Run: 2026-07-07-01KWZ32THHW8SXSB31C14C2F0A

Melanie: *stares intently at her camera's display, scrolling through photos of the Alborn countryside* Hunter: "Excuse me, miss? I'm Detective Hunter with the Alborn Police Department. Mind if I ask you a few questions?" Melanie: *looks up, startled* "Oh... hallo. Ja, ähm..." *gestures vaguely* Hunter: *pulls out a chair* "I'm investigating some recent incidents in town. Were you at the apple orchard on Thursday evening?" Melanie: *visibly shaken* "Donnerstagabend... ja, ich war dort. Ich... ich habe Fotos gemacht. Es war so seltsam. Die Stimmung, die Nebel..." *trails off, looking troubled* Hunter: "I'm sorry, I don't understand German. Do you speak any English at all?" Melanie: *shakes head apologetically* "Nein, es tut mir leid. Ich... I learn... little." *struggles with words* Hunter: *nods slowly* "Okay, we'll work with what we've got. Thursday? The orchard?" *points to himself, then makes a walking gesture with his fingers* Melanie: "Ah, ja! Donnerstag. Der Apfelgarten." *nods* Hunter: "Did you see anything unusual? Anything strange?" *makes a face suggesting 'something off'* Melanie: *exhales shakily* "Es war... eerie. Die Leute, sie waren wie... gefroren. Alle haben gestarrt." *demonstrates with a blank stare* Hunter: "People were... staring? Frozen?" *attempts to mimic the gesture* Melanie: "Ja! Frozen... staring. Into the woods. Alle." *gestures toward the trees* Hunter: "Into the woods. Interesting." *scribbles in notebook* "Did you see anyone leave? Anyone who... wasn't staring?" Melanie: *swallows hard, glances at her camera* "Ich... ich habe gesehen..." *struggles, points to her camera* Hunter: "You have photos?" Melanie: "Ja, Fotos. Hier..." *turns camera around to show him* Hunter: *leans in, squints at the display* "These are... these are from Thursday?" Melanie: "Ja, Donnerstag Abend." *points to timestamp* Hunter: "The fog is thick in these. Hard to make out much. But here—" *points* "This shadow. Was someone standing there?" Melanie: *nervously bites lip* "Ich weiß nicht. Es war... moving. Aber nicht wie ein Mensch." *makes a slinking motion with her hand* Hunter: "Moving... but not human?" *brow furrows* Melanie: *shudders* "Es hat... es hat mich angesehen. Ich habe gefilmt, aber... my camera... es funktioniert nicht." *mimes the camera dying* Hunter: "Your camera stopped working when you tried to film it?" Melanie: "Ja! The camera, she... dead. Für eine Stunde." *holds up one finger* Hunter: "A whole hour. That's... unusual." *scribbles more notes* "Anything else? Anything that struck you as wrong?" Melanie: *looks away, visibly shaken* "Die Stille. Keine Vögel. Kein Wind. Nothing. Nur... die Stille." *presses hand to chest* Hunter: "Silence. No birds. No wind. I think I understand." *pauses* "That must have been frightening." Melanie: *nods slowly* "Sehr frightening. Ich... I not sleep good since." Hunter: "I can imagine. Listen, I know this is difficult, especially with the language barrier, but you've been very helpful." Melanie: "Ich... helfen möchte. Wenn ich kann." *gestures to herself, then to him* Hunter: *phone rings* "Excuse me. Detective Hunter speaking. ...Yes. ...When? ...I'll be right there." *ends call, stands up* "I have to go. Duty calls." Melanie: *looks up, concerned* "Something wrong?" Hunter: "Something's come up. I may need to speak with you again. Will you be staying at this café for a while?" Melanie: "Ja, noch eine Stunde." *holds up one finger* Hunter: "Good. Stay put if you can. I'll be back." *leaves a card on the table* "Call me. If you remember anything else." Melanie: *picks up the card, examines it* "Detective... Hunter. Okay. Ich... I wait." Hunter: "Thank you." *turns to leave, pauses* "And miss? Stay away from the orchard. At least until I figure out what's going on." Melanie: *nods, gripping her camera tightly* "Verstanden. I understand."