Run: 2026-02-20-01KHYAMRB1M4H41P36ZX8J3QCH

**Title: *The Lens of Alborn*** --- **Scene: *The Morning Sun Café*** *(The warm glow of morning light filters through the stained-glass windows of *The Morning Sun Café*, a quaint, old-world establishment in Alborn. Selvi sits at a corner table, her camera resting on the table in front of her, the lens cap off. She adjusts the focus, her fingers brushing the strap as she studies the scene outside—rustic wooden buildings, the faint scent of apple cider in the air. A few minutes later, the door creaks open, and Hunter steps inside, his boots scuffing against the worn linoleum.)* --- **Selvi:** *(without looking up, in Hindi)* *"Aap ko kya mila hai?"* **Hunter:** *(startled, stepping forward, voice rough with exhaustion)* *"What?"* **Selvi:** *(finally meeting his eyes, her voice low, urgent)* *"Aap ko kya mila hai?…"* *(gestures to the café, then to the street beyond, then back to him)* *(Hunter blinks, rubbing his temples. He’s been on edge since the call—another body, another name. His jaw tightens.)* **Hunter:** *(gritting his teeth, voice clipped)* *"I got a call. Another disappearance. Same place. Same… pattern."* **Selvi:** *(leaning forward slightly, her hands steady on the table)* *"Aapko… kya mila hai?"* *(she repeats, softer now, as if testing the weight of his words)* *(Hunter exhales sharply through his nose, his gaze flicking to her camera. He doesn’t know Hindi, but he *feels* the weight of it—the way she’s holding herself, the way her fingers twitch near the lens.)* **Hunter:** *(quietly, to himself)* *"…You got a camera."* **Selvi:** *(smiling faintly, in Hindi)* *"Fotograaf…"* *(she says it slowly, like she’s explaining a language to a child)* *(Hunter’s eyes narrow. He doesn’t understand, but he *sees* it—the way she’s staring at the street, the way her breath hitches. Something’s off. Something’s been off for days.)* **Hunter:** *(pulling his phone from his pocket, already dialing)* *"I gotta go. But…"* *(he pauses, looking at her again)* *"You ever seen anything like this before?"* **Selvi:** *(shaking her head, her voice trembling slightly)* *"Nahi…"* *(she shakes her head, then looks down at her camera, as if searching for answers there)* *(Hunter hangs up. He’s got a lead, but it’s not enough. He turns back to her, his expression unreadable.)* **Hunter:** *(low, almost to himself)* *"…You’re the only one who’s been out here at dawn."* **Selvi:** *(without looking up)* *"Fotograaf…"* *(she repeats, but this time, it’s a question.)* *(Hunter’s jaw clenches. He doesn’t know Hindi, but he *knows* something’s been missing. And now, he’s got a student who might know why.)* *(He turns to leave, but before he steps outside, he pauses.)* **Hunter:** *(quietly, to himself)* *"…You’re not from around here."* **Selvi:** *(finally meeting his eyes, her voice soft)* *"Nahi."* *(She nods, then looks back at her camera, as if searching for answers in the shadows.)* *(Hunter exhales, walks out, and the café falls silent again—except for the distant hum of the apple festival preparations, and the faint *click* of Selvi’s camera lens as she adjusts it one last time.)* --- **End Scene.**