Run: 2026-04-24-01KQ06369KW70DVXE4J35W18A7

# Alborn Café — Late Afternoon *Marie sits alone at a corner table, her camera resting beside a half-finished croissant. She scrolls through photos on the camera's small screen, her brow furrowed. Hunter approaches, badge in hand, and slides into the seat across from her.* --- **Hunter:** "Excuse me, ma'am. I'm Detective Hunter. I'm looking into some recent events around town. Mind if I ask you a few questions?" **Marie:** *(looking up, startled)* "...Oui ? Qui êtes-vous ?" **Hunter:** "I'm sorry?" **Marie:** *(confused, clutching her camera tighter)* "Je... je ne comprends pas. Vous êtes de la police ?" **Hunter:** *(pausing, studying her face)* "Do you... speak English?" **Marie:** *(shaking her head, troubled)* "Non, non. Français. Parlez-vous français ?" **Hunter:** *(sighing, leaning back)* "No. No, I don't. Okay..." *(gesturing slowly toward the town square)* "Disappeared. People. Gone. Have you seen... anything?" **Marie:** *(eyes widening, visibly shaken)* "Disparu... ? Oh mon Dieu..." *(she pulls up a photo on her camera and turns it toward him, her hand trembling)* "J'ai pris cette photo hier soir. Il y avait quelqu'un dans les bois. Je... je ne sais pas qui c'était." **Hunter:** *(staring at the image — a blurry figure standing at the tree line, half-hidden in shadow)* "...What is this? Where was this taken?" **Marie:** *(pointing frantically toward the window, then at the photo)* "Là-bas. Les bois. Près de la rivière. Hier soir, il y avait de la brume, et..." *(her voice cracks)* "...j'ai eu peur." **Hunter:** *(leaning forward, frustrated but patient)* "I don't understand what you're saying. But that photo... that's something." *(he pulls out a notepad and sketches a rough map)* "Here? The woods near the river?" **Marie:** *(nodding vigorously, relieved)* "Oui ! Oui, là ! Le sentier derrière le festival des pommes." **Hunter:** "The apple festival trail. Got it." *(He pauses, studying her shaken expression.)* "Are you okay?" **Marie:** *(hugging herself, whispering)* "Je ne me sens pas en sécurité ici. Quelque chose ne va pas dans cette ville." *A long silence stretches between them. Hunter opens his mouth to try again — when his phone buzzes loudly on the table. He glances at the screen, and his expression hardens.* **Hunter:** *(answering)* "Hunter here." *(pause)* "What? When?" *(pause)* "I'm on my way." *He stands abruptly, tucking the notepad away. He points at Marie, then at the photo on her camera.* **Hunter:** "Don't delete that. I'll be back. Stay... stay here. Safe." **Marie:** *(standing, alarmed)* "Attendez ! Qu'est-ce qui se passe ? Qu'est-ce que —" **Hunter:** *(already walking toward the door, speaking into his phone)* "Get units to the north end of the festival grounds. Now." *He pushes through the café door and is gone. Marie watches him disappear, then slowly sinks back into her chair, her fingers trembling around her camera.* **Marie:** *(whispering to herself)* "...Qu'est-ce qui se passe dans cet endroit ?"