Run: 2026-02-17-01KHMMH4HHKAT5H80KNBAKZF4Z

The rattling lift shuddered open, depositing Detective Harlow Quinn onto the derelict platform of the abandoned Camden tube station. She strode out with military precision, worn leather watch strapped to her wrist as always. The air hung thick and musty, tinged with ozone and decay. Pigeon droppings spattered the ground in abstract patterns. Harlow surveyed the scene with shrewd brown eyes, taking in every detail. Graffiti tags and drifts of trash spoke of decades of disuse. In the tunnel, emergency lamps cast stark shadows, throwing the tracks into sharp relief. But something was off. Very off. Among the civilian investigators milling about, Harlow spotted her least favorite occult expert - Aurora's bookish childhood friend, Eva Kowalski. The academic stood off to the side, her round glasses reflecting the harsh light. Freckles stood out against her fair skin. Eva clutched her ever-present leather satchel, looking uncomfortable as the suited techs and uninformed officers bustled around her. Harlow approached, her sharp jaw set. "Miss Kowalski. I wasn't expecting to see you at a crime scene again so soon." Her tone stopped just short of accusatory. As far as Harlow was concerned, Aurora and her friends were persons of interest. Eva shifted, tucking a lock of curly red hair behind her ear in a nervous tell. "Detective. I'm as surprised as you are. I just... had a feeling I should come by today." "A feeling. Right." Harlow didn't bother hiding her skepticism. "Where's your partner in mischief?" "Aurora's at work. Listen, Detective, there's something strange happening. Have you taken a close look around?" "I was about to." Without waiting for a response, Harlow moved to examine the scene. The body lay beside the tracks, sprawled at an unnatural angle. A backpack lay split open nearby, mundane contents scattered in the grime. Except... that metal cylinder glinting in the torchlight was no water bottle. Harlow pulled on a latex glove and carefully extracted the object. A small compass, its brass casing etched with symbols. The needle spun erratically. "What have you got there?" Eva crouched down beside her. "Oh. Wow. That's a Veil Compass. See the markings?" Harlow turned it in her fingers, brow furrowed. The face had a greenish patina. Delicate sigils decorated the surface. "What does it do?" Eva's reply was grim. "Finds the closest source of supernatural energy. Detective... this man was looking for a rift." The pieces clicked together in Harlow's mind with a chill of premonition. The victim, armed with an arcane device, searching a decrepit station. The albino snakes, unnatural creatures drawn to the site. She swung around to face Eva. "You said there are hidden markets that deal in this sort of thing. Is there one located here, in the old station?" Eva hesitated, then sighed. "Yes. The Veil Market. It moves locations monthly, but this is the right time and place. It's supposed to be a secret." Harlow studied her for a long, tense moment. Then she was on her feet, snapping orders. "I want this entire station searched, every inch. If there's a connection to the Market here, we'll find it." She turned back to Eva, a hard glint in her eye. "And you, Miss Kowalski. Don't leave town. I'm sure I'll have more questions for you soon."