Run: 2026-05-22-01KS87J1XR57EZP7Q2WG18QX33

Hunter: "Excuse me, miss. Mind if I take a seat? I'm Detective Hunter." Selvi: "Namaste? Maaf kijiye, mujhe English nahi aati. Kya aap Hindi bolte hain?" [Hello? Excuse me, I don't know English. Do you speak Hindi?] Hunter: "Hindi? No, sorry. I don't speak a word of it. Look, I'm investigating the missing persons cases in Alborn. The disappearances." *(He slides a photograph of a missing local across the table, points to the picture, then points to her camera.)* "You were out by the old Miller Orchard yesterday evening taking landscape shots. Did you see this guy?" Selvi: *(Her eyes widen in recognition and she shakes her head, visibly trembling as she pulls her camera closer)* "Arre baap re... yeh wahi jagah hai jahan kal raat main thi! Wahan koi tha... koi ajeeb sa aadmi. Maine photo kheenchi thi, par andhera bohot tha." [Oh my god... this is the same place where I was last night! Someone was there... some strange man. I took a photo, but it was very dark.] Hunter: *(Frowning, clearly confused by her words, but reading her fearful body language. He taps the photo again.)* "You recognize him? You saw him out there? Can you show me what you saw?" *(He gestures toward her camera.)* Selvi: *(Nods frantically, turning on her camera and scrolling through the digital images)* "Haan, haan! Main dikhati hoon. Rukiye... yeh rahi. Dekhiye, yeh kaun hai? Isne lamba coat pehna tha aur yeh zameen par ek badi bori kheench raha tha." [Yes, yes! I'll show you. Wait... here it is. Look, who is this? He was wearing a long coat and dragging a large canvas bag on the ground.] Hunter: *(Leans in, squinting at the small screen, his no-nonsense demeanor sharpening)* "What is that... a large canvas harvest bag? He's dragging it near the old cider press. Damn it, the face is completely shadowed by the brim of his hat. Did he see you take this?" *(He mimes holding a camera, then points to his own eyes, then to her.)* Selvi: *(Shrinks back, clutching the camera to her chest, her voice shaking)* "Mujhe nahi pata! Shayad usne mujhe dekh liya tha. Main bohot dar gayi thi aur wahan se bhaag aayi. Kya main khatre mein hoon? Kya aap meri madad karenge?" [I don't know! Maybe he saw me. I got very scared and ran away from there. Am I in danger? Will you help me?] Hunter: *(Holds up his hands in a calming, steady gesture, speaking slowly and clearly)* "Hey, it's okay. Calm down. I don't know what you're saying, but you're safe right now. Do not go back to the orchard. Understand? No orchard." *(He makes an 'X' with his arms and shakes his head firmly.)* Selvi: *(Nods slowly, though still looking anxious, pointing to herself and then out the cafe window)* "Main samajh gayi. Main yahi rahungi. Par mera study abroad program... mujhe kya karna chahiye? Main yahan akeli hoon." [I understand. I will stay here. But my study abroad program... what should I do? I am alone here.] Hunter: *(His cell phone suddenly buzzes loudly. He pulls it out and checks the screen, his expression hardening into pure focus.)* "Hunter here. ... What? Another one? Near the apple festival grounds? Secure the perimeter, I'm five minutes out." *(He stands up, pocketing the phone.)* "Look, I gotta run. Emergency. Keep that camera safe, don't delete those photos. I'll send an officer who speaks Hindi to your hotel later. Stay put." Selvi: *(Stands up halfway, reaching out slightly in distress)* "Rukiye! Aap ja rahe hain? Mujhe samajh nahi aa raha, kya hua? Officer kaun aayega?" [Wait! You're leaving? I don't understand, what happened? Which officer will come?] Hunter: *(Gives her a firm, reassuring nod, tapping his detective badge)* "Police. Help. Coming soon. Stay safe, miss." *(He turns and jogs out of the cafe door.)* Selvi: *(Sits back down slowly, clutching her camera tightly, whispering to herself)* "Bhagwan bachaye... yeh jagah safe nahi hai." [God save me... this place is not safe.]