Run: 2026-02-19-01KHTQZ0YW886NR5NJZ7S2REH3

The rain pelted against the windshield as Detective Harlow Quinn's unmarked car swerved around the corner, its tires screeching against the asphalt. Her eyes were laser-focused, scanning the dark, glistening streets for any sign of her target. There he was - Tomás Herrera, the elusive medic who had been supplying the supernatural underground with illicit medical treatments. She'd been chasing him for weeks, but he always seemed to slip through her fingers. Not tonight. Quinn gripped the steering wheel, her knuckles turning white, as she floored the accelerator. The car surged forward, closing the distance between them. Tomás glanced over his shoulder, eyes widening when he saw the unmarked car in pursuit. He put on an extra burst of speed, weaving through the sparse late-night traffic. Quinn's jaw tightened. Not this time, buddy. She swerved around a delivery van, tires squealing. Tomás darted down a side street, disappearing from view. Quinn cursed under her breath and followed, taking the turn with practiced precision. The streets were emptier here, the buildings casting long shadows across the wet pavement. Tomás was fast, but Quinn was determined. She saw him up ahead, turning a corner. She pushed the car to its limits, closing the gap. Suddenly, Tomás veered off the main road, ducking into a narrow alley. Quinn gritted her teeth and followed, the car scraping against the walls on either side. The alley opened up into a dimly lit square, and Tomás sprinted towards a set of stairs leading down. Quinn didn't hesitate. She threw the car into park and jumped out, her boots splashing through puddles as she gave chase. Tomás took the stairs two at a time, disappearing into the darkness below. Quinn paused at the top of the stairs, her hand instinctively going to the holster at her hip. She could hear the sound of Tomás' footsteps echoing in the distance, but the stairwell was pitch black. Taking a deep breath, she started down, one hand trailing along the wall to guide her. The air grew colder as she descended, and the faint sound of music and chatter reached her ears. A dim light appeared at the bottom of the stairs, and Quinn quickened her pace. She emerged into a cavernous space, the walls lined with old, worn brick. Vendors hawked their wares, their voices mingling with the sounds of footsteps and the occasional clinking of bottles. Quinn scanned the crowd, searching for any sign of Tomás. There - she spotted him weaving through the throng of people, heading towards a recessed doorway at the far end of the market. Quinn took off, shoving past startled onlookers. "Police! Stop!" she yelled, but her voice was drowned out by the din of the market. Tomás disappeared through the doorway, and Quinn pushed harder, determined not to lose him again. She burst through the doorway, emerging into a smaller, more dimly lit space. The air was thick with the scent of exotic spices and incense. Shelves lined the walls, filled with jars, vials, and other mysterious-looking items. In the center of the room, a raised dais held a long, ornate table surrounded by high-backed chairs. Tomás was nowhere to be seen. Quinn drew her weapon, holding it steady as she cautiously scanned the room. "Tomás Herrera, this is the police! Come out with your hands up!" A floorboard creaked behind her, and she whirled around, gun at the ready. A figure stepped out from the shadows, hands raised in a placating gesture. "Easy there, Detective," a low, gruff voice said. "We don't want any trouble." Quinn narrowed her eyes, recognizing the man as Silas, the owner of the Raven's Nest bar - a known gathering place for the supernatural underground. "Where is he, Silas?" Silas shook his head slowly. "I'm afraid I can't help you with that. Tomás is under our protection." Quinn's grip tightened on her weapon. "That's not how this works. I have a warrant for his arrest. Now, where is he?" Silas let out a heavy sigh. "You don't understand, Detective. This place... it's not like the world you know. There are rules here, laws that you can't comprehend." Quinn felt a chill run down her spine. "What are you talking about?" Silas gestured around the room. "This is the Veil Market, a hidden place where the supernatural congregate. Tomás is one of us, and we look after our own." Quinn's mind raced, trying to process this new information. Supernatural? Veil Market? What the hell was going on here? "I don't care about your... rules," she spat. "Tomás Herrera is a wanted criminal, and I'm taking him in. Now, tell me where he is, or I'll -" "Or you'll what, Detective?" a new voice interjected. Quinn's head snapped towards the source of the voice, and her breath caught in her throat. A woman emerged from the shadows, her salt-and-pepper hair closely cropped and her sharp jaw set in a stern expression. "Detective Harlow Quinn," the woman said, her tone dripping with disdain. "I should have known you'd stick your nose where it doesn't belong." Quinn's mind raced, trying to place the woman. She was familiar, but Quinn couldn't quite put her finger on it. "Who are you?" Quinn demanded, her gun still trained on Silas. The woman's lips curled into a humorless smile. "My name is Harlow Quinn. And I'm here to make sure you don't interfere with our business anymore."