Run: 2026-02-17-01KHMMD4R8J4KRM0H24ZT99DG0

Rain pounded the pavement as Detective Harlow Quinn sprinted down the deserted Soho street, her shoes slapping against the wet concrete. The air was thick with the scent of ozone and the distant rumble of thunder. Her pulse raced, adrenaline coursing through her veins as she pursued her target. Tomás Herrera darted around a corner, his olive skin glistening in the streetlights. Harlow gritted her teeth and pushed herself faster, her closely cropped salt-and-pepper hair plastered to her skull. She couldn't let him get away, not after all the time she'd spent building a case against him and his clique of supernatural misfits. Tomás glanced over his shoulder, his warm brown eyes wide with fear. Harlow saw the flicker of panic cross his features before he disappeared down a dark alleyway. She followed without hesitation, her military-precise movements carrying her swiftly through the maze of narrow passages. The alleyway opened up into a bustling square, the neon sign of a bar casting an eerie green glow on the scene. Harlow paused, her eyes scanning the crowd for any sign of Tomás. The Raven's Nest - a known hangout for the clique she'd been investigating. She took a deep breath, her worn leather watch catching the light as she clutched her gun tighter. Pushing through the throng of patrons, Harlow caught a glimpse of Tomás disappearing down a set of stairs leading into the darkness. Without a moment's hesitation, she plunged after him, her boots thudding against the concrete steps. The stairwell opened up into a bustling underground marketplace, the air thick with the scent of exotic spices and the sound of haggling voices. Harlow's sharp jaw clenched as she surveyed the scene, her eyes narrowing. The Veil Market - a notorious supernatural black market that she'd only heard whispers of before. She couldn't let Tomás escape into this unknown territory. Weaving through the crowded stalls, Harlow caught sight of Tomás slipping through a doorway at the far end of the market. Without hesitation, she pushed forward, shoving past vendors and customers alike, her heart pounding in her ears. As she reached the doorway, Harlow paused, her fingers tightening around the grip of her gun. The air felt charged with an otherworldly energy, a sensation that set the hairs on the back of her neck on end. She took a deep breath, steeling her nerves, and stepped through the doorway. The room beyond was dimly lit, the walls lined with shelves of strange and exotic items. Harlow's eyes narrowed as she scanned the area, searching for any sign of Tomás. The sound of movement to her left had her whirling, her gun raised and ready. Tomás stood in the center of the room, his hands raised in a placating gesture. "Detective Quinn," he said, his voice soft and even. "I didn't expect you to follow me this far." Harlow's jaw tightened, her finger hovering over the trigger. "Where is he, Herrera?" she demanded, her brown eyes burning with determination. Tomás shook his head, the Saint Christopher medallion around his neck catching the dim light. "I can't help you, Detective. This is beyond your jurisdiction." Harlow's eyes narrowed, her grip on her weapon unwavering. "I don't care what kind of supernatural bullshit you're mixed up in. I'm taking you in, one way or another." Tomás let out a heavy sigh, his olive skin glistening with a sheen of sweat. "I'm sorry, Detective, but I can't let you do that." He reached into his pocket, his movements slow and deliberate. Harlow tensed, her finger tightening on the trigger. "Don't even think about it, Herrera." Tomás pulled out a small object, his warm brown eyes meeting Harlow's. "I'm afraid I don't have a choice." He tossed the object to the floor, and it shattered, releasing a blinding flash of light. Harlow cried out, her eyes burning as she stumbled backwards, her gun clattering to the ground. The air was thick with the acrid scent of smoke, and she could hear the sound of Tomás's retreating footsteps. Blinking furiously, Harlow felt her way along the wall, searching for her weapon. Her fingers finally closed around the cold metal, and she whirled, her eyes frantically scanning the room. But Tomás had vanished, and the doorway she had entered through was now obscured by a shimmering, iridescent barrier. Harlow's heart raced as she pressed her palm against the barrier, her fingers tracing the intricate patterns that seemed to shift and undulate before her eyes. She knew she should turn back, call for backup, but the thought of Tomás and his clique slipping through her fingers once again filled her with a burning determination. Taking a deep breath, Harlow steeled her nerves and stepped through the barrier, the world around her dissolving into a kaleidoscope of colors and sounds. She was no longer in the Veil Market, but in a realm that existed beyond the boundaries of the physical world - a place where the supernatural thrived, and the rules of the mortal realm no longer applied. Harlow's grip on her gun tightened, her brown eyes narrowing as she surveyed her new surroundings. She was no stranger to the inexplicable, having lost her partner three years ago under circumstances that still haunted her. But this... this was unlike anything she had ever encountered before. As she began to move forward, Harlow couldn't help but feel a sense of unease wash over her. She was venturing into unknown territory, leaving the safety of the physical world behind. But she couldn't turn back, not now. She had to find Tomás, to uncover the truth behind his and his clique's activities. And if that meant delving deeper into the supernatural, then so be it. With a steely resolve, Harlow pressed on, her every step filled with a determination that burned brighter than the storm raging outside.