Run: 2026-05-10-01KR90BYQFHHPSP5C9JXHKFR0Z

The midday sun filtered through the dust-streaked windows of the Alborn Café, casting long shadows over the remnants of an apple tart. Maria hunched over her digital camera, her brow furrowed as she scrolled through a series of blurry, high-contrast shots of the autumn woods. She barely heard the floorboards creak until a silhouette loomed over her table. Hunter stood there, his heavy coat damp from the Midwest chill, his eyes scanning the café with the practiced intensity of a man who didn't believe in coincidences. He gestured to the empty chair across from her, his expression grim. *** **Hunter:** "Excuse me. I’m Detective Hunter. You’re the student who was scouting the north ridge yesterday morning, right? I’m looking into the disappearances, and I was hoping you might have captured something on that camera of yours. Did you see anyone out by the old orchard?" **Maria:** *(Looks up, startled. Her eyes widen as she hears the rapid-fire English, her hands trembling slightly as she grips her camera.)* "¡Ay, Dios mío! ¿Qué? No entiendo… pero… ¡era horrible! Vi las sombras, detective, sombras que se movían entre los manzanos, ¡tan rápido! Mi cámara… creo que tomé una foto, pero algo no estaba bien. Había un ruido, como un susurro, y luego… el silencio. ¡Nadie debería estar ahí fuera!" **Hunter:** *(Frowns, leaning in, his brow knitting together in visible confusion.)* "Look, I’m sorry, I’m not following any of that. You’re speaking Spanish, right? I didn’t catch a single word. Slow down. Did you see a person? A vehicle? Just—give me the camera, let me look at the files." **Maria:** *(Shakes her head frantically, clutching the camera to her chest. Her eyes well with tears.)* "No, por favor, no comprende. No es solo un archivo. Es lo que está ahí dentro. ¡Es peligroso! ¡Debo irme, debo salir de este lugar antes de que ellos se den cuenta de que vi algo!" **Hunter:** *(Sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. He sighs heavily, his no-nonsense mask slipping for a fleeting second of exhaustion.)* "I don’t know what you think is on there, but if you saw something, I need to know. We’re dealing with missing people here. If you’re scared, I can keep you safe, but you have to work with me. You speak English at all? *Habla… inglés?*" **Maria:** *(Wipes her eyes, her voice trembling.)* "No inglés. Solo… solo fotos. Miedo." **Hunter:** *(His phone buzzes sharply in his pocket. He glances at the screen, his jaw tightening into a hard line. He looks back at Maria, pointing a finger firmly at the table.)* "Stay right here. Do not leave this café. I’ve caught a lead on the north trail." **Maria:** "¡¿A dónde va?! ¡No entiendo a dónde va!" **Hunter:** *(Already backing away toward the door, his hand resting instinctively on his holster.)* "I have to go. Just… stay put. We finish this conversation when I get back. Don't go anywhere, you hear me?" **Maria:** *(Watches him leave, her grip tightening on her camera until her knuckles turn white. She whispers to herself, glancing toward the door.)* "Dios me ayude."