Run: 2026-02-16-01KHK9QCDVQKF538J0S6TVE09C

Selvi: "..." Hunter: "..." Hunter: "Mind if I sit?" Selvi: "..." *(she keeps her eyes on the camera screen, thumb hovering over the last photo)* Hunter: "You’ve been around town with that camera. I’m Detective Hunter." Selvi: "..." *(a tight swallow; she nods once, uncertain)* Hunter: "I need to ask you about what happened near the river trail yesterday evening. Were you there?" Selvi: "..." *(her breath catches; her fingers curl around the camera strap)* Selvi: "मैं… मैं वहाँ थी।" Hunter: "Sorry—what?" Selvi: "कल… नदी के पास… अजीब था।" Hunter: "I don’t… I don’t understand. English?" Selvi: "मुझे इंग्लिश नहीं आती।" *(her voice trembles; she presses the camera closer to her chest as if it can shield her)* Hunter: "You don’t speak English at all?" Selvi: "नहीं।" Hunter: "Okay. Okay—slow down. Show me." *(he gestures gently at the camera)* Selvi: "ये… फोटो।" *(she flips through the images with shaking hands, stopping on one; her eyes dart toward the window as if expecting someone to appear)* Hunter: "That’s the trail… and those are the trees—what am I supposed to see?" Selvi: "वहाँ… किसी के कदमों की आवाज़ थी। फिर… सब चुप।" Hunter: "Footsteps? Someone following you?" Selvi: "मैंने देखा नहीं। सिर्फ़ सुना।" Hunter: "You didn’t see them. You heard them. Then what?" Selvi: "फिर… एक चीख… बहुत दूर।" *(her face tightens, the memory making her flinch)* Hunter: "A scream." Selvi: "हाँ। और… मुझे लगा… कोई मुझे देख रहा है।" Hunter: "You felt watched." Selvi: "मैं भाग गई।" *(she makes a small running motion with her hand, then grips the strap again)* Hunter: "Did you see a person? A car? Anything unusual—lights, a truck?" Selvi: "ट्रक… शायद।" Hunter: "Maybe a truck." *(he leans in, trying to read the photo)* "Can you point? Where?" Selvi: "यहाँ…" *(she taps the corner of the image; it’s grainy, half-hidden by branches)* "काला…" Hunter: "Black. Black truck?" Selvi: "हाँ… काला।" Hunter: "Did anyone speak to you?" Selvi: "नहीं… पर… एक परछाई थी।" Hunter: "A shadow." Selvi: "और… गंध…" *(she wrinkles her nose, troubled)* "धुआँ… या… तेल…" Hunter: "Smoke or oil. Great." *(he exhales, frustrated, but keeps his voice even)* "Do you know the date? The time?" Selvi: "शाम… सूरज डूब रहा था।" Hunter: "Around sunset." Selvi: "मैं फोटो ले रही थी… पेड़ों की… और फिर… ये हुआ।" Hunter: "You were taking pictures of the trees." *(he watches her hands)* "Did you tell anyone?" Selvi: "मैं… डर गई थी।" Hunter: "You were scared." Selvi: "यह शहर…" *(she looks around the café, as if the cheerful clink of cups doesn’t belong in the same world)* "अल्बोर्न… अच्छा लगता था। अब नहीं।" Hunter: "You liked Alborn. Not anymore." Selvi: "लोग… गायब हो रहे हैं।" *(the words come out quick, urgent)* Hunter: "People are disappearing. Yeah." Selvi: "पुलिस…?" *(she looks at his badge, then at his face, searching for assurance)* Hunter: "I’m police. I’m trying." Selvi: "आप… समझ नहीं रहे…" *(she squeezes her eyes shut, fighting tears)* Hunter: "I know. I’m not understanding enough." *(he glances around the café, as if hoping a bilingual stranger will materialize)* "Is there someone who can translate for you? Friend? Host family?" Selvi: "कोई नहीं। मैं अकेली हूँ।" Hunter: "You’re alone." Selvi: "कृपया… मेरे कैमरे को… देखिए। सब फोटो… मैं दे दूँगी।" Hunter: "You want to give me the photos." Selvi: "हाँ। पर… मैं नहीं चाहती… वापस वहाँ…" Hunter: "You don’t want to go back there. You shouldn’t." Hunter: *(his phone buzzes; he checks it, jaw tightening)* "Damn." Selvi: "क्या हुआ?" Hunter: "I have to go. Now." *(he stands, already half-turned)* Selvi: "रुकिए—" Hunter: "Listen. Stay here. Don’t go back to the river trail. Don’t go anywhere alone." Selvi: "मैं… समझ…" *(she doesn’t, not fully, but his tone lands; she nods anyway)* Hunter: "I’ll come back. I’ll find someone who speaks Hindi. We’ll talk again." Selvi: "कृपया… जल्दी…" Hunter: "Yeah. Soon." *(he hesitates, then taps the table lightly, a promise he can’t quite translate)* "Don’t leave." Selvi: "..." *(she watches him go, hands still wrapped around her camera like it’s the only solid thing in Alborn)*