Run: 2026-02-20-01KHY8PVNR0D5WN5EQZD6Y30Q0

The old Victorian mansion loomed under a moonless sky, its gables clawing at the clouds. A single candle flickered in the grand foyer, casting long shadows on the marble floor. The butler stood rigid by the front door, his face a mask of frozen, unreadable concern. A sharp cry echoed from the drawing room, followed by the sound of splintering wood. The detective arrived just as the front door swung open with a violent, creaking groan. Footsteps pounded up the grand staircase, each step echoing like a drumbeat of impending doom. The air smelled of damp wool and something metallic, sharp and unmistakably like blood. A woman’s high-pitched scream pierced the night, then abruptly cut off into a guttural, choking gasp. The detective’s gloved hand tightened around his revolver, his breath coming in controlled, measured gasps. A figure stumbled into the foyer, their once-elegant coat now stained dark with something wet. The detective’s eyes narrowed as he recognized the victim—his old friend, the reclusive collector. The butler’s voice trembled as he whispered, *"He was alive just moments before this happened."* The detective’s mind raced, piecing together clues from the scattered candle wax and broken glass. A single playing card lay face-up on the floor, its edge jagged and torn. The detective crouched, examining the card’s design—a king, but not of hearts or spades. The butler’s hands shook as he pointed toward the library, where strange symbols were etched. The detective’s pulse quickened, knowing this wasn’t just murder—it was a message, cold and deliberate.