Run: 2026-02-17-01KHMPDST4WAT65RQW9TN5PAFG

Detective Harlow Quinn stepped out of the unmarked car and onto the damp cobblestones of Camden. The streetlights flickered overhead, casting a pale, sickly glow over the abandoned Tube station’s entrance. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and something else, something metallic and faintly sweet, like the edge of a storm. She checked her worn leather watch, the second hand ticking with military precision. It was just after midnight, the time when the shadows grew longer and the world seemed to hold its breath. The entrance to the old station was marked by a heavy iron gate, padlocked and plastered with warnings in several languages. Quinn's eyes narrowed as she scanned the perimeter. Something about this place didn't sit right. The padlocks were new, the graffiti fresh, but the feeling was ancient, as if the very stones remembered a different time. "Eva," she called, her voice steady. "You sure this is the right place?" Eva Kowalski, clutching her worn leather satchel, stepped forward. Her curly red hair was tucked behind her glasses, and her freckled complexion was pale in the dim light. She nodded, tucking a strand of hair behind her left ear, a nervous habit Quinn had noticed before. "According to the records, yes. This abandoned station is one of the entrances to the Veil Market. But it's supposed to move locations every full moon. We're not due for another week." Quinn's sharp jaw tightened. "But it's here now. And there's a body inside." Eva's eyes widened. "A body?" "Freshly dead. Look, the padlocks are new, but the gate is open." Quinn pushed the gate, and it creaked open with a reluctant squeal. They stepped inside, the sound of their footsteps echoing through the empty tunnel. The station was a maze of twisted metal and broken tiles. The walls were damp, and the air was heavy with the scent of decay. Quinn's flashlight cut through the darkness, revealing a path that led deeper into the underground labyrinth. "Keep your eyes open," Quinn murmured. "Something's not right." Eva nodded, her gaze darting around. "Do you think it's the market itself?" "Maybe. Or maybe someone else is using it as a cover." They reached a platform where the concrete had crumbled away, revealing a hollowed-out space beneath. In the center, lit by the ghostly glow of an ancient lantern, lay a man in a black suit. His eyes were wide open, staring at nothing, and his skin was a deathly pallor. Quinn knelt beside the body, her gloved hands moving methodically. "Time of death?" Eva peeked over her shoulder, pulling out a small notebook from her satchel. "Hard to say, but the rigor's starting to set. Maybe two, three hours." Quinn nodded, her eyes scanning the area. "No ID, no wallet, no phone. He was stripped clean. But look at this." She pointed to a small, circular wound on the man's neck. "Almost looks like a bite mark." Eva's brow furrowed. "That's not normal. Could be something supernatural." Quinn stood, her gaze scanning the platform. "This place has been disturbed. Someone was here, and they didn't want to be found. Look at the tracks, the scuffs on the wall. Someone dragged something—or someone—through here." Eva nodded, her eyes following the path of disruption. "But why here? Why not just use the market itself?" "Because the market is a distraction," Quinn said, her voice low. "Whoever did this wanted to make it look like a market-related crime. But they made a mistake. They're not as careful as they think." Eva's eyes widened. "Do you think it's the same person who…?" Quinn's expression hardened. "The same person who killed Morris? It's a possibility. But we need more evidence." She pulled out her phone and snapped a series of photos, her movements precise. "We'll need forensics down here. And we need to find out who this man is. His clothes, his shoes, his watch—everything's off the grid." Eva pulled out a small brass compass from her satchel, its casing patinated with verdigris. "Maybe this can help. It points toward the nearest supernatural rift or portal." Quinn took the compass, her fingers tracing the etched sigils on its face. "A Veil Compass. Good thinking." She held it out, and the needle began to spin, hesitating before settling on a direction. "It's leading us deeper into the station." They followed the compass, the path growing darker and more twisted. The air grew colder, and the sound of their footsteps was muffled by the damp earth. After what felt like an eternity, they reached a small alcove where the air shimmered with an otherworldly energy. In the center of the alcove stood a small, ornate door, carved with symbols that pulsed with a faint, eerie light. Quinn's instincts screamed at her to stay back, but she couldn't ignore the pull of the compass. "What is this place?" Eva whispered, her voice trembling. Quinn's gaze was steady. "I don't know, but it's important. We need to get a closer look." She reached out, her hand hovering over the door. The symbols flickered, and the air seemed to vibrate with an unseen force. Just as she was about to touch the door, a shadow moved in the corner of her eye. Quinn spun around, her hand going to her holster. A figure emerged from the darkness, a man in a dark cloak, his face obscured by a hood. "Stop right there," Quinn barked. "Who are you?" The man lifted his hood, revealing a face as pale as the dead man on the platform. His eyes were a deep, soulless black, and his lips curved into a cruel smile. "Detective Quinn, isn't it?" his voice was smooth, almost hypnotic. "I've been expecting you. You see, this is not just a crime scene. It's a message." "A message?" Quinn repeated, her hand steady on her gun. "To whom?" "To you, of course. To the one who can see what others miss." Quinn's eyes narrowed. "And what message is that?" The man's smile widened. "That the old world is not dead. It is merely sleeping, and it is awakening. You will find more like this, more signs. And when you do, you will understand." With that, he vanished into thin air, leaving behind a lingering aura of cold and darkness. Quinn's stomach churned. "Eva, we need to get out of here. Now." Eva nodded, her eyes wide with fear. They turned and hurried back through the tunnel, the compass still trembling in Quinn's hand. As they emerged into the cool night air, Quinn took a deep breath, her mind racing. "This is just the beginning," she murmured, her voice resolute. "And I will find out who is behind this." Eva tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her freckles standing out in the pale light. "I'm with you, Quinn. Whatever it takes." Quinn nodded, her eyes locked on the distant skyline. "Let's get started."