Run: 2026-02-19-01KHTR4Q0C19992M5VYR10161C

In the heart of Richmond Park, where the city's hum faded into a symphony of nocturnal creatures, Aurora Carter found herself beneath a moon that hung like a bloated, spectral eye. The Fae Grove, Isolde's grove, whatever it was called, was supposed to be her sanctuary, a place of respite from the city's relentless pace. Yet, as she stepped into the clearing, her heart pounded a rhythm of unease, her instincts screaming that something was amiss. The ancient oak standing stones that marked the boundary loomed like silent sentinels, their gnarled fingers reaching out as if to warn her away. She shivered, rubbing her arms against the sudden chill that had nothing to do with the cool night air. The wildflowers that usually danced in vibrant profusion seemed to have wilted, their petals drooping as if in mourning. Aurora's breath hitched as she noticed the silence. No rustle of leaves, no chirp of crickets, no hoot of owls. It was as if the entire grove held its breath, waiting. She took a tentative step forward, her boots sinking into the soft earth. The Heartstone Pendant around her neck pulsed faintly, its deep crimson gemstone casting an eerie glow on her fingers as she reached up to touch it. It was warm, its faint inner glow steady, a beacon in the oppressive stillness. A twig snapped. Aurora spun around, her eyes scanning the darkness. Nothing moved. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. It was just an animal, she told herself. But the words rang hollow in her ears. She had been coming to the grove for months, and she had never felt this way. This wrongness was new, a malevolent presence that seemed to seep into her bones. She turned back towards the heart of the grove, her steps hesitant. The standing stones seemed to close in around her, their shadows stretching like elongated fingers reaching for her throat. She could swear she heard whispers on the wind, voices that hissed and whispered in a language she didn't understand. She shook her head, trying to dislodge the sound. It was just her imagination, playing tricks on her. But then she saw it. A figure, standing at the edge of the grove. It was tall, too tall to be human, its form obscured by the shadows. It seemed to be watching her, its eyes reflecting the moonlight like two cold, distant stars. Aurora's breath caught in her throat, her heart pounding like a drum in her ears. She took a step back, her hand reaching for the Heartstone Pendant, finding comfort in its warmth. The figure moved. It stepped forward, its form becoming clearer. It was humanoid, but its features were wrong, twisted. Its eyes were too large, too round, and its mouth was a slash of darkness, filled with too many teeth. It reached out a hand towards her, its fingers long and thin, ending in sharp, talon-like nails. Aurora stumbled back, her heart pounding in her chest. This was not the Fae she had read about in stories, the mischievous tricksters or the benevolent guardians. This was something else, something ancient and terrible. She turned to run, her feet slipping on the damp earth as she tried to put as much distance between herself and the creature as possible. But the grove seemed to have grown darker, the trees looming like monstrous sentinels, their branches reaching out to snag her clothes, to trip her up. She could hear the creature behind her, its footsteps echoing like thunder in the silent grove. She could feel its breath on her neck, cold and damp, like the breath of the grave. She broke through the tree line, her lungs burning as she gasped for breath. The city lights seemed to mock her, their brightness a cruel joke in the face of the darkness she had left behind. She could hear the creature's laughter, a harsh, grating sound that echoed in her mind, a chilling reminder of the terror that lurked in the heart of the grove. Aurora fell to her knees, her body wracked with sobs. She had come to the grove for solace, for a connection to the magic that she had always felt was missing from her life. But she had found something else, something ancient and terrible, a darkness that seemed to have awakened at her touch. She looked back at the grove, her heart filled with dread. She knew she would never see it the same way again. The Fae Grove was no longer her sanctuary. It was a place of terror, a place of nightmares. And she had no idea how to escape it.