Run: 2026-05-20-01KS25R938RFD9KDHA0K1XGK59

**Melanie:** *(Frowning as she scrolls through the photos on her camera screen, her fingers trembling slightly. She sighs softly.)* **Hunter:** *(Steps up to her table, his posture rigid and his badge clipped to his belt. He clears his throat to get her attention.)* "Excuse me, ma'am. Detective Hunter. I'm investigating the disappearances around Alborn. You were near the old orchards yesterday evening, weren't you? Did you see anything unusual?" **Melanie:** *(Starts, looking up at him wide-eyed. She clutches her camera tightly to her chest, her face pale.)* "Oh! Guten Tag... Es tut mir leid, mein Englisch ist... ich verstehe nicht recht. Aber gestern Abend... es war schrecklich. Ich wollte nur das Abendlicht auf den Apfelbäumen fotografieren, aber da war dieser Schatten. Jemand hat geschrien. Ich habe solche Angst." **Hunter:** *(Blinks, his brow furrowing in deep confusion. He rubs the back of his neck.)* "Uh... right. I don't speak... whatever language that is. German? Look, I just need a 'yes' or 'no.' Did you see anyone by the old barn? A man, about six-foot-two?" **Melanie:** *(Tears welling in her eyes, she points urgently at the camera screen and then toward the edge of town.)* "Da war ein Mann! Er hat ein Mädchen gezerrt. Ich habe versucht, ein Foto zu machen, aber es war zu dunkel, und mein Blitz... ich hatte solche Angst, dass er mich sieht! Bitte, Sie müssen dorthin gehen. Es war ganz schrecklich." **Hunter:** *(He sighs, frustrated by the barrier, but his tone softens slightly at her obvious distress.)* "Ma'am, calm down. Take a breath. Point. Can you point to where you were? Or show me what's on that camera? Just... show me." *(He gestures toward her camera, tapping his own palms in a 'let me see' motion.)* **Melanie:** *(Confused by his gestures, she shrinks back slightly, hugging the camera closer, misinterpreting his movement as trying to confiscate her property.)* "Nein, nein! Das ist meine Kamera. Ich... ich darf die Fotos nicht verlieren. Da ist der Beweis drauf, glaube ich. Aber ich verstehe Sie nicht! Warum hilft mir denn keiner?" **Hunter:** *(Shakes his head, muttering under his breath)* "Of all the times to not have a translator... Okay, just stay here. Don't leave this cafe." *(He mimes a 'stop' hand gesture, then points at her and then the chair.)* "Stay. Sit." **Melanie:** *(Nods hesitantly, interpreting the universal 'stop' sign, though her hands are still shaking.)* "Ja... ich bleibe hier. Ich gehe nirgendwohin. Es ist zu gefährlich da draußen." **Hunter:** *(Before he can try another hand gesture, his work phone buzzes loudly in his pocket. He pulls it out, reads the screen, and his face goes grim. He looks back at Melanie, frustrated.)* "Look, I have to go. Dispatch has a lead on the north ridge." *(He barks into the phone as he answers it)* "Hunter here. Tell me you've got a visual... understood, I'm on my way." **Melanie:** *(Watches him, her eyes wide with anxious confusion as he begins to back away.)* "Warten Sie! Gehen Sie jetzt? Was ist mit dem Schatten im Wald? Bitte, gehen Sie nicht allein!" **Hunter:** *(Already retreating toward his cruiser, pointing a warning finger at her)* "Stay put, miss. I'll be back with someone who can understand you. Just... don't touch anything." *(He turns and sprints toward his car.)*