Run: 2026-03-03-01KJV0HQ0GETFNEZ535B886013

The scent of cinnamon and crisp autumn air drifted through the open door of the Alborn coffee shop. Marie sat by the window, her knuckles white as she clicked through the digital display of her camera, her brow furrowed in deep concentration. Detective Hunter stepped inside, his heavy boots sounding a rhythmic, no-nonsense beat against the floorboards. He spotted the girl with the camera—the same witness the locals had pointed him toward—and pulled out the chair opposite her. **Hunter:** "Excuse me. You’re the student, right? Marie? My name is Detective Hunter. I need to ask you about the apple orchard near the north trail. You were out there taking photos yesterday evening, weren't you? Did you see anyone nearby before the disappearance?" **Marie:** (Her eyes widen, her hands trembling as she sets the camera down, her breath hitching in her chest.) "Mon Dieu... je ne sais pas comment expliquer. C’était horrible, monsieur. Il y avait une ombre, une forme sombre près des arbres, et puis... silence. Tout a disparu. Je suis effrayée, comprenez-vous ? J'aurais dû partir plus tôt." **Hunter:** (He leans back, his expression tight, eyes narrowing in confusion.) "Whoa, slow down. I’m sorry, is that French? Look, I didn't get any of that. Did you see someone or not? I need a description, a name, anything." **Marie:** (Desperation etched into her face, she pushes the camera toward him, gesturing wildly at the screen.) "Regardez ! Regardez le cliché ! Ce n'était pas un animal. C'était un homme, mais... ses yeux, ils étaient vides. Il m'a vue, et après, je ne me souviens plus de rien. S'il vous plaît, vous devez m'aider !" **Hunter:** (He glances at the camera screen, squinting at the blurry, overexposed image of a dark silhouette amongst the apple trees. He sighs, rubbing his jaw.) "Okay, okay. I’m looking at the photo, but I honestly have no idea what you're saying. Are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost." **Marie:** (She wipes a stray tear, her voice dropping to a shaky whisper as she tries to tap a translation app on her phone.) "Je suis coincée ici... personne ne comprend... c’est un cauchemar, monsieur. Je veux juste rentrer chez moi." **Hunter:** (His phone buzzes sharply on the table. He glances at the screen, his face hardening as he reads the notification. He stands up abruptly, tucking his phone away.) "That’s dispatch. They found something else at the site. Look, keep that camera safe. Don't go anywhere near those woods, you hear me? I’ll have to find someone who can translate for us later, but right now, I’ve got to go." **Marie:** "Attendez ! Monsieur, s'il vous plaît... ne me laissez pas !"