Run: 2026-02-19-01KHTRK1TK0CBMV9QSE3V71HS7

Rory stepped through the ancient oak standing stones, the trees looming above her like sentinels. The moon was new, but the wildflowers in the Fae Grove still bloomed with an ethereal light, casting an otherworldly glow over the clearing. She had come to the Grove seeking answers, hoping to find some clue about the mysterious pendant that hung around her neck. The Heartstone Pendant, with its deep crimson gemstone and silver chain, seemed to pulse with a warmth that only grew stronger as she entered the Grove. As she walked deeper into the clearing, the silence began to unnerve her. The trees seemed to lean in, as if they were trying to listen to her thoughts. Rory's eyes scanned the perimeter, searching for any sign of movement, but there was nothing. Just the stillness, and the soft rustle of the wildflowers in the faint breeze. She had been warned not to come here alone, not at night. Eva had told her stories about the Grove, about the strange occurrences and the people who had gone in and never come out. But Rory had to know more about the pendant, and the Grove was the only place she could think of to start her search. As she reached the center of the clearing, Rory noticed that the wildflowers seemed to be growing in a pattern, a spiral that led to a large stone in the center. She approached the stone, running her hand over the intricate carvings that covered its surface. The symbols seemed to be a mix of languages, none of which she could decipher. The air was heavy with the scent of blooming flowers, but beneath that, Rory detected a hint of something else. Something earthy and decaying. She wrinkled her nose, trying to place the smell, but it seemed to come from all around her, and from nowhere at the same time. As she examined the stone, Rory began to feel a creeping sense of unease. It started in the pit of her stomach, a slow-building tension that spread through her chest and arms. She tried to shake it off, telling herself she was just spooked, but the feeling only intensified as the minutes ticked by. At first, it was just a faint rustling in the underbrush. Rory turned, expecting to see a rabbit or a fox, but there was nothing. The rustling grew louder, and she could have sworn she saw a shadow darting around the edge of the clearing. She spun around, but there was no one there. "Aurora?" a voice whispered, the sound carrying on the breeze. Rory spun around, her heart racing. "Who's there?" she called out, but there was no answer. The rustling grew louder, and she could see the wildflowers swaying, as if someone was moving through them. But every time she turned to look, there was no one there. The pendant around her neck seemed to be pulsing faster now, the warmth spreading through her chest. Rory's skin prickled with gooseflesh as she realized that she was not alone in the Grove. Whatever was out there, it was watching her, waiting for her to make a move. She tried to take a step back, but her feet seemed rooted to the spot. The voice whispered again, the sound barely audible, but it sent shivers down her spine. "Aurora, come and find me." Rory's eyes scanned the clearing, but there was no sign of anyone. The voice seemed to be coming from all around her, echoing off the trees. She tried to call out again, but her voice caught in her throat. Suddenly, the rustling stopped, and the clearing was silent once more. The wildflowers stood still, their petals motionless in the faint breeze. Rory's heart was racing, and she knew she had to get out of there, fast. She turned to make a run for the standing stones, but as she did, she saw something that made her blood run cold. On the edge of the clearing, just beyond the trees, a figure stood watching her. Rory couldn't see its face, but she could sense its eyes on her, boring into her skin. The pendant around her neck pulsed with a fierce, warm light, and she knew that she was in grave danger. She tried to run, but her feet seemed rooted to the spot. The figure didn't move, didn't seem to be breathing, but Rory could sense its malevolent presence, washing over her like a wave of ice-cold water. And then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, the figure vanished. The clearing was silent once more, the only sound the soft rustle of the wildflowers in the breeze. Rory didn't wait to see if it would come back. She turned and ran, dashing through the standing stones and out into the night, the pendant still pulsing with its warm, otherworldly light.