Run: 2026-09-03-01M1KB1YBBW895NRKV7M5YG7PX

**Melanie:** *[stares down at the digital screen of her camera, her brow furrowed. She scrolls slowly through blurry images of the town square taken at dusk.]* **Hunter:** *[approaches the small, wrought-iron table, flashing a badge.]* "Miss? Detective Hunter. I’m looking into the incident at the old mill last night. I was told you were out by the treeline taking photos around that time." **Melanie:** *[looks up, her eyes wide and glassy. She clutches the camera protectively to her chest.]* "Entschuldigung... ich... ich verstehe nicht." **Hunter:** *[sighs, shifting his weight. He speaks a little slower, as if volume and pace will bridge the gap.]* "The old mill. By the river. The disappearance of Mr. Henderson. Did you see anything?" **Melanie:** *[shakes her head, her voice trembling.]* "Es war so dunkel... und dann der Schatten. Er hat sich bewegt, ganz schnell. Ich hatte solche Angst, dass ich nur weggelaufen bin. Ich konnte nichts tun." **Hunter:** *[rubs the back of his neck, glancing at the camera.]* "Look, I don't... I didn't get a word of that. Shadow? Sounded like you said *Angst*. You saw something that scared you?" **Melanie:** *[nods vigorously, pulling up an image on the camera. It is grainy, mostly black, with a streak of orange light across the bottom.]* "Hier! Sehen Sie? Das Licht... es war die Laterne, aber dann ist etwas darüber gelaufen. Ein Mann, glaube ich... oder ein Tier? Ich weiß es nicht." **Hunter:** *[takes the camera, squinting at the dark canopy of trees on the display.]* "Nothing but shadows, kid. But you're shaking." *[He looks at her seriously.]* "Was it a person? Ja? Nein?" **Melanie:** "Ja, ich glaube... ein Mann. Aber er war so groß. Er hat etwas geschleppt." *[She shudders visibly, tears welling in her eyes.]* "Bitte, ich will nicht mehr darüber sprechen. Der Wald war nicht sicher. Ich habe die Polizei rufen wollen, aber mein Telefon war leer." **Hunter:** *[softens his tone, just slightly, recognizing the distress even if he can't parse the words.]* "Okay. Okay. You're safe now." *[He reaches for a small notebook, tapping it.]* "Do you... know the word... *help*? Or... *police*? Did they hurt you?" **Melanie:** *[wraps her arms around herself, looking haunted.]* "Nein, ich bin nicht verletzt. Aber ich kann nicht schlafen. Ich sehe den Schatten ständig vor mir. Warum passiert das hier? Dieser Ort... er ist so ruhig, aber die Menschen verschwinden einfach." **Hunter:** "This isn't getting us anywhere." *[He mouths 'disappear' to himself, trying to connect her words to the case files back at the station.]* "Listen, I might know a guy at the community college who speaks German. Maybe you can come down to the station tomorrow? *[He points to her, then points down the street where the station sits.]* You. Me. Talk. With translator?" **Melanie:** *[glances in that direction, looking wary. She takes a deep breath and manages a small, hesitant smile.]* "Ja, gut. Ich komme. Aber ich habe solche Angst, dass es wieder passiert. Bitte lassen Sie mich nicht allein." **Hunter:** *[interprets the look as agreement.]* "Okay. Tomorrow." *[Just then, his phone buzzes violently in his coat pocket. He pulls it out, glances at the screen, and his face hardens.]* "Hunter." *[He listens for a moment.]* "Where? ... Is the team there? ... Save it. Don't let anyone touch the scene." **Hunter:** *[ends the call and looks back at Melanie, his expression shifting from confusion back to cold professionalism.]* "I have to go. Stay out of the woods. Understand? *Wald*?" **Melanie:** *[her eyes widen at the familiar word, and she nods.]* "Ja. Ich verstehe. Der Wald... nein, ich gehe nicht zurück." **Hunter:** *[nods once, satisfied at the recognition. He turns on his heel and strides away from the cafe, leaving Melanie alone at the table, her fingers still trembling over the camera strap.]*