Run: 2026-03-25-01KMJ85QNPBWKKNPVD45GM95VK

**Scene: Cozy Corner Café, Alborn, MN** *Selvi sits by the window, her camera resting on the wooden table. The autumn sunlight casts a warm glow over her hands as she frowns at a photo on her phone. The café hums with the low murmur of conversation and the clink of coffee mugs. Hunter approaches, his boots creaking against the floorboards, and leans against the table.* **Hunter:** (gruff, but not unkind) “Ma’am, I need to ask you a few questions about the… *incident* at the old orchard last night.” *Selvi’s eyes widen. She opens her mouth, then closes it, glancing at her camera as if for answers.* **Selvi:** (rapid Hindi, voice trembling) “Woh log… unko kyun chalaya? Maine… maine dekha tha, but—” *Her hands flutter, pointing at her phone’s screen. Hunter stares blankly.* **Hunter:** (rubbing the back of his neck) “Sorry. I don’t—do you speak English?” *Selvi shakes her head violently, her braid slipping over her shoulder. She taps her own temples, then points at the photo: a gnarled apple tree, its branches twisted like skeletal fingers.* **Selvi:** (Hindi, faster now) “Woh pani… ganda hai. Kuchh hua… kuchh *bhoot*—” **Hunter:** (interrupting, leaning closer) “Bhoot? You saw something at the orchard? A person? Animal?” *She clutches her camera, her knuckles pale.* **Selvi:** (Hindi, near a whisper) “Nahin… kuchh aur. Kali aankhen. Kali, *desh* ke…” *(“No… something else. Black eyes. Black, of the…”)* *Hunter’s jaw tightens. His radio crackles in his pocket. He pulls it out, face hardening.* **Hunter:** (into radio) “Alborn PD, Detective Hunter. Copy that.” *His gaze flicks back to Selvi, apologetic but firm. She’s already turning away, her camera shielding her face.* **Hunter:** (softly, in case she understands words) “We’ll figure this out.” *He walks away as the radio’s static swallows his next breath. Selvi stares at the photo, the tree’s shadow now looking like a figure with black eyes.* --- ** END SCENE **