Hypnosis Time Over, No Obligation to Fight Villains

Jessica missed the elevator and could only rush down the stairs, arriving on the first floor almost at the same time as it did.

The elevator doors opened, but she did not see the horrifying scene she had feared.

Hope had collapsed in Aaron's arms. There was a very obvious wound on her right arm, blood seeping through her coat. The gun had been tossed into a corner.

Mr. and Mrs. Slottman stood there in a daze, seeming not to have recovered yet.

"What exactly happened?" Jessica asked in confusion.

"We'd like to know too." Bob swallowed with difficulty.

"This must be a dream." Barbara said tremulously. "How could Hope have wanted to kill us? She's always been such a filial child."

"She was hypnotized." Aaron said gravely. "Deep hypnosis. I should have made her stay in the hotel for a full twelve hours."

"Hypnotized?" Bob said incredulously. "Hope disappeared for a month because of that? How is that possible?"

"You saw what just happened, didn't you?" Aaron said pointedly. "I'm only charging you fifty thousand for this job, but suddenly I feel like I'm taking a huge loss."

"Fifty thousand?" Jessica opened her mouth in astonishment, inexplicably feeling a pang of sadness. The money she was getting was not even one-twentieth of Aaron's.

"Don't worry about those details.

Get in the elevator. We need to go back to your... home. Hope's condition isn't suitable for a hospital right now."

"But my place isn't that safe. Maybe going to Mr. Slottman's home would be better."

"I need to treat her wound.

Besides, your home is very safe. At least, there won't be any problems for the next few days."

"You don't understand." Jessica explained incoherently. "Kilgrave, he..."

"I know what you're worried about." Aaron cut her off. "But he's injured.