The morning mist was still clinging to the eaves of the Alborn Heritage Café when Detective Hunter stepped onto the porch. He adjusted his heavy coat, his eyes scanning the quiet street before landing on the young woman sitting alone at a corner table. She was staring intently at the LCD screen of her camera, her thumb trembling as she scrolled through images. Hunter pulled out a chair and sat down across from her. He skipped the pleasantries; three people had vanished in as many weeks, and the town's charming apple-orchard veneer was beginning to rot. **Voice Sheet** **Hunter:** "Morning. I’m Detective Hunter with the county. I noticed you were out by the old Miller barn last night with that camera of yours. I need to know if you saw anyone else near the tree line around dusk." **Maria:** "Oh... hola. Lo siento, no... no entiendo lo que dice. Pero, señor, ayer vi algo horrible. Algo que no puedo explicar." **Hunter:** "Look, I don't have time for the 'tourist' act. I just need a 'yes' or a 'no.' Did you see a tall man in a tan jacket? Or maybe a vehicle parked near the creek?" **Maria:** "Por favor, mire esto. Estaba tratando de tomar fotos del atardecer, pero entre los árboles... había una sombra. Una sombra que se movía como si no tuviera huesos. No era un hombre, era otra cosa. Se llevaron al chico, ¡se lo llevaron frente a mis ojos!" **Hunter:** "Slow down. I don't speak... whatever that is. Take a breath. Is that a 'no'? Did you see nothing? Is that why you’re shaking?" **Maria:** "¡No me está escuchando! ¡Hay algo en el bosque! Mire la cámara, por favor, mire las fotos del granero. Estaba tan asustada que corrí hasta que me sangraron los pies. ¡Ese lugar está maldito!" **Hunter:** "I’m getting 'scared,' I get that much. But I need facts, miss. Names, descriptions, directions. Can you give me anything I can actually use in a report?" **Maria:** "Es inútil... usted no entiende. Nadie en este pueblo entiende el peligro en el que están. Dios mío, esa cosa me vio. Sé que me vio." **Hunter:** "I’m going to need you to come down to the station. Maybe one of the deputies has a translation app or—" *(Hunter’s radio crackles loudly, followed by his cell phone buzzing against the wooden table. He flips it open, his face turning grim as he listens.)* **Hunter:** "Hunter here... Where? The orchard? Don't touch anything. I’m two minutes out." **Maria:** "¡No se vaya! No me deje sola aquí, creo que me ha seguido." **Hunter:** "Duty calls. Stay put, okay? Don't leave town. We’ll find someone who speaks your language and finish this later."