Run: 2026-02-17-01KHMPEKH8R7VT8ZKT999WK54Y

The moon hung low over Richmond Park, casting a silvery glow that danced across the ancient oak standing stones marking the boundary of the Fae Grove. Aurora Carter, known to her friends as Rory, stood at the edge of the clearing, her breath visible in the crisp night air. She clutched the Heartstone Pendant, its deep crimson gemstone pulsing faintly against her palm, a subtle warmth that seemed to seep into her skin. The silver chain dangled between her fingers, catching the moonlight like a spider’s web. Rory had come here for answers. The pendant, given to her by an unknown benefactor, had led her to this place, its warmth intensifying as she approached the grove. She had heard whispers of the Fae Grove, a hidden clearing that existed in a pocket between Earth and the Fae realm, where time moved differently. An hour inside could be minutes or days outside. The thought unsettled her, but curiosity and a need for understanding drove her forward. The grove was eerily silent, save for the occasional rustle of leaves in the gentle breeze. Wildflowers bloomed in vibrant colors, defying the season, their petals glistening with dew. Rory took a cautious step forward, her boots crunching softly on the grass. The air felt thick, charged with an energy that made the hair on her arms stand on end. As she moved deeper into the grove, the wrongness began to creep in. It was subtle at first—a whisper of sound that didn’t belong, a flicker of movement at the edge of her vision. She paused, her heart thudding in her chest, and scanned the clearing. Nothing. Just the standing stones, the wildflowers, and the moonlit shadows stretching across the ground. Rory shook her head, trying to dispel the unease that clung to her like a second skin. She was alone. She had to be. But the feeling persisted, a growing certainty that she was not as solitary as she appeared. She tightened her grip on the pendant, its warmth a small comfort in the encroaching darkness. A soft rustling drew her attention to the left. She turned sharply, her eyes narrowing as she peered into the shadows. The trees stood silent and still, their branches swaying gently in the breeze. She took a deep breath, willing her racing heart to slow. It was just the wind, she told herself. Just the wind. But the rustling came again, closer this time, and Rory’s skin prickled with unease. She took a step back, her foot catching on a root, and stumbled. The pendant slipped from her grasp, swinging wildly on its chain before settling against her chest. She steadied herself, her eyes darting around the grove, searching for the source of the sound. A low, melodic hum began to fill the air, a haunting tune that seemed to emanate from the very stones themselves. It was beautiful and terrible all at once, a song that tugged at the edges of her mind, urging her to listen, to follow. Rory shook her head, trying to clear the fog that threatened to cloud her thoughts. She couldn’t lose herself here. Not now. The hum grew louder, more insistent, and Rory felt an inexplicable pull toward the center of the grove. Her feet moved of their own accord, carrying her forward despite the warning bells ringing in her mind. She reached the heart of the clearing, where the standing stones formed a perfect circle, and stopped. The air was different here, heavier, as if the very fabric of reality was stretched thin. Rory could feel it pressing down on her, a tangible weight that made it hard to breathe. She glanced around, her bright blue eyes wide with apprehension. The shadows seemed to shift and writhe, forming shapes that danced just beyond the reach of the moonlight. A sudden chill swept through the grove, and Rory shivered, wrapping her arms around herself. The pendant pulsed against her chest, its warmth a stark contrast to the cold that seeped into her bones. She took a step back, her instincts screaming at her to leave, to run, but her feet refused to obey. The hum reached a crescendo, a symphony of sound that filled the clearing, and Rory felt a presence behind her. She spun around, her heart leaping into her throat, but there was nothing there. Just the stones and the shadows, silent and watchful. “Who’s there?” she called, her voice barely more than a whisper. The grove swallowed the sound, leaving her words hanging in the air like a fragile thread. Silence answered her, a heavy, oppressive silence that pressed in from all sides. Rory’s pulse thundered in her ears, and she took another step back, her eyes darting from shadow to shadow. She could feel it now, the presence, a dark, malevolent force that seemed to seep from the very ground beneath her feet. The pendant flared with heat, a sudden, searing warmth that made her gasp. She clutched it tightly, the metal biting into her palm, and felt a surge of energy course through her. It was as if the pendant was alive, a living thing that pulsed with power and purpose. Rory closed her eyes, focusing on the warmth, the steady rhythm that matched the beat of her heart. She could feel the presence circling her, a predator stalking its prey, and she knew she had to act. She couldn’t let it take her, couldn’t let it drag her into the darkness. With a deep breath, she opened her eyes and took a step forward, her gaze fixed on the standing stones. The hum had faded to a low, thrumming pulse, a heartbeat that echoed her own. She could feel the energy building, a crescendo of power that crackled in the air around her. The presence loomed closer, a shadow that threatened to engulf her, and Rory knew she had to move. She took another step, then another, her feet finding purchase on the uneven ground. The pendant pulsed in time with her steps, guiding her, urging her onward. As she reached the edge of the grove, the presence surged forward, a wave of darkness that threatened to swallow her whole. Rory stumbled, her breath catching in her throat, but she didn’t stop. She couldn’t stop. Not now. With a final, desperate burst of speed, she broke free of the grove, the standing stones falling away behind her. The presence faltered, held at bay by the boundary, and Rory collapsed to her knees, gasping for breath. The pendant lay warm and heavy against her chest, its glow a faint, reassuring light in the darkness. She clutched it tightly, her fingers trembling, and felt a sense of calm wash over her. She had made it. She was safe. For now.