Run: 2026-09-01-01M1EP6HRD0RFW4EY8E21N402T

The café in Alborn was quiet—just the hum of a refrigerator and the flicker of a neon “Apple Festival” sign outside. Selvi sat in the corner booth, her camera dialed to her eye, reviewing shots of the town’s crimson orchards. Hunter—build like a brick wall, no-nonsense mouth set in a frown—slid into the seat across from her, badge showing. “You’re Selvi,” he said, voice sharp as a drill sergeant’s. “I’m Detective Hunter. I’m investigating the disappearances. Did you see anything at the festival? Any of the missing people?” Selvi lowered the lens. Her hands were shaking. She spoke quickly in Hindi, her voice tight with fear, never breaking into English. **Voice Sheet** **Selvi:** “Woh sab… woh sab gayab ho gaye. Apple festival ke paas se kuchh ghalat ho gaya. Mujhe bahut dar lag raha hai. Maine raat ko dekha… camera mein kuchh aniyam tha.” *(Translation: They all… they all disappeared. Something went wrong near the apple festival. I’m very scared. I saw at night… something strange was in the camera.)* **Hunter:** “Wait—who disappeared? The missing people from the festival? I need you to speak English, Miss. I don’t know Hindi, not a word of it. Slow down.” **Selvi:** “Nahi… main Angrezi nahi jaanti. Main Hindi bol rahi hoon. Yeh shehar… yeh shehar kharab hai. Maine apni tasween dekh rahi hoon, lekin ab kuchh nahi dikhta. Mujhe lagta hai koi mere peeche hai.” *(No… I don’t know English. I’m speaking Hindi. This town… this town is wrong. I’m looking at my photo, but now nothing appears. I feel someone is behind me.)* **Hunter:** “Behind you? Are you saying you saw the disappearances? Did you take pictures of them? Try to tell me—just one word in English.” **Selvi:** “Maine photos li… lekin ab mujhe lagta hai jo dekh rahi hoon woh mujhe dekh raha hai. Mujhe yahan se nikalna hai. Lekin yeh orchard… yeh apple ke ped… wahan se kuchh ho gaya.” *(I took photos… but now I feel what I’m looking at is looking at me. I need to leave this place. But that orchard… those apple trees… something happened from there.)* **Hunter:** “You’re talking about the orchard. That’s a lead. Keep your camera safe—those photos might help. I’m investigating the case in Alborn, but I can’t understand a word you’re saying. Can you write it down? In Hindi is fine?” **Selvi:** “Main likh sakti hoon… lekin aapko samajh nahi aayega. Main Selvi hoon. Aap Hunter ho, na? Aap yahan kya kar rahe ho? Yeh shehar mujhe dhoondh raha hai.” *(I can write… but you won’t understand. I am Selvi. You are Hunter, yes? What are you doing here? This town is searching for me.)* **Hunter:** “I told you—I’m a detective. No-nonsense. The town’s got a population of three thousand and people are vanishing, and you’re the one with the camera near the scene. I need answers, not riddles.” Selvi clutched her camera tighter, eyes wide. She answered in a trembling Hindi murmur: “Woh log gayab… mujhe dar lag raha hai… lekin mujhe lagta hai yeh sab mere camera ke peeche chhupa hai.” **Hunter:** “Behind your camera? I don’t follow. Look—” His phone blared—a harsh, urgent ring. He pulled it out, read the screen, and sighed. **Hunter:** “Yeah? I’m at the café. I’ll be right there.” He hung up and stood, snapping his wallet shut. “I have to leave. There’s a new lead on the disappearances. Keep that camera close—don’t delete anything, even if it looks like just apple trees.” **Selvi:** “Aap jaa rahe ho… lekin mujhe samajh nahi aayega ki aap kya bol rahe ho. Main Hindi bolti hoon. Alvida…” *(You’re leaving… but I won’t understand what you’re saying. I speak Hindi. Goodbye…)* **Hunter:** “Wait—what’d you say? I—I don’t know Hindi, Miss. Just stay safe in Alborn.” Hunter walked out, leaving Selvi alone with her camera and her trembling Hindi words, the town’s small, apple-scented silence closing in around her.