity?" Harlow nodded. "Possibly. But why would he be here, with a Veil Compass, unless he was looking for something specific?" Eva's hand went to her satchel, pulling out a worn leather book. "There are legends about a powerful artifact, something that can control rifts. Maybe he was after that." Harlow's eyes darkened. "And someone didn't want him to find it." A sudden movement caught her attention. A figure darted through the shadows, heading for the exit. "Stay here," Harlow ordered, sprinting after the fleeing suspect. The chase led her through the labyrinthine tunnels of the abandoned station, her military precision guiding her steps. She caught up to the man, tackling him to the ground. "Who are you?" she demanded, pinning him down. The man struggled, his dark hair falling into his eyes. "Let me go! I didn't do anything!" Harlow's grip tightened. "You were seen arguing with the victim. What was it about?" The man's eyes darted around, searching for an escape. "He was asking about the artifact. I told him it was dangerous, that he shouldn't mess with it." Harlow's heart pounded. "What artifact?" The man hesitated, then sighed. "The Shadow Key. It can open any rift, control any portal. But it's cursed. Anyone who tries to use it ends up dead." Harlow's mind raced. "Where is it?" The man shook his head. "I don't know. I swear. I was just trying to warn him." Harlow released him, her thoughts a whirlwind. "Get out of here. And if I find out you're lying, I'll find you." The man scrambled to his feet and disappeared into the darkness. Harlow returned to the crime scene, her mind heavy with the new information. Eva looked up as she approached. "Did you get anything?" Harlow nodded. "The victim was after something called the Shadow Key. It's a powerful artifact that can control rifts, but it's cursed." Eva's eyes widened. "That explains the Veil Compass. He was trying to find a rift to use it on." Harlow's jaw tightened. "And someone didn't want him to succeed. We need to find that artifact before anyone else does." Eva nodded, her expression determined. "I'll start researching. There has to be something in the archives about it." Harlow watched as Eva hurried off, her mind already working on the next steps. The pieces were starting to come together, but the picture they formed was dark and dangerous. She glanced at the body one last time, a silent promise in her eyes. She would find the Shadow Key, and she would uncover the truth. No matter the cost.