Run: 2026-02-17-01KHMMDD28AMN0ZM21YWD0PX6S

Detective Harlow Quinn charged through the rain-soaked streets of London, her heart pounding in her chest as she pursued the suspect. The man, a former paramedic named Tomás Herrera, had been spotted leaving The Raven's Nest, a dimly lit bar in Soho known for its association with members of the supernatural underworld. Quinn had been investigating the clique for months, and Herrera's sudden appearance at their haunt confirmed her suspicions. As she ran, pushing past revelers and late-night wanderers huddled under awnings, she kept her focus on the man's dark jacket, bobbing and weaving through the crowded streets. The rain plastered her closely cropped salt-and-pepper hair to her skull, and her leather watch, worn with age, chafed against her wrist as she pumped her arms. She refused to let the discomfort distract her, instead drawing upon her years of training and experience to keep her target in sight. Herrera turned into an alley, and Quinn followed, her footsteps splashing through puddles as she closed the distance. The alley was dark and narrow, the walls on either side seeming to press in. Herrera abruptly stopped and shoved against a door on the left, disappearing inside. Quinn reached the door and hesitated for a moment. She knew this was the entrance to The Veil Market, a hidden supernatural black market that operated beneath the city. She had a bone token she'd confiscated during a raid, the entry requirement to gain access to the market, but she had never used it. She considered her options, knowing the dangers that awaited her below. With a deep breath, Quinn pushed open the door and stepped into the tunnels. The air was cool and damp, the walls slick with condensation. She could hear the distant rumble of trains overhead, punctuated by the pounding of her own heart in her ears. She followed the winding path, bone token clutched tightly in her hand as she navigated the twists and turns. The tunnels grew wider and more crowded as she approached the market, the sounds of haggling and laughter echoing off the walls. Quinn scanned the throngs of people, searching for any sign of Herrera. She spotted him across the way, handing over a stack of bills to a vendor in exchange for a small vial of iridescent liquid. She moved closer, weaving between stalls to keep him in sight. As she drew near, Herrera suddenly turned, his warm brown eyes widening as he caught sight of Quinn. He quickly pocketed the vial and took off, pushing past bystanders as he fled deeper into the market. Quinn followed, adrenaline surging through her veins as she pursued her suspect through the bustling underground market. The air grew thick and hazy from alchemical fires as she ran past stalls hawking enchanted trinkets, illicit substances, and dark knowledge. Herrera darted into a narrow side passage, and Quinn followed, determination etched into the sharp lines of her jaw. The path twisted and turned, branching into a warren of tunnels that made it impossible to track her movements. She emerged suddenly into a dimly lit chamber, the walls lined with old maps and black-and-white photographs. In the center of the room stood Herrera, his scarred forearm illuminated in the flickering light of a single bulb swaying overhead. Quinn hesitated, her hand hovering over the cold metal of her concealed sidearm. Herrera watched her warily, the small vial clutched in his fist glinting as it caught the light. "You shouldn't have followed me here, Detective," Herrera said, his voice echoing off the damp stones. His olive skin seemed to gleam with an otherworldly pallor in the dim light. "I'm not letting you leave until I get some answers." Quinn kept her gaze locked on Herrera's, watching for any sudden movements or tells. "What were you doing at The Raven's Nest? And what's in that vial?" Herrera glanced down at his closed fist, a small, humorless smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. "Surely you've realized by now, Detective, that the world is not as simple as you've been led to believe." Quinn's eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about?" "The Veil. Magic, monsters, realms beyond mortal comprehension." Herrera took a small step forward, his Saint Christopher medallion glinting in the light. "A war waged in darkness for centuries, with humanity caught in the middle." Quinn's mind raced, trying to make sense of Herrera's words. She thought back to the cases of her career, the strange occurrences and unexplained phenomena. The death of her partner, the confusing circumstances surrounding his demise. Could it all be connected to this hidden world? She shook her head, chasing away the thoughts. "I don't know what you're talking about. All I know is that people are dead, and you're involved. I'm bringing you in, Herrera. Come quietly and you'll only be charged with resisting arrest." But Herrera just laughed, a harsh, grating sound. "Oh, Detective. You have no idea what you've stumbled into. You can't stop this. It's bigger than you, bigger than me, bigger than your whole bloody department." Quinn's hand twitched towards her weapon, and Herrera's eyes tracked the movement, his amusement fading into something harder, more dangerous. He took a small step back, his gaze locked with Quinn's. "I won't let you bring me in," Herrera warned, his grip tightening on the vial. The iridescent liquid seemed to pulse with an otherworldly light. "Not now. Not when there's so much at stake." Quinn lunged forward, but Herrera was faster. He threw the vial to the ground, the glass shattering and releasing a blinding burst of light. Quinn shielded her eyes, momentarily stunned. When the spots faded from her vision, Herrera was gone. Quinn cursed, spinning around and scanning the room. But the only evidence that the former paramedic had ever been there was the shattered glass on the damp stone floor. Quinn stood alone, her mind reeling with questions. She knew she had stumbled onto something far bigger and more dangerous than she could have anticipated. But she would not be deterred. As she turned to make her way back through the winding tunnels of the underground market, Detective Harlow Quinn set her jaw and steeled her resolve. She would uncover the truth, no matter the cost. Or die trying.