Run: 2026-02-19-01KHTREDEEN5EE2NY87Y3EA7NQ

Rory stepped into the moonlit clearing, her heart pounding in her chest. It had been months since she ventured into the Fae Grove, not since that summer night when everything changed. She'd promised herself she would never return, but the voice on the phone had been persuasive, almost desperate. "Please, Rory, I need your help. I'm in the Grove, and I can't leave. Come find me." The voice belonged to her childhood friend, Eva. They hadn't spoken in years, not since Rory fled Cardiff for London, leaving her past behind. But the fear in Eva's voice had been undeniable, and despite her better judgment, Rory found herself drawn back to the place she swore she'd never set foot in again. At first glance, the Grove appeared just as she remembered – the ancient oaks towering overhead, their branches interlocked to form a canopy of shadows and moonlight; the wildflowers blooming in impossible colors and numbers, as if time itself had stopped in this hidden corner of the world; the unnatural stillness that seemed to suffocate all sound, as if the very air had been rendered thick and heavy by some unseen force. But as Rory moved deeper into the clearing, a sense of unease began to trickle down her spine. There was something different about the Grove tonight, something that made her skin prickle with apprehension. She tried to shake off the feeling, telling herself it was just nerves from being back in a place with so many bad memories. But the deeper she walked into the Grove, the stronger the sense of wrongness became. In the flickering moonlight, shadows moved where no shadows should have been. The trees seemed to bend and twist in unnatural ways, their branches reaching out like grasping fingers. The air grew colder, the scent of wildflowers giving way to a smell of decay and rot that made Rory's stomach turn. She tried to call out to Eva, her voice trembling in the oppressive silence. "Eva? Are you there? It's me, Rory." No answer came, save for a soft rustling of leaves that sounded too much like whispering for Rory's comfort. Keep moving, she told herself, hugging her arms around her torso as if she could hold in the warmth that seemed to leech out of the air. You came here for Eva. You can't leave without finding her. But even as she walked, the realization was growing inside her that something was very wrong in the Grove tonight. The shadows were not just shadows – they were darker, more substantial, moving with a purpose and intent that made Rory's blood run cold. She could feel them watching her, unseen eyes tracking her movements as she stumbled through the clearing, her breath coming in short gasps. The trees no longer offered shelter; they now loomed over her like malevolent giants, their roots snaking across the ground, ready to trip her at any moment. A sudden sound made Rory freeze mid-step – a low moan, almost inaudible, but undeniably real. It was followed by another, and then a chorus of voices that seemed to rise up from the very earth itself. Ghostly whispers intertwined with mournful cries, the cacophony swelling into a symphony of despair that echoed through the Grove. Rory clamped her hands over her ears, trying to block out the horrendous noise. But it was no use – the voices seemed to seep directly into her mind, filling her with a sense of sorrow and loss that threatened to overwhelm her completely. She needed to find Eva, to get them both out of this nightmare before it was too late. But the more she tried to move, the more the shadows seemed to close in around her, constricting her movements until she could barely take a step without feeling as if she were wading through tar. Then, just as suddenly as they had begun, the voices fell silent. The shadows retreated, and the air grew still once more. Rory stood rooted to the spot, her heart hammering against her ribs as she tried to make sense of what had just happened. That was when she saw it – a flicker of light in the darkness, pulsing with a soft inner glow that drew her eye like a beacon. It was the Heartstone Pendant, given to her by that unknown benefactor all those months ago. And now, it seemed to be offering her the only hope of escape from this terrifying place. With trembling hands, Rory reached for the pendant, pulling it from beneath her shirt. She held it up to the moonlight, watching as the crimson gemstone began to pulse steadily, growing warmer in her grasp with each passing second. "Please," Rory whispered, her voice shaking with fear and desperation. "Please, get me out of here." As if in response, the pendant began to glow brighter, the light spilling from the gemstone to engulf her entire hand. The warmth spread up her arm, through her torso, and into her chest, filling her with a sense of calm that seemed to push back against the terror that threatened to consume her. Rory closed her eyes, focusing on the warmth of the pendant as it grew brighter and brighter. She thought of Eva, of the promise she had made to find her friend, no matter what. And then, just as it seemed the light could grow no brighter, Rory felt herself being pulled from the Grove – not physically, but spiritually, as if her very soul were being tugged from her body by an invisible force. She opened her eyes, finding herself standing in a familiar part of the Grove – the entrance, where the ancient oaks marked the boundary between this world and the world beyond. The shadows were gone, the air warmed once more by the sweet scent of wildflowers. Eva stood before her, her face pale and drawn but alive. Rory ran to her friend, embracing her tightly as the relief washed over her. They were safe, for now. But something told Rory that this was only the beginning – that the Grove had not yet finished with her, and that the darkness she had encountered tonight would return. She shivered, holding Eva closer as she whispered, "Thank you for coming back for me, Rory. I knew you would." Rory could only nod, trying to keep her voice steady as she replied, "I told you I'd never leave you, Eva. And now, we need to get the hell out of here."