I was pushed hard into the stairs as my mom flew next to me. There was an ache in my ribs, probably a crack, but I used my strength to call the police. As I explained what happened, I felt my mom’s chest. There was no pulse. I started to worry. I heard sirens coming from everywhere. It was all over in a flash as people surrounded my mom and I. They put us in an ambulance and drove us away. As I watched our house grow smaller as we drove farther, I noticed not much was destroyed; it was just the front entrance. Then I looked over to my mom. The EMT’s saved my mom and she was breathing again. It was a miracle. I felt a tear drop from my eye as I thanked them. I looked away and frowned. This would have never happened if it weren’t for that stupid pin. At first, it was an honor, but when I learned about the women who had fought for it, it made everything worse. Someone found the same exact website as I did. I know who it was. Reed Noting. I have no idea who he was but he was on of those people who wanted the pin so bad he would explode my house to get it.
Once we got to the hospital, my dad got there too. He rushed over to me.
“Oh, sweetie, are you OK?” I nodded and smiled.
“I’m fine.” He grinned and looked over at my unconscious mother.
“Is she alive?” I put on a straight face and nodded. He sighed in relief.
After two days in the hospital, the doctor said I was ready to go home. Mom wasn’t. As Dad and I left I took one last look at Mom. She was asleep, in her own room, with interns surrounding her. I looked away, took my Dad’s hand, and walked away. In the car, I pulled the pin out of my pocket. My Dad eyed it. He asked me why I was looking at it if it was the reason mom wasn’t here with us. I had to respond.
“Because, it’s my turn to fight for it, mom’s time is over. I’m not even a teenager yet and I may have to fight for it.” I know he was trying to understand, but you really can’t when you’re a man, and you aren’t part of the family. He just rubbed my back. As we got home, he remembered, we can’t actually stay. He got us a hotel suite in the center of town. I still had to pack. He said we were estimated to stay in the hotel for a full month. I guess the fire marshal told him that. I don’t think I want to stay in a hotel for a month. I know Josh will hate it. We’re close friends, no matter how annoying he can be. I tucked the pin away and looked out the window.
“What are we going to do about Reed Noting?” I asked my Dad.
“Well, we’re in a hotel, so the Internet stinks, which means research will be rough. I saw the towering hotel from two miles away. It was amazing to look at. We parked, and I grabbed my suitcase from the trunk. My neck stretched as I looked straight up at it. Then, gunshots fired. I turned and took cover behind my dad’s tiny green Prius. They were right towards me. Reed was back. I touched the pin but remembered what my mother told me, if you touch it, someone will know it’s there. I whispered to my dad, which is hard when there’s gunfire.
“C’mon, let’s crawl inside and hide again.” He nodded as we slowly crept away. We stood upright as soon as the door was shut. We ran behind the receptionist’s desk and crouched down.
“Excuse me sir, what are you doing?” My dad was gasping from crawling so much.
“Call the police, those gunshots are towards us.” She immediately picked up her phone. I overheard her conversation as she handed us out room key and told us to take the stairs. We ran up there, twelve stories, until we were at the top. We found our room, ran inside, and locked the door. I called reception.
“Hey again, I’m the little girl who just ran from Reed Noting. Again Reed Noting. I have no clue what he looks like “ She gave me a speedy response.
“The police are here, they got him. Well, not really.”
“What do you mean?” I asked suspiciously.
“He ran into the elevator as they got into the door. The elevator door shut. He’s alone, armed and coming your way.”
