Run: 2026-02-17-01KHMPC82ETDBK25KQ6PVA3FP6

Detective Harlow Quinn stepped off the last rung of the rusted ladder, her boots landing with a soft thud on the damp concrete floor of the abandoned Tube station. The air was thick with the scent of mildew and something else—something metallic and sharp that set her instincts on edge. She paused, adjusting the collar of her coat against the chill that seemed to seep from the very walls, and took in the scene before her. The Veil Market, usually a bustling hub of clandestine activity, lay eerily silent. Stalls that once brimmed with enchanted trinkets and forbidden potions stood empty, their wares hastily abandoned. The only movement came from the flickering shadows cast by the dim, sputtering lights strung haphazardly along the ceiling. Harlow's sharp brown eyes scanned the area, noting the signs of a hasty evacuation—overturned crates, scattered papers, and a lone shoe lying forlornly in the middle of the walkway. "Detective Quinn," a voice called out, echoing off the tiled walls. Harlow turned to see Eva Kowalski emerging from the shadows, her curly red hair a vivid contrast against the gloom. Eva adjusted her round glasses, a nervous habit that Harlow had come to recognize as a sign of unease. The worn leather satchel slung across her shoulder bulged with books, its weight pulling her slightly off balance. "Eva," Harlow acknowledged, her voice steady. "What have we got?" Eva hesitated, tucking a stray curl behind her ear. "It's... strange, Harlow. The Market was in full swing last night, and then—nothing. Everyone's gone. But that's not the half of it." She gestured for Harlow to follow, leading her deeper into the station. They passed through a narrow archway, the walls lined with faded posters from a bygone era. The room beyond was larger, its ceiling lost in shadow. In the center, a circle of salt had been meticulously laid out, its edges sharp and unbroken. At its heart lay a small brass compass, its casing tarnished with verdigris, the needle spinning lazily in circles. "The Veil Compass," Eva explained, her voice barely above a whisper. "It was found here, untouched. But look at the markings." Harlow crouched beside the compass, her eyes narrowing as she examined the sigils etched into its face. They were familiar, protective symbols meant to ward off malevolent forces. Yet something about them seemed off, as if they had been altered or tampered with. "These sigils," Harlow murmured, tracing a finger over the intricate lines. "They're not right. Someone's tried to change them." Eva nodded, her expression troubled. "That's what I thought. But why? And why leave the compass here, of all places?" Harlow rose, her mind racing. The Veil Compass was a tool of immense value, capable of detecting supernatural rifts and portals. Leaving it behind made no sense—unless it was meant to be found. "Someone wanted us to see this," Harlow concluded, her voice firm. "But why? And what happened to the Market?" Eva shifted, her eyes darting to the shadows. "There's more. I found traces of blood near the entrance. Not much, but enough to suggest a struggle." Harlow's jaw tightened, memories of her partner, DS Morris, flashing unbidden through her mind. She pushed them aside, focusing on the task at hand. "Show me." They retraced their steps, the silence pressing in around them. Near the entrance, Eva pointed to a dark stain on the floor, barely visible in the dim light. Harlow knelt, examining the area with a practiced eye. The blood was fresh, the droplets scattered in a pattern that suggested a violent encounter. "Whoever it was, they didn't go quietly," Harlow observed, rising to her feet. "But there's no body, no sign of where they went." Eva nodded, her expression grim. "It's like they vanished into thin air." Harlow's mind worked furiously, piecing together the fragments of evidence. The altered sigils, the abandoned compass, the traces of blood—it all pointed to something larger, something that defied easy explanation. She glanced at Eva, noting the tension in her friend's posture. "Eva, you know more about this world than I do. What could cause something like this?" Eva hesitated, her eyes flicking to the compass. "There are... stories. Of rifts that open unexpectedly, swallowing everything in their path. But they're just that—stories." Harlow considered this, her instincts telling her there was more to the tale. "And if they're not just stories? If someone wanted to open a rift here, why?" Eva shook her head, frustration evident in her voice. "I don't know, Harlow. But whatever it is, it's dangerous. We need to be careful." Harlow nodded, her resolve hardening. She had lost one partner to the unknown; she wouldn't lose another friend. "We'll figure it out, Eva. But first, we need to find out who was here last night and what they were after." They spent the next hour combing through the Market, searching for any clue that might shed light on the mystery. Harlow's sharp eyes missed nothing, cataloging every detail, every anomaly. Yet the more they found, the more questions arose. As they worked, Harlow couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. The shadows seemed to shift and dance at the edges of her vision, and the air was thick with a tension that set her nerves on edge. She kept her hand close to her sidearm, ready for anything. Finally, as they stood once more in the center of the Market, Eva spoke, her voice low and urgent. "Harlow, look at this." She held out a small object, its surface gleaming dully in the dim light. It was a bone token, the kind used to gain entry to the Market. But this one was different, its surface etched with the same altered sigils as the compass. Harlow took the token, her mind racing. "This is it, Eva. This is what they were after." Eva frowned, confusion clouding her features. "But why? What does it mean?" Harlow turned the token over in her hand, the weight of it heavy with implications. "I don't know yet. But I intend to find out." As they made their way back to the surface, Harlow's mind was a whirlwind of possibilities. The evidence didn't add up, but she was determined to unravel the truth. Whatever had happened in the Veil Market, it was only the beginning. And she would be ready for whatever came next.