Run: 2026-02-16-01KHK9P9ETM9Z9YK8GA0VKA8KD

Melanie: "Entschuldigung… kann ich Ihnen helfen?" Hunter: "Mind if I sit? I’m Detective Hunter. I just need to ask you a few questions about what happened in town yesterday." Melanie: "Detective…? Ich… ich verstehe nicht. Englisch… nein." Hunter: "Right. Okay. Uh—" *he gestures between them, then points toward her camera* "You. Camera. You were out near the park? By the river?" Melanie: *hands tighten around the camera strap* "Ja… ich war dort. Fotos. Landschaften." Hunter: "Did you see anyone? A man? A van? Anything strange?" Melanie: "Ich… ich habe etwas gesehen." *she swallows hard, eyes flicking to the window as if expecting someone outside* "Es war… nicht normal." Hunter: "Not normal. Okay. What did you see?" Melanie: "Ein Geräusch. Wie… Metall. Und dann… Schreie. Kurz. Dann still." Hunter: "Screams." *his expression sharpens* "Where? Show me. Where?" Melanie: *leans forward, speaking faster, voice trembling* "Beim alten Schuppen, am Rand. Hinter den Apfelbäumen." Hunter: "Apple trees… old shed…" *he repeats slowly, trying to piece it together* "Was it near the festival grounds? The apple festival area?" Melanie: "Festival… ja, in der Nähe. Ich wollte nur fotografieren." Hunter: "And you didn’t call anyone?" Melanie: *shakes her head, embarrassed and afraid* "Ich konnte nicht. Kein Englisch. Ich hatte Angst." Hunter: "Okay. Okay." *he exhales, frustrated but controlled* "Did you see a person? Face? Clothes?" Melanie: "Nur… ein Schatten. Eine Jacke. Dunkel. Und etwas… rotes. Wie ein Tuch." Hunter: "A dark jacket. Something red—like a cloth." *he nods, then hesitates* "Can you—can you write it down? Names? Anything?" Melanie: "Ich kann… schreiben." *she fumbles in her bag, pulls out a small notebook with photo notes* "Aber… ich weiß nicht die Wörter in Englisch." Hunter: "German is fine. I’ll… figure it out." Melanie: *looks up, eyes glossy* "Sind Menschen… verschwunden? Ist es… gefährlich?" Hunter: "People have gone missing, yes. That’s why I’m here." Melanie: *whispers* "Oh Gott…" Hunter: "Listen to me." *his tone softens without losing its edge* "Stay where there are people. Don’t go out alone. If you see anything—anything at all—find someone and point me to it. Ask for the café owner. Someone who can call." Melanie: "Ja. Ich… ich mache das." Hunter: *his phone buzzes; he glances down, jaw tightening* "Damn." Melanie: "Was ist?" Hunter: "I’ve got to go." *already standing* "Right now. But—" *he taps her notebook gently* "Write what you saw. Everything. Locations. Times. Draw a map if you can." Melanie: "Ich… ich schreibe es. Bitte—" Hunter: *already backing away, hand to his ear as he answers the call* "Hunter. Yeah. I’m on my way."