Run: 2026-07-25-01KYCW510JFYG0XPH4PMCF686J

The bell above the door of the Alborn Sweet Apple Cafe chimed, letting in a sharp gust of crisp Minnesota autumn air. Detective Hunter adjusted his heavy wool coat, his dark eyes scanning the cozy, pine-paneled room. The town of three thousand was usually sleepy, but the recent string of mysterious disappearances had everyone on edge, huddled indoors over cinnamon rolls and hot cider. His gaze landed on a young woman sitting by the window. She had a professional-grade DSLR camera resting on the table, reviewing the digital screen with a deeply troubled expression. Hunter recognized her—she was one of the international college students doing a study abroad program here for the semester. Hunter walked over, flashing his badge briefly before slipping it back into his pocket. He pulled out a small notebook from his breast pocket, his former-marine posture rigid and his expression all business. Hunter: "Excuse me. Miss? I’m Detective Hunter. I'm looking into what happened down by the orchard yesterday afternoon. I saw you walking that way with your camera. Did you happen to see anything unusual?" Selvi looked up, her eyes wide with lingering fear. Her hands trembled slightly as she clutched the strap of her camera. She burst into a rapid stream of Hindi, her voice tight with panic. Selvi: "Maine wahan ek aadmi ko dekha... wahi purane baag mein! Usne kuch bhayanak dekha, mujhe yakeen hai ki woh wahi vyakti hai jo gayab ho raha hai. Woh bahut darr lag raha tha, aur main yahan se turant bhaag aayi!" Hunter blinked, staring down at her with a completely blank, thoroughly baffled expression. He slowly lowered his notebook, rubbing the back of his neck. Hunter: "Right. Okay. Listen, I don't... I don't speak a word of Hindi, miss. Do you have any English? English?" Selvi shook her head vigorously, switching back to Hindi as she pointed frantically toward the window, trying to bridge the gap with urgent gestures. Selvi: "Mujhe angrezi nahi aati! Lekin meri tasveerein dekho, camera mein sab kuch hai! Us ped ke paas... wahan kuch toh gadbad hai!" Hunter: "Slow down. Just... take a breath. Can you show me the camera? Photos? Pictures?" He pointed a large, calloused finger at the LCD screen, hoping universal language would prevail. Selvi caught on to the gesture. Reluctantly, she turned the camera toward him, tapping the screen to bring up the last frame she had snapped before fleeing the orchard. Hunter leaned in, squinting at the digital display, trying to make out the shadowed silhouette half-hidden behind the gnarled apple trees. Before Hunter could examine the details of the photograph, his cell phone buzzed loudly in his coat pocket. He pulled it out, glanced at the screen, and let out a sharp sigh. Hunter: "Damn it. Duty calls." He pocketed the phone and looked back down at Selvi, offering a stiff, apologetic nod. "Look, stay right here. Don't go anywhere. I need to take care of this, but we're going to need to figure out a way to translate those photos. I'll be back." Selvi clutched her camera closer to her chest, watching him warily as the detective turned on his heel and strode briskly out of the cafe.