Run: 2026-02-17-01KHMPBCEEN8GT4N7PB5H18G3G

Detective Harlow Quinn adjusted her worn leather watch, the strap creaking under the weight of her reflections. The underground passage was cold, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and something else—something tangy, almost metallic. Her boots echoed on the smooth stone floor as she followed the path into the abandoned Tube station beneath Camden. The Veil Market, a place of whispers and shadows, had moved here on the night of the full moon, leaving behind the remnants of a crime. Eva Kowalski, her friend and an occult researcher, stood by the entrance, her curly red hair tucked behind her left ear. Her freckled complexion was pale, and her round glasses reflected the flickering light of the torches lining the walls. Beside her, a worn leather satchel bulged with books and notes. "Detective Quinn," Eva said, her voice tinged with a mix of relief and tension. "Thank you for coming. The place is still crawling with the market's leftovers, but the real issue is deeper." Quinn nodded, her sharp jaw set in determination. "Lead the way, Eva. What exactly am I looking at?" As they moved deeper into the station, the air grew colder. The walls, once lined with advertisements and posters, now bore the marks of a place long forgotten. Graffiti in strange runes and symbols covered the surfaces, a testament to the market's clandestine nature. Quinn's eyes scanned the area, her mind piecing together the puzzle. They reached a large, circular chamber where the market had likely convened. The ground was littered with discarded items—enchanted trinkets, vials of dubious contents, and scraps of parchment. In the center, a small pool of water reflected the dim light, its surface undisturbed. "That's where it happened," Eva said, pointing to the pool. "A young woman was found drowned here, though the water is barely a few inches deep. No marks on her body, no signs of struggle." Quinn knelt beside the pool, her fingers brushing the water's surface. It felt unnaturally cold, almost numb. She stood, her gaze sweeping the room. "This doesn't make sense. Someone doesn't just drown in a few inches of water." A uniformed officer, DS Lewis, approached. He was a few years younger than Quinn, with a eager face and a notebook in hand. "Detective, the coroner's report is in. Cause of death is drowning, but it's a peculiar case. No water was found in her lungs, no signs of asphyxiation. It's like she was—" "Strangled by the water itself," Quinn finished, her voice low. "And you think it's natural, do you?" Lewis shifted, his confidence wavering. "Well, it's unusual, but—" "The market," Quinn said, her eyes narrowing. "This isn't just any crime scene. The Veil Market deals in the supernatural, and so does this death." Eva nodded, her voice steady. "There are rumors of a curse, something that lures people in and drowns them. But it's just that—rumors. No one knows the truth." Quinn's gaze fell on a small, brass compass lying forgotten on a nearby crate. The casing was etched with protective sigils, and a patina of verdigris covered its surface. She picked it up, her thumb tracing the needle. It spun for a moment, then pointed directly at the pool of water. "This is a Veil Compass," she said, her voice heavy with understanding. "It points to supernatural rifts or portals. Whatever happened here, it's not just about the water. It's about the energy in this place." She walked to the edge of the pool, the compass still in hand. "Eva, bring me one of those vials from the ground. It might hold a clue." Eva complied, returning with a small glass vial filled with a milky liquid. Quinn uncorked it, sniffing the contents. The scent was sharp, almost acrid. She looked at the compass again, the needle still steady. "Whatever was in that vial, it's part of the equation. Maybe a ritual, or a potion. Something that could manipulate the water." Lewis, intrigued, leaned in. "You think someone used magic to kill her?" Quinn's eyes met his, her expression stern. "I think we're dealing with something beyond our usual jurisdiction. But we need to follow the evidence where it leads." She stood, tucking the vial into her pocket. "Eva, do you recognize this liquid?" Eva examined the vial, her brow furrowing. "It looks like a variant of mercurial essence, a rare alchemical substance used to bind spirits. It's highly dangerous if mishandled." Quinn nodded, a plan forming in her mind. "We need to find out who was selling this. And we need to do it quickly." As they regrouped, Quinn's thoughts drifted to her late partner, DS Morris. The unexplained circumstances of his death, the supernatural elements she had never fully understood, lingered in her mind. She owed it to him, and to this young woman, to uncover the truth. "We'll start with the vendors," she said, turning to Lewis. "Get a list of everyone who was here tonight. And find out who was last seen near the victim." Lewis nodded, his face set with determination. "On it, Detective." Quinn turned back to Eva. "In the meantime, see if you can find any records of similar incidents. We need to know what we're facing." Eva nodded, already rifling through her satchel. "I'll check the archives and my contacts. We'll get to the bottom of this." As the team dispersed, Quinn's gaze lingered on the small pool of water. The Veil Compass in her hand seemed to pulse with a faint, otherworldly energy. She knew this case would test her limits, but she was ready. For Morris, and for the truth. The underground station was a labyrinth of secrets, and Detective Harlow Quinn was determined to unravel every one of them.