Run: 2026-02-16-01KHM5W76KDWR2M5WKMWMBEGFT

**Scene: The Rustic Bean Cafe, Alborn, MN** **Setting:** A small cafe on Main Street. The scent of fresh coffee and baked goods hangs in the air. MELANIE (30, German, clutching a professional-looking camera) is sitting at a corner table, staring intently at the camera’s digital display. Her expression is pale and troubled. DETECTIVE HUNTER (35, serious, in a practical jacket) approaches her table. --- **Hunter:** “Excuse me, miss? I’m Detective Hunter with the Alborn Sheriff’s Office. Mind if I sit for a moment?” **Melanie:** *(Looks up, startled. She offers a weak, polite smile but her eyes are wide with anxiety.)* “Entschuldigung, ich verstehe nicht… Mein Englisch ist nicht gut. Es tut mir leid.” *(She shakes her head slightly, her grip tightening on the camera.)* **Hunter:** *(His brow furrows, his no-nonsense demeanor faltering for a second at the language barrier.)* “Right… Okay. I’m investigating. The disappearance. The hiker. Yesterday. Did you see anything? You were out by the old trailhead, taking pictures, right?” *(He speaks slowly, using deliberate hand gestures towards her camera and then pointing vaguely in the direction of the woods.)* **Melanie:** *(She follows his gestures, understanding the gist. Her face grows more distressed. She speaks rapidly in German, her voice trembling.)* “Ja, die Fotos… ich habe etwas gesehen. Nicht den Mann, aber… ein Licht. Ein seltsames, blaues Licht zwischen den Bäumen, dort wo der Pfad verschwindet. Es war… es war nicht richtig. Und dann war es einfach weg. Ich habe es hier.” *(She turns the camera screen toward him, frantically scrolling through images of serene landscapes before stopping on a blurry, out-of-focus shot of dense pine trees. A faint, unnatural cyan smudge is barely visible in the shadows.)* **Hunter:** *(He leans in, squinting at the blurry image. He doesn’t understand her words, but her fear is palpable. He points at the blue smudge on the screen.)* “This? You saw this? What is it?” **Melanie:** *(Nods vigorously, her words tumbling out.)* “Ich weiß es nicht! Es fühlte sich… schlecht an. Als ob die Luft still stand. Ich wollte näher kommen für ein besseres Bild, aber dann hatte ich solche Angst. Eine kalte Angst.” *(She shivers, wrapping her free arm around herself.)* **Hunter:** *(He studies her face, then the photo again. The marine in him recognizes genuine, raw terror. His tone softens, becoming more patient.)* “Okay. Okay, I see you’re upset. This is important. Can I… can I get a copy of that picture? I need someone to look at it.” **Melanie:** *(She looks confused, not understanding the request. She holds the camera closer to her chest, protectively.)* “Meine Kamera? Nein, das sind meine Arbeiten für die Universität…” **Hunter:** *(He holds up a hand, trying to convey ‘wait.’ He pulls out his notebook, scribbles his name and number, and slides it across the table. He then mimes taking a picture and pointing to the note.)* “A copy. Later. Someone who speaks… German. To help us.” **Melanie:** *(She looks at the note, then back at him, her expression a mix of fear and cautious understanding. She gives a small, hesitant nod.)* “Ja… ich… ich versuche.” *(Suddenly, Hunter’s cell phone vibrates loudly on the table. He glances at the caller ID – it’s the station. He holds up a finger to Melanie, his professional mask snapping back into place.)* **Hunter:** “Hunter… What? Where? The old Miller barn? I’m on my way. Ten minutes.” *(He hangs up, standing abruptly. He looks back at Melanie, who is watching him with worried eyes.)* “I have to go. Stay. Here. In town. Please.” *(He taps the notebook with his number on it, gives her a firm, meaningful look, and then turns, striding quickly out of the cafe.)* **Melanie:** *(Alone again, she stares at the closed cafe door, then down at the haunting image on her camera. She whispers to herself, her voice barely audible.)* “Er versteht nicht… aber er spürt es auch. Etwas ist hier sehr falsch.”