Run: 2026-05-10-01KR92YKYNDNA1XBZTBNDTS31D

The afternoon sun filtered through the dusty windows of The Orchard Bean, casting long, amber streaks across the wooden tables. Selvi sat tucked into a corner booth, her fingers trembling slightly as she scrolled through the digital display of her Nikon. The photos were beautiful—the rolling hills of Alborn, the vibrant reds of the apple orchards—but the last few shots she’d taken near the creek haunted her. There was a shadow in the periphery of one frame, something that didn't belong in a landscape. The bell above the door chimed, cutting through the low hum of indie folk music. Hunter strode in, his heavy boots thudding against the floorboards with a rhythm that spoke of military precision. He didn't look like a man who enjoyed coffee; he looked like a man looking for answers. He scanned the room, his eyes settling on the young woman with the camera. He pulled out the chair opposite her without waiting for an invitation. Selvi looked up, her eyes wide and startled. "Excuse me," Hunter said, his voice a low, gravelly rumble. "I noticed you were out by the north ridge earlier today. Did you see anything unusual near the old trailhead? People have been... vanishing, and I'm trying to piece together the timeline." Selvi’s breath hitched. The memory of the silence in those woods, the sudden, chilling absence of birdsong, rushed back to her. She felt a knot of dread tighten in her chest. "Maine wahan kuch dekha tha," she whispered, her voice thick with unease. "Woh... woh bilkul ajeeb tha. Aisa laga jaise koi mujhe dekh raha ho, par wahan koi nahi tha. Bahut darawna tha." Hunter blinked, his brow furrowing into a deep V. He leaned forward, waiting for a translation that never came. The silence stretched between them, awkward and heavy. He cleared his throat, leaning back slightly. "I don't... I don't understand. Do you speak English? I just need to know if you saw anyone near the creek." Selvi shook her head, her eyes brimming with a frustrated helplessness. She pointed toward her camera, then toward the window, trying to convey the sense of dread, but the language barrier was a wall neither of them could climb. "Look, I'm sorry," Hunter sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "I'm just trying to keep people safe. If you saw something—anything—just a gesture, a direction..." He started to explain again, his tone softening just a fraction, though his posture remained rigid. Selvi watched him, sensing the weight of his exhaustion. He was a man carrying the shadows of the town on his shoulders, just as she was carrying the shadows in her lens. Suddenly, the sharp, aggressive trill of a cell phone shattered the moment. Hunter reached into his jacket, pulling out the device. He glanced at the screen, and his entire demeanor shifted from curious to combat-ready. "I have to go," he said, his eyes snapping back to hers for a brief, apologetic second. "Stay safe, kid. Don't go wandering near the woods alone." He was gone before she could even attempt another word, leaving only the scent of rain and old leather behind. *** **Voice Sheet** **Hunter:** "Excuse me. I noticed you were out by the north ridge earlier today. Did you see anything unusual near the old trailhead? People have been... vanishing, and I'm trying to piece together the timeline." **Selvi:** "Maine wahan kuch dekha tha. Woh... woh bilkul ajeeb tha. Aisa laga jaise koi mujhe dekh raha ho, par wahan koi nahi tha. Bahut darawna tha." **Hunter:** "I don't... I don't understand. Do you speak English? I just need to know if you saw anyone near the creek." **Hunter:** "Look, I'm sorry. I'm just trying to keep people safe. If you saw something—anything—just a gesture, a direction..." **Hunter:** "I have to go. Stay safe, kid. Don't go wandering near the woods alone."