Run: 2026-10-07-01M4AVST473YFNF941V3GYMEF4

**Scene: The Apple Core Café, Alborn, MN – Morning** *Selvi sits at a corner table, her Nikon camera cradled in her lap, reviewing landscape photographs on the LCD screen—golden hour light spilling over the Miller orchard, the Apple Festival banner snapping in the wind. A man approaches, posture rigid, scanning the room with sharp, assessing eyes.* **Hunter:** "Excuse me. Detective Hunter, Alborn PD. I'm investigating the disappearances. Were you near the old Miller orchard last Tuesday? Around dusk?" *Selvi looks up, startled. Her eyes widen, and she clutches the camera tighter to her chest.* **Selvi:** "नहीं... नहीं, मैं वहाँ थी... मैंने कुछ देखा... वहाँ shadows थीं... और awaazein... awaazein thi, baar-baar... mera dil tez ho raha hai..." *(No... no, I was there... I saw something... there were shadows... and sounds... sounds were there, again and again... my heart is beating fast...)* *Hunter frowns, leaning forward, straining to catch syllables he doesn't recognize.* **Hunter:** "Sorry? I didn't catch that. You were there? Can you speak English? Slowly?" *Selvi shakes her head violently, flipping the camera screen toward him—showing a grainy photo of a dark figure standing motionless between rows of apple trees, barely visible in the twilight.* **Selvi:** "तस्वीर... yahan dekho... woh aadmi... akela tha... uski aankhein... bahut bhayanak thi... woh mujhe dekh raha tha..." *(Picture... look here... that man... he was alone... his eyes... they were very terrifying... he was looking at me...)* *Hunter squints at the image, then back at her face, completely lost.* **Hunter:** "Ma'am, I need you to understand—I don't speak whatever language that is. Do you have a friend? Anyone who can translate?" *Selvi's hands tremble as she lowers the camera. Tears spill down her cheeks.* **Selvi:** "Koi nahi... main akeli hoon... main ghabra rahi hoon... woh wapas aa sakta hai... usne mujhe dekha... woh jaanta hai..." *(No one... I am alone... I am getting scared... he can come back... he saw me... he knows...)* *Hunter's radio crackles. He glances at it, frustration hardening his features, then forces himself to stay calm.* **Hunter:** "I'm going to need you to stay right here. I'll find a translator. But tell me—did you see someone take Sarah Chen? Did you see the suspect?" *Selvi stares at him, terrified, nodding slowly.* **Selvi:** "Haan... haan, maine dekha... lekin main kuch nahi keh sakti... main dar rahi hoon..." *(Yes... yes, I saw... but I can't say anything... I am scared...)* *Hunter's phone buzzes urgently against his hip. He checks the screen, jaw tightening—a new text about another missing person.* **Hunter:** "I have to take this. Stay put. Don't go anywhere." *He strides toward the exit, then stops, turning back with a stern, no-nonsense look.* **Hunter:** "And listen—whatever you saw, you're not in trouble. You're safe here. I'll be back with help. Do you understand? Nod if you do." *Selvi nods silently, hugging her camera to her chest, watching him disappear through the glass door into the morning light.*