Run: 2026-05-01-01KQHS23M11Z89SMKCCQ9WSB2R

**Scene: Alborn, MN – The Cozy Bean Café, late afternoon** The small-town café hummed with quiet conversation and the scent of fresh apple cider. Selvi sat alone at a corner table near the window, her dark hair falling over one shoulder as she scrolled through the photos on her camera. The images of the orchard at dusk still unsettled her—the strange shadows, the empty path where she had heard the scream. Hunter entered, his broad shoulders filling the doorway. The former Marine scanned the room with practiced eyes before spotting the young woman with the camera. He adjusted his jacket and walked over. --- **Voice Sheet** **Selvi:** (softly, in Hindi, voice trembling) "Main... maine kuch dekha tha us raat. Andhera tha... aur woh awaaz... jaise koi ro raha ho. Phir sab khamosh ho gaya. Main darr gayi thi. Ab bhi dar lag raha hai..." **Hunter:** (brow furrowed, clearly confused) "I'm sorry, ma'am, I don't understand a word you're saying. Do you speak any English? I'm Detective Hunter—I'm looking into the disappearances. There was an event three nights ago near the old orchard. Did you see anything unusual?" **Selvi:** (shaking her head, switching to broken attempts mixed with Hindi, still visibly shaken) "Orchard... main wahan thi. Camera ke saath. Ek ladki... chillaayi. Phir... kuch nahi. Sirf andhera. Main... main bhag gayi." **Hunter:** "Easy, slow down. I caught 'orchard' and 'camera.' You were there that night? With your camera? Did you see who screamed?" **Selvi:** (voice dropping, eyes darting to her camera screen) "Main nahi jaanti... unhone use le liya. Jaise baaki logon ko. Main sirf photo le rahi thi. Ab raat mein neend nahi aati." **Hunter:** (leaning in, tone steady but frustrated by the language barrier) "Look, I can see you're scared. Whatever you witnessed, it might be important. If you were taking pictures, maybe there's something on that camera that could help. Can you show me?" **Selvi:** (nodding hesitantly, whispering in Hindi) "Theek hai... lekin yeh safe nahi lagta. Yeh sheher... kuch galat ho raha hai." **Hunter:** "I don't know what you're saying, but your face tells me enough. I'll find someone who speaks... whatever that is. Hindi, right? Just stay in town. Don't go near the orchard alone." *(Hunter's phone suddenly rings. He checks the screen, his expression hardening.)* **Hunter:** "Damn it. I have to take this—it's the station. We'll finish this conversation soon. Stay safe, miss." *(He gives her one last concerned look, then turns and strides out of the café, phone already to his ear.)* **Selvi:** (quietly to herself in Hindi, watching him leave) "Yeh aadmi madad karna chahta hai... lekin kaise? Main akeli hoon yahan."