Run: 2026-02-17-01KHMPFFCPBR3YF6SEWE232ZZZ

Aurora Carter stood at the entrance to the Fae Grove, her breath coming in slow, measured exhales as she tried to quell the unease that had been gnawing at her since she had crossed the threshold. The ancient oak standing stones rose from the forest floor like silent sentinels, their darkened bark absorbing the moonlight. The dense canopy above created a tunnel into darkness, its leafy branches whispering secrets with the nocturnal breeze. She pulled her leather jacket closer and stared down at the small crescent-shaped scar on her left wrist, a whispered reminder of her childhood – a safer, simpler time. The Heartstone Pendant hung around her neck, its faint inner glow barely perceptible through the fabric of her shirt. Rory's fingers brushed against the deep crimson gemstone, seeking comfort in its slight warmth. She had been told to come here, to Richmond Park’s hidden clearing, by an anonymous letter delivered to her flat's door. The note’s elegant calligraphy simply stated: "Find the Heartstone's pulse." Rory stepped forward, the dry leaves crunching beneath her boots, an alarmingly loud sound in the near-total silence. Her bright blue eyes scanned the path ahead as shadowed tendrils of foliage seemed to close in behind her. Silas at the bar had insisted the place existed in a pocket between the human world and the Fae realm. Stories of its peculiar time behavior fluttered through her mind like moths trapped in a jar – an hour inside could translate to minutes or days outside. Slowly, she walked deeper into the Grove, the air becoming thicker, each breath carrying the scent of earth and old growth. She passed a cluster of wildflowers that defiantly bloomed year-round. They shone like pinpricks of color amidst the muted shades of the surrounding underbrush. Silence enveloped her, but it wasn't the calming silence of a peaceful night; it was heavy, expectant, as if the entire forest held its breath. A low thrum vibrated against her chest. She glanced at the pendant, the glow becoming slightly more pronounced. Her heart rate quickened, and with it, the feeling of wrongness crept in like icy fingers against the nape of her neck. Rory raised a hand to rub the chill away, shaking off the remnants of the London fog that seemed to cling to her skin. A twig snapped to her right, followed by a quick rustle of leaves. She whipped her head towards the sound, the silver chain of the pendant swinging with her sudden movement. Nothing. Just the shadowed form of a gnarled tree, its twisted limbs reaching towards the sky in a grotesque ballet. Rory clenched her jaw, fighting back the tendrils of fear. She had faced her demons before – Evan's memory flashed in her mind – but this felt different, otherworldly. She took another calculated step forward, her senses on high alert. The Grove seemed to breathe with her, an eerie symphony of rustling leaves and the occasional hoot of an owl. Just as she steeled herself to continue, a faint whispering drifted through the trees, a susurrus of voices speaking a language she couldn't recognize. The sound raked along her spine, prickling her skin with cold dread. Rory stopped, her pulse hammering in her ears. Straining to identify the source of the unsettling whispers, she scanned the underbrush, the pendant's glow casting a faint light on her surroundings. Shadows moved at the edge of her vision, darting between the trees like restless phantoms. Her mouth grew dry as she stifled the urge to call out, knowing instinctively that breaking the silence could invite trouble. The Heartstone grew warmer, a heartbeat within the gem echoing her own. She tightened her grip around it, trying to draw strength from its mysterious warmth. The path twisted ahead of her, revealing a faint glimmer of light that beckoned her onward. Against her better judgment, she moved towards it, each step measured and deliberate. A howl broke the silence, high-pitched and filled with an anguish that made her stop dead in her tracks. Sweat beaded on her forehead as she looked around, the sound echoing in the Grove's stillness. The pendant pulsed rapidly now, and Rory knew she was close. But to what? She rounded the twisted path, reaching a small clearing illuminated by an ethereal glow. At its center lay a stone altar, smooth and worn by untold ages. The air around it shimmered, distorting reality like a heat haze. Rory’s pulse quickened as she drew nearer, the pendant’s heat becoming almost unbearable. She placed a hand on the cool stone and the sense of wrongness intensified. It was as if the ground beneath her feet was no longer solid. A dark shadow flitted at the corner of her vision, and she turned – but nothing was there. The whispered voices grew louder, circling her like a dark chant. She could feel the weight of unseen eyes watching her every move. The pendant tugged at her neck, an unseen force pulling it towards the altar. She reached up with trembling fingers and unclasped the chain, hesitating for a moment before placing it on the stone. The second the Heartstone touched the altar, the whispers ceased, and the Grove fell into an unnatural silence. The air grew still, the tension thick and suffocating. A cold sweat broke out across her skin as she backed away, the hair on her arms standing on end. Suddenly, the Heartstone flared to life, its crimson glow intensifying until it was blinding. Rory shielded her eyes, taking a step back as the ground beneath her feet trembled. With a sound that was both a sigh and a cry, the air around her rippled, and a figure began to materialize before her. Her breath hitched as the form took shape – a tall, willowy figure draped in flowing robes of midnight blue. Its piercing eyes, aglow with an otherworldly light, locked onto hers. It was not human, not wholly. Something ancient and powerful radiated from it, a presence that made her heart race with a mixture of dread and awe. The being spoke, its voice a whisper that resonated deep within her bones. "You have brought the Heartstone, Aurora Carter. You seek the portal, but it is not without its price." Rory’s voice quavered as she forced herself to speak. "What do you want from me?" The figure's lips curled into a smile that held no warmth. "Only a choice. Step through the portal, and you may find what you seek, but your return is not guaranteed. Or leave now, and you will remain safe, though ignorant." Rory glanced around the Grove, the shadows pressing in, the quiet unnerving. The thought of returning to her life, unchanged and forever wondering, gnawed at her. She squared her shoulders, swallowed her fear, and met the figure’s gaze. "Show me the portal." The smile deepened, and the figure raised a hand, gesturing toward a point in the air. The Heartstone lit up once more, its glow revealing a swirling vortex that seemed to defy the very fabric of reality. Rory felt the pull, a magnetic force drawing her towards it. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for whatever lay beyond. And with one final glance back at the silent Grove, she stepped into the unknown. The world twisted and warped around her, and the last thing she heard was the whisper of the figure's voice, echoing through the void. "Welcome to the other side." Then, darkness enveloped her, and everything changed.