Run: 2026-02-19-01KHVPDF6S9WMPSPM3HXDK5DJW

**Scene Setting**: The cozy outdoor patio of the Apple Blossom Café in downtown Alborn. Isabella is sitting alone at a small wrought-iron table, her brow furrowed as she nervously stares at the digital display of her DSLR camera. Detective Hunter approaches, flashing his badge. Hunter: "Excuse me, ma'am. I'm Detective Hunter with the Alborn Police. I’m looking into the recent string of disappearances around town. A patrolman mentioned seeing you near the old orchards yesterday evening. Did you happen to see anything unusual?" Isabella: *(Jumping slightly, her eyes wide as she looks at the badge)* "Oh! Dio mio... Il poliziotto? Io... mi dispiace, ma non capisco. Non parlo inglese. Per niente." Hunter: *(Squinting, clearly confused)* "Uh... Italian? Right. Look, I don't know a single word of that. I just need to know if you saw anyone out there. Missing people. Did you see someone?" Isabella: *(Her hands trembling locally, tightly gripping her camera)* "C-cosa? Le persone scomparse? Nel bosco, vicino ai meleti... c'era qualcuno. Una figura nera, un'ombra! È stato spaventoso, mi tremavano le gambe!" Hunter: *(Sighing, running a hand over his short, Marine-style haircut)* "Ma’am, I have absolutely zero idea what you’re saying to me. Let's try this. *Me*, Hunter. *You*, were taking pictures. Did you... see... a bad guy?" *(He mimics looking through a camera, then holds his hands up questioning)* Isabella: *(Nodding frantically, pointing a shaking finger at her camera monitor)* "Sì! Sì, fotografa! Sono qui per l'università, f-facevo foto dei paesaggi per il festival delle mele... e poi ho visto quest'uomo! Guardi! Guardi lo schermo!" Hunter: "Okay, okay, easy now. Breathe. I see the camera. You want me to look? Let me see what you've got there." Isabella: *(Scrolling with unsteady thumbs, stopping on a specific photo, her voice choked with worry)* "Ecco... vede? Nella nebbia, dietro i rami. Non so se sia collegato a quelle sparizioni, ma non era un normale cittadino di Alborn. Si nascondeva." Hunter: *(Leaning in, his no-nonsense demeanor sharpening into intense focus)* "Well, I'll be damned. You caught something in the background. Is that... a torn jacket snagged on the cider press? Hey, zoom in on that right corner for me. Uh, make it bigger? Bigger?" *(He makes a stretching motion with his fingers)* Isabella: *(Understanding the gesture, she pinches the screen to zoom in, looking anxiously at his face)* "Così? Più grande? Mio Dio, sembra proprio un pezzo di stoffa strappata... È pericoloso, vero?" Hunter: "Good, perfect. Hold it right there... wait. That fabric matches the coat of the hiker who vanished Tuesday." *(Hunter’s radio suddenly crackles, followed by his cell phone ringing harshly in his pocket. He pulls it out and answers.)* Hunter: "Hunter. ... What? Another one? Where's the abandoned truck? ... Alright, secure the perimeter. I'm five minutes out." *(Hunter shoves the phone back into his coat pocket and looks back at Isabella.)* Hunter: "Look, I’ve got an emergency. I have to go immediately. I need you to stay in town. Uh... *Stay*. Don't leave. Keep the camera safe." *(He points firmly at the table, then at her camera, then holds up a flat palm)* Isabella: *(Clutching the camera to her chest, her voice pitching up with anxiety)* "Deve andare via? Adesso? E la foto? Oh, la prego, stia attento, ispettore! Questo posto mi fa troppa paura!" Hunter: "I’m sorry, I really don't understand you, miss, but I’ll send a deputy with a translation app to take your statement. Keep taking pictures of the trees, stay out of the woods. Thank you." *(He gives a curt, polite nod and quickly jogs away toward his cruiser)* Isabella: *(Watching him leave, whispering to herself)* "Che l'angelo custode la protegga, poliziotto..."