Run: 2026-05-10-01KR8ZJA1WSNPHYWKHKTZHCW3B

The morning sun filtered through the dust-streaked windows of the Alborn Café, casting long shadows over the half-eaten slice of apple pie on Marie’s table. She sat hunched over her digital camera, her thumb working the playback button with frantic precision. She didn't hear the floorboards creak until a large shadow fell across her display screen. Hunter stood over her, his trench coat still damp from the morning mist. He checked his notebook, then back at the girl, his face a mask of weary determination. *** **Voice Sheet** **Hunter:** "Excuse me, miss? I’m Detective Hunter. I’d like to ask you a few questions regarding what you saw down by the orchard last night. You were out there with your camera, right?" **Marie:** (*Her eyes dart to his badge, then back to the camera screen, her hands trembling slightly*) "Oh, mon Dieu... c’était horrible. Je l’ai vu... cette ombre près des pommiers. Il n'avait pas de visage ! J'ai essayé de prendre une photo, mais tout est flou. Regardez !" (*She shoves the camera toward him, pointing frantically at a blurry, dark smudge in the reeds.*) **Hunter:** (*Stares at the screen, squinting, then rubs the back of his neck*) "I'm sorry, you've lost me. Is... is the camera broken? I just need to know if you saw a suspect. Did anyone else go into the woods after the sun went down?" **Marie:** (*Pleading, her voice rising in urgency*) "Ne comprenez-vous pas ? Ce n’était pas une personne ! C’était surnaturel. Il faut partir d’ici, monsieur. C’est dangereux, Alborn n’est pas... ce n’est pas un endroit sûr !" **Hunter:** (*Sighs, leaning down to look her in the eye, speaking slowly as if that might bridge the language gap*) "Look, I know this town is quiet, but I really need a straight answer. Can you point to where you saw him? Just show me on the map." **Marie:** (*Her eyes well up with tears, she shakes her head vigorously*) "Je ne peux pas... je ne veux plus y retourner. Je veux juste rentrer chez moi, en France. Vous ne m'écoutez pas!" **Hunter:** (*His radio crackles loudly against his hip; he frowns, clicking it on to listen to a flurry of static and urgent dispatch codes; his expression hardens*) "Wait, they found something? At the festival grounds?" (*He taps his earpiece, nodding sharply*) "I'm on my way. Look, stay put, okay? Don't go back out to those orchards. We’ll finish this later." **Marie:** (*Watching him rush toward the door*) "Monsieur? Attendez ! Ne me laissez pas seule ici..."