Run: 2026-02-19-01KHT0AG857N16G60KVWDS1H0R

Detective Quinn stepped out of the cramped Tube carriage and onto the rusty platform, her eyes scanning the dimly lit space. The air reeked of mildew and decay. The abandoned station beneath Camden was a place few people ventured willingly. A chill ran down her spine as she gazed out at the scattered debris and peeling posters. Her partner, DI Ray, was already on the scene, his voice booming through the cavernous space. "Quinn, get down here, we've got a body!" Quinn quickened her pace, her military-trained bearing evident in her purposeful stride. She navigated the rubble-strewn platform, dodging discarded trash and broken glass. As she approached the cluster of police officers surrounding a lone figure, a shiver ran down her spine. The air seemed to thicken, heavy with an unseen presence. Aurora, the victim, lay on her back, eyes open to the darkness above. Quinn's gaze narrowed as she surveyed the scene. The young woman's body was posed, limbs arranged in a deliberate pattern. The delicate fingers of her left hand clasped a small brass compass, its verdigris patina glinting in the dim light. A hint of supernatural energy seemed to emanate from the object. "Eyewitness said they found her like this, Quinn," DI Ray called out, his voice laced with a mixture of curiosity and concern. "No signs of forced entry or struggle." Quinn's eyes locked onto the compass, her mind racing with the implications. She remembered the case files from the Veil Market, the underground supernatural black market. This symbol was too reminiscent of the symbolism used by the clique. Her gut told her there was more to this scene than met the eye. "Eva's on her way," DI Ray continued, "she's been digging into the occult aspect of this case. Thinks it might be connected to the Veil Market." Quinn's gaze snapped to Ray. "What makes you think that?" Ray hesitated, glancing at the victim's body before returning his gaze to Quinn. "The positioning, the symbols... it's too deliberate. And that compass, Quinn, it's not something you just find lying around." Quinn crouched beside the body, her eyes never leaving the compass. She took a deep breath, letting the evidence wash over her. The positing, the symbols – all of it screamed of a message. A message from the Veil Market, or from someone else entirely. Her mind whirred with theories as she made her way through the surrounding officers. A faint scent of sandalwood and myrrh wafted through the air, catching her attention. Quinn's gaze landed on a small vial of oil nestled among the debris. The cap was still intact, and the liquid within seemed to shimmer with a faint, otherworldly light. "What's this?" she asked, holding up the vial for DI Ray to see. Ray's eyes widened as he took in the contents. "Don't know, Quinn. But I think Eva might have some insight." Quinn's gaze never wavered from the vial. "Let's get it to Eva, see if she can decipher the significance. This case just got a whole lot more interesting." As she stood, Quinn's eyes met DI Ray's, a silent understanding passing between them. They knew that in this world of the Veil Market, nothing was as it seemed. The truth lay hidden, waiting to be uncovered by those who dared to see beyond the surface. With the vial secure in her hand, Quinn began to examine the surrounding area more closely, searching for any other clues that might have been missed. The air seemed to grow thick with an unseen presence, as if the very shadows themselves were watching her every move. She felt it, that creeping sense of unease, but Quinn pushed on, driven by her training and her determination to unravel the threads of this mystery. "Eyewitness said they saw nothing unusual around the time of the discovery," one of the officers called out. "Just a bunch of people hurrying through the station, not paying attention to anything in particular." Quinn's gaze narrowed as she turned to face the officer. "I want to know who this eyewitness is. I want to talk to them." The officer nodded, flipping open his notebook to retrieve the name and contact information. Quinn's eyes scanned the page, her mind racing with possibilities. This case was going to require all her skill and expertise to unravel.