Run: 2026-02-19-01KHTYP0S2K9R5ABEJ8EZ7BG5Q

The boundary line felt like walking through a curtain of static electricity. Aurora crossed it, the hair on her arms rising beneath the leather jacket. Richmond Park disappeared behind the wall of ancient oak standing stones. Their bark groaned, shifting against the earth without wind. The air inside tasted of ozone and wet earth, thick enough to coat the tongue. She stopped. The silence here possessed weight. It pressed against her eardrums, drowning out the distant hum of London traffic. No cars passed. No trains rumbled. The city ceased to exist beyond the perimeter. Aurora lifted the Heartstone Pendant. The deep crimson gemstone hung from the silver chain, resting against her collarbone. Heat radiated from the stone, seeping into her skin. The glow pulsed, a rhythmic thrum matching the beat of her own heart. She traced the edge of the gem with her thumb. The surface felt smooth, like polished glass, yet it burned. "Show yourself." Her voice died instantly. The air swallowed the sound. No echo returned. The words vanished into the damp soil. Wildflowers surrounded her boots. Petals of violet and white opened wide despite the November chill. Dew coated the leaves, glittering in the faint light emitted by the stone. Nothing moved. No insects chirped. No leaves rustled. The blooms stood rigid, painted onto the landscape. She walked toward the centre of the clearing. Grass crunched under her trainers. The crescent-shaped scar on her left wrist itched. She rubbed the skin with her thumb. The sensation spread up her arm, tightening the muscles in her shoulder. Her straight shoulder-length black hair stuck to her neck. Sweat cooled on her skin. She checked her watch. The hands spun counter-clockwise. A branch snapped behind her. Aurora spun. The stones stood silent. Shadows pooled between the roots of the oaks, darker than the surrounding night. She held her breath. The pendant burned hotter. The silver chain grew warm against her neck. "I know you're there." Nothing answered. The darkness remained absolute beyond the circle of crimson light. She continued forward. The path curved around a cluster of foxgloves. The flowers towered higher than normal, brushing her waist. Their bells hung heavy, closed tight. She reached out. The petals felt waxy. Cold. Like plastic. Sap oozed from the stem, clear and viscous. It stained her glove. A whisper drifted from the left. Not words. Just air moving over vocal cords. Dry. Rasping. Aurora froze. Her bright blue eyes scanned the tree line. The darkness shifted. A shape detached itself from the trunk of an oak. It stood tall. Too tall. Limbs elongated, joints bending at angles that defied anatomy. The silhouette wavered. Heat haze distorted the form. She stepped back. Her heel caught on a root. She stumbled, catching herself on the rough bark of a stone. The Heartstone flared. Crimson light washed over the clearing, revealing the wildflowers in stark detail. Each petal looked carved from wax. The light cast long shadows that stretched toward her. The shadows moved independent of the light source. The shape moved again. It slid across the ground without lifting its feet. Friction made no sound. "This isn't funny." Her hand shook. She clenched it into a fist. The nail dug into her palm. Pain grounded her. She focused on the physical sensation. The cold air bit at her exposed neck. The smell of ozone strengthened, mixing with the scent of rotting lilies. The odour clogged her nose. She gagged. Another snap. Closer. To the right. She turned. The shadows lengthened. They stretched toward her boots. The light from the pendant dimmed, then surged. The fluctuation matched the shifting shadows. The rhythm accelerated. Her pulse hammered in her throat. Aurora backed against the central stone. Cold moisture seeped through her jacket. She watched the perimeter. The standing stones formed a cage. The gaps between them seemed narrower than before. The wood expanded. Roots pushed up through the soil. Bark split with audible cracks. "Time moves differently here," she muttered. The words hung in the air. They did not fade. They solidified, visible vapour in the cold. A low hum vibrated through the ground. It travelled up her legs, settling in her chest. The pendant grew hot enough to sting. She did not drop it. Her fingers tightened around the gemstone. Skin blistered. She ignored the pain. Blood mixed with the silver chain. Leaves rustled above. She looked up. The canopy blocked the sky. No stars shone through. Only the black weave of branches. Something moved among them. Heavy. Deliberate. Weight bowed the limbs. Twigs snapped under pressure. A twig fell. It landed on her shoulder. She brushed it off. The wood felt warm. Pulsing. Like a vein. Fluid leaked from the end. She circled the stone. Her footsteps made no sound now. The grass absorbed the noise. The silence returned, heavier than before. It pressed against her chest, making each breath a labour. Lungs struggled to draw air. Diaphragm spasmed. The whisper came again. Closer. Behind her ear. Moisture hit her lobe. Breath smelled of stale earth. Aurora whipped around. Empty air. The wildflowers stood still. The petals did not tremble. The air remained stagnant. Dust motes hung suspended. She checked the pendant. The crimson glow flickered. The silver chain twisted on its own, winding tighter around her neck. She clawed at the metal. It resisted. The links felt like wire. Cutting into the skin. "Let go." She pulled. The chain bit into her skin. A thin line of blood welled up. The pendant swung free, striking her sternum. The heat intensified. Smoke rose from the gem. The smell of burnt hair filled the space. The shadows between the stones coalesced. They formed shapes. Humanoid. Multiple. They stood at the edge of the light. Faces remained obscured. Only the outline of heads and shoulders visible. Tall. Immobile. They surrounded her. Aurora stood her ground. Her heart hammered against her ribs. The sound echoed in the quiet clearing. Blood rushed in her ears. She wiped sweat from her brow. Her hand came away red. One of the shapes stepped forward. The grass did not bend under its weight. It hovered inches above the ground. The air shimmered around its form. Distortion. Light bent around the figure. She reached into her pocket. Her fingers closed around the keys to her flat. Metal teeth dug into her skin. A weapon. Improvised. Sharp edges. She held them between her knuckles. The shape tilted its head. No eyes glinted in the dark. Just void. Hollow spaces where features should exist. Darkness poured from the sockets. The hum grew louder. It vibrated in her teeth. The wildflowers began to close. Petals folded inward. The scent of lilies turned sour. Rot spread through the clearing. Leaves blackened. Stems withered. Aurora shifted her weight. Her muscles coiled. The pendant pulsed rapidly now. A warning. Or a beacon. The light strobed. Shadows jumped with each flash. The shape raised an arm. Long fingers extended. They pointed at her chest. At the stone. The gesture held command. Joints clicked. Bone rubbed on bone. She took a breath. The air tasted of ash. Dust coated her throat. She swallowed. The lump in her throat remained. The shadows surged.