Run: 2026-02-19-01KHTRPPW2CWA61JQHYA1KTKQ7

Aurora Carter stood at the edge of The Fae Grove, the ancient oak standing stones looming like silent sentinels in the moonlight. The air felt thick, almost syrupy, as if the night itself was holding its breath. She clutched the Heartstone Pendant around her neck, its faint inner glow casting a soft crimson hue on her fingers. The pendant pulsed gently, a reminder of the Hel portal she sought. She stepped forward, her boots crunching on the wildflowers that carpeted the ground. The grove was eerily quiet, the usual sounds of Richmond Park muted, as if swallowed by the grove's otherworldly presence. Rory's breath came in shallow, measured puffs, her eyes darting around, taking in the shadows that seemed to dance just beyond her vision. "Eva, you better be right about this," she muttered under her breath, her voice barely more than a whisper. Her friend had insisted that the grove held the key to finding the portal, but standing here now, Rory couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. She moved deeper into the grove, the standing stones forming a rough circle around her. The moonlight filtered through the canopy, casting long, twisted shadows that seemed to writhe and twist like living things. Rory's heart pounded in her chest, each beat echoing in her ears like a drum. A rustling sound to her left made her freeze. She turned her head slowly, her eyes straining to see through the darkness. Nothing. Just the wind, she told herself, though the air was still. She took another step, the pendant growing warmer against her skin. The grove seemed to close in around her, the trees leaning in as if to whisper secrets. Rory's fingers tightened around the pendant, her knuckles white. She could feel the wrongness in the air, a palpable sense of dread that gnawed at her resolve. A soft, almost imperceptible whisper reached her ears, a susurrus of voices that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere. She spun around, her eyes wide, searching for the source. The shadows at the edge of her vision seemed to flicker and shift, but when she looked directly at them, they were still. "Who's there?" she called out, her voice trembling despite her efforts to keep it steady. The whispering stopped, replaced by an oppressive silence that pressed down on her like a weight. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to move forward. The pendant's glow grew stronger, casting eerie red light on the path ahead. She followed it, her steps quickening as the sense of being watched grew stronger. A branch snapped behind her, and she whirled around, her heart leaping into her throat. A shadow darted between the trees, too quick to be anything natural. Rory's pulse raced, her mind screaming at her to run, but her feet remained rooted to the spot. "Show yourself!" she demanded, her voice echoing through the grove. The shadows seemed to ripple in response, but no figure emerged. She swallowed hard, her mouth dry, and turned back to the path. The pendant's warmth was almost uncomfortable now, the glow bright enough to light her way. She pressed on, her eyes darting to every shadow, every flicker of movement. The whispering started again, louder this time, the voices overlapping in a cacophony of unintelligible murmurs. Rory's breath came in ragged gasps, her fear mounting with each step. She could feel the presence of something just beyond her sight, something that watched and waited. The grove seemed to pulse with a life of its own, the trees swaying in a rhythm that matched her racing heart. A cold breeze swept through the grove, carrying with it the scent of decay. Rory gagged, covering her mouth with her hand. The whispering grew louder, more insistent, as if urging her to turn back. But she couldn't. She had to find the portal, had to see this through. She stumbled forward, her legs trembling. The pendant's glow illuminated a clearing ahead, the standing stones forming a perfect circle around it. She stepped into the clearing, the air growing colder, the sense of wrongness almost overwhelming. The whispering stopped abruptly, replaced by a deafening silence. Rory's breath hung in the air, visible in the frigid night. She looked around, her eyes wide with fear. The shadows at the edge of the clearing seemed to pulse and writhe, as if alive. A figure stepped out from the darkness, its form indistinct, shrouded in shadow. Rory's heart skipped a beat, her grip on the pendant tightening. The figure moved closer, its features becoming clearer in the pendant's glow. It was a woman, her face pale and gaunt, eyes hollow and empty. She wore a tattered dress that fluttered in the breeze, her hair a tangled mess. Rory took a step back, her mind racing. "Who are you?" she asked, her voice barely more than a whisper. The woman didn't respond, her eyes fixed on Rory. She raised a hand, pointing to the center of the clearing. Rory followed her gaze, her eyes widening as she saw the faint outline of a portal, shimmering in the air. The pendant pulsed with warmth, the glow intensifying. Rory took a step forward, her fear momentarily forgotten. She reached out, her fingers brushing the edge of the portal. A jolt of energy shot through her, and she gasped, pulling her hand back. The woman stepped closer, her eyes never leaving Rory. "You must go," she said, her voice a hollow echo. "Before it's too late." Rory hesitated, her mind a whirlwind of fear and uncertainty. The portal shimmered before her, a gateway to the unknown. She took a deep breath, steeling herself. She had come this far, and there was no turning back now. She stepped into the portal, the world around her dissolving into a blur of light and shadow. The last thing she saw was the woman's hollow eyes, watching her with a mixture of sorrow and resignation. And then, everything went dark.