Run: 2026-02-19-01KHTQRHA7WS41XVJ09K4YQNSM

The air in the Fae Grove felt heavier than it should have, the kind of weight that pressed against Aurora’s skin like a damp sheet. She stepped past the ancient oak standing stones, their gnarled bark catching the faint moonlight filtering through the canopy above. The pendant around her neck pulsed faintly, a warmth that should have been comforting but instead felt like a warning. She tightened her grip on the strap of her satchel, the leather creaking softly in the silence. She wasn’t supposed to be here. Not alone, not at night. But Silas had been vague, almost evasive when he’d handed her the map. “Just deliver the package,” he’d said, his voice low and urgent. “No questions. No delays.” He hadn’t mentioned the Grove, though. He hadn’t mentioned the way the trees seemed to lean closer together here, their branches twisting like skeletal fingers. Rory had assumed it was just another drop-off, a routine errand for Eva’s family business. Now, standing in the heart of the Grove, she wasn’t so sure. The wildflowers underfoot were unnaturally vibrant, their petals glowing faintly in the dark. She crouched to inspect one, her fingers brushing against its surface. It felt warmer than it should have, almost alive. She straightened up, her eyes scanning the clearing. The map had marked a specific tree — an oak with a hollow at its base. She spotted it almost immediately, its silhouette standing out against the backdrop of lesser trees. The pendant pulsed again, stronger this time. She moved toward the tree, her boots crunching softly against the mossy ground. The sound echoed oddly, as though the Grove was amplifying it. She paused, glancing over her shoulder. The standing stones loomed behind her, their twisted shapes now resembling something vaguely human. She shook her head, forcing herself to focus. The package. She had to deliver the package. The hollow in the oak was larger than she’d expected, its edges jagged and rough. She knelt beside it, setting her satchel down and rummaging inside for the small, wrapped bundle Silas had given her. The pendant’s warmth faded as she pulled it out, the deep crimson gemstone darkening to an almost black hue. She hesitated, her fingers tightening around the package. Something about this felt wrong. Not just wrong — dangerous. A faint sound reached her ears, a soft rustling that she couldn’t immediately place. She glanced around, her eyes narrowing. The wildflowers swayed gently, their glowing petals casting faint shadows on the ground. There was no wind. Her breath caught in her throat as the rustling grew louder, morphing into something more distinct — a low, guttural whisper that seemed to come from all around her. She stood abruptly, her heart pounding in her chest. “Who’s there?” Her voice sounded thin, almost swallowed by the oppressive silence that followed. The pendant flared briefly, its warmth spiking before fading again. She took a step back, her eyes darting from tree to tree. The shadows between them seemed deeper now, darker. She could have sworn something moved within them, something that shifted just out of sight. The whisper returned, louder this time, layered with a multitude of voices that echoed and overlapped. She couldn’t make out the words, but the tone was unmistakable — a mixture of hunger and malice that sent a chill down her spine. She reached for the pendant, her fingers brushing against its surface. It was cold now, colder than it had ever been. “Silas didn’t mention this,” she muttered under her breath, her voice trembling. She glanced back at the hollow, the package still clutched in her hand. Whatever was in it, it wasn’t worth this. She dropped it into the hollow, the sound of its impact unnaturally sharp in the silence. The whispers ceased abruptly, replaced by a low, rhythmic thumping that seemed to emanate from the ground itself. The wildflowers around her began to wilt, their vibrant petals folding inward as though suffocating. The pendant’s chain tightened around her neck, the gemstone pulsing erratically. She yanked it off, tossing it to the ground. It landed with a soft thud, its glow flickering like a dying flame. The thumping grew louder, more insistent. Rory stepped back, her boots sinking into the moss. Her breathing quickened, her chest tight with a growing sense of dread. The trees around her seemed to lean closer, their branches reaching out like claws. She turned to run, but her feet felt rooted to the spot, the moss twisting around her ankles like living tendrils. A figure emerged from the shadows, its form indistinct and shifting. It moved with an unnatural grace, its steps silent despite the crunch of fallen leaves beneath its feet. Rory’s breath caught as it drew closer, its features coalescing into something vaguely humanoid but unmistakably wrong. Its eyes were hollow pits, its mouth a jagged gash that seemed to twist into a smile as it approached. She struggled against the moss, her hands clawing at the ground. The pendant lay just beyond her reach, its glow fading rapidly. “Stay back!” Her voice cracked, the words barely audible over the thumping that now filled the Grove. The figure stopped, its head tilting to one side as though considering her. Its smile widened, revealing rows of needle-like teeth. It reached out a hand, its fingers elongated and grotesquely jointed. Rory’s chest tightened, a scream building in her throat. The pendant’s glow surged suddenly, the gemstone flashing with a blinding light. The figure reeled back, its form dissolving into shadow as the light enveloped it. The thumping ceased abruptly, the Grove falling into an eerie silence. Rory collapsed to the ground, her legs trembling as the moss released her. She scrambled to her feet, grabbing the pendant and shoving it into her pocket. Her eyes darted around the clearing, but the figure was gone. The wildflowers were dull and lifeless, their petals scattered across the ground like ash. She didn’t hesitate. She ran, the trees seeming to part before her as she dashed toward the standing stones. The moment she crossed the boundary, the oppressive weight lifted, the air becoming crisp and clear. She stumbled to a halt, her chest heaving as she glanced back at the Grove. The standing stones stood silent and unmoving, their twisted shapes now just trees again. The pendant in her pocket felt warm once more, its pulse steady and slow.