Everything Wendy posted on her social media was, apart from posts in line with her political views, quotes about second chances and trust, photos of her and Gregory—romantic crap. It didn't bother Bebe, she was happy for her. Well, in fact, it made her jealous too. She had been totally wrong about Henry. He was cute, yes, and travelled a lot, but that was all about it. It seemed all of his money came from his mommy dear and so she had him grabbed by the balls. When they were not attending a concert, visiting some landmark or making out, and actually had the chance to talk, there was nothing minimally interesting he could say. He knew nothing about the world outside of Twitter and Netflix. And was her increasing disgust of him what was making his voice sound annoying or did he always talk like that and her ears were clouded by the attraction? That jerk didn't even ask her about the kidnappings or offered her protection. The big asshole.

More and more she found herself fantasizing about the masked guy who saved her from the woodland critters. Too bad that his face was hidden behind a helmet. His voice sounded very manly. The care with which he took care of her...Oh, what was his name, even? If only she could know! Even a masked flying guy she knew nothing about was better than that guy.

Bebe thought she knew how to escape.

"Excuse me, I have to go to the toilet for a second."

"Sure, babe, you want another drink?"

"No, thanks, I'm actually more hungry than I'm thirsty."

"I'll order some chips or something, then."

Sure, sure, whatever. Good thing he didn't notice what grabbing her purse meant.

The club was packed at that hour, it was hard to make her way out. She had the feeling that she spilled a couple of drinks and elbowed a few people, but she couldn't help it.

But there was something not accidental at all: that big hand grabbing her wrist. And, immediately after that, an arm chocked her, forcing her towards a different direction.

"Hey! You! Leave me alone! Let me go!"

No one could hear her with the music so loud.

She tried to turn around to see what was happening, who was dragging her. She could only see a strong chin under a dark hood. Wait, there was someone else. Also in a hood, pushing her—touching her butt in the process. Did no one find those clothes suspicious, considering how hot the weather was?

"HELP!"

But no one heard her, or just plain ignored her.

However, someone did see her.

Jimmy had been lucky that night, getting the attention of a lovely ginger with glasses—Sherry, her name was. She danced very well and very close, tracing his chin strap beard with her finger. Jimmy had to make an effort to control himself. He closed his eyes, biting his under lip, feeling Sherry's hips in his hands. When he opened them, the first thing he saw was a familiar face, from Elementary, being dragged by two individuals, not very far from where he was—from her face he saw that it was not part of a racy game. He regretted having to leave his prize, but he was kind enough to write his phone number in her arm before leaving, adding a short note telling her it was a pleasure. With a great speed, he crossed the space and dodged the other clients.

"Come on, keep going, bitch!" the shortest man had opened one of the back doors of a black car.

"Your mom's a bitch, you asshole!" Bebe fought, so suddenly and with such ferocity that the biggest stopped. "I've had enough with all of this assault crap!"

She kicked her kidnapper in the gonads, so the other couldn't help releasing her, howling in pain.

"Catch her, stupid!" the other commanded.

But Bebe punched him in the face and the pain gave her the chance to go back to the door, right when it opened and Jimmy appeared.

"Jimmy!" she cried.

"HEY!" Jimmy confronted the attackers.

"I'm gonna call the doormen!" Bebe told him, running back inside the disco.

"Well, look who's here...It had to be you..."

The biggest kidnapper was running to the copilot seat. As for his partner, he grabbed a shotgun from under his seat and fired. Jimmy was quick enough to dodge it. The other didn't wait to see if he had missed, he immediately got into the car and drove away at an imprudent speed in such a little town. Jimmy ran to position himself in front of it, but that guy didn't hesitate and tried to run him over. Once again, Jimmy's speed saved him.

He decided to follow them and catch them where there wouldn't be any people in danger, making his atoms vibrate fast in order to go unnoticed. Being an attempt of kidnapping, there had to be more people implied, he thought.

The pair didn't reduce the speed until they reached the old Denkins farm. They stopped there and walked out of the car.

"How could she escape, Mimsy? Huh?"

The driver removed his hood. Jimmy confirmed his suspicions about that voice sounding familiar to him: it was no other than Nathan, that Down syndrome guy who used to bother him as a child.

"Well, boss, she kicked me in the nuts. It hurt!" the other removed his hood too. Of course, that was Mimsy. While Nathan hadn't grown up much height-wise, he had become quite a bull.

"I'd love to kick you in the nuts too...What are we going to say to the boss?"

"Oh, did something happen, boys?"

Someone approached, someone the pair seemed to expect to show up later. Jimmy didn't expect him at all, that's why he didn't make himself visible to confront them. Honestly, he was too shocked to act as an avenger.

What the heck was he doing there, with those two?

"The girl escaped!" Mimsy replied.

"Shut up, Mimsy. Let me speak." Nathan took a step forward. "Yes, she was wary. And Jimmy Fucking Valmer showed up in the last minute, so we couldn't catch her."

"Yes, perhaps we were too impatient, not letting too much space between the attacks...Well, you can't win them all, but you two did a great job. Here is what I promised you."

Nathan counted the dollar bills he was given as soon as they were handed to him, with the speed and accuracy of someone used to count money.

"Next time we won't fail."

"Good to know. I trust you two."

A pause. Mimsy, who seemed to be part of the background, looked stupidily at the sky filled with stars.

"I thought you were kidding when you told us those guys were different now. It was quite a suprise." Nathan raised an eyebrow behind his big glasses.

"That's why I told you to be careful. Jimmy...He didn't follow you, did he?"

"I shot at him."

"...Right...Well, that is all for today, gentlemen. I will contact you when time is right. Good night."

The third person walked away, heading towards the town. Nathan and Mimsy remained there for a little while before heading to the car.

"I thought the casino was fine, boss. Now we are hitmen too?"

A loud slap broke the peaceful silence.

"Shut up, Mimsyyyy!"

The car disappeared in the dark of the night. Just in case, Jimmy waited a bit to make himself visible again.

He quickly grabbed his phone. He had to tell Wendy, she would contact the others much quicker than if he called them one by one. He hoped she or the others would believe him.

A soft engine sound made him turn around, ready to use his crutches to break someone's head.

"S-Shit, Timmy! You scared me! What are you doing here at this time?! Well, look, listen, you wouldn't believe what I just saw! Butters was not behind everything that has been ha-happening after all! There's more people! People we know! They kn-kn-know about our powers! But that's not all: this guy's been pay-pay-pay-pay-paying Nathan and Mimsy to kidnap Bebe!"

Timmy frowned—at least that was what Jimmy thought, because it was very dark in there.

"What the hell does he ha-have against Bebe? And...I don't know, maybe he has something to do with the opening of the po-portal? My head's gonna blow, man, and the Martini has nothing to do with it! Come on, now that you're here, why don't you send everybody a mental message to warn them? I can go back to the disco to che-check on Bebe."

["Jimmy..."]

"Yeah?"

[...Why couldn't you mind your own business?"]

Jimmy felt as if his head had been plunged into freezing water. He tried to take a step, one single step, but the muscles of his legs, of his whole body, didn't respond. He could only look at Timmy before emptiness swallowed him.