Run: 2026-03-18-01KM0AJN7C591Y9VG2DCQXEZC3

**Scene: Café in Alborn, MN – Late Afternoon** *Selvi sits at a small wrought-iron table outside the café, her camera resting on the table beside her. She flips through recently taken photos, her expression growing more troubled with each one. The late afternoon sun casts long shadows across the wooden planks of the café deck. Hunter approaches, his boots clicking against the pavement.* --- **Hunter:** *(leaning slightly over the table)* Afternoon. Mind if I ask you a few questions? *Selvi glances up, startled. She hadn’t noticed him approaching. She shakes her head slightly, unsure, her grip tightening on her camera.* **Selvi:** *(in Hindi, rapid and uneasy)* "Kaun ho tum? Main yahan akeli hoon..." *Hunter frowns, clearly not understanding.* **Hunter:** Uh… I don’t speak—what? *Selvi hesitates, then tries again, slower this time, her Hindi tinged with anxiety.* **Selvi:** *(in Hindi)* "Tum police walon mein se ho?" **Hunter:** *(shaking his head)* Detective. Hunter. And you are? *Selvi exhales shakily, switching to broken English, her accent thick.* **Selvi:** "Selvi. Yes. I… I take pictures. Of town." *She gestures weakly to her camera. Hunter’s gaze darts between her and the device.* **Hunter:** Right. Well, I’m looking into the disappearances. Folk’ve been spooked—especially after the apple festival. You here alone? *Selvi’s eyes widen at the word "disappearances" (which she roughly understands due to context). She shivers, wrapping her arms around herself.* **Selvi:** *(in Hindi, voice trembling)* "Haan, akeli hoon... lekin main dar rahi hoon. Log ginte hue kam ho rahe hain..." **Hunter:** *(frowning harder)* Look, I’m trying to help. You saw something? *Selvi swallows hard, then nods slowly, switching back to halting English.* **Selvi:** "Yes. I see... strange things in photos. Shadows. People not there. But when I take picture... they gone." *She mimics taking a photo with her hands, her expression full of unease. Hunter’s brow furrows deeply.* **Hunter:** Shadows? You mean like in the woods near Old Mill Lane? **Selvi:** *(nodding vigorously)* "Haan! And near bridge. And... and in market square. I think... I think maybe ghosts?" *Hunter exhales a humorless chuckle, rubbing his jaw.* **Hunter:** Ghosts ain’t my department, but I’ll check those spots. You got your camera on you now? *Selvi nods, lifting it gently. Hunter pulls out his notepad.* **Hunter:** Write me down your number. If you see anything else—even if it’s nothing—call me. *Selvi takes his pen hesitantly, jotting down her number in rough script. Just as Hunter’s phone buzzes loudly in his pocket. He pulls it out, glances at the screen, and frowns.* **Hunter:** *(muttering)* Gotta take this. Stay alert, okay? *Selvi nods, clutching her camera tightly as Hunter answers the call and strides away, leaving her alone at the table. The wind picks up, rustling the pages of her notebook beside her.* *(Scene ends.)*