Run: 2026-02-19-01KHTR7C2X5XPP79BFE3JMEX2F

The ancient stone circle loomed tall and imposing against the ink-black sky, the moon casting silver light over the clearing. Aurora shivered in the cool night breeze, the hair on her arms standing on end as if in response to an unseen energy. She'd been drawn to the clearing by an odd feeling, a strange pull on her senses, as if the mysterious pendant hanging around her neck buzzed with an unknowable call. Stepping into the centre of the grove, she stopped to take in her surroundings. Something seemed different in the air, an eerie quietness that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. The silence surrounded her, heavy and suffocating. A whispered hush that held the promise of secrets. The wildflowers, still blooming in the odd evergreen climate, swayed gently in a breeze that felt like a whispered breath. She felt like an intruder in a sacred place, a place that demanded respect. A soft glow emanated from the silver chain she wore against her pale skin, the crimson gemstone embedded within it pulsing faintly. She'd come to this spot after experiencing a vivid dream about this place, the stone circle seemingly calling to her. But she'd never felt so unwelcome in a location before, and she wasn't one to encourage superstitious fear. In the moonlight, she noticed scratches on the outer ring of stones, symbols she couldn't decipher. Her curiosity didn't outweigh her fear of trespassing, so she kept a respectful distance, watching. After a few silent minutes, she realised she was alone… or so she thought. Just out of her periphery, a rustle. But the flowers lay calm. She spun, heart racing. A quiver coursed through her like an electric current. Was someone—something—lurking in the darkness? "Hello?" Her voice quivered, echoing through the quiet. "Is someone there?" No answer. She shook her head. "Must be my nerves. Imagining things again." Her voice, loaded with effort, echoed back at her from the stones. Her hand gripped the necklace, fingers running along the surface of the gem, as if seeking strength. Then a flicker of something. Not sound or sight, but a tug—a pull on the pendant as though a string of energy tied it to something unseen. Unsettled, she decided to leave. She felt the Grove watching, waiting. Might it be a trap of some sort? But her pendant seemed to have other ideas. The moment she turned away, a sudden breeze blew, wild and strong, the trees seeming to sway with it. A branch shattered nearby, wood cracking against stone. She froze, breath trapped in her throat. Panic surged. She ran, desperate, away from the looming stones and the whistling wind. Breath coming in gasps, she fled through the shadows towards the copse of trees that marked the boundary of the Grove, her laces loose, tripping her halfway back to the car. Adrenaline kept her momentum going and she stumbled on, heart now raging. The further from the centre, the more normal things felt. She checked over her shoulder, half expecting to see something, but found nothing but darkness and trees. The whole way back to her car, her gaze constantly darted to the shadows that now seemed to dance along with her, like taunting ghosts. The pendant glowed gently, as if urging her to a safe distance, and she clutched it tightly, picturing the faceless figure she knew lay on the other side of the silent stone wall. It felt like she'd left something behind, but what? She suddenly sensed the wrongness of her surroundings, as if time, space, and dimension had tangled into a mess of confusion. The ground beneath her feet felt solid and yet insubstantial, as if she might slip through at any moment. Panic pricked at her, like a thousand tiny needles. An invisible thread tied her to something, pulling, tugging, trying to reel her back in. But she fought the urge to turn and face the unforgiving stones. Finally, a sliver of brightness caught her eye. The car. She raced to it, heart pounding. It felt surreal to witness the mundane comfort of the machine sitting patiently, quietly waiting for her to resume control over her life. She snatched open the passenger door, breath raw in her throat as she scanned the empty seats. Nobody. Nothing. Just the clean interior, waiting to envelop her. She hurried inside, slamming the door behind her, heart still racing as she regained her breath. She clicked the central locking, hands trembling. A glance through the rear window confirmed her solitude. The Grove lay in the distance, silent and still.