Run: 2026-05-20-01KS262260XCCGRZPB0CC2HN8A

The autumn air in Alborn was crisp, smelling faintly of woodsmoke and the sweet, bruised scent of fallen apples from the nearby orchards. Isabella sat at a small wrought-iron table outside the town’s lone bakery, her hands trembling slightly as she scrolled through the digital playback on her camera. Hunter stepped onto the patio, his boots clicking heavily against the concrete. His sharp eyes scanned the quiet street before landing on the young foreign student. Adjusting his jacket, he approached her table, pulling a small notebook from his pocket. *** Hunter: "Excuse me, miss. I'm Detective Hunter with the local PD. I’m hoping you can help me with something. Were you down by the old mill yesterday afternoon taking photos around three o'clock? We had another resident go missing from that area, and a witness saw someone with a camera." Isabella: "Oh! Mi scusi... io... io non parlo inglese. Ma lei è un poliziotto, vero? La prego, deve aiutarmi. Ho visto qualcosa di terribile ieri sera vicino al bosco. C'era un'ombra, un uomo che trascinava qualcosa... una sagoma pesante. Ho provato a scattare una foto, ma ho avuto così tanta paura che sono scappata!" Hunter: "Whoa, hold on. Slow down. I don't speak... whatever language that is. Italian? Look, I just need a simple yes or no. Were you at the mill? Did you see anyone unusual?" Isabella: "Non capisco cosa dice, mi dispiace! Guardi... guardi qui, nella macchina fotografica. C'è qualcosa che non va in questo paese. Le persone spariscono davvero? C'era un uomo alto, con un cappotto scuro... è svanito nel nulla dietro il fienile. Ho paura di tornare nel mio alloggio da sola stupita. È tutto così strano, così freddo qui." Hunter: "Look, I can tell you're shaken up about something. You're shaking like a leaf. Did someone threaten you? Did you see the person who's been taking people? Just point to a direction, or... I don't know, draw a picture?" Isabella: "La prego, non guardi me così! Non sto mentendo! Questa città nasconde qualcosa di orribile sotto questa facciata di festa delle mele. Ecco, guardi lo schermo... vede questo strano bagliore tra gli alberi? Che cosa significa?" Hunter: "I wish I knew what you were trying to tell me, kid. This language barrier is a killer. Let me see the camera for a second—" *(Hunter's heavy-duty rugged smartphone suddenly blares in his pocket, interrupting him. He sighs, pulls it out, and looks at the caller ID.)* Hunter: "Duty calls. Hold that thought. Hunter here... What? Another one? Down by the orchard? Don't touch anything, I'm on my way." *(Hunter slides his phone back into his pocket, looking apologetically but sternly at Isabella.)* Hunter: "Look, I have to go. Crime scene. You stay here, or go back to where you're staying. Do not go wandering around the woods with that camera, okay? *Capisce*? Or whatever. Just... stay safe." Isabella: "Se ne va? No, aspetti! Non mi lasci qui da sola... ci sono troppi segreti in questo posto. La prego, torni presto!"