Run: 2026-07-01-01KWE954SK1N60TP8WB3KFTA0F

**The Copper Kettle Café, Alborn, MN** *Maria sits at a small corner table, scrolling through photos on her camera's screen, her coffee going cold beside her. Her hands tremble slightly as she pauses on an image. The bell above the door jingles as Hunter walks in, spots her, and approaches with the deliberate stride of a man used to asking questions.* Hunter: "Excuse me, miss. You're the photographer who's been out at the old orchard the past few days, right? I need to ask you a few questions about yesterday evening." Maria: *(looking up, startled, clutching her camera to her chest)* "¿Qué? Lo siento, no— no entiendo." Hunter: *(pausing, brow furrowing)* "You don't... okay. Do you speak any English at all?" Maria: *(shaking her head, visibly shaken)* "No, no hablo inglés. Yo vi algo. Anoche, en el bosque, cerca del huerto—fue horrible. Había una luz extraña y luego... nada. Desapareció. No sé qué era." Hunter: *(holding up a hand, frustrated)* "Whoa, slow down. I don't understand a word of that. Look—did you see something? Last night? Near the orchard?" Maria: *(nodding vigorously, pointing toward her camera, hands still shaking)* "Sí, sí—el huerto. Tengo fotos. Creo que tengo fotos de eso, pero no estoy segura de lo que vi. Fue muy rápido." Hunter: *(leaning in, trying to piece it together)* "Photos? You have pictures?" *(gesturing to the camera)* "Can I—can I see?" Maria: *(hesitating, then turning the camera toward him, speaking quickly and nervously)* "Mire, aquí. No sé si esto ayuda. Estaba oscuro y tenía miedo de acercarme más. Pero escuché algo, como... como un grito. Y luego silencio." Hunter: *(squinting at the small screen, seeing only blurred shapes and shadows)* "I can't— this doesn't tell me much. I need someone who can translate this. Someone who actually understands what you're saying." Maria: *(shaking her head, distressed, speaking softly now)* "No entiendo nada de lo que dice usted. Solo quiero ayudar, pero no sé cómo explicarlo si usted no me entiende." *Hunter's phone buzzes sharply in his pocket. He pulls it out, glances at the screen, and his jaw tightens.* Hunter: "Yeah. Hunter." *(a pause, his expression darkening)* "Another one? Where?" *(He rubs his temple, clearly troubled.)* "I'll be there in ten." *He hangs up and looks back at Maria, who watches him with wide, worried eyes, still holding her camera protectively.* Hunter: "I have to go. But you—" *(he taps the camera, then points at her)* "—don't delete anything. I'll send someone who speaks Spanish. Stay here. Or—somewhere I can find you." Maria: *(clearly not understanding most of it, but catching his urgency, nodding slowly)* "Vale... está bien. Voy a esperar aquí." *Hunter hesitates for a moment, frustration and urgency warring on his face, then turns and hurries out the door, the bell jingling sharply behind him. Maria watches him go, then looks back down at her camera, scrolling once more to the blurred photograph, her hands still trembling.*