Run: 2026-03-25-01KMJ88R88H7VV1BRHHVMJN08F

**Maria: "¿Puedo ayudarle? Lo siento, no comprendo bien lo que..."** *Her hands fidget with the camera strap, eyes wide. She glances nervously at the cafe’s decor, then back at the detective.* **Hunter:** *(Solemn, leaning against the back of the chair)* "Ma’am, I’d like to ask you a few questions. Professional discretion, just routine." *He gestures to her camera. "You been out taking photos recently?"* **Maria:** "Sí, ayer. La noche del festival, escuché... un grito. Sonaba cerca del bosque, al sur del pueblo. But... I didn’t see anything useful." *She shakes her head rapidly, her own words leaving her frustrated.* **Hunter:** *(Frowns)* "Sorry? Your English cuts out. Let me try… ¡Hola? No, wait—my Spanish’s minimal." *He pulls out his phone, opens a translation app. Flips it toward her, reads the screen aloud.* "¿Usted vio algo? *Hold on, the police need to know…*" **Maria:** "¡No es eso! No puedo decirle… It’s the same as the others! The gate by the orchard was locked, but there’s something behind it. People go in, and they vanish!" *She taps her chest, whispering,* "Lo sentí. La energía. It was wrong." *Her voice trembles.* **Hunter:** *(Stills, studying her face)* "Locked gate… Why does that sound familiar?" *He nods slowly, reaching for his phone.* "Alborn Census, we need a record of that gate’s status. In the meantime…" *He stops. The phone rings—his jaw tightens at the number. Answers tersely.* "Yeah? What’s the situation?" **Maria:** *(Reaches for her camera, shows him a blurred photo of overgrown trees)* "This shadow there—it wasn’t a tree. Someone hid something. Por favor, it’s important." *Her fingers brush the screen, tracing a shape.* **Hunter:** *(Leans in, squints at the photo. His voice lowers—practical, edged with urgency)* "You think this affects the case. But I can’t even…" *He gestures at her, then gives up with a grunt. Murmurs to the phone,* "I’ll be there in ten." *Stands abruptly, tossing a $10 bill on the table.* "Gracias for the—… *info*." *He exits fast, ignoring the confusion in his eyes as he stares at the photo.* **Maria:** *(Calls after him, voice breaking in Spanish)* "¡Lo encontrarán si ignoran las señales! *El hombre cadulto…* T-enía…" *She trails off, watching him disappear, her chest rising and falling in visible panic.* *The camera lies between her and the empty table, shutters still blinking with the last photo’s memory. Somewhere, an apple orchard gate creaks on unseen wind.*