Run: 2026-02-17-01KHMPDVJ8WTGBF20BEMCKXC7Y

Aurora Carter stepped out of the mist-shrouded darkness of Richmond Park and into the Fae Grove, her eyes adjusting slowly to the soft, ethereal light that permeated the clearing. The air was heavy with the sweet scent of wildflowers, and the ancient oak standing stones loomed above her, their gnarled branches twisted into impossible shapes. She had been drawn to this place for a reason, though she couldn't quite put her finger on why. A sense of restlessness had been building inside her for weeks, ever since the strange package had arrived with no return address, containing only the Heartstone Pendant and a cryptic note that read: "For the lost, a beacon in the dark." As she walked deeper into the grove, the silence began to unnerve her. The trees seemed to absorb sound, leaving only an oppressive stillness that made her skin prickle. Rory shivered, despite the warmth of the summer evening, and wrapped her arms around herself. She had always been drawn to the unknown, the unexplained, and the Fae Grove was rumored to be a place where the boundaries between worlds were thin. But now, surrounded by the oppressive quiet, she wondered if she had made a terrible mistake. The pendant, which she wore around her neck, pulsed faintly with warmth against her skin, a gentle reminder that she wasn't alone. But the comfort it offered was short-lived, as her gaze caught on movement out of the corner of her eye. She spun around, but there was nothing there. The trees seemed to be shifting, their branches tangling together in a way that seemed almost... intentional. Rory's heart quickened, and she took a deep breath, telling herself it was just the wind. She continued on, her footsteps quiet on the soft earth, as she made her way deeper into the grove. The trees seemed to be closing in around her, casting long, ominous shadows on the ground. Every step felt like a betrayal, as if she was being herded towards some unknown fate. The pendant's warmth grew stronger, and she reached up to touch it, her fingers closing around the cool silver chain. A faint humming noise began to build in her ears, like the quiet buzzing of a harp string. It was a sound that seemed to come from all around her, and yet, from nowhere at all. Rory's skin crawled, and she spun around, trying to locate the source of the noise. But there was nothing to see. The humming grew louder, more insistent, and she felt a creeping sense of dread that she couldn't shake. She tried to tell herself it was just the wind, or the trees, or her own imagination playing tricks on her. But deep down, she knew it was something more. The Fae Grove was a place of ancient power, a threshold between worlds, and she had stumbled into it uninvited. The thought sent a shiver down her spine, and she quickened her pace, her eyes scanning the trees for any sign of movement. The humming stopped, abruptly, leaving an oppressive silence in its wake. Rory froze, her heart pounding in her chest, as she waited for something to happen. And then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw it. A figure, tall and imposing, standing just beyond the edge of the clearing. She spun around, but there was no one there. The trees seemed to be shifting again, their branches weaving together in a way that seemed almost... malevolent. Rory took a step back, her eyes scanning the trees, searching for any sign of movement. The pendant's warmth had grown to a gentle heat, and she felt a strange, thrumming energy building inside her. She knew, with a certainty that she couldn't explain, that she was not alone in the grove. Something was watching her, waiting for her to make a wrong move. She took another step back, her heart racing, as the trees seemed to close in around her. The air was thick with tension, and she could feel the weight of the grove's power bearing down on her. The pendant's glow seemed to be growing stronger, illuminating the darkness with an eerie, otherworldly light. Rory knew she had to get out of there, before it was too late. She turned to run, but her feet seemed rooted to the spot. The trees loomed above her, their branches tangling together in a way that seemed almost... deliberate. And then, out of the darkness, a low, whispery voice spoke a single word: "Welcome."