Run: 2026-02-19-01KHTRC9P50NAGMYPQWMRKW900

Rory stepped into the Grove, her breath catching as she crossed the boundary marked by ancient oak standing stones. Wildflowers brushed against her legs, their petals almost unnaturally vibrant in the moonlight. She paused, adjusting the strap of her messenger bag and taking a moment to listen. The night was eerily still, save for the occasional rustle of leaves. Her footsteps barely crunched on the dried leaves as she moved deeper into the Grove. She absentmindedly touched the small crescent-shaped scar on her left wrist, a nervous habit she had never quite shed. The Heartstone Pendant around her neck pulsed with a faint warmth, but tonight, its glow seemed almost reluctant, like a heartbeat fluttering too weakly. "Eva, you better be right about this," Rory muttered to herself, pushing a branch out of her way. Her friend had insisted that answers lay here, in this otherworldly pocket in Richmond Park. She’d never mentioned how unsettling the place would feel. As Rory ventured further, the sounds began. A faint whisper, too soft to discern words, floated on the wind. She spun around, but there was only darkness and the moon playing tricks with the shadows. She swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry. "Just the wind," she told herself, but the reassurance felt hollow. An owl hooted nearby, and she jumped, nearly stumbling over a protruding root. For a moment, she considered turning back. The rumor of the Grove's time-altering properties had her wary. An hour here could be an eternity, or mere seconds—there was no way to know until it was too late. Determined, she pressed on. The air grew cooler, tinged with a strange, metallic scent. Her breath fogged in front of her, though it was a mild night. She tightened her grip on the strap of her bag and quickened her pace. The whispers grew louder, more insistent. Rory's pulse pounded in her ears, matching the rhythm of the Heartstone Pendant. She felt eyes on her, unseen but undeniably there. Her bright blue eyes darted around, catching glimpses of movement in her peripheral vision—shadows that dissolved when she turned her head. A shape materialized ahead, half-hidden in the dense foliage. Something large and dark, with eyes that seemed to glow faintly. Rory stopped dead, barely daring to breathe. The shape didn't move, but she couldn't shake the feeling it was watching her, assessing her. Gathering her courage, Rory took a step forward. The creature vanished, dissolving into the night like smoke. She exhaled sharply, feeling a mix of relief and rising dread. Her pace increased, a nagging fear pushing her onward. Whatever was here, it didn’t want her to find what she sought. A clearing opened before her, bathed in a silvery glow. An ancient stone altar stood at its center, covered in moss and lichen. Rory felt an inexplicable pull towards it, as if it held the answers she needed. But the whispers grew louder, almost deafening now. Distorted voices echoed around her, overlapping until she couldn’t make out their words but felt their urgency. "Show yourself," she called out, her voice trembling despite her attempt at defiance. Her own words sounded hollow and small in the vast space of the Grove. Only the whispers answered, fluctuating between soft hisses and urgent demands. The Heartstone Pendant burned against her chest, its glow becoming a steady light. Rory’s fingers closed around it, seeking comfort from the familiar warmth. She felt a presence behind her, cold breath on her neck. She spun around, eyes wide with fear. A figure stood there, tall and cloaked in shadows. Its features were obscured, but its eyes burned with a malevolent fire. Rory stumbled back, her heartbeat like a drum in her chest. "Why are you here?" the figure's voice was a harsh rasp, echoing with otherworldly authority. "I...I’m seeking answers," Rory stuttered, her courage wavering as the presence loomed closer. The air around her grew colder, her breath visible in the chilling night. "Answers have a price," the figure intoned. "Are you willing to pay?" Rory hesitated, the weight of the moment pressing down on her. She thought of Eva, of the desperate need to understand the world she found herself entwined with. Finally, she nodded. "I am," she whispered, the words barely escaping her lips. The figure's eyes flashed, and suddenly, Rory felt a pull, as if her very essence was being drawn towards the altar. She resisted, but the force was too strong. She stumbled forward, her feet dragging across the ground. When she reached the altar, the whispers became a cacophony. She could feel the presence of countless eyes watching, waiting. The Heartstone Pendant blazed hot, almost burning her fingers. She held it up, hoping it would act as some form of protection. The figure approached, its form shifting and swirling like mist. Shadows seemed to reach out from it, grasping at the edges of her consciousness. Rory's vision blurred, and she felt herself falling, her body sinking into a cold, dark void. Darkness enveloped her, suffocating and absolute. She could feel the cold hands of the otherworldly figure closing around her, pulling her deeper into the abyss. Struggling to breathe, she reached out for the pendant, its warmth her only anchor. A voice, clear and resonant, cut through the darkness. "Aurora Carter, stand firm." Rory's eyes snapped open, and the shadows receded, driven back by a blinding light emanating from the Heartstone Pendant. She found herself back in the clearing, the figure nowhere to be seen. Silence reigned, the whispers silenced as if they had never existed. Chest heaving, Rory stumbled away from the altar, the pendant's glow fading back to its faint, steady pulse. She glanced around, still sensing the remnants of the dark presence. "Answers have a price," she muttered, echoing the figure's words, her voice steadier now, resolved. She turned, making her way back towards the oak standing stones. The wrongness lingered, but she felt a strange clarity. The Grove had revealed part of its mystery, but its full enigma remained, waiting for another night, another seeker. Emerging from the Grove's boundaries, Rory paused, looking back at the timeless clearing. She knew she would return, drawn by the need to uncover the full truth. But for now, the night had ended, and she had to regroup, to find Eva and share what she'd discovered. With one last lingering glance, she stepped out of the Fae Grove, the whispers fading behind her as the all-too-real world of Richmond Park greeted her once more.