# Voice Sheet: The Café Encounter **Setting:** A small café on Main Street in Alborn, MN. Melanie sits alone at a corner table, scrolling through photos on her camera with trembling hands. --- Hunter: "Excuse me, miss? Mind if I sit down for a moment?" Melanie: *looks up, startled* "Oh... ja, bitte." *gestures hesitantly to the chair* Hunter: "I'm Detective Hunter. I'm investigating some incidents around town. Were you by any chance near the old mill yesterday evening?" Melanie: *eyes widening* "Die Mühle? Ja, ich war dort. Es war schrecklich—ich habe etwas gesehen, etwas im Wald. Eine Gestalt, die jemanden... ich weiß nicht wie ich es sagen soll..." Hunter: "I'm sorry, I don't... Do you speak English?" Melanie: *shaking her head, frustrated* "Nein, nein... mein Englisch ist nicht gut. Ich... ich habe Angst. Was ich gesehen habe..." *taps her camera urgently* "Hier, hier! Fotos!" Hunter: "Photos? You took photos of something?" Melanie: "Ja! Fotos! Aber... sie sind dunkel. Ich konnte nicht... es war so schnell." *shivers* "Der Mann ist einfach verschwunden. Wie ein Geist." Hunter: *sighs, rubbing his temple* "I really wish I could understand you. Can you show me?" Melanie: *turns camera toward him, scrolling through dark, blurry images of trees and shadows* "Sehen Sie? Dort—dort war jemand. Und dann... weg. Einfach weg." Hunter: "These are pretty dark, but... wait, is that a figure there? Can you—" *Hunter's phone rings sharply* Hunter: *answering* "Hunter here. ...What? Where? I'm on my way." *stands abruptly* "I have to go. But listen—" *points at Melanie, then the camera* "Stay here. Don't delete those. I'll find someone who speaks... German? Is that German?" Melanie: "Bitte, seien Sie vorsichtig. Was auch immer dort draußen ist... es ist gefährlich." Hunter: *pauses at the door, clearly not understanding but catching her tone* "Yeah... I get the feeling you're right about that." --- *End of scene*