Run: 2026-02-25-01KJ94R8MAFX1JNH0S201VFB02

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and cinnamon donuts hung heavy in the air of "The Daily Grind," Alborn's only cafe. Sunlight streamed through the front window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. Maria sat at a small, cherry-wood table, her prized DSLR camera resting on her lap. She scrolled through images on the camera’s LCD screen, her brow furrowed, a slight tremor running through her fingers. The vibrant landscapes she'd captured yesterday seemed muted now, overshadowed by a growing unease. The bell above the cafe door jingled. Detective Hunter, a man whose imposing presence seemed to fill the small space, strode in, his gaze sweeping the room. His eyes landed on Maria, the newcomer with the camera. He approached her table, his expression a mixture of weariness and purpose. *** **Voice Sheet** **Hunter:** "Excuse me, miss? Detective Hunter. I'm looking into a few things that have been happening in town. Have you by any chance seen anything... unusual? Lately?" **Maria:** (Looks up abruptly, startled. Her eyes widen, and her face pales. She grips her camera tighter.) "¡Ay dios mío, sí! ¡Lo vi! ¡Todo! Fue... fue terrible. No sé cómo... mi cámara... ¡Tengo las fotos, pero es... es demasiado horrible para explicar!" **Hunter:** (His face registers immediate confusion. He shakes his head.) "I'm sorry, I... I don't understand. Spanish? You speak Spanish?" **Maria:** (Leans forward, her voice trembling, desperation creeping in. She gestures wildly between her camera and the window.) "¿No me entiende? ¡Por favor! ¡Vi lo que pasó! ¡Estaba allí! ¡Mi cámara capturó todo! ¡Fue un horror!" **Hunter:** (Takes a slow breath, trying to maintain composure. He points vaguely towards the town square, then makes a 'disappearing' motion with his hands.) "Look, I need to know if you saw anyone. *Anyone* out of the ordinary. Someone who... isn't here anymore." **Maria:** (Her eyes fix on him, then dart around the cafe nervously. She makes a choking sound and covers her mouth with her hand, pointing at her camera with fierce urgency.) "¡Sí! ¡Lo vi! ¡Salió de la nada! ¡Y luego... se fue! ¡No quiero pensar en ello! ¡Es muy, muy malo!" **Hunter:** (Reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a small, laminated photo of a missing person. He holds it out to her.) "This man. Did you see this man? Near where you were taking pictures?" **Maria:** (Gasps, her breath catching in her throat. She stares at the photo, then points at it with a shaking finger.) "¡Sí! ¡Él! ¡Ese hombre! ¡Lo vi! ¡Dios mío, sí!" **(Hunter's phone rings, a sharp, intrusive sound. He pulls it out, his expression hardening as he sees the caller ID.)** **Hunter:** (Into phone) "Hunter. Yes, sir. I'm on my way." **(He hangs up quickly, looking at Maria with a strained apology.)** **Hunter:** "Listen, I have to go. Something urgent just came up. I'm sorry, I... I wish I could understand you. We'll have to figure out a way to communicate. Maybe see if there's a translator available. We'll try again, I promise." **(Hunter gives her a final, clipped nod and exits the cafe, leaving Maria looking even more distraught and isolated.)**