The Girl with Brown Hair

Mariza stared at her reflection in the small mirror. Brown hair dye dripped down her neck as she worked the color through her turquoise locks. The purple contact lenses sat in their case, waiting.

"This feels so wrong," she muttered, watching her unique hair disappear under the muddy brown.

Three days had passed since the battle. Three days since El, Ember, and Shadow had vanished. The enemy warriors had taken them during the chaos, and now Mariza was alone.

She slipped the purple contacts over her mismatched eyes. Her black-and-turquoise sword felt heavy at her side, hidden beneath her jacket. Nobody in the village could know who she really was. Not yet.

"Just until I find them," she whispered.

The village bustled outside her window. Market vendors called out their wares while children played in the streets. Somewhere out there, her friends might be suffering. Or worse.

Mariza pulled her hood up and stepped outside, her disguise complete.

The Woman with Sharp Eyes

Mariza stepped into the village square, her brown hair catching the morning light. Children ran past her, chasing a spotted dog that barked with joy. She pulled her hood lower and scanned the crowd.

A woman sat at a small table near the fountain, fixing shoes with quick, practiced movements. Her short black hair was streaked with silver, and her dark eyes missed nothing.

"New face," the woman said without looking up from the leather boot in her hands. "Haven't seen you before."

Mariza's heart jumped. "I'm just passing through."

The shoemaker's eyes met hers. "Purple contacts don't fool everyone, child. That sword under your jacket makes a particular sound when you walk."

Mariza froze. How could this stranger see through her disguise so easily?

"Relax," the woman continued, setting down her tools. "I'm not your enemy. But if you're looking for three young warriors who disappeared three nights ago, you're asking the wrong questions."

"What questions should I be asking?" Mariza whispered.

The woman smiled grimly. "Ask why the enemy wanted them alive."