Mavis

The target was creeping through the alley. She waited a minute and followed. Then her clothing caught on a dumpster. She winced as she almost tripped. That would have given away her position. The target couldn’t hear her approach. It glanced about and moved aside some ivy on the wall to reveal a door. She heard the faint beep of a code being entered. The target opened the door quickly and ducked inside. She heard the faint locking of the door and she crept forward. She reached the ivy and pulled it aside; the faint rustle made her heart speed up. Don’t worry about it, nobody could hear that. She reminded herself. She put her ear to the door. The cold metal froze her skin. Sadly the door was too thick for her heat scanner to pick up any signs of life. She couldn’t hear much, but from what she could hear nobody was there. She pulled out her heat scanner, and looked at the keypad. The number two had the darkest red meaning it had been scanned last and five had a lighter red meaning it was second to last. Her gaze locked on one who had a yellow and then finally eight which barely showed up on the register.

“8152” she whispered as she pushed the buttons. 

She slowly opened the door and a faint scraping of metal followed. She winced, she could not go around being this loud if she didn’t want her target and his men to notice her. She pulled the door open and slipped inside. There was a musty smell to the place, and she couldn’t see anything. It was pitch black. 

“Maybe I shouldn’t do this. I don’t really know what I am doing. I just bought some tools and decided to go, but fate is resourceful, and if I am meant to do this I will,” 

She pulled out a piece of paper. The rustle made her skin itch, but she still neatly unfolded it, the paper worn from the many times of her unfolding and refolding again. She knew she couldn’t read it. It was too dark. It didn’t matter though, she already had it memorized. 

Bring one million dollars tomorrow morning at the train station entrance by the bay, or else I will kill him. Also don’t tell anyone or else I will find you and kill you both.

She wasn’t sure what to do at first. Her son was going to be killed if she didn’t give the money, but she didn’t have that much money. At first she didn’t know who had decided to kidnap her son, but then she remembered one of her co-workers had been jealous of her skill. She had threatened to hurt her or her son, but she thought it was just an emotional outburst. Maybe  There was nothing she could do but get him back somehow. She folded the well worn paper, her determination stronger than ever. She crept up the stairs, the floorboards creaked under her weight. She stopped several times to try to better adjust herself. It was no use. The floorboards just creaked on and on. When she reached the top, she slowly peeked her head through the opening. The light was dim but there was enough that she could see shapes and figures. She couldn’t see anyone.

“Mavis,” she whispered. 

No response, she continued onward. Why hadn’t she brought a real weapon? All she had was her pocket knife. She was not prepared for this. She heard talking from down the hallway and the steady thump of footsteps. She glanced around frantically looking for anywhere to hide. There! Sitting by the pathway was a table with a table cloth draping over the sides. She dashed underneath it and held her breath. The footsteps came closer. To the point where they were walking down the path beside the table. Her heart pounded and she was sure everyone could hear her breathing.

“I’m not sure how I feel about keeping a child here,” one person said.

“Well the boss wants the money and you won’t have to worry about it. They will be gone by tomorrow,” the other one replied.

“Yeah, I guess, but it is hard to eat when you have a child sitting in the corner weeping. I don’t know why he decided to keep it in the dining room,” the first one complained.

“You could always eat out here on this beautiful table," one said as he banged his fist on the table she was hiding under. 

She let out a squeak and covered her mouth instantly. Had they heard?

“Did you hear that?” One of them asked.

“Hear what?” 

“That! Didn’t you hear it? Someone else is here.” 

Her breath quickened, and she prayed that she wouldn’t be found. She just needed to help her son. That is all she wanted.

“Oh, lay off it. There ain’t nothing here. You’re going crazy,  a good night's sleep should fix you up.” the other one replied.

“Are you sure? I can’t help but feel like someone else is here,” the other one asked.

“I’m sure of it, get on over here and let's get back to our quarters.” 

She heard the footfalls reside and she let go of her breath. She slowly crawled out from under the table. That was close. She continued cautiously down the hallway listening for any sign of a person. She reached a door that read 678. There was a trash can next to the door holding paper plates smeared with food. She slowly pulled the door open. The light blinded her compared to the dim lighting she was used to. When her gaze adjusted she saw picnic tables spread throughout the room. She realized this must be the food area the guards were talking about which meant that her son was here. She crept inside and looked for any sign of anyone. She heard the faint mumble of two people talking. She slowly stepped towards the noise.

“Why do we have to guard the stupid kid?” One complained.

“It’s our job, though I would take a break any time,” the other one admitted. 

She glanced around for anything that might help. She laid eyes upon a hat and a jacket that must be their uniform. She didn’t know this, but she hoped because she didn’t know what else to do. She grabbed it and slid it over her clothes. Then when she thought she looked ready she headed towards the voices in clear view. 

“Who is there?” One guard shouted towards her. 

“Just me. You guys can have a break. I was told to guard the kid now.” She replied in her best voice of authority.

“That doesn’t seem right,” one of the guards said.

“Oh, who cares. You were just saying how you would take a break anytime. Well here is your break, let's go enjoy it,” the other guard cried.

“Maybe… but something seems off,” the guard replied.

“Who? Cares. What. feels. OFF! It is a break. Enjoy it,” the other guard shouted.

This wasn’t good. The guard was causing a big ruckus. What if some of the other guards came?

“Alright… I’m telling ya’ though something isn’t right,”

“Yeah, yeah, I get it, come on now.”

She held her breath as the guards passed by her.

“Don’t stop, don’t stop,” She thought

Every passing second felt like an eternity. Then when she thought they would leave without stopping, they stopped.

“Oh, right, here is the key,” the guard said as he tossed her the key.

She fumbled with it and almost dropped it but managed to get a good grasp on it right before it would have fallen.

“Uh, yes right thank you,” she replied, stumbling over her words. How had this happened. Did they really think she was one of them. She didn’t care she was just glad this was working. 

The guards walked away and she waited until she could no longer hear footsteps or voices. She crept towards the corner where a little boy lay gagged with his hands and feet tied and with a lock on the chain that held him to the wall. She undid the gag and the lock.

“Mavis,” she whispered in delight, “Mavis wake up,”

His eyes jerked open, and he started to squirm until he realized who she was.

“Mama!” He cried in delight.

“Shhh, not so loud. I am going to get you out of here tonight.” She grabbed her pocket knife and started to saw away at the ropes.

Many minutes passed and by the time she had finished the ropes she was exhausted. She dragged him up and led him down the path. Out of door number 678, and down the hall. She started to go more slowly, and as she reached the stairs she picked Mavis up and carried him down slowly. She winced yet again at the creaking stairs and when she reached the bottom she let out a sigh of relief. She opened the metal door and stepped outside. She ran out of the alleyway, the cool breeze whipping against her face. She ran towards the police and showed them the note. She smiled so wide. She couldn’t help it. Mavis was safe.