That morning was different unlike the rest of the mornings. The sun shined brighter, the birds were singing, the air was crisper, and the breeze was more soothing. The sky was lit up with happiness and harmony for once in the boys' lives. They began to rekindle their friendship and grew closer than they used to be. Before they knew it they were back at the bus stop together talking like in the old days.

"So, did you see that recap of that Terrance and Phillip episode yesterday?" Cartman grinned.

"Yeah, it was fucking sweet!" Stan agreed.

"I know right, I had almost forgotten how funny it was." Kyle looked to his friends.

"Heh, leave it to the Jew to forget things." Cartman sneered.

"Hey, shut up fat boy! I don't forget things!"

"Oh really? Did you remember to bring the science project?"

Kyle sifted through his bag to prove him wrong, when something horrible happened. He couldn't find it after all. His inside eye flashed back to his house and saw it sitting on his drawer.

"Damn..."

"I knew it! Jews are useless when it comes to memory!"

"I didn't forget! I just misplaced it!" Kyle tried to cover up his mistake.

"Right, keep telling yourself that." Cartman snickered and turned to Kenny. "What about you, Kinny? Did you see that episode last night?"

"Episode?" Kenny wasn't listening as well as he should.

"The Terrance and Phillip recap." Stan explained.

"Oh...right...yeah of course I did." He looked behind him and to his sides. "Do you guys feel like we're missing something?"

"You mean besides the project?"

"Yeah...there's something missing...but I don't know what it is."

Before any of them could answer the bus's engine shuttered as it drew near. The breaks screeched as it stopped in front of them and opened its doors to the boys. Something wasn't right. Kenny tried to put the pieces together, but for some reason they didn't fit.

"Guys, do you think it would be best if we walked?"

"Dude, it takes too long." Kyle looked back at Kenny.

"Yeah, stop being such a pussy and get on." Cartman demanded. "It's not like we'll get in a wreck or something."

Kenny took his word for it and climbed on board, taking his seat by the window. This had happened before, hadn't it? Instead of resting his chin on his hand, he looked around in confusion. He knew what would happen, he would get bored and take out his Playboy magazine. Stan would be over the seat trying to take him out of reading it. Cartman would come over and threaten to cut the cover, but offer to let it go for money. Once he took out his book and flipped through the pages, at that moment Stan was flopped over the seat.

"Dude, Kenny, Mr. Garrison is gonna be pissed if he finds that you got another one of those." He warned.

He had heard this conversation before, but before he could respond Stan was gone and replaced by Cartman. He took the book and began to fold the cover page.

"Alright, I better have the money by the end of this week."

He tossed the book back and Kenny shoved it back into his bag, threw it over his shoulder, and walked up to the driver's seat.

"Excuse me, can you stop the bus?"

"Sit down!" Miss Crabtree shouted.

"I know, but I need to get off of here now!"

"Why?"

"Look, this may sound crazy, but in a few seconds this bus is going to crash head-on into a tree. I'll end up going through the windshield and the tree will crush me, killing me. Please, you gotta stop before that happens."

"I said sit down!"

Suddenly the bus swirved and Butters scream rattled his brain.

"Oh my God! We're going to crash!"

Kenny tried to get into a seat to brace himself, but the bus had already hit into the tree and he was thrown out of the glass and into the tree. He cried out in pain as the tree collapsed onto his body and for once in his life he fought to get out of it. He fought to get out of dying, but couldn't drag his own self out from under the tree. His senses went on and off, until he saw the same vision he did that day this began. In the past all he could see was a bright blue light as it moved closer and it spoke to him in a voice he didn't know. This time, the light was clearer and formed a person. It walked towards him and knelt beside him, holding out its hand for him to grab onto. He did so and clasped the mysterious angel's hand tightly, afraid that if he let go he would die again. Its face was hard to make out, but his memory reeled through the events that took place after the disaster, but when he found a match it was too late. He blacked out and the only thing he had to verify his answer was the voice. It was beautiful and pure, like freshly fallen snow on a meadow.

"I'm sorry for letting this happen. I promise you won't feel this pain again."

Kenny felt a sharp shock in his chest, but his heart refused to beat again. Muffled voices swarmed around him and again the shock rushed through his chest. Still, his heart didn't want to come to life. Maybe this will be the end? Maybe the immortality he was granted is now being taken away from him. Maybe now he'll be able to peacefully die.

"Stand back everyone. Clear!"

For the third time the jolt didn't jump start his heart and he lay dead on the floor of the classroom. He had fallen asleep, but suddenly fell out of his chair unmoving and not breathing. Cartman pushed passed the doctors and took the defibrillator from the male nurse and rubbed the two flat sides together.

"Clear!" He place the sides on Kenny's chest, but he still didn't move. Getting frustrated he rubbed them again and again, continuing his attempt to revive him. "Come on God damnit! I'm not losing you!"

Shay was kept away from the inside of the circle by Kyle and Wendy, but she jerked her arms away and rushed to him kneeling beside Kenny's dead body. His soul had slipped away for a moment, he floated in blackness, in his mind hoping that he would really die this time, in his heart hoping that something would bring him back to life. Cartman kept trying, in vain, to revive his friend with tears in his eyes.

"There is no way I'm losing you! It isn't fair! Kyle gets his friend back, why can't I have mine?" He roared.

Kyle stepped beside him and Cartman went to him, crying into his shoulder. Shay put her hand on his cheek and Kenny sensed a below freezing sensation on his face. Bittersweet thorns of ice entered his soul, bitter because of the sadness he felt for leaving his friends, sweet because he now knew what it was like to actually die for even a few minutes without going straight to bed. The voice of the angel rang in his ears and he followed the song through the dark until he saw a light at the far end. Without thinking he ran to it and was brought back into the world. He rejoiced at the wonderful feeling of his heart beating once more as it thumped rapidly in his chest. Cartman gasped and hugged him tightly, driving the breath out of him.

"God has blessed me these few days!" He cried. "Don't you ever do that again!"

Kenny had the power only to return the gesture and puffed out for air once he let him go. Mr. Garrison sighed in relief and so did the other children.

"My goodness, I would have died myself if a student died in my class." He mumbled.

He looked around him and searched for Shay.

"Where did Shay go?"

"She took off once you began breathing again. I don't know where she went." Wendy informed.

The strength returned to him and he stood up, running out of the room and soon out of the school. He called out her name a few times, but recieved no answer. The others caught up to him, but he didn't acknowledge them.

"Kenny, she'll come back." Kyle assured him.

"Yeah, she's like a puppy. No matter how much you kick it around it'll always come back to you because it loves you."

"The only difference is that I would never do such a thing to her."

"Dude, calm down."

"How can I? She saved my life!" Kenny fell to his knees, holding his head with his hands as voices screamed inside. "Where is she?!"

"Come on, let's go visit Stan. She'll be home by the time we're finished." Kyle suggested.

Cartman helped him up and they went to the hospital to see Stan sitting in the waiting room. The crutch was gone and he was no longer pale and ill-looking, but young and healthy again.

"Hey! I thought you would never come to get me!" He ran over to them.

"I thought you're parents would have." Kyle put his hands in his pockets.

"Things have been complicated at home...that's why when they did offer to take me I didn't go. I wanted to go with you guys."

Kyle and Stan hugged while Cartman supported Kenny. Stan noticed that he was looking worried beyong repair and moved his blond hair out of his eyes.

"What's wrong?"

"Shay went missing after he almost died today in class. He's really upset about it."

At once Stan's cheerful expression changed into a morbid grimace.

"Where did she go?"

"We don't know, she just disappeared."

"I see, well I'm sure she'll come back." Stan looked up at his friends and smiled. "In the meantime, why don't we go see a movie?"

"Kick ass!" Cartman pumped his fist into the air.

They walked to the theaters and bought their tickets, taking their seats when Kenny began looking around. Kyle put his hand on his arm and gave him a tender look, settling him for a moment before the movie started. Everyone laughed except for Kenny as he was busy trying to ignore the strange whispers that were wrapping around him. No one but him seemed to be hearing them and they always said the same thing. "Where are you? I can't see you". Eric and Kyle argued about whos candy was whos, Stan chose for them, and everything was perfect. The voices became stronger and more scared, disturbing Kenny extremely causing him to run out of the theaters and call out to the sky.

"Why won't you leave me alone? What do you want from me?"

"Kenny? Are you okay?"

He whipped around rapidly, but only saw his friends standing at the entrance. They had noticed his behavior and were concerned about whether or not he really was as alright as he said he was.

"I'm fine. I think I'll head home a little early."

"Really? But the movie is almost over." Stan said sadly.

"I know, to be honest I haven't been feeling well since today's incident."

"Oh okay then, we'll see you in class tomorrow, Kenny."

"Bye Kenny."

"See you later, Kinny."

They didn't go back inside until he was gone into the mist. He didn't run until he knew he was out of their sight. He sprinted full speed home and knew that something was up, and it wasn't good. His parents were surprised to see him come into the house so quick and expressed their astonishment.

"Hey Kenny, you sure are home early." Stuart said.

"Sorry, I can't talk right now." He said quickly and went straight to his room, slamming the door once he was inside.

"Mom, what's wrong with Kenny?" Karen asked.

"I don't know, but it must be something urgent." Carol responded.

Kenny threw open his closet doors and ripped his top drawer out, putting it on his bed and taking out the clothes that were within it. During the years he had grown out of his original costume and had to go in search for more fitting suits. He pulled the purple cowl over his head and the black mask down his face, becoming the iconic Mysterion that the town knew so well. He opened the window and crawled through it, landing on his feet and taking off into the gloom. Mysterion (as we will call Kenny for the time being) didn't know where he was going, but knew he had to follow the voices he hears in his head. The grew louder when he was getting closer, but also quieter when he drew away. This made the job more difficult as he had to search all over town to find where they were coming from until they led him to an abandoned junk yard. Mysterion climbed onto some old cars and flew acrossed the night sky to search for what was going on until he found a fire in the middle of a circle of junk with five shadows around it. He crouched against a car to listen in on the conversation they were having and couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"That devil kid better give us extra for getting rid of the little shit." One growled aggressively.

"That is if he doesn't have our heads for it first." Another hissed.

"Cool it, even if he doesn't kill us there is a little to no chance we'll get praise for it." Another sighed.

"The only reason we did this was for the money anyways." The fourth shrugged.

The first shade walked over to a smaller shape and lifted its head up.

"You seem to be worth something important to that spoiled brat. Personally, if it were up to me, you wouldn't be alive right now."

"How do you know our target will come to her rescue right away?" The third questioned.

"It's easy, he said that they have a "special connection" with each other." The fourth answered.

"Isn't that sweet, an immortal phoenix and an angelic maiden. What could possibly be better?"

"Shh, you hear that? Someone's here." The second one snapped.

Mysterion lept from his hiding place and looked up at the four kidnappers with harsh blue eyes.

"And what exactly are you doing with her?" He demanded in a gruff voice.

"Oh shit! It's Mysterion!" They whispered.

The leader smirked at him.

"We were just waiting for the Son of Satan to get here to deal with this little prize." He grabbed Shay's hair and forced her head up to face Mysterion. "Look, someone's here to save you."

For a little while she was confused at who it was, but recognized the glimmer of protectivness in his eyes. He stood up and balled up his fists, ready for a fight if needed. Three of the kidnappers laughed at him and took out switchblades from their pockets.

"But I guess we'll have to take care of you first." They crept forward to him, the knives winking harshly in the fire light.

"Wait, I think I know how to handle this." The leader let Shay's hair go and kicked her to the ground. "If you surrender to us, we'll give you the girl."

Mysterion stood his ground and stared defiantly at the leader.

"Or what?"

"Or I'll slit her pretty little throat and kill you as you watch her bleed out on the ground." He held his own blade to her neck.

He was pinned between a rock and a hard place, no way he could get out of this and keep her alive. There was only one choice he could make.

"If that's the way it has to go, then I accept."

"Good," He picked Shay up and pushed her, "get on now, go!"

She looked to Mysterion and took small steps when she saw a black shadown looming behind him.

"Behind you!"

Mysterion dodged the blade that was aimed for his ribs and took the attacker by surprise, flipping him over his back and knocking the wind out of him as he hit the ground. He lunged at the next and punched his face several times. The enemy tried to fight back, but Mysterion gave him a hard kick to the crotch and elbowed the back of his head. The last one nicked him once on the arm and he gave him a tornado kick to the face to finish him off. The leader panicked for a short moment and stuck his knife into Shay's side, drawing it out and allowing the blood to run freely from the wound.

"Shay!" He shouted and ran to her side.

"So you are the undying boy he spoke about." The leader panted.

"You bastard." Mysterion didn't look up at him.

"What are you going to do about it?"

Mysterion threw a firework from his belt and picked up Shay in his arms, vanishing into the night. He was careful when they reached his home and put lept through the window, laying her down on the bed after recovering and putting his hand on her cheek.

"You are safe now, Shay. Nobody will ever hurt you again, I promise." He whispered.

"You're the guardian angel Karen speaks about so much, right?" She spoke in a grave tone.

"I am, but that doesn't mean an angel cannot watch over another. She looks up to you as much as she does me."

"I don't mean to be a burden."

He took her hand in his and held it firmly. "You have to stay strong. For Karen, for Kenny."

Shay took her free hand and gently lifted the mask, revealing Kenny's relaxed face. He bent over to her touch and she lightly kissed his cheek. With that her head rested on the pillow and she was asleep, like a candle whose flame had been blown out. Kenny changed back into his orange parka, but before he too fell prey to slumber he noticed something odd. The wound on her side popped and steamed slightly with blue fog. He cautiously looked under her jacket at the injury to see frost and ice snapping with coldness, seeping into the puncture gash and sealing it so that it no longer bled. It matched the color of her skin and sizzled no more once complete. He recalled one of the kidnappers words that was said. They had a connection. That is why only he could hear Shay's cries for help. That is why only he could help her and why only she can save him from what was going to happen.