Run: 2026-03-18-01KM08SX5B5Q1R5Q5NEZMHY0SG

**[Scene: A cozy café in Alborn, MN. Melanie sits at a small wooden table by the window, her camera resting beside her coffee. Hunter enters, scanning the room before approaching her.]** --- **Hunter:** *(pulling out the chair across from Melanie)* Mind if I join you? **Melanie:** *(looking up, startled by the sudden interruption, then shaking her head quickly)* Nein, nein. *(She glances back at her camera, fingers tightening around it.)* **Hunter:** *(raising an eyebrow, confused)* Uh… okay. So, you’re German? **Melanie:** *(nodding, but not looking up)* Ja. *(She exhales shakily, then seems to steady herself.)* Ja. I’m German. **Hunter:** Cool. I’m Detective Hunter. I’m looking into the disappearances around here—thought maybe you’d seen something. You’ve been in town about a week, right? **Melanie:** *(finally meeting his eyes, her expression troubled)* Ja. A week. *(She swallows hard, her grip on the camera tightening.)* I—I saw something. **Hunter:** *(leaning forward, interested)* When? Where? **Melanie:** *(hesitant, her voice barely above a whisper)* Two nights ago. Near the old mill. There was… a man. He was with someone. A woman. They—I don’t know. They were fighting. **Hunter:** *(pulling out a small notepad)* Describe them. Anything stand out? **Melanie:** *(shaking her head, her brow furrowed in distress)* The man was tall. Broad shoulders. Dark coat. The woman—she had long hair. Blond. She was screaming. **Hunter:** *(writing quickly)* What else? **Melanie:** *(her voice trembling now)* Then the man—he grabbed her. She tried to run, but… he pulled her into the trees. I—I didn’t see anything after. **Hunter:** *(frowning, flipping his notepad shut)* You didn’t call the police? **Melanie:** *(her eyes wide with panic)* I—I didn’t think he’d come here! I didn’t know if you’d believe me! **Hunter:** *(his tone firm but not unkind)* You should’ve reported it. **Melanie:** *(biting her lip, her hands shaking)* I know. I’m sorry. *(Hunter’s phone vibrates loudly on the table. He glances at the screen, then back at Melanie, his expression indicating this isn’t a good time.)* **Hunter:** Gotta take this. *(He answers, stepping away as he speaks quietly into the phone.)* Yeah, what’s up? *(Melanie watches him, her fingers still clutching her camera. Hunter ends the call quickly, shoving his phone back in his pocket.)* **Hunter:** *(to Melanie, his voice edged with urgency)* Look, I need to go. But leave your number at the station. We’ll need to talk more. **Melanie:** *(nodding, still shaken)* Okay. Okay. *(Hunter hesitates for a moment, as if he wants to say something reassuring, but then just gives a curt nod before striding out of the café. Melanie exhales shakily, her eyes following him out before she pulls her camera closer, flipping through the photos she’s taken since arriving in Alborn.)*