Run: 2026-02-20-01KHY8C558B8MHT2A8MME8QNM9

**Title: *The Lens of Alborn*** --- **Scene: *The Morning After*** *(The sun spills golden light through the stained-glass windows of *Brew & Bloom*, a cozy café in Alborn’s downtown square. Melanie sits at a small wooden table, her camera case open beside her, the lens cap off. She’s studying a recent photograph—one of the town’s rolling hills, bathed in the soft glow of dawn. The hum of conversation from the other tables fades into the background as she focuses.)* --- **Melanie:** *(quietly, to herself, adjusting the focus ring)* *"Das ist… so anders. Die Luft hier ist anders."* *(She doesn’t look up. Her fingers trace the edge of the photo, as if tracing the lines of something unseen.)* *(A moment. The café’s chatter grows louder. Melanie’s breath is shallow. She exhales sharply, then—)* **Melanie:** *(suddenly, in a rush, her voice trembling)* *"Ich habe gesehen… etwas. Gestern Abend."* *(She doesn’t wait for Hunter to react. She’s already speaking fast, her German sharp with urgency.)* **Hunter:** *(approaching, arms crossed, his marine boots scuffing against the linoleum)* *"Hallo. You’re the… the photographer from the study abroad program, right?"* *(Melanie freezes. Her hands clench around the camera. She doesn’t answer. Instead, she gestures toward the photo, her voice dropping to a whisper.)* **Melanie:** *"Das… das war kein Foto. Das war… ein Blick. Auf die Leute. Die am Fluss. Sie… sie waren nicht da."* *(Hunter’s jaw tightens. He steps closer, his presence making the café feel suddenly smaller.)* **Hunter:** *"What do you mean?"* *(Melanie’s eyes flick to his face—sharp, unreadable. She hesitates, then presses on, her voice barely above a whisper.)* **Melanie:** *"Ich habe gesehen, wie sie… verschwunden sind. Die Frau mit dem roten Hut. Die Kinder. Sie waren da, und dann… nicht mehr."* *(A beat. The air between them is thick. Hunter’s fingers twitch at his sides, as if he’s fighting the urge to reach for his gun.)* **Hunter:** *"You saw them disappear?"* *(Melanie shakes her head, her camera trembling in her hands.)* **Melanie:** *"Nein. Ich habe sie *beobachtet*. Aber ich habe… ich habe *gefühlt*, dass sie… nicht mehr da waren. Wie ein Schatten, der sich auflöst."* *(Hunter exhales through his nose, his eyes scanning the café—every face, every shadow. He steps back slightly, as if assessing the room like a battlefield.)* **Hunter:** *"You’re sure this isn’t just… hallucination?"* *(Melanie’s lips press into a thin line. She doesn’t deny it.)* **Melanie:** *"Ich bin nicht krank. Ich habe es mit meinen Augen gesehen."* *(Hunter’s gaze lingers on her—her wide eyes, the way her hands shake. He’s about to press further when—)* *(A sharp ring. Hunter’s phone buzzes in his pocket. He pulls it out, reads the message, and his expression darkens.)* **Hunter:** *(into his phone, voice low)* *"Yeah… Yeah, I’m on my way."* *(He pockets the phone, his voice turning to a command.)* **Hunter:** *"Melanie. You’re coming with me."* *(Melanie’s breath catches. She looks at him—really looks at him—and her stomach twists. She doesn’t move.)* **Melanie:** *(softly)* *"Ich… ich verstehe nicht."* *(Hunter’s jaw clenches. He steps forward, his voice a growl.)* **Hunter:** *"You’re coming. Now."* *(Melanie’s camera clatters to the table as she stands. She doesn’t argue. She just nods, her hands still trembling.)* *(Hunter turns to leave, then pauses at the door.)* **Hunter:** *(calling back, voice rough)* *"And Melanie? If you see anything else… you tell me. *Now.*"* *(The door clicks shut behind him. The café falls silent again. Melanie exhales, her shoulders slumping. She picks up her camera, her fingers hovering over the shutter button—)* *(But she doesn’t take the photo. Instead, she stares at the empty space where Hunter was standing, her breath coming slow and steady.)* --- **End Scene.**