Run: 2026-02-20-01KHXPBCETP7RWXZMFQXDXEDTM

Detective Harlow Quinn's breath came in ragged gasps as she sprinted through the labyrinth of rain-slicked streets. The neon glow of Soho's nightlife reflected off the pavement, a kaleidoscope of colour that did little to lift the gloom. Her leather watch, a relic from her father's service in the Royal Air Force, dug into her wrist with each stride, a constant reminder of the time ticking away. The suspect, a shadowy figure darting through the crowd, was her only focus. The chase had begun at The Raven's Nest, a dimly lit bar with a distinctive green neon sign that flickered like a dying star. Quinn had been tailing the clique for weeks, ever since whispers of their involvement in something... otherworldly reached her ears. Tonight, she'd finally caught a break. A package exchange gone wrong had sent them scattering like rats, and she'd been hot on their heels ever since. The suspect ducked into an alleyway, the sudden darkness swallowing him whole. Quinn didn't hesitate, her military precision honed over eighteen years of service kicking in. She skidded around the corner, her sharp jaw set in determination. The alley was a dead end, a crumbling brick wall looming ahead. But the suspect was nowhere to be seen. "Bloody hell," she muttered, scanning the ground. A manhole cover lay askew, a black maw gaping beneath it. She crouched, peering into the darkness. The faint echo of footsteps echoed up from the depths, a steady rhythm fading into the distance. She hesitated, her heart pounding in her chest. The underground was no place for a lone detective, especially one chasing shadows. But Quinn had never been one to back down from a challenge. She pulled her torch from her belt, the beam cutting through the darkness like a knife. The ladder groaned under her weight as she descended, the cold metal biting into her palms. The air grew thick and stale, the scent of damp earth and something else—something metallic—filling her nostrils. At the bottom, she found herself in a tunnel, the walls lined with ancient tiles, their once-vibrant colours faded to ghostly whispers. The footsteps had vanished, but a faint glow pulsed in the distance, a heartbeat of light guiding her forward. She moved cautiously, her torch sweeping the darkness, the beam catching glimpses of rusted pipes and cobwebs that clung to the walls like spectral lace. The tunnel opened up into a vast cavern, the ceiling lost in the shadows above. The glow she'd seen was a flickering torch, its light dancing off the walls, casting grotesque shadows. The cavern was a market, stalls laden with strange artefacts and bottles filled with swirling liquids that defied description. The air hummed with a low, discordant energy, a symphony of whispers and murmurs that sent a shiver down her spine. The Veil Market. She'd heard the rumours, of course. A hidden bazaar that moved locations every full moon, a place where the supernatural and the criminal intertwined. But she'd never expected to find herself standing in the midst of it, her heart hammering against her ribs. And then she saw him. The suspect, his back turned to her, deep in conversation with a figure cloaked in shadows. She couldn't make out the words, but the tone was clear—urgent, desperate. She took a step forward, her hand hovering over her weapon. But before she could draw it, a hand clamped down on her shoulder, spinning her around. "Looking for someone, Detective?" Quinn found herself face to face with a man, his olive skin glistening under the torchlight. A scar ran along his left forearm, a jagged line that spoke of a violent past. Around his neck hung a Saint Christopher medallion, the patron saint of travellers. He smiled, but there was no warmth in it, only a cold calculation that sent a chill down her spine. "Tomás Herrera," she said, recognising him from the files. A former paramedic, disgraced and disbarred. "What are you doing here?" "Same as you, Detective," he said, his voice a low rumble. "Looking for answers. But I must warn you, the Veil Market is no place for the unprepared. It's a labyrinth of shadows and secrets, and one wrong turn could see you lost forever." Quinn's eyes flicked back to the suspect, her mind racing. She could feel the weight of her weapon, the familiar comfort of it. But she also felt the weight of the unknown, the danger that lurked in the shadows. She could follow him, plunge headfirst into the unknown. Or she could turn back, retreat to the safety of the world she knew. But Quinn had never been one to play it safe. She took a deep breath, her resolve hardening. "I'm not here for a guided tour, Herrera. I'm here for answers. And I won't let a little darkness stop me." She turned back to the suspect, her hand resting on her weapon. But as she took a step forward, a figure stepped out of the shadows, blocking her path. Tall and gaunt, his eyes gleamed like polished onyx in the torchlight. He smiled, revealing a mouth full of needle-like teeth. "Ah, Detective Quinn," he said, his voice a rasping whisper. "We've been expecting you." Quinn's heart pounded in her chest, but she didn't flinch. She met his gaze, her own eyes steady and unyielding. "Then you know why I'm here. I want answers. And I won't leave until I get them." The figure chuckled, a sound like dry leaves scraping against stone. "Answers are a dangerous currency in the Veil Market, Detective. They come at a price. Are you willing to pay it?" Quinn's mind raced, the weight of her decision pressing down on her. She could turn back, retreat to the safety of the world she knew. Or she could plunge headfirst into the unknown, chase the shadows until she found the truth. She thought of her partner, DS Morris, lost to the same shadows three years ago. She thought of the clique, their secrets and lies. And she thought of the truth, the one thing she couldn't let go of. She took a deep breath, her resolve hardening. "I'm not here to bargain. I'm here for answers. And I won't leave until I get them." The figure's smile widened, his teeth glinting in the torchlight. "Very well, Detective. But remember, you asked for this." He stepped aside, revealing a path that led deeper into the market. Quinn hesitated, her heart pounding in her chest. But she didn't look back. She took a step forward, plunging headfirst into the unknown. The shadows closed in around her, but she didn't falter. She was a detective, and she would find the truth, no matter the cost.