Run: 2026-02-17-01KHMPF2DDJ4HDFNGT4SMSMWWF

The darkness within the Fae Grove was almost palpable, a living entity that wrapped around Rory like a shroud. She stepped cautiously, her eyes straining to pierce the gloom. The ancient oak standing stones, once a reassuring presence, now loomed like sentinels, their branches etched against the faint moonlight like skeletal fingers. Rory's hand instinctively went to the Heartstone Pendant, its deep crimson gemstone pulsing faintly with warmth against her chest. She had come to the Grove seeking solace, a respite from the turmoil that had been brewing in her life. The pendant, a gift from an unknown benefactor, seemed to hum with an otherworldly energy, drawing her to this place. Yet, as she walked deeper into the clearing, a growing sense of unease began to crawl under her skin. The air was heavy with the scent of wildflowers, their delicate blooms swaying in the breeze like ghostly whispers. Rory's footfalls echoed through the stillness, the only sound in a silence that felt oppressive. She slowed her pace, her senses on high alert. Something didn't feel right. A faint rustling in the underbrush caught her attention. Rory's heart quickened as she spun toward the noise, her eyes scanning the darkness. A rabbit, its eyes glowing like lanterns in the dark, darted across her path. She exhaled a shaky breath, chiding herself for the jumpiness. But the feeling of being watched persisted. As she continued through the Grove, the silence began to take on a life of its own. The trees seemed to loom closer, their branches tangling overhead like a canopy of skeletal fingers. Rory's skin prickled with gooseflesh. She could have sworn she heard the soft creak of a branch, the faint whisper of a voice on the wind. But whenever she turned to listen, there was nothing. A faint, flickering glow caught her attention. A wildflower, its petals shimmering like moonlight, seemed to be growing in the center of the clearing. Rory approached cautiously, her hand still clutching the pendant. As she drew closer, the flower's glow intensified, casting an ethereal light across the surrounding trees. Suddenly, the petals folded inward, plunging the clearing into darkness. Rory's breath caught in her throat. The silence was absolute, a vacuum that seemed to suck the air from her lungs. And then, a low, keening wail echoed through the Grove, sending shivers down her spine. The sound seemed to come from all directions at once, a mournful cry that spoke of ancient sorrow and loss. Rory's heart pounded in her chest as she spun around, trying to locate the source of the wail. But there was nothing to see. The trees stood motionless, their branches creaking softly in the breeze. The wail grew louder, more insistent, until it seemed to be coming from inside her own head. Rory's vision began to blur, the darkness closing in around her like a suffocating shroud. She stumbled, her foot catching on a hidden root. As she fell, the pendant's glow surged, casting an eerie light across the surrounding trees. For a moment, Rory saw something moving at the edge of her vision – a shadowy figure, its eyes glowing like lanterns in the dark. She tried to scream, but her voice was lost in the wail, which seemed to be building to a crescendo. And then, everything went black. When Rory came to, she was lying on the forest floor, the moon overhead casting an silver glow across the clearing. The wail had stopped, replaced by an oppressive silence. She sat up slowly, her head spinning, and looked around. The wildflowers still bloomed, their delicate petals swaying in the breeze. But something was different. The air felt heavier, the shadows deeper and more sinister. Rory knew, with a certainty that chilled her to the bone, that she was not alone in the Grove. The pendant, still pulsing with warmth against her chest, seemed to be urging her to leave. She scrambled to her feet, her eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of movement. And then, she turned and ran, not stopping until she stumbled out of the Grove and into the bright, shining lights of the mortal world.