The Gathering Storm

Jackie pressed her back against the brick wall outside Wonder-Hair Vienna, her long black hair whipping across her face in the afternoon breeze. Through the cheerful yellow windows, she could see colorful chairs and mirrors gleaming under bright lights.

"Come on, Jackie!" called Ollie from behind a nearby tree. His shaggy brown hair hung past his shoulders like a tangled curtain. "We can't hide out here forever!"

Remi poked his head up from behind a parked car, his blonde locks nearly covering his eyes completely. "Speak for yourself! I'm not going anywhere near those... those devil machines!"

Mike and Jacob huddled together by the lamppost, their hair so overgrown it looked like they hadn't seen scissors in years. Carson sat on the curb, nervously twisting his red curls around his fingers.

"The appointment's in ten minutes," Jackie muttered, pulling her red and black jacket tighter. Her dark brown eyes darted toward the salon's entrance where cheerful music drifted out.

A sweet voice called from the doorway. "Are you our four o'clock group?"

Jackie's heart hammered against her ribs.

The Purple-Haired Discovery

A woman with bright purple hair stepped onto the sidewalk, her sparkly name tag reading "Zoe." Behind her came another hairdresser with pink streaks in her blonde hair.

"I'm guessing you're our mystery group," Zoe said with a grin. "The ones who booked six appointments but forgot to mention you'd need a search party to find you?"

Jackie's stomach dropped. She exchanged panicked looks with Ollie, who was now trying to hide completely behind the tree trunk.

"We're not hiding!" Remi squeaked from behind the car, which made his voice echo strangely.

The pink-streaked woman laughed. "Right. And I suppose that boy over there isn't using a lamppost as camouflage either?"

Mike and Jacob pressed themselves closer to the metal pole, their overgrown hair making them look like two scared sheep.

"Look, sweethearts," Zoe said, crossing her arms. "We've got clippers, scissors, and all sorts of wonderful tools waiting inside. But first, we need to actually see you."

At the word "clippers," Carson shot up from the curb like a rocket. "Did someone say the C-word?"

"Oh no," Jackie whispered. "Now we're really in trouble."