Run: 2026-02-17-01KHMMFWVRZZB7GXZ7G8MPK44C

The night air was crisp against Aurora Carter's skin as she stepped beyond the shelter of the ancient oak standing stones that marked the boundary of Isolde's grove. The wildflowers, a riot of color even in the moonlight, seemed to whisper secrets as they swayed gently in the breeze that carried the scent of earth and old magic. Rory's hand instinctively reached for the Heartstone Pendant nestled against her chest, its deep crimson glow a faint comfort in the unsettling stillness. She had come to the Fae Grove on a mission, a tug in her gut leading her to this place that existed in a pocket between Earth and the Fae realm. Time here was a fickle thing, an hour inside could mean minutes or days outside, and Rory knew she had to be cautious. The grove was a place of power, a place where the veil between worlds grew thin, and tonight, it felt thinner still. The silver chain of the pendant was cool against her fingers, the gemstone warm, pulsing with a life of its own. It had been given to her by an unknown benefactor, a guide in her journey through the tangled web of the supernatural that lurked beneath the mundane facade of London. The pendant was said to reveal Hel portals, but tonight, it seemed to throb with a sense of foreboding. Rory's breath misted in the air as she ventured deeper into the grove. The trees here were ancient, their gnarled branches reaching towards the sky like the fingers of giants. The moon cast a silver glow over everything, turning the grove into a monochrome landscape that shifted and danced with the wind. She had come alone, a decision she was beginning to question. The silence of the grove was absolute, the kind of silence that seemed to demand respect, to remind her that she was an intruder in this sacred place. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, a primal part of her brain sounding the alarm that something was off. A rustle to her left had Rory turning sharply, her bright blue eyes scanning the darkness for the source of the sound. The underbrush was thick, a tangle of shadows that could hide any number of creatures. She told herself it was just an animal, a fox or a badger, but the unease that settled in her stomach was hard to ignore. The pendant's glow seemed to brighten, its warmth seeping into her skin. Rory's hand trembled slightly as she continued on, her footsteps muffled by the soft earth. She could feel the weight of unseen eyes upon her, a creeping sensation that slithered down her spine. A whisper of movement caught her attention, a shadow flitting between the trees. Rory stopped, her heart pounding in her chest. The grove was still, the wildflowers no longer swaying, as if the world itself was holding its breath. The silence was broken by a sound that chilled her to the bone—a low, mournful wail that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once. Panic clawed at her throat, but Rory forced herself to remain calm. She had faced the unknown before, had stared into the abyss and refused to blink. This grove, with its ancient magic and hidden dangers, was just another puzzle to solve. She took a deep breath, steeling herself against the fear that threatened to overwhelm her. The wail came again, closer this time, and Rory could make out a vague, humanoid shape emerging from the darkness. Its form was indistinct, a collection of shadows that twisted and writhed with an unnatural grace. The air grew colder, the pendant now burning against her skin. Rory backed away slowly, her eyes never leaving the approaching figure. She could feel the power radiating off it, a sense of ancient malevolence that made her blood run cold. The figure stopped, its form solidifying into something resembling a woman, though her eyes were empty voids, and her skin was the pallor of moonlight. Her lips parted, and the grove filled with the sound of a thousand whispers, each one a plea, a threat, a seduction. Rory's mind raced, her thoughts a jumble of fear and confusion. She knew she had to get out of the grove, had to escape whatever this creature was. But the standing stones were far behind her, and she had no idea which direction would lead her back to the relative safety of the mortal world. The creature moved towards her, each step silent, a glide that defied the natural order. Rory's hand closed around the Heartstone Pendant, its glow now a brilliant beacon in the darkness. She could feel its energy coursing through her, a wild, untamed force that seemed to respond to her desperation. With a shout, Rory thrust the pendant out before her, the deep crimson light flaring brightly. The creature recoiled, its form wavering as if the light was a physical thing it could not bear to touch. Rory turned and ran, her lungs burning with the effort. The grove was a labyrinth of trees and shadows, but she could sense the boundary stones somewhere ahead, their ancient magic a beacon in the night. The whispers followed her, a cacophony of voices that clawed at her mind, seeking to drag her down into madness. But Rory refused to succumb, her determination fueled by a primal instinct to survive. She burst through the underbrush, the standing stones looming before her like sentinels of old. The creature's wail pierced the night, a sound of rage and frustration, but it did not follow her past the boundary of the grove. Rory stumbled out from between the stones, the night air of the mortal world sharp in her lungs. She collapsed to her knees, the Heartstone Pendant still clutched tightly in her hand. The grove was silent once more, the wildflowers motionless, as if nothing had ever been amiss. But as Rory Carter looked back at the Fae Grove, she knew that the world was far more strange and terrifying than she had ever imagined. And she knew, with a cold certainty, that her life would never be the same again.