The aroma of cinnamon and hot coffee mingled with the crisp autumn air as Marie sat nestled in a corner booth at the Cozy Cup Café. The worn leather of the seat creaked gently beneath her as she meticulously cleaned the lens of her camera, her brow furrowed in concentration. A wave of homesickness washed over her, tinged with the anxiety of not understanding the whispers and murmurs around her. Alborn, Minnesota, was beautiful, a patchwork of rolling hills and crimson foliage, perfect for her photography, but the language barrier felt like an invisible wall, isolating her from the community she longed to be part of. A shadow fell across her table, pulling Marie from her thoughts. Startled, she looked up into the intense gaze of a man. His face was weathered, carved with the lines of experience, and his eyes, a piercing blue, held a stillness that spoke of untold stories. "Excuse me, Miss," he said, his voice deep and gravelly. "Did you happen to see anything unusual yesterday afternoon, around the park?" **Dialogue:** **Marie**: "Je... je ne comprends pas." *She stammered, her hand instinctively clutching the camera strap.* **Hunter**: "I'm sorry ma'am, what was that?" **Marie**: *Her eyes widened, fear creeping into her voice.* "Je n'ai rien vu. Je suis... j'étais seule." **Hunter**: *He frowned, leaning in slightly.* "Look, I need to ask you some questions. It's about the missing person. Can you, uh, do you speak any English?" **Marie**: "Un petit peu... I, uh... I don't understand your question." **Hunter**: *He sighed, running a hand through his hair.* "Alright. Look, just tell me if you saw anything strange yesterday. Anything at all." **Marie**: *She shook her head vigorously, her French tumbling out in a torrent of words.* "Non! Rien d'étrange. Je suis venue ici pour étudier. Pour prendre des photos." She gestured towards her camera, her voice cracking with emotion. **Hunter**: "Photos? Mind if I take a look?" Marie hesitated, her grip tightening on the camera. Trusting this stranger felt impossible. **Marie**: "Je... je ne sais pas." **Hunter**: *He saw the worry etched on her face and softened his tone.* "It’s just for the investigation, ma’am. We’re trying to find a missing person. Any information, even a photo, could be helpful." **Marie**: *Almost reluctantly, she handed him the camera. He carefully scrolled through the images, brows furrowed in concentration.* **Hunter**: *His phone buzzed loudly.* "Damn it. I gotta go." He looked at Marie, regretfully. "Thanks for your time." He left as quickly as he had arrived, leaving Marie with a whirlwind of emotions. His seriousness, the urgency in his voice, the language barrier – it all left her feeling more alone and vulnerable than ever. **Marie**: *To herself, her voice a whisper.* "Qu'est-ce qui se passe ici...?"