Run: 2026-05-27-01KSMEX54KANNNV7GWK1ECWMJC

Alborn, Minnesota Marie sat hunched over a small café table, inspiration in short supply. Pulling up recent photos on her camera, she frowned at the bland shots of the town square. Normal, oh so normal. "Have something drink. Please," suggested the waitress in a heavy accent, English not her first language. Marie gave an absent nod, reaching for the coffee that appeared. Reading the steaming mug, she paused. Alborn Roasters. Of course, Alborn being Alborn, this proudly local java had to be one of a kind. She glanced up, catching sight of the hunched figure who had entered, looking slightly out of place amongst the comfortable rattle of this very middle of the morning. Hunter eyed the café, the blandness of it all striking him across the face. Nothing out of place, nothing out of the ordinary. A postcard view of the square blinked across the mounting pile of missing person reports in his head. There would almost be more interest, more traction, if it weren't so clean. These were small town mothers and older sisters, these were local boys who had simply disappeared. Three for the last three months. Three in 90 take-able days. And an entire town looking the other way, telling him nothing was unusual. Hunter slid in across from Marie, familiarizing himself with the galaxy of wrinkles on her brow. "Marie Campion, yes?" he asked, still didn't drop her gaze. It made her squirm. Marie looked up, bladder tightening as she weighed her options. There were only two. "Oui?" she replied with a hint of caution. It was an odd question, names she knew. Hunter caught her tense shoulders, saw the lower lashes tighten. "Oui," he parroted, though he knew not what that meant. Marie replied quickly in her native tongue, his eyes glazing as he followed. ""I'm here on a ... exchange program. Picture making. I'm a photographic student. Are you ... law enforcement? Is that right, English?" There was a plea beneath those last three words, a longing to understand. Ah. Marie's eyes arched as she processed this. Yes, she really was out of it, wasn't she? Even the visiting student was getting the over-governed town runaround. "No need to panic. I'm here on a ... Federal exchange program? Yeah, it's okay. More like background Deep Background work." Hunter paused. "I assume you haven't met anyone ... unusual. Reading anything unusual?" Marie thought, chewing on the lip. Just weeks ago, she would have said no, instantly no. "No. No! New town, all the same. Everywhere the same," she offered weakly. Hunter nodded. "But ..." "Heard a few things. Not sure if it's relevant. Doesn't ... doesn't seem like it's relevant, to the town." "Such as?" "They believe it's ..." Hunter's ear drum rattled as his own phone went off: his partner. "Excuse me, this is Detective Ronin. Yes, right, Ronin," he stated into the speaker of his phone. "Sorry, I'll be right with you." He cupped the mouthpiece. "What is it, Marie?" Marie swallowed, then spoke again. "I've heard a lot of talk. A lot of talk. My roommate, she says ... I can't really say, but ... she says they believe it's some sort of ... evil doing. Action. Occult. In the town. I don't know what she means. It's driving me crazy." Marie practically shook as she waited for the American to speak. When he didn't, she tried a different tack. Madoka says they've been dealing with this for years, since before I was born. It's kept quiet, so quiet. Police, no ... law enforcement, like you, are briefed in and rotate out, and don't say anything." "How do you know all this, exactly? Madoka? She's your roommate, yes? Did they tell you this. blow it all to hell, is there some sort of demon, cult in Alborn? She shook her head , and he swore. "Not even trying to make a mockery of me?" "No, listen. This is the next 'shoot to kill dark question about another pro after the official game day interview is done' thing, Detective." She took a pace toward him. "If you don't say so, I will. Halle Berry will flick you off in the groin. You'll miss your bus." He studied Marie for a long moment. She returned the gaze boldly. They took their seats again as he wrestled with his guilt. He watched her smooth her skirt. There was bone, there. There was personality. At the very least, this was an adult. Hunter glanced at his watch. "Duty calls. My partner ... See what a girl can get, I know, typical bad cop tough guy. Thanks for the info." He sucked in oxygen, held the world in his lungs for a beat. Then he jumped. " When he was gone, Marie shook from under the table, then bolted for the payphone. "So, well ... Yes, she knows it all. Now listen, you're going to call the FBI, okay? Believe her. Lock her in a jail, they'll drop it, she can talk to the FBI. Yes, yes, and she's nervous, this is real." Marie hung up the payphone, hands moon-jumped over her stomach. She tried Madame Curie's number again. Then again. "Bonjour, Madame Curie, ceci est Marie," she whispered. My own master.