Run: 2026-02-19-01KHTR3DRX4SDK99VTW6JMDYK1

The ancient oak stones loomed ahead, resembling silent guardians keeping watch over the forest. Aurora, or Rory to her friends, steadied herself, feeling a sudden unease. The hair on the back of her neck prickled like a warning. *This is crazy*. She steeled her nerves, focused on the mission. She had to find the answers. Rory's heart raced, despite her attempts to rein in her anxiety. The air thickened, pressing on her skin, suffocating under a moonless sky. As she moved between the towering stones, a chill ran down her spine, as if something had whispered in her ear. Stepping into the grove felt like walking into a breathless dream. Dead silence. No rustling leaves, no nocturnal creatures stirring. No wind. The grove was still as a painting. Even the grass seemed immobile, caught in time. Eerily isolated. A soft puff of wind stirred the trees, yet the swaying branches didn't whisper. She glanced around, confused. *They shouldn't be silent*. Something wasn't right. The deep crimson pendant nestled between her breasts pulsed, reassuring her she was on the right path. Its heat grew as she moved further in, giving her strength. *There's no turning back*. Pine needles crunched under her feet, the only sound breaking the silence. Feet shuffling, she searched for anything that'd explain these peculiar groves. Ahead, a clearing drew her near. She willed her legs to slow down. Lying in the center was a bundle, partially covered by leaves and earth. A body, motionless, seemingly at peace. "Hey." Voice quivering, she approached. Nerves jumping, she knelt, heart rattling her ribs. "Are you okay?" They were wearing a uniform. She could just make out the pattern—a delivery person's outfit. *Oh God, please no*. Closer now, she saw Yu-Fei Cheung's name embroidered. A breath caught in her throat. She'd prepared herself for many things. Bodies, however, hadn't been one of them. "Hey… c'mon. Come on, let's get you home." Rory's voice cracked. She had to shake the shock, figure this out. "Look, they'll have sent out a search, you've been missed. So please—just wake up." But the body didn't move. Time slowed. This felt impossible. That warmth from her pendant hummed against her hand, the only thing urging her on. *Rory*, it whispered in the quiet space between her heartbeats. *Look closer.* She took a deep breath. Leaf litter scraped beneath trembling hands as she brushed aside the covering. Gods above, she hoped nothing moved. Nothing would scurry out, or— *No, too disgusting to think on.* Holding back a gag, she moved more earth. Stillness remained. No movement, sound, or sign of life. Not even an insect dared dwell on this body. Her eyes scanned the rigid frame, head to toe, impressed this uniform—frozen, dirty, and torn—still remained intact. White and green blurring stripes, now trussed with string bindings at the cuffs and ankles, held the figure—dreadfully—in place. *What kind of horror am I looking at?* Panicked mind raced to places she couldn't allow it to dwell. Then a deeper calm washed over her. This hasn't been done by human hands. No experience held in her memory could possibly explain this. Yet, that slight pulse around her heart hinted she was making progress. Gently, she undid each string tie, moving with more care than her anxious mind should've allowed. The procedure was eerily satisfying; even morbidly so. She drew back when finished, watching, but nothing happened. Just as slowly, a fluttering hope grew that this person might've evaded the macabre fate she'd expected at every step. She half-laughed, half-coughed. "Please say something… Move, and tell me I'm not seeing things." Even her bravest wishes fell silent, offering an eerie calm to the dense, still air. Unconsciously, her hand rose to rub the scar on her left wrist. It was soothing—more physical evidence that part of her traumatic history was truly behind her. Still, doubts echoed. *This life is so absurd.* Looking down, she rubbed at her eyes to clear the sudden blurriness in her vision. Yet, nothing moved in focus. Tears rolled down her face, the crystalline drops smudging the earth beneath. For they indeed saw a man there, bound hand and foot, silent, yet very much alive.