The tall modern buildings glinted in the tropical morning light as Paige Crawford sat in the old Land Cruiser that was parked outside the resort. Her eyes hidden behind a pair of aviator sunglasses the guard watched her. He had orders not to let in anyone from who did not have a room booked. She was looking at her phone, one of her old friends from college had posted on her Facebook about her fabulous time on the Thorne Islands. A picture of her and her boyfriend in bathing suits and holding colorful drinks with little umbrellas accompanied the post. Despite her dislike of the Hobbes-Horizon resort and all the excess it produced she replied to the posting that she was there as well. The opportunity to hit up a rich former classmate for a donation to Pastor Dan's clinic was too good to pass up.

"Omg! U have 2 meet up gurl!" 

"I'm outside, send an invite."

Paige waited a few moments and the guard looked at his phone and at her, reluctantly opening the gate. He was a Vaki, his mahogany skin and dark eyes were so like the ones of the villages she worked in. Under the short white sleeves of his uniform she could see the crude tattooed markings of his tribe, they marked him once a fisherman, a provider for his family. Now he was one of the countless natives that were employed by Hobbes-Horizon, leaving their villages in droves to make what for them was easy money. She drove through the gate, parking among the limousines and tour buses that occupied the parking lot. The Land Cruiser stood out like a leper, with dented doors and fading blue paint. On the door was a sticker that simply read "Go Forth Ministries" over a blue and green globe with a bright yellow cross in front of it.

She tucked her phone away after replying she would meet in the lobby. Paige checked her hair in the sideview mirror, her natural dark blonde hair was cut short for practicality and she brushed it back, feeling it tickle the lower part of her neck. She wore no make up, her skin glowed with sun and her freckles were more noticeable and she wondered if the woman would even recognize her. Paige grabbed some cherry chapstick and smudged it on before walking toward the entrance. The guests were dressed far better than her khaki shorts and white tank top and she felt self conscious of her mud stained hiking boots. 

The lobby was enormous with highly polished black and white marbled floors, elegant pots of tropical flowers sat next to luxurious black leather sofas and chairs made of solid teak. Paige resisted urge to collapse in the plush furniture and waited, ignoring the curious looks of the staff and the guests until she spotted the familiar figure. It had been a few years but the beautiful woman looked as she had back at college. Lots of bleach blonde hair and waterproof mascara applied liberally, Madison waved at her and squealed with delight that sounded irritatingly phony to Paige's ears. She stood with a handsome man who looked hungover and sunburnt. They embraced and Madison pulled back to look at her, her painted expression registering surprise. 

"Look at you, you look like one of those granola girls," she giggled, flashing a smile as bright as her diamond tennis bracelet. "I hardly recognized you, what happened to that hottie who I partied with in Cancun last Spring Break. Oh my god, remember that night we had a threesome with that hot actor from that cop show -"

Paige tried to cut her off, blushing as her boyfriend looked at her with a smirk,"Yes, Maddie, but -"

"He had that great coke that I snorted off your tits," Madison continued on, obviously still tipsy from the night before.. "You should come party with us, I can lend you some clothes so you don't look like Dora the Explorer." 

Paige ran a hand over her face, "No, I don't do that anymore. No drugs, no booze, no sex."

"Ugh, no fun," Madison rolled her eyes and looked down at the logo on her tank top, "Are you doing this for community service for probation after the accident?" 

"No.I do it because I want to," Paige sighed, "Because I feel like giving back." 

"Oh my god, don’t tell me... you found Jesus," Madison gasped.

"I found a higher calling, yes, and you can help," she replied and explained Pastor Dan's missionary school and clinic that was on the outskirts of Nagara Town. 

Madison listened, her eyes blank and she shrugged, "Why don't you ask your folks for money? Your family is loaded." 

"Because...I thought it would be a nice gesture for Lambda to give to a charity. Since you're still involved, maybe you'd like to be the first of the sisters to give." 

After a few more awkward moments Madison finally muttered something about having her father write them a check and she rushed off with her boyfriend to the pool. Paige looked at her empty hands and shrugged, it had been worth a shot. She walked toward the entrance, her boots scuffing the marble and the concierge, a European man, frowned at her and sniffed noisily as she passed by. She exited the luxury hotel and back into the tropical heat. The day was still, the ocean breeze barely stirring the tops of the palm trees. 

Paige rolled her shoulders, glancing back and felt unsettled, as if the air was full of tension. Perhaps an offshore storm was approaching and the pressure was building. She looked up at the sky but there was only a few white fluffy clouds in the endless blue. As she drove she kept to the road that ran along the coast, passing a few fruit vendors on their way to peddle coconuts, pineapple and the deliciously addictive lychees. None were native to the islands, just another sign on outside influence. 

She pulled the Land Cruiser off the road and headed out to a spit of sand that did not belong to Hobbes-Horizon, parking in the shade of a palm tree. Leaning back the seat she felt the sea breeze dry the sweat on her brow and her eyelids fluttered. She focused on the sound of the waves washing in and out and fought to keep out the intruding memories that speaking to Madison had brought back. She crossed her arms and closed her eyes, lulled to sleep by the sounds of the birds calling from the nearby jungle and the rhythmic ocean. 

She dreamed of lights rushing through darkness, the world suddenly consumed with an on coming bright light and the sound of explosion. The noise was loud, echoing through her mind but it lacked the typical crunch and twisting metallic screech. Paige woke with a start and looked up in time to see passing helicopters heading toward the resort. Another explosion jolted her up and she reached for the keys of the Land Cruiser when she heard the thumping of rotors. Above the trees were now bending at the wash as a chopper hovered overhead tilting toward her vehicle. 

She saw the twin rows of sand kicking up before the sound registered with her. Paige wrenched the door open, diving out just as the bullets struck the truck, piercing the engine and radiator, steam shooting out with an angry hiss. The young woman scrambled toward the thicket of lush forest as the chopper circled around and made another pass. There she huddled, laying prone against the deadfall of leaves and prayed to God for protection. She watched her dear Land Cruiser torn to pieces, flames beginning to shoot from under the hood, her pale green eyes wide with apprehension. The tension that had been simmering around the island had finally broke and the storm was upon them.

Paige backed up, easing her way into the undergrowth of the tropical forest. The helicopter made a last pass and thumped off, heading toward the resort. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to control her rapid breathes, to get her panic under control. The forest was silent, the only sounds now was the distant explosions and sound of rattling gunfire. She stood on shaking legs and looked around, praying there were no soldiers accompanying the helicopter. Paige knew there were many mercenaries that were often in Nagara as well as a group of Vaki unhappy with the Western influence on their people by Hobbes-Horizon. They were no great friends of Go Forth Ministries either and she had little to do with the rebellious natives.

Her thoughts raced to Pastor Dan and the compound where the school and church were. [i]God protect them,[/i]she prayed, for they had no weapons. Quietly she picked her way through the forest, keeping close to the coast to avoid the heavier underbrush. Eventually she emerged on a deserted strip of sand, the sounds of war were now faint and she felt herself start to relax as the whir of insects started back up and the bird calls were heard once more. Paige spotted a movement near the water and dropped down, hiding behind a cluster of broad elephant ear plants. 

A man emerged from the water, in scuba gear and shorts, obviously a tourist and looking as confused as she. When he spoke she slowly emerged and waved her hand in a come-hither gesture. "Get off the beach!"