"The village seems innocent enough," Myah quietly thought aloud to herself.

"Marcelo! You will pay for those avacados!" A voice shouted from a stall.

"Uhm, I well," The boy leading Myah stuttered. "Quick! Run!" He whispered to her, and yanked her arm, both diasppering into the crowd.

Marcelo laughed. Myah frowned and placed her hands on her hips.

Before they could say any more, a man rushed into the village. "They ar' coming! They ar' coming! Fire! Run!" He screamed.

Seconds later, men on horses trampled into the village. A woman hit behind a curtain and protected her childern. Men with spears attempted to stop them, but they were trown aside by the strength of the animals. The horses whinnied and snorted, standing on their hind legs. The men waved the flaming torches threateningly.

Myah froze. She sharply looked around. She knew why they were there. She took off. Panting, whipping aside the brush.

When she ended up on the beach again, she glanced around. "Crap!"Myah paced.

Seconds later, Marcelo came out of the bushes. looking behind him he looked atMyah with a worried expression. " Those dang spanish people can't keep to themselves!" He cried out in anger.

Myah realized he thought something todally different from what was actually going on.

"They should go back to spain." He pouted, then paused "...but leave their horses," he smiled.

Myah liked his smile. Unlike many males she met before, it was soft. Just looking into his face made her feel as though nothing bad could ever happen to her. She felt at peace.

She wanted to sit down in the sand and let the warm caribbean sun melt her worries away. But she couldn't. Not when she was this deep into her problems. The sound of thwacking and voices grasped her and marcelo's attention. Not wanting to take a chance, she grabbed his arm and ran.

Now he knew something was up, and stopped " 'Splain." He demanded, panting.

"Not now, I must hurry." Myah gasped trying to catch her breath.

"I? No no no no, I am coming. I have no place here, my family is dead. I will come with you."

"Well," Myah started.

"No questions. I go." he insisted.

"Fine. First, I- I mean we need to head down these small islands and make our way to the largest island, Peral. It isn't known by many people, but it is curtial that I get there within the next few days. Understand?"

"Yes..." Marcelo trailed off." Gazing behind Myah, he noticed shadows in the far end of the beach from which they were running. He squinted, and noticed them on horses. His eyes widedned and whispered, "Run."