**Voice Sheet – Café Encounter in Alborn, MN** *(The scene opens at a quiet corner of a rustic café in Alborn, MN. Maria sits near the window, reviewing photos on her camera. She looks pale, her fingers trembling slightly. Hunter enters, badge subtly visible, eyes scanning before landing on her. He approaches with measured steps.)* **Hunter:** Ma’am? Excuse me. You were at the old Miller place last night, weren’t you? Near the woods? **Maria:** *(Looking up, startled. She shakes her head slightly, then speaks quickly, voice strained.)* No sé qué pasó... Había una luz... una sombra entre los árboles. No era persona. No era nada que haya visto antes. Mi cámara... las fotos están borrosas, pero en una... en una hay algo. Algo que no debería estar ahí. **Hunter:** *(Frowning, tilting his head slightly. He doesn’t understand.)* I’m sorry—can you repeat that in English? I didn’t catch any of that. **Maria:** *(Frantically, switching to gestures, pointing at her camera, then toward the woods.)* ¡No hablo inglés! ¡Español! ¿Comprende? ¡Ví algo! Anoche, en el bosque... algo malo. La luz roja... y silencio. Mucho silencio. **Hunter:** *(Eyes narrowing, trying to read her tone and gestures. He pulls out a small notebook.)* You saw something? Last night? In the woods? **Maria:** *(Nodding rapidly, tapping her temple, then her heart.)* Sí, sí... en la cabeza... en el pecho. Miedo. Miedo grande. Y la cámara... *(She opens the gallery, shows him a blurred image of a red glow between trees.)* Esto. No estaba allí cuando miré. Apareció después. **Hunter:** *(Leans in, studying the photo. His jaw tightens.)* That’s the third time someone’s reported red lights near the forest. You didn’t go inside the old house, did you? **Maria:** *(Shakes her head violently.)* ¡No! Solo tomé fotos. Del cielo. Del bosque. Todo normal... hasta que el reloj marcó las 2:13. Entonces... silencio. Como si el mundo se detuviera. **Hunter:** 2:13? That’s... *(pauses, scribbles in notepad)* That’s exact. You remember the time? *(Before Maria can respond, Hunter’s phone rings—sharp, urgent. He pulls it out, checks the ID. His expression turns hard.)* **Hunter:** I’ve got to take this. Stay here for a second. Or— *(he hesitates, realizing she won’t understand)* —just... don’t leave yet. I may need to talk to you again. *(He turns away, answers the phone, voice low but tense.)* **Hunter (on phone):** Hunter here... What? Another one gone? Where? ...The orchard? Dammit. On my way. *(He hangs up, stuffs the phone in his pocket, and turns back to Maria with regret in his eyes.)* **Hunter:** I’ve got to go. Stay safe. And if you remember anything else... *(he points to his badge, then taps it twice)* Hunter. Detective. If you see me—tell me. *(Maria watches him leave, clutching her camera. She whispers softly to herself, shivering.)* **Maria:** Ojalá no esté sola esta noche... Porque *eso* sabe que estuve allí. *(The café door closes behind Hunter. The wind outside rustles autumn leaves, and in the reflection of the window, Maria’s camera screen flickers—briefly showing a new photo that wasn’t there before: a pair of glowing red eyes in the dark.)*