blogwithvalor

Everything that day had led Jacob to this moment, here. He was in the air vent of an abandoned building, looking down on his mom, who was tied to a chair in the middle of an empty room. The vent was small and cramped, but it was big enough for a child like him. Outside the room, were two guards. She’d been taken hostage by Russian spies because she was a spy herself. It was a fact he’d just learned after bringing one of her ‘drawing books’ to class for show and tell. He’d thought it was a simple notebook, but he realized after showing it off that it contained top secret plans from the Russian government.

He’d always known his mom’s job was more complicated than she let on, but now, things started clicking in his head. She would be off on work trips for days at a time, sometimes coming back with injuries she’d claim were accidents. She was constantly training in martial arts, something she’d also taught him for years. She’d also taught him to be watchful of his environment; counting people in a coffee shop, tracking who had bags, and even judging someone’s physical prowess based on their walk. It was all normal to him growing up, but once he hit school, he realized his experience was unique.

Jacob quietly popped the vent cover open and slid out. Dropping to the floor in a quiet thud in front of his mom. Her eyes went wide.

She silently mouthed to him, “What are you doing?”

Jacob pulled out the notebook he’d brought to class and held it up to her. It contained drawings and notes about this building along with plans for a bomb. She gave it a long stare, connecting the dots in her mind of how he found this place. Before she could say anything, Jacob moved to her back. He pulled out the Swiss Army knife he’d always been told to keep handy, cutting the ropes binding her hands and feet.

She turned around instantly, grabbing him in a tight embrace. He could feel her shaking. She never shook. She held his face in her hands and whispered, “I love you so much, but you shouldn’t have come. You’re here now though. So get behind the door. I’m going to draw the guards in.”

He moved to position behind the door and his mom grabbed the chair. She hit it against the ground a few times then lifted it over her shoulder as she stood next to him. The door opened and the guards ran in, looking at the empty space where the chair used to be then up at the open vent Jacob had come in through. Jacob’s mom brought the chair down hard on one of the guard’s head. The thick wooden seat making a loud thump as the edge knocked him out. He fell to the ground limp. The other guard immediately tackled her. Jacob stood in shock as his mom dropped the chair and the two of them fell to the ground. The guard landed on top and was straddling her. He started throwing punches. Her arms were up over her head and taking the brunt of the attacks, but Jacob knew she wouldn’t last long like this.

Jacob was still holding his Swiss Army knife, the blade at the ready, and ran at the guard. But the guard saw him almost immediately. Jacob swung the blade and sliced the guard’s forearm as he held it up in defense. Red blood streamed from the guard’s arm as he screamed and punched Jacob in the chest with the other. Jacob flew back onto the ground, his 12-year-old body not large enough to take such a solid hit.

Jacob’s mom saw him fall and cried out. Then she thrust her hips upward throwing the guard up and over. She grabbed one of his legs and pulled herself onto his back. She wrapped her legs around his waist and the two of them rolled onto their backs. She was still latched onto him from behind. Her arm wrapped around his neck with a speed brought about through years of training. She squeezed his neck so hard that the guard’s eyes looked like they would pop out of his head. Even after he stopped fighting back, she kept squeezing. Tears were running down her face. She finally loosened her grip as Jacob slowly stood up, holding the place in his chest that he was hit.

“Jacob, are you alright?” She gave him another tight embrace and Jacob let out an audible wince. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry. That was very brave of you, but you need to stay safe. I don’t know what I’d do if I ever lost you.”

Jacob looked at the guard slowly bleeding on the ground. He knew what she was capable of and what kind of hell she would bring down on those that might hurt him.

“I couldn’t let him hurt you either. You’re my mom. I love you.”

She smiled through more tears, then gave him a kiss on the forehead. She turned to the guards and searched their pockets. She pulled out a set of keys and a security card.

Jacob reached down to pick up his fallen Swiss Army knife and said, “There’s a garage down the hall. Only one guard in there. He was on his phone and smoking when I saw him.”

“Good boy. Stay behind me. We’re getting out of here.”

They peeked out the door into the hallway. Jacob pointed the direction to the garage and followed his mom. Jacob held the knife tightly in his hand. His mom broke the chair apart and armed herself with one of the solid wooden legs. Jacob knew that as long as they were together, they could face anything.