I was sleeping close to Jade in my barracks, after me and Amber left each other last night. I was wide awake and it's morning, still thinking about how I should tell Amber about Jade, and about my ability. I still haven't told her everything.

I looked at Jade who is still sleeping peacefully. How can I tell Amber all of this? I mean her father can talk to lions like me, so I guess she can understand. But she doesn't know that he can talk to them, Nick practically kept that from her.

I looked up at the ceiling and sighed. Maybe I'll tell her tonight. And then I'll show her Jade, and Amber will know that not all lions are scary.

But then another question came to mind. Well maybe she can talk to lions as well. I still wonder if she can, just like her father. I mean, I kinda think that some traits do get taken from their child's parents. So maybe she took that trait from her father. It's still possible, but I still don't know.

Jade was stirring herself awake and she moved her head to look at mine, she smiled, "Good morning."

I smiled at her, "Good morning, yourself. How was your sleep?"

Jade let out a big yawn and she said, "Pretty good. Guess I haven't slept like this in a long time."

I giggled, "Good to know." I stretched my arms and got Jade to move over a bit and got out of bed.

While I was putting my clothes on, Jade said, "You know, I'm very happy that you and Amber are together. I mean I saw you guys through the window last night. You guys look pretty cute."

I smiled when she said that. Last night after I took Amber to her father's quarters, I went to my barracks and told Jade everything. Hell I even told her that I even punched Dorland. Hope I won't get into trouble today. Well Nick knows he's an asshole, so maybe I'll be fine.

I looked at Jade and said, "Yeah...She's really beautiful."

Jade nodded, "She is. Even though I haven't met her yet, but she looks like a good human."

I glanced away from her. Jade caught my expression and asked, "What's wrong?"

I sighed and then I looked at Jade again, "I don't know what to do."

Jade cocked her head, "What? What are you talking about?"

I answered, "I never told Amber, never told her about you. I haven't even told her about my ability to talk to lions. I...I just don't want her to think that I'm some kind of freak."

Jade shook her head, "You're not a freak. You're...Casper! Nothing more."

I shrugged, "I know, but...I'm just thinking on Amber's point of view. I mean...I could imagine what she would think if she found out that her father's crazy. I mean he can talk to lions as well. I mean..." I trailed off.

Jade gave me an assuring smile, "Casper, you know you can't keep this secret forever, you love her. In fact, you're only making it worse if you don't tell her. Hell for all we know, she might even find it intriguing if you did tell her."

I looked at Jade for an answer, 'What am I suppose to do? It's...Just so hard."

Jade got off the bed and went right in front of me, "I'll tell you what you need to do. Just tell her the truth. Come clean. That's all that really matters."

I frowned, "You sure it's that simple? You really think it will work?"

Jade shrugged, "Well if it doesn't work, at least you can always have a friendly lioness to keep you company." Then she giggled.

I shrugged and giggled as well, "Good point. You will always keep me company."

Then Jade said, "But I would also want my Casper to have someone who is a human, close to him. I would be happy that you did."

I smiled at her and nodded, "You know what? You're right. I...I will tell her everything. Whether she thinks I'm a freak or not, I will tell her. Whether she stays with me or not, I'll tell her anyway. I have to, I need to."

Jade nodded, "Good. So are you going to find her today?"

I nodded, "Yep, I'm planning on meeting her today at her father's quarters. We even might share a walk around the base together."

Jade beamed, "Perfect! That will be the perfect time for you to confess everything! It will be perfect!"

I giggled nervously, "Yeah." Then I looked out the window. At the morning sun.

I hope Amber will not think that I'm a freak. I don't want to lose her.

Then I smiled to myself. She'll understand, I know she will.

Now I just need to find Amber and tell her.

*****

I walked to Nick's quarters, where I saw Nick talking to Eileen and Walker in front of the house. I waved at them, "Hey guys."

They all saw me and smiled, Nick said, "Hey kiddo, whatcha doing?"

I shook my head, "Nothing, just came here to see your daughter."

Nick beamed, "Yeah I figured that's why. My good daughter told me that she has a boyfriend now. I asked her who and she said it's a secret. But I think I know who it is." Then he playfully narrowed his eyes, "Was it you?"

I laughed, "Yeah it's me. I'm her boyfriend."

Walker smiled, "Congratulations dude!"

Eileen grabbed my shoulder and playfully shook me, "Yeah brother, you really had it in you."

I waved them off, "Aw guys, thanks. It wasn't easy, but yeah we're together."

Nick said, "Well that's good. Because I thought of a date that you two could have together."

My eyes went wide, "Really? What?"

Walker explained, "All of us in the base are going to the city of Dar es Salaam today. You see they are having this festival there and it's annual. So all of us are going there, including us."

Eileen beamed, "Yeah! There will be street performers and what not! It's going to be fun!"

I beamed at them. Festival huh? Well I like being in that sort of thing. Maybe me and Amber could enjoy it together, but for now I need to talk to her first.

I said, "That will be great! But I need to talk to Amber for right now."

Nick had an concerned look, "What's up? You look nervous."

I waved him off, "I'll be fine. I just want to talk to her."

Nick smiled and nodded, "Well...Ok. Wait here, I'll go get her." Then he left me, Walker, and Eileen alone and went inside his house to get Amber.

I sighed after he left. Okay, lets do it.

******

Not everything went as planned, Amber was actually busy. I didn't know why, Nick just told me that she was busy.

I guess plans are meant to be changed, but I seriously wanted to tell her the truth about me, about everything. But now is not the time.

I sighed as I walked back to my barracks. Oh well, I guess I could enjoy going to the festival with all the marines today. I smiled at the thought. Yeah, that will be fun, then maybe some other time I'll tell Amber everything. I just hope I could do it.

But for now, I'm going to the festival in a few hours. Might as well have some fun today.

I made it to my barracks and opened the door and went in. When I went inside I saw Jade sleeping on the bed, she hasn't heard me come in. I giggled and went slowly to her, making less noise as possible.

I made it to the edge of the bed and then I whispered, "Hey how's my favorite lioness today? You fell asleep already? You just got up about an hour ago." I giggled, "What's the matter, didn't get enough sleep you thought you did?"

I stared at her, but she didn't budge. She wasn't awake.

That's when I was getting worried. I put my hands on her just to shake her awake, "Jade, are you okay? Jade?" She wasn't moving. She never opened her eyes and she didn't say anything.

My eyes went wide. Jade?! Oh god, what happened?! I put my hand on her chest and realized she wasn't dead, she was still breathing.

She's unconscious! What happened here?!

Before I could do anything else, I could smell something strange. I sniffed. Strange, I never smelled that in here before. It...Smells strange.

Then I could hear a hissing noise and realized that the hissing noise came from one of the vents in my barracks. I gasped when I saw some kind of steam coming out of the vent. Only it's not steam, it's gas!

Somebody gassed my barracks! I started coughing, realizing that someone wanted us unconscious. I went to the door but it wouldn't open. I pulled the door hard but didn't move at all.

I coughed again and then my vision started to get hazy and I turned around and stumbled to my bed and then I fell down on it.

Everything looked dizzy to me and then all went black.

*****

Tabitha and Nick were waiting along with a lot of marines. Waiting for Eileen and Walker to come back with Casper.

Tabitha asked, "You sure that your daughter's not coming?"

Nick nodded, "Yeah, she said she wasn't feeling good today. I wonder why?"

Tabitha shrugged, "Oh who knows. Maybe the punch from last night at the dance was so bad, she started to get sick. I mean I drank some last night and then I felt bad! I think that's it."

Nick giggled, "Well whoever made it probably put something in it. I'm going to have a talk with my marines later about it."

Tabitha giggled as well, "Still...Who knows really."

Nick smiled at her, "Yeah, who knows."

They saw Walker and Eileen coming to them and then Tabitha asked, "Is my nephew coming?"

Walker just shrugged, "Nope, he's not. Apparently Jade and Casper are so tired they didn't even wake up."

Eileen added, "They didn't even hear us coming in. We didn't bother them, we just left them alone. Probably tired today I guess."

Tabitha smiled at Nick, "Well your daughter won't be alone today. She's got Casper to keep her company if she wants."

Nick shrugged, "Yeah and I hope that my daughter gets to meet Jade one day. I really wanted her to know the truth about me and Casper."

Tabitha grinned, "I bet you both want to tell her."

Robyn came and said, "Alright Captain, we're ready to go."

Nick looked at Robyn, "Is everyone accounted for?"

Robyn answered, "Not everyone's coming, sir."

Nick shrugged, "Well I guess we're going without some of the marines today. I thought giving them some culture would do everyone some good. But guess not, huh?"

Walker said, "Well I guess Casper can play poker with the marines who stayed behind then."

Nick said to Robyn, "Alright Corporal, lets get out of here!"

Robyn saluted, "Yes sir!"

Then everyone went in their jeeps and they all left the base. On their way to the festival at Dar es Salaam.

*****

I moaned and groaned in my sleep, and then I opened my eyes. I slowly got up on my feet and looked around. I'm still in my barracks.

I looked around still and saw that Jade is still asleep. I looked at the bedside desk and saw a piece of paper.

I went to the paper and realized that it's a note from Eileen, it said:

Hey brother, we were coming to get you because we were ready to go to the festival. But apparently you were asleep and so was Jade, we didn't want to wake you.

So we went without you, sorry brother. But I just didn't want to wake you. You looked so tired. Again I'm sorry.

Sincerely, Eileen

I looked at the note some more and I dropped it. It fell slowly to the floor.

I pressed my hand against my forehead, and I groaned. Damn...My head's killing me. What's going on?

I tried to put the pieces together. Okay, last thing I remember....I was in here, after I came to look for Amber, but she wasn't in the mood to talk to me and then I left her alone.

I came in here and found Jade sleeping, no wait...She was unconscious. Then I remember...Gas. Gas! I remember now! Somebody gas us. But who? The one who sent me the notes, that's probably who.

I heard Jade groaning and she regained consciousness. Jade rose her head from the bed and looked around and finally saw me starting at her. She groaned again and shook her head, "Casper? Is that you? Where am I?"

I walked toward her and sat down beside her in bed, "Jade, somebody knocked us out."

Jade shook her head, trying to get the dizziness out of her head, "What? Is that why I was tired all of a sudden? What happened?"

I shrugged, "I don't know. But whoever it was wanted us to be knocked out."

Jade finally got on her feet and jumped off the bed, "Well what's going on now?"

I shrugged again, "I don't know really, I just woke up , just like you are just now."

Jade then said, "Casper, we need to find out what's going on."

I nodded, "You're right. I'll go see if anyone's here. Everyone probably left the base for the festival by now."

Jade cocked her head, "Festival?"

I waved her off, "Never mind that." Then I went out the door. It was day before, but now it's nighttime. Oh god, I've been out for hours. Now I believe that everyone has been gone.

I went to where my aunt and my sister would be staying in the base. To the other barracks. I went to theirs and opened the door and went inside. There was no one in there. No Tab, No Eileen, no marines here too.

Shit they all left.

I backed out of the door all the way back outside. Then I called out, "Hello? Hello? Is anyone here?"

No answer.

Now I really know that everyone's gone to the festival. I ran back to my barracks and found Jade waiting for me.

Jade said, "Well? Did you find anyone?"

I shook my head, "No Jade, there's no one here. I think they all left."

Jade then had fear shown on her face, "Casper, I'm scared. What are we going to do? Someone's after us!"

I got on my knees and grabbed her shoulders, "Jade! Calm down."

Jade took a deep breath and then said, "What do we do?"

I shrugged, "I don't know. Maybe if I call someone and report it. Or maybe I can just call Nick or someone. Like Eileen, she has a cell phone."

Jade said, "Then call her!"

I shook my head, "I don't have a phone. I never brought one when I came here to Africa."

Jade started to freak out again, "Ohhhh. This is bad!"

I assured her again, "Jade stop it! We'll get out of here, okay?"

Jade nodded, "Good idea! Lets just get out of here! I don't care if anyone sees me, there's no one here!" She ran to the door.

I opened it and we both ran out the door. We ran all the way to where the military jeeps were parked and saw that all of them are gone. Damn it! Well guess me and Jade are walking out of here then!

We turned away from the parking lot and just ran to the guard station at the entrance of the base. I went to the gate and I tried to open it with my hands, but it wouldn't budge. Then I went inside the guard station and found the button to the gate and pressed it, but for some reason it didn't work. Power must be out here.

Somebody cut the power. Damn it!

I walked out of the guard station and said to Jade, "We can't leave, we're trapped!"

Jade shook her head, "NO! I don't want to be trapped here! I don't!"

I held out my hand to calm her down, "Yeah I know, I don't want to be trapped here either."

Jade asked, "Now what?"

I tried to think of a way out of here. No way we could climb over the fence, cause there's barbed wire on top of the fence, so there's now way I could climb out of here. And Jade wouldn't climb out either, because she's an animal.

I need a plan. Got to think. Think, think, think!

Then I remembered several times when I went to the mess hall to get something to eat, I saw a telephone there. I remember my sisters number, so I'll call her from there.

I looked at Jade with a determined look, "I have an idea, follow me."

She asked, "Where are we going?"

I only said, "You'll see, come on!" Then we both ran to the mess hall. We opened the door and went inside and it was dark. We could barely see anything. I saw the telephone on the wall and picked up the receiver. No dial tone. It's dead as well!

I slammed the receiver hard on the phone, "Shit! The phone's dead!"

Jade started to cry, "Casper. I'm scared."

I nodded, "Me too. I don't know what to do." After I said that, suddenly somewhere in the room some kind of projector came on and the screen got lit on the wall. Me and Jade saw the projector on one of the tables in the mess hall. After that we saw the screen where the projector set and watched it. Several images of a video came up and then I saw some things that looked familiar.

Apparently someone has taped me and my family in the base, it showed me talking to my sister, then the screen went to another scene and that time it showed me talking to Jade in the barracks, apparently someone watched us through one of the windows of the barracks.

Jade's face went wide, "Wait? Is that...Us? What's going on?"

I shook my head, "I don't know, somebody has been watching us." Then the screen showed me and Amber from last night, us kissing. Holy shit! Somebody saw us kissing!

Then the screen showed us turning out backs to the projector. It shows us right now! We're being recorded right now!

Jade noticed it too and we both turned around slowly. The projector light blinded us and then I shielded my face with my arm. Jade only squinted her eyes because the light's so bright.

Me and Jade went out of range of the light and looked at the projector, the red light is on. Somebody definitely came in here and pressed the record button.

Suddenly we both heard a noise coming from the kitchen. Then both glanced at each other and then we both went to the door to the kitchen. I opened it and we went inside.

When we went in, we saw something on the floor and realized that it's a lioness. I gasped when I recognized her. Christa!

Jade knew it as well, and she gasped, "Christa!" We both kneeled down to her.

She's unconscious! I put my hand on her and tried to shake her awake, "Christa? Christa? Wake up!"

No response.

I tried again, "Christa!"

She finally groaned and then she looked up at me disoriented, "Casper? What happened?"

Jade asked with a concerned look, "Christa, what happened to you? How did you get here? I thought you were at home!"

Christa shook her head, "I was trying to find you Jade. Then all of a sudden..." She trailed off.

I asked her, "Who did this to you?"

She shook her head, "I don't know. It feels like a dream."

I sternly said, "Focus! Who did this to you?!"

Christa tried to say something, but then she fell back into unconsciousness again. I shook her again, "Christa? Christa wake up!"

Jade shook her head, "It's no use. We need to get her out of here."

I looked at Jade and nodded, "Yeah, we all need to get out of here." Suddenly I felt of some kind of pain shot up through my arm. I looked at it and realized that a dart has shot me. I pulled it out and then I got dizzy.

Jade became shocked and then she gasped when I fell to the ground. She screamed, "Casper!"

After I fell to the ground I saw the person who shot me. Somebody was standing at the entrance to the kitchen and had a tranquilizer gun in his hand.

Jade saw my gaze then she growled and pounced at the guy. The guy dodged and then he shot her with a dart as well.

Jade cried out in pain and then not very long after she got shot she got dizzy and fell to the ground as well.

My vision became cloudy once again and then I passed out.

*****

It was nighttime in the city of Dar es Salaam, and the festival was still underway. Nick wondered through several people and then he found a payphone and tried to call his base. He dialed the number and all the phone did was just ring. No one at the base is answering. His daughter was suppose to answer.

He hung up the receiver and then he thought. My daughter never missed a call before, so what happened? I hope she's ok.

Nick went through the crowd to find Tabitha and when he found her Nick said, "I'm going back to the base."

Tabitha asked, "Why? Aren't you having fun?"

Nick shook his head, "No I just got a bad feeling that's all. I'll see you guys back at the base later."

Tabitha nodded, "Alright, just be careful."

Nick said back, "You too." Then he went off to one of the jeeps and went inside one.

He turned the keys into the ignition and started it. Then he drove off, to go back to the base.

He thought about Amber while he was driving. Amber...What happened to you? I should have stayed with her.

*****

I woke up sometime after I fell unconscious again. I groaned and then I realized that I was tied to a chair. The ropes cutting through my wrists. I looked around and realized that I woke up in some room. Where am I?

I looked around some more and then I saw Jade chained up to a wall. The collar wrapped tightly around her neck and tough looking metal chain was attached to it.

I hollered, "Hey! Hey! Wake up!"

Jade stirred and then she woke up. Jade shook her head and saw me, "Casper? What are you doing?"

I shrugged while I was tied up, "Just being tied up here."

Jade tried to move but the chain prevented her from moving. She looked at the chain and gasped, "What's this? Where are we?"

I answered, "I think we're in trouble now."

Jade glared at me, "You think?" Then we both heard a sound nearby, a door opening somewhere. Then we saw a shadow moving on the floor. Someone's coming.

A minute later, me and Jade saw a figure enter the room. A human.

I tried to get a good look at his face, but then I realized that the guy was wearing a ski mask. I could see his eyes he was angry. That angry stare right at us.

I angrily asked, "Who are you?"

The guy pulled out some kind of device and put it at his mouth and said, "You know why you two are here."

My face went wide. That device in his hand, it must be some kind of voice modulation device. He can change his voice and I wouldn't recognize it.

Jade said to me, "Casper, I can understand what he's saying, just like I can understand you."

The guy said to her with the device still at his mouth, "Yes, and you must be Jade. Yes, I can understand you and you can understand me. I've been waiting a long time to see you two. It's been far too long for my taste."

I struggled against the chair but the ropes wouldn't get loose. I looked at the guy and tried to look in his eyes. Dorland? Maybe it's Dorland. I shouted at the guy, "Let us go Dorland!"

The guy shook his head, "I'm not Dorland."

Then Jade shouted, "Then who the hell are you?! And why are you doing this to us?!"

The guy pressed a button on the device he was holding and then he started talking to us in a normal voice, "Do you really think that the past wouldn't come back to haunt you?"

I looked at the guy. That voice....It's familiar.

The guy continued, "Or are you two so stupid that you didn't realize that the past HAS come back to haunt you? You really are pathetic."

I asked, "Who are you?"

The guy dropped the device and then he slowly took the ski mask off his head and it revealed a familiar face.

My eyes went wide again. Him! It was him!

It was Corporal Jason Rivers. 

I stuttered, "You...It was you."

Jason just glared at me, "Surprise, surprise, Casper. You think you were the luckiest guy of all time? You're wrong. You think you can escape from your past? You're wrong."

Jade looked at me, "Casper, who is that guy? I've never met him before."

I looked at her, "That's Jason. One of the marines here."

Jason just sneered, "More than just a marine. I'm here for vengeance. Against you and Jade."

I had a lot of questions flowing through my head. I asked, "Jason...Why? Why are you doing this? I thought you were Dorland."

Jason laughed, "What? That idiot? Dorland is just a meathead. I mean he's so fucking stupid, he wouldn't know how to do sixth grade math!"

Jade frowned at him, "Why? What have we ever done to you?"

He sneered at her, "Why? Why?!" Then he calmed down and then added, "Why, murder of course."

I yapped, "What murder? We never committed any murder."

Jason shouted at me, "Yes you did! You two killed someone who was very important to me! You killed the only family that I had left, and you killed him!"

I asked, "Who? Who are you talking about?"

Jason looked at me, "You really don't know, do you?"

Jade cocked her head, "Should we?"

Jason pulled out something out of his pocked, a small photo of some sort. Then he turned the photo on his hand and showed it to me, "Recognize him?"

I looked at the photo and gasped. No way.

The photo showed Charlie McBride. Karone's human partner three years ago.

Jason then showed the photo to Jade and she gasped as well.

Jason then stepped away from us and said, "You do know him. I figured you did, after all you did kill him."

I asked incredulously, "How do you know him? Who are you?"

Jason giggled, "Guess he didn't tell you much about his family, huh?" Then he put the photo back in his pocket and said, "You see Casper and Jade, I'm the only family he ever had, of course we never met before he died, but my mother told me a lot about him."

I gasped and realized what he's talking about, "You're related to Charlie."

Jason nodded, "My real name is not Jason Rivers. It's Jason McBride. You see years ago my dad met my mom and got her pregnant with me. Then when I was about eight, she died from breast cancer and I grew up in an orphanage. I never even knew my father around that time. Finally when I turned eighteen, I finally decided to try to track my father down. That's when I found out he lived here in Tanzania. But before I could find out where he lives, he died. And then I've found out that it was you and Jade."

Jade asked, "How do you know about me? You really can talk to lions, can you?"

He smiled and nodded, "Oh yes. In fact how I know about you, well lets just say I found this family friend one day and I saved her life. She told me everything and I told her who I was. That's when I realized I can talk to lions. I think I took that from him, when he got my mom pregnant, after all certain traits can be passed down from generation to generation. Ever since we've met three years ago, we have been inseparable. In fact we have waited for a long time for you to come back Casper. So we could kill you and Jade, for murdering my father!"

Me and Jade stared at him quizzically. So he does have a partner, but who?

Jason smiled and said, "You're probably wondering who I'm talking about." Then he went to a door and opened it and then a lioness came in the room.

I gasped. No...

Jade saw the lioness and kept saying, "No, no, no...."

Jason's partner is Karone, and she's alive! Karone's alive? But how? How could she have survived the raging water in the gorge?

Karone giggled evilly and looked at me, "Hello Casper."

I was still in shock to say anything.

Karone giggled again and then she looked at Jade, "Hi niece, it has been a long time. My you haven't changed at all. You look just like your mother...before she died."

Jade only growled, "You bitch."

Karone raised one paw and said, "Ah, ah, that's not very nice for using language against your own family."

Jade shouted, "You were never my family! You are a murderer! You've killed my sister and my mother!!"

Karone swiped her across the face with her paw and Jade fell over. I screamed, "No!!!"

Jade wasn't unconscious though and she got back up. She tried to attack Karone, but the chain stopped her from doing so.

Karone laughed evilly at her, and then I screamed, "LEAVE HER ALONE!"

Karone glared at me, "You can't control me, I'm in control now."

Jade angrily asked her aunt, "How? How did you survive? We all thought you were dead!"

Karone answered her daughter, "Aw, now I thought you were going to tell me what your life was like without me."

I asked, "How did you survive?"

Karone then looked down at the floor, "I almost didn't survive. I almost drowned. But surprisingly, I did. I don't know how long I was out after I got washed up outside the gorge. But when I woke up I knew I was battered and bruised by all the rocks in the water. I realized that I was alone, without my followers, without...Charlie. I was alone. I wondered all by myself all broken and hurt. I couldn't even hunt very well, after I survived, I've felt too hurt to do anything. But then a miracle happened."

She looked up and smiled at Jason, "That's when I met Jason. Of course he was afraid of me at first. But then when he heard my voice, he could understand me and I could understand him. You see I begged for his help and he gave it to me. Jason patched me up and fed me, and we talked to each other a lot and that's when I realized that he was related to my best friend Charlie. He's his son. I told Jason what happened to his father and Jason cried for a long time. He told me that he was alone and then I comforted him and told him, you're never alone. And ever since that night, me and him never separated each other."

Jason glared at me, "We've been waiting for you guys to be together for a long time. So we could avenge my father, because he died because of you!"

That's when the pieces finally started to put together in my brain. I asked Jason, "It was you Jason. You're the one who wrote those notes to me."

Jason nodded, "Had to get your attention sooner or later. In fact it was easy to figure out who you are. In fact, imagine my surprise when you and your family came here one day after three years, to this base of all places."

I said to Jason, "You're not really a marine are you?"

He nodded his head, "Oh I am a marine, you see being a marine was the only way I could find my father and that was three years ago."

Jade glared at her aunt, "And it was you who started the stampede! Not Chad!"

Karone grinned at her niece, "I had to find a way to kill you two sooner or later. I'm surprised you actually survived. Imagine that I was pissed when you survived. And by the way, I don't know someone by the name Chad. I don't know who you are talking about."

Jade hasn't softened her gaze, "He's like you, but you're worse than him."

Karone smiled, "Is that why you came here? To get away from him? Oh I was lying to you when I said that I never knew Chad, I know who he is. In fact for three years I've been watching you dear niece, alone and heartbroken because of your father. Your mate got kicked out of the pride and you were forced to be with this Chad. Makes me wonder why I hate Bron so much."

Jade snarled, "You keep my family out of this!"

Karone snarled back, "I can do whatever I want! So don't push it!"

I shouted at them, "You won't get away with this!"

Jason was all smug and he said, "We already have. We've planned this for a long time. I put a tube in one of the vents in your barracks and I gassed you two until you became unconscious. In fact you two now know that in the mess hall I have watched you two all the time. You already saw the proof. I video recorded you guys and you guys watched the show when I turned on the projector."

So it really was him. But then another thought came when I thought about Christa. I shouted, "Where's Christa?! What have you done to her?!"

Karone smiled, "Thought you never ask. She's alive...For now."

Jade glared at her aunt still, "For now? You not thinking about killing her, are you?"

I said to Karone, "Yeah, she's your daughter."

Karone snarled, "She's not my daughter! Not anymore. She betrayed me! When she joined Bron's pride she betrayed me a lot worse than everyone else!"

I shouted at her, "You never cared about anyone, but yourself! You said to me once that when she betrays you she will die as well."

Karone grinned, "Exactly, that means she has to die, just like you two." Then she looked at Jason, "Jason bring our other partner in here with Christa. I want them both to see this."

Jason went to the door and then a thought came to me. Partner? They have another partner? Who? Jason opened the door and then Christa came in the room with a chain around her neck. Good she's alive. Then I saw the person who was holding the chain to Christa's neck.

Me and Jade gasped when we recognized the face.

Amber. Amber is their partner.

I shook my head. No...No. It can't be! Not Amber! It can't be Amber! I looked straight at Amber, "Amber....Why?"

Amber glanced away from my face and then Karone said, "Ah, so you have met each other." Karone giggled, "I'm not surprised. She looked like the type."

I still looked at Amber, ignoring Karone, "Why Amber? WHY?"

Amber finally looked at me with a guilty look on her face, "I'm sorry Casper. I...Didn't want this. I didn't want to hurt you."

I gasped. So that's the reason why she was so nervous lately. Especially when she's around me, it wasn't her feelings toward me, it's because of this. She's being forced into this. But how did Amber and Karone meet?

I guess mine and Jade's theory about her getting the ability from her father proved right. Amber can talk to lions as well, just like her father. And her father never knew about it.

Karone began to tell her tale, while Amber still stood there looking guilty, "Well you're wondering how I know Amber? You see it was about six months ago actually when I first met her. You see Amber was all alone in the savannah by herself and I met her right in front of me. Amber was so scared of me, she was afraid I would kill her. I thought about it, but then I heard her begging for her life. And that's when I realized she can talk to lions as well. Just like you, just like Charlie, just like Jason, and I'm sure just like her father as well."

Karone continued, "When Amber realized she can talk to me, she was surprised! And then I told her how and why. Then soon after that me and her became quite close, I've actually treated her like she was my own daughter."

Christa glared at her, "I thought I was your daughter."

Karone looked back at Christa and snarled, "You shut up, you poor excuse of a daughter!" She looked back at me and said, "As I was saying. Me and Amber became friends. You see, Amber was a poor lonely little girl who didn't have a lot of friends. When she met me, I brightened up her life. Me and her really grew close."

Jason said, "And that's when Amber met me, all of us were like family."

Karone then said, "But when you finally came back to Africa, I had an idea. To have Amber as bait to gain your affections. After all Casper, you don't know what kind of pain I went through for years! That kind of pain still bothers me!"

I shouted at Karone, "You used her!? You've used Amber to get her to do whatever you wanted her to do! What kind of friend are you?!"

Karone giggled, "Oh, I'm still her friend. It's just that Amber here can't decide what she wants. She actually LOVES you now."

Amber shouted with a guilty look, "Casper, I've never wanted this! I love you! I never wanted to hurt you! That's why I kept running away from you, but you wouldn't leave me alone!"

Karone looked back at Amber, "Now Amber, you can't mean that, he's the enemy!"

Amber shook her head with tears in her eyes, "NO! He's not! Casper is kind and sincere! He would never hurt me!"

Karone shook her head, "Amber, you can't let your feelings get in the way of what is right. He's a murderer and so is Jade."

I shouted at her, "I never murdered anybody!!"

Jade shouted as well, "Yeah, neither have I! You're the murderer here! And ever since you became a murderer, you can't even let go of the past just this once!"

Karone angrily said to Jade, "I can do whatever I want! No one else tells me what to do! No one else but me!!"

Amber cried out, "Please...Don't kill them!"

Karone calmly said to Amber, "I'm sorry, but it's too late to back out from this. It's already too late. They all have to die."

Christa sneered, "I won't let you kill them! I wish you were NEVER my mother!"

Karone then looked at Christa, "You know something. I really loved you, and I was very proud that you became a mother. I know you have a daughter, named Suri. I know I'm a grandmother now. But since you want to destroy everything that I've worked for...Well, that means I have to kill you now."

That's when Karone roared and then she unsheathed her claws and swiped at Christa's head hard and she fell into unconsciousness.

I screamed, "NO! You bitch!" Then Jason had a gun in his hand and hit me in the head with it. Jade screamed and so did Amber.

Amber shouted, "Stop it! You're hurting him!"

Karone shouted at Amber, 'You shut up! I'm only doing what's right!" Then she looked at Jason, "Jason untie them and lets get rid of them outside."

Jade shook her head, trying to escape from her chain, "NO!" Then Jason hit her in the head hard with the gun in his hand.

I shouted at him, "Leave her alone!"

Then Jason unlocked the chain around Jade's neck and he pointed the gun at her head, "Don't try anything, understand?" Then he went to me and untied the ropes around my wrists and I got up from the chair.

Jason pointed the gun at my face, "Don't move, cause if you do, I'll kill you right now. Now I want both you and Jade to walk outside, NOW."

I looked at Jade and we both realized  we don't have a choice right now. Me and her started walking outside with Karone, Jason, and Amber close behind us.

Amber cried out once more, "Please I'm begging you, DON'T DO IT!"

Karone glared at her, "We'll talk about your behavior later." I looked back at them and Karone snarled at me, "Get moving!" Jason pointed the gun at my face again and I kept walking, until me and Jade are outside.

This is bad, this is REALLY bad.