The Window Watcher

Mariza pressed her face against the dusty window of the giant house's third floor, watching the other children play in the courtyard below. They laughed and chased each other around the fountain, but none of them ever looked up at her window.

She touched the black eye patch covering her left eye and sighed. The worn leather of her pirate jacket creaked as she shifted position. Her messy side braid, brown hair streaked with turquoise, fell over her shoulder.

"Stay away from the poison girl," she heard Tommy whisper to the new kid yesterday. "She can kill you just by looking at you."

That wasn't true, but Mariza didn't bother correcting him anymore. Her venom powers scared everyone, even the older kids who had lived in this house for years. She was the oldest now, almost thirteen, and the loneliest.

A commotion at the front gate caught her attention. A boy with dirt-streaked clothes stumbled through the entrance, clutching his side. Mrs. Chen, the house director, rushed toward him with two other staff members.

Mariza leaned closer to the glass. The boy looked hurt.

The Golden Secret

Mariza crept down the stairs, her tall boots making soft sounds on the wooden steps. She had to see the hurt boy up close.

Mrs. Chen was helping him into the main sitting room when Mariza peeked around the doorway. The boy had sandy blond hair and wore clothes that looked expensive, even though they were torn and dirty. He winced as he sat down.

"What's your name, dear?" Mrs. Chen asked gently.

"M-Max," he stammered, glancing around nervously.

Mariza noticed something glinting under his ripped shirt sleeve. A golden bracelet with strange markings. She had seen symbols like that before in one of the old books upstairs.

"I need somewhere to stay," Max said quietly. "Just for a while."

Mrs. Chen nodded. "Of course. We'll get you cleaned up and fed."

As Mrs. Chen left to get bandages, Max slumped forward, looking exhausted. That's when Mariza saw the real problem. His side wasn't just hurt - it was infected, turning an ugly green color.

Without thinking, she stepped into the room. "You need help with that wound."

Max looked up, startled. His blue eyes went wide when he saw her eye patch.