Attention to all my lovely reviewers and viewers: My last updates will be between 9th-10th on this month and will not be updated until the 22th. Why? Because I'm going to London for Spring Break! During the 10th to when I officially leave (the 13th) I'll be writing chapters for most of my stories, that way I can update quickly when I get back. Thank you.

"You're Nukpana…" Ron repeated himself, his voice soft with disbelief. Kim's dark green eyes had narrowed but whether in hatred or in an attempt to see the necklace better, the young girl did not know.

Nukpana stood there, her back slightly bent over from trying to catch her breath. Her knees were bent as well from her landing to catch herself from falling. From earlier, when she grieved over the old lady, her hair had been covering half her face but now it covered only her eyes. In a way…she looked demented, demonic for the sunrays made her crimson eyes sparkle.

"Girl…" Monty's voice came from behind. Although she could not see him, not yet at least, she could tell by the tone of his voice that he had an annoyingly smug smirk on his face. "It's about time you came back. Tell me, child, did you intend to give away your identity by taking off your contacts?"

Okay, so perhaps he was a little angry with her for that. Then again, the necklace which he had given her for her birthday had fallen out on accident. Faintly, as she grabbed the necklace and traced the outlines of the trees and monkeys…she remembered the night he gave it to her. How he had snuck up on her and…

"So this all was a trick then?!" Kim snarled, obviously feeling betrayed. "You were never our friend at all, were you? You just worked for…for him!"

Nukpana felt her mouth open and close several times, as if a gaping fish in the desert. "I…I…No, Kim, please…" A feeling of despair, desperation rose in her. As if being desperate to become friends, to keep that certain type of care and love.

Monkey Fist interrupted her coldly, "Tell her, Nukpana my darling." He stepped forward, one hand resting on her right shoulder while the other hand of his rested behind his back. It was as though he was holding her, owning her. As though…to show the relationship of slave and master, of apprentice and master.

"Tell her the truth, my dear." She risked looking up at the man, seeing a sinfully prideful grin on his handsome face and triumph in his baby blue eyes. "Tell her how you tricked her and that gullible monkey hater into thinking you were on their side."

"I-I…" She couldn't talk. It felt like cotton was being stuffed down her throat, as though sand was clogging up her airway. Her tongue felt dry and stuck to the ceiling of her mouth.

"Matilda…Nukpana," Ron caught himself, "I can't believe it! Why would you do such a thing? Why work for such a freak?!"

Nukpana's eyes narrowed and she snapped out of impulse, "He's no freak! Who are you to call a passionate monkey loving man? He's a fine man; noble, courageous, handsome, clever…" She stopped herself, feeling Monty's grin grow even bigger.

"Thank you," He chuckled, "Matilda. But please do tell them how you deceived them. Explain to them how I ordered you to befriend them for information. Tell them the truth of how you did every single thing I said."

Nukpana suddenly yelled, yanking her shoulder away. "No!" She turned to where her back faced neither group. "No! It's not…it's not like that. I…I did obey my Master from the start; I did do as he told me to do. He instructed me to befriend you Kim, and you Ron. I did it but I never dreamed that your friendship would actually touch me. I was told to get your secrets, your weaknesses…but I couldn't do it. I…I…I really appreciate your friendship, both of you."

Monkey Fist suddenly laughed, the sharpness of it making her wince. "Very good job, my apprentice. To try and trick them into believing you, very smart. I fear, however, since we know where the amulet is that you…"

"You don't really know!" She snapped, her eyes sparkling with upset sorrow. The memory of the old lady's will, of the old lady's voice and last moments flashed before her eyes. "You knew it was in this country, in my country! You never would have guessed that it was in the village that I grew up in! You would have never assumed, even dared to guess, that it was in the same place that many people terrorized and taunted me! You never would have dreamt that it was in the Elder Lady's hut as a gift from her husband before he died!"

Silence.

"…The old lady? So you went to the village after all while I fought?" Monkey Fist stepped closer, a menacing sparkle in his now-grayish eyes. "…That means you have it, don't you?"

Next chapter: We see Monty and Nukpana fight. Nukpana questions what is good and what is bad. After all, he knows that she holds the amulet…what will he do to get it back? Review please!

I'll try to finish this story before London. I'll try.