Run: 2026-09-23-01M36V6SCCHN005X5W5W208A7V

**Alborn, MN – The Daily Grind Café** Isabella: *(hunched over her camera, scrolling through photos with trembling fingers)* "Non lo so... non lo so cosa ho visto. Era... era lì, nel bosco. Io l'ho fotografato, ma la foto... la foto non mente, vero?" *[I don't know... I don't know what I saw. It was... it was there, in the woods. I photographed it, but the photo... the photo doesn't lie, right?]* Hunter: *(pulling out a chair and sitting down, notebook in hand)* "Ma'am. Name's Hunter. I'm with the county. I need to ask you about what you might've seen near the apple orchard the other night." Isabella: *(looks up, eyes wide and glassy)* "Sì, sì, la notte... il festival delle mele. Tutti ridevano, tutti mangiavano. Ma dopo... dopo non c'era più nessuno lì dove io ero." *[Yes, yes, the night... the apple festival. Everyone was laughing, everyone was eating. But after... after there was no one there where I was.]* Hunter: *(pauses, pen hovering over the notebook)* "...Right. The festival. So you were at the festival. And then?" Isabella: *(gesturing wildly with her hands, switching to rapid Italian)* "No, non capisci. Non la festa. Dopo la festa. Ho sentito qualcosa — un rumore, un respiro forse — e sono andata nel bosco con la macchina fotografica, e ho visto... ho visto delle luci. E una figura. E poi il silenzio. Un silenzio che... che non è normale." *[No, you don't understand. Not the festival. After the festival. I heard something — a noise, a breath maybe — and I went into the woods with my camera, and I saw... I saw lights. And a figure. And then silence. A silence that... that isn't normal.]* Hunter: *(stares at her, jaw tight)* "Ma'am, I'm gonna be straight with you. I don't... I don't speak Italian. Not a word. You're gonna have to slow down and — can you write it? Or point at something?" Isabella: *(frustrated, rubbing her temples)* "Scrivere? Sì, sì, posso scrivere... *(grabs a napkin and starts sketching the woods, a small figure, beams of light)* Guarda. Guarda qui. Questo sono io. E questo... questo non so cosa sia." *[Write? Yes, yes, I can write... Look. Look here. This is me. And this... this I don't know what it is.]* Hunter: *(leans in, studying the napkin sketch, then looks back at her)* "You were in the woods. Alone. Taking pictures. And you saw... lights? And someone — or something — else?" Isabella: *(nodding urgently, tears forming)* "Qualcosa. Non un uomo. Non un animale. Qualcosa che... che non dovrebbe stare qui. E le persone che sono sparite — forse... forse ha a che fare con questo." *[Something. Not a man. Not an animal. Something that... that shouldn't be here. And the people who disappeared — maybe... maybe it has to do with this.]* Hunter: *(writing slowly, squinting at the sketch)* "Disappearances. Yeah. That's what I'm here about. Three people in two weeks. And you're telling me you might've seen something out there." Isabella: *(clutching the camera to her chest)* "Le foto... le foto sono qui dentro. Posso... posso mostrarle. Ma... ma ho paura, signore. Ho veramente paura." *[The photos... the photos are in here. I can... I can show them. But... but I'm afraid, sir. I'm really afraid.]* Hunter: *(meets her eyes, tone softening just slightly)* "Fear's a reasonable response right now. Stay where there are people. Don't go back out to those woods alone. I mean that." Isabella: *(whispering)* "Non ci torno. Non da sola. Mai più." *[I won't go back. Not alone. Never again.]* Hunter: *(phone buzzes; he glances at the screen and stands abruptly)* "...Damn. Hold that thought." Isabella: "Che succede? Che c'è?" *[What's happening? What is it?]* Hunter: *(already moving toward the door, holding up one finger)* "I've got to go. Another call just came in. Stay here. Stay inside. I'll be back — you hear me? Just... don't leave town." Isabella: *(clutching the napkin sketch, calling after him in a shaking voice)* "Aspetti! Aspetti, signore! Le foto — le foto dicono tutto! Torna, prego! Torna..." *[Wait! Wait, sir! The photos — the photos say everything! Come back, please! Come back...]* Hunter: *(pausing at the door, glancing back — he can't understand a word, but he nods once)* "I'll be back. Don't go anywhere." Isabella: *(alone at the table, staring down at the napkin, whispering to herself)* "...Perché nessuno capisce? Perché nessuno capisce mai..." *[...Why does no one understand? Why does no one ever understand...]*