Run: 2026-02-20-01KHY8X39KSYXD3DVKX2CF8BHZ

**Scene: *The Café by the Clock Tower*** --- **Maria** *(sits at the wooden table, camera resting on the tabletop, fingers tracing the lens cap. Her expression is tense, her posture stiff—like she’s holding back something.)* **Maria:** *(quietly, in Spanish)* "No entiendo. No sé qué pasó. Solo… solo vi algo. Algo que no debería haber visto." *(She hesitates, then adds, voice trembling slightly.)* **Maria:** "El señor López… él estaba allí. Pero después… desapareció. Como si el suelo se lo hubiera tragado." *(She looks up, meeting Hunter’s gaze—her eyes wide, almost desperate.)* --- **Hunter** *(approaches, arms crossed, his Marine-issued uniform creaking slightly with each step. He stops beside her, leaning against the counter, arms folded.)* **Hunter:** *(in English, voice low and measured)* "You speak Spanish?" **Maria:** *(startled, then nods sharply.)* "Sí. Pero… no entiendo bien. ¿Por qué pregunta eso?" **Hunter:** *(ignoring the question, stepping closer—his voice drops to a growl.)* "You saw something. What happened?" *(Maria’s breath catches. She swallows hard, then leans in slightly, voice barely above a whisper.)* **Maria:** "El señor López… él estaba en el camino. Llevaba su maleta. Y entonces… *algo* pasó. No sé qué. Solo que el suelo se movió. Como si el mundo se cerrara." *(She pauses, then adds, more firmly.)* **Maria:** "No es normal. No es como en los libros. No es como en las películas. Esto es real." *(Hunter’s jaw tightens. He studies her—her eyes, her hands, the way she clenches the camera strap. Then, abruptly, he pulls his phone from his pocket.)* **Hunter:** *(into the phone, voice sharp)* "Alborn PD. I need you to—" *(he hangs up, slams the phone down onto the counter.)* **Hunter:** *(to Maria, voice rough)* "I gotta go. But I’ll be back. And you’re coming with me." *(Maria’s breath catches. She looks at him—really looks at him—and for the first time, something flickers in her eyes. Not fear. Something else. Something dangerous.)* **Maria:** *(quietly, in Spanish)* "¿Por qué?" *(Hunter doesn’t answer. He just nods, turns on his heel, and strides toward the door—his back rigid, his expression unreadable. But Maria knows. She’s seen that look before. The one that says: *This isn’t over.*)* --- **End Scene.** *(Next: Hunter leaves, but Maria lingers, her camera still in hand. The café hums around her—normal, mundane—but the air between them is thick with something far more dangerous.)*