Run: 2026-02-17-01KHMPGAP1PA0MR5Q5DX71H3WD

In the heart of Richmond Park, where the ancient oaks stood sentinel, Aurora Carter stepped into the Fae Grove. The moon hung low, a silver coin in the night sky, casting dappled shadows through the canopy. She had come here on a whim, drawn by Eva's tale of the grove's strange allure, but now, alone in the hush of night, she felt a prickle of unease. The wildflowers bloomed year-round, their colors muted in the moonlight, like a faded painting. The air was heavy with their scent, sweet and cloying, as if the grove held its breath. Rory's boots crunched on the gravel path, the sound echoing too loudly in the silence. She paused, listening. Silence pressed back, thick and expectant. She reached up, fingers tracing the crescent-shaped scar on her wrist. A childhood memento from a fall, or so her mother had said. But lately, it itched when she felt watched, like now. She shook off the thought, her breath misting in the cool air. The standing stones loomed ahead, their ancient faces carved with runes that seemed to writhe in the moonlight. She had seen them before, in photos, but they were different in the flesh. Older. Hungrier. She hesitated, then stepped between them, feeling a shiver run down her spine as she crossed the threshold. Time moved differently here, Eva had warned. An hour inside could be minutes or days outside. Rory checked her watch, a habit more than anything. It was late, but not too late. Yet. She tucked a strand of straight, shoulder-length black hair behind her ear, her bright blue eyes scanning the grove. The silence was absolute. No rustle of leaves, no hoot of an owl. Just the soft thrum of her own heartbeat. She took a deep breath, the scent of wildflowers filling her lungs. Then she heard it. A whisper, like fabric rustling. She turned, eyes searching the shadows. Nothing moved. She waited, heart pounding, but the sound didn't repeat. Rory started walking again, her steps slower now, more cautious. The grove felt...wrong. Not quite alive, but not quite dead either. Like it was holding its breath, waiting. For what, she didn't know. But the feeling grew with each step, a creeping dread that made the hairs on her neck stand on end. She reached into her pocket, fingers closing around the Heartstone Pendant. A gift from an unknown benefactor, its deep crimson gemstone pulsed faintly with warmth, a faint inner glow casting eerie shadows on her fingers. It was supposed to help her navigate the Fae realm, but here, in the grove, it felt...alive. Pulsing in time with her heartbeat, growing warmer as she walked deeper into the grove. A twig snapped. She froze, eyes darting towards the sound. Nothing. Just shadows dancing in the moonlight. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. It was just the grove, playing tricks on her. She was alone. She had to be. But as she started walking again, she couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. The grove was alive, she realized, but not with life as she knew it. It was alive with something else. Something ancient. Something hungry. The pendant grew warmer, its glow brighter. She looked down at it, then back up, her eyes widening as she saw them. Shadows, moving at the edge of her vision. She turned, trying to catch them, but they were always just out of sight. Taunting her. She broke into a run, heart pounding in her chest. The shadows kept pace, always just out of reach. She could hear them now, their footsteps echoing hers, their breath ragged in sync with hers. She could feel their presence, cold and malevolent, pressing against her back. She stumbled, falling to her knees. The pendant slipped from her fingers, rolling away into the undergrowth. She reached for it, desperation clawing at her throat. Her fingers brushed against it, but it was too late. The shadows were upon her, their cold touch like ice on her skin. She screamed, a sound that echoed through the grove, bouncing off the ancient stones. Then, silence. The shadows paused, their touch lingering, then they were gone. Vanished into the night, leaving her alone in the grove. Rory scrambled for the pendant, finding it nestled among the wildflowers. It was cold now, its glow faded. She clutched it in her fist, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She had to leave. Now. She stumbled to her feet, turning towards the standing stones. But they were gone. Or rather, they were there, but they were...wrong. Their faces twisted into grimaces, their runes writhing like snakes. She backed away, fear coiling in her stomach. Then she heard it again. The whisper. Louder this time. Closer. She turned, eyes wide, and saw it. A figure, standing at the edge of the grove. Tall, with long, flowing hair. Its face was hidden, but she could feel its eyes on her. Watching. Waiting. She turned to run, but it was too late. The figure stepped forward, its face still hidden. Then, it spoke. "Welcome, Aurora Carter," it said, its voice like ice. "We've been waiting for you." Rory screamed, the sound echoing through the grove as darkness claimed her.