Run: 2026-09-01-01M1EN6Z2954R2876WRE55RSDT

The Alborn Apple Cafe smelled of cinnamon and roasted apples, but Melanie barely noticed. She sat in a corner booth, her silver camera always within arm’s reach, scrolling through landscape shots of the town’s orchard hills. At thirty, she was a study-abroad student from Germany, fluent in German and utterly unprepared for English. Her hands trembled over the screen. The door swung open. Hunter entered—posture squared, eyes sharp, a former marine’s instinct scanning the small Midwest crowd. He spotted her: a young woman clinging to a camera instead of the festival posters on the walls. He approached her table. **Hunter:** “Excuse me. I’m Detective Hunter, Alborn PD. I’m investigating the disappearances. Did you see anything unusual near the orchard or the festival grounds?” Melanie looked up, her face pale, her breath shallow. She clutched her camera to her chest. Her response came in rapid, broken German—shaken, troubled, her eyes Wells with panic. **Melanie:** “Ich habe einen Mann gesehen, der in den Bäumen verschwand. Er war nicht normal… und die Apfelbäume sprechen nicht, aber ich höre sie. Es ist zu viel. Ich kann nicht mehr.” Hunter’s brow furrowed deeply. He knew not a word of German—not “hello,” not “yes.” He leaned in, trying a firm, slower tone. **Hunter:** “I don’t understand. Speak English, please. Did you see the missing people?” Melanie shook her head desperately, tears welling. She pointed to the camera, showing him a photo of an empty orchard with a shadow that seemed almost human, then pressed her hands to her ears. **Melanie:** “Ja, sie waren dort, aber sie sind weg. Meine Kamera zeigt es, aber ich verstehe nicht, was es bedeutet. Ich bin nur ein Student. Ich spreche kein Englisch.” Hunter nodded, trying to parse her body language, his no-nonsense demeanor clashing with her panic. He asked about the time, the apples, the annual festival that defined Alborn. **Hunter:** “When? Last night? At the festival?” **Melanie:** “Gestern beim Apfelbaumfest. Bitte, ich muss weggehen.” She kept adjusting her lens, her camera always her shield. Hunter asked if she knew anyone who’d vanished, if she could describe the event. **Hunter:** “Did anyone follow you? Were you near the orchard alone?” **Melanie:** “Ich war allein. Aber jetzt ist alles falsch seit dem Fest. Ich habe Bilder, aber sie sind falsch.” Hunter’s expression was a mix of urgency and confusion. He needed answers, but she could only offer German cries and trembling hands. Then his phone buzzed. He answered, listened, and stood. **Hunter:** “Hunter. Yes. I’m leaving now.” He looked at her one last time—sympathetic but helpless, the language barrier unbreakable. **Hunter:** “If you know something, find a translator. Stay safe, miss.” He walked out into the Alborn streets, leaving Melanie alone with her camera, the apple-scented air heavy around her, her German words echoing unanswered in the small-town café. --- ### Voice Sheet Melanie: "Ich habe einen Mann gesehen, der in den Bäumen verschwand. Er war nicht normal... und die Apfelbäume sprechen nicht, aber ich höre sie. Es ist zu viel. Ich kann nicht mehr." Hunter: "I'm Detective Hunter. Did you see anything unusual near the festival grounds?" Melanie: "Ja, sie waren dort, aber sie sind weg. Meine Kamera zeigt es, aber ich verstehe nicht, was es bedeutet. Ich bin nur ein Student. Ich spreche kein Englisch." Hunter: "When? Last night? At the festival?" Melanie: "Gestern beim Apfelbaumfest. Bitte, ich muss weggehen." Hunter: "Did anyone follow you? Were you near the orchard alone?" Melanie: "Ich war allein. Aber jetzt ist alles falsch seit dem Fest. Ich habe Bilder, aber sie sind falsch." Hunter: "I'm leaving now. Find someone who can translate." Melanie: "Bitte... ich verstehe nicht. Ich kann nicht mehr."