The Unwelcome Guest

Mariza adjusted her eye patch and peered through the dusty windows of the giant house. Her neon green eye glowed faintly in the dim light as she watched the other kids in the courtyard below. They always kept their distance from her.

"Another boring day," she muttered, kicking at a loose floorboard.

A crash echoed from downstairs. Mariza froze. The leader had told everyone to stay quiet today. She crept toward the staircase, her worn boots silent on the wooden steps.

In the main hall, a boy about her age stood among scattered books and overturned chairs. His clothes were torn and dirty, and his dark hair was messy. He looked around frantically, as if searching for somewhere to hide.

"Who are you?" Mariza called out.

The boy spun around, his eyes wide with fear. "Please don't tell anyone I'm here," he whispered urgently. "They're looking for me."

The Baker's Warning

Mariza stepped closer to the frightened boy. "What's your name?"

"Maxwell," he whispered, glancing toward the windows. "But please, you can't tell anyone I'm here."

Before Mariza could answer, heavy footsteps echoed from the kitchen. The leader emerged, flour dusting his apron. He had been baking bread for dinner when he heard the crash.

"What happened here?" The leader's eyes swept over the mess, then fixed on Maxwell. "Who is this boy?"

Maxwell's face went pale. He backed toward the wall, his hands shaking.

"He's just lost," Mariza said quickly. "I found him outside."

The leader frowned. "Lost boys don't usually break into houses and destroy property." He crossed his arms. "What's your real story, child?"

Maxwell's mouth opened and closed like a fish. Mariza could see the panic in his dark eyes. She stepped between them.

"Maybe he's hungry," she suggested. "Everyone makes mistakes when they're scared and hungry."

The leader studied both children carefully. "Very well. But he stays in the basement tonight. And you, Mariza, will watch him. If anything goes missing or anyone gets hurt, you're both responsible."