Book 4 | Agent 34 and the Last Gem

Chapter 3 | Mother Against Son

"Kids," She exclaimed, holding her arms out towards them. Carter tried to run to his mom, but Ben stopped him abruptly. 

"Don't," Ben stated, holding his brother back. "This isn't Mom," 

"Ben?" Sarah asked, closing her arms and her smile fading. "Ben, it's me, I finally found you guys!"

"No, this isn't you," Ben stated again, taking a slow step back. "You're one of them. You're evil,"

Sarah looked taken aback, looking around at who the kids were with. Her eyes darted to Cathy and locked on her. "You," she said, insanity creaking into her voice once again. "You corrupted my children. You made them not love me anymore!" 

She launched at Cathy, tackling her to the ground. Cathy's screams pierced their ears and Ben launched towards his mother, dropping Calvin while trying to pull her off. Cathy threw a fist into Sarah's mouth in defense, shocking Sarach at the sense of attack. This gave Ben his chance and he quickly smashed his mother's fingers which were locked on Cathy, and rolled backwards on the ground, throwing her away from the woman. 

"Run!" He shouted, grabbing Calvin  and Carter quickly as Cathy grabbed Rose. They ran as Sarah's screams followed them. 

"Bring my kids back!" Sarah cried. "You're grounded, Ben!" 

They all ignored their mother's threats as they ran from the deranged woman, all except Carter. "Why are we running from Mom?" He asked, voice quivering.

"That isn't Mom," Ben stated again, not looking back as he ran. Carter didn't take that as an answer and squirmed in his brother's arms, causing Ben to drop the kid. 

Carter turned around and ran to his mother, extending his arms outwards for a hug. Sarah stopped chasing them and lowered herself to her youngest son's height, extending her arms toward him as well.

"Carter, no!" Ben dropped Calvin, turning around and running back for his little brother. Cathy had stopped running as well, turning around to look at the commotion. By the time Ben reached Carter, he was too late. Sarah ripped the child off the ground and pulled out a knife, positioning it by his throat. "Back away," She shouted, Carter beginning to shake from fear. "I said get back!" 

Ben backed up slowly, not wanting to tempt the woman. Calvin stirred on the ground behind him, trying to gain consciousness again. Sarah eyed the grey man and recognized his face instantly. She mouthed "Calvin," and an evil grin appeared on her face.

"Give me Calvin and I won't have to punish you guys," Their mom said, tilting her head to the limp body that Calvin possessed.

No one said anything or did anything. "Did I stutter? I said I want Calvin!" Sarah stomped her foot on the dirt, a small brown cloud puffing up around her foot. 

Slowly, Calvin pushed himself off the ground and stood up. "You can have me," he murmured, pushing one foot outwards and taking an awkwardly large step towards the woman. The grey human stumbled as he made his way weakly towards her. Sarah only dropped her youngest of the three once Calvin was an arm's length away.

Sarah ripped Calvin off the ground by his collar, throwing him into the dirt quickly. She jumped on top of him and raised her knife, preparing to slice his throat quickly.

Carter scrambled and ran behind Ben, cowering in fear. Ben watched as mother pinned his friend down, preparing to end his life. He quickly huffed a quick breath in, running at her with full force. Ben rammed himself into his mother, throwing her off of Calvin's weak self.

Sarah tumbled forwards, Ben quickly hopping over Calvin and onto his mother. He struggled to hold her down, somehow managing to get the knife out of her hands. He threw it at a nearby tree, the blade embedding itself in the wood. 

"Stop it, Mom!" Ben shouted at his mother, the woman stopping her struggling slowly. She looked taken aback by her son's sudden sense of dominance. "Mom, this isn't you! You aren't the  person to hold a blade by your own son's neck and threaten to kill him! Please," Ben's voice quivered. "Be the morning I know. Be the mother who raised me,"

Sarah said nothing. She looked dumbfounded at how much Ben had matured since he last left her. He had matured because he had to, not because he wanted to. Ben had to grow stronger to help Calvin protect Rose and Carter, and obviously hadn't protected them enough if he let them get into this situation.

"Ben," Sarah said again, her voice shallow. "Benjamin. It's me. It's your mother,"

"You're not my mom!" Ben shouted. The tears sparkled in the corners of his eyes, voice trailing off. "You are not the woman who raised me from birth!" 

"It's me," she repeated. "Ben, it's your mother,"

"You're not my mother!" Ben cried again, tears falling now. He quickly reached to his waist, drawing his blade. He held it to his mother's throat, repeating his words. "You're not my mother. Don't make me do this,"

Sarah just sat there, not making another word as his cool blade sat against her throat. A sense of sanity was given to her and a single word was said that sent a chill down Ben's spine. "Benjamin,"