Part 13

Mia couldn't believe their luck..there was only a dozen customers in the popular burger franchise..and the kids had the play area that was attached to the building completely to themselves..Usually the place was packed with kids..but the fact that they'd arrived a hour before the usual lunchtime rush may have been the reason for the quietness of the place.

"This is very child friendly." Connor commented as he stood beside the young woman as they waited for the couple in front of them to be served, watching the children playing happily through the large glass partition that separated the dining area from the play area.

Mia resisted rolling her eyes."It's supposed to be Connor..it's designed for kids..They make their money by hooking the kids in with frilly advertisements, then the kids pester their parents to bring them here." she explained.

"Ahh yes..that's right, I remember Roy telling me once about the strength of 'pester power'...A very clever marketing tactic." Connor replied.

Mia looked back over her shoulder at the children.."He's so adorable at this age..I'm going to have a lot of fun with this when he get's back to normal" she said, smiling.

"If he gets back to normal" Connor replied.

"Oh c'mon Connor..not you too, it's bad enough having Ollie being all negative about it..It'll happen..ole Bats will figure out a way eventually, you just have to be positive..and enjoy the ride while it lasts." Mia replied confidently.

Both young adults turned back the counter to order as the other couple moved away. "Two of your kids meals..."

"EVERYBODY GET TO THE BACK AND SIT DOWN ON THE FLOOR!"

Mia and Connor whirled around to see two armed men wearing balaclava's walking in the door..People screamed and began to rush towards the back of the room, one woman froze, her eyes widening in terror as she stared at the two men.

"MOVE!" one man yelled again, sending the woman scurrying to obey.

One of the men had headed into the kitchen and rounded up the staff that were there, bringing them out and marching them over to join the others.

Mia and Connor had complied with the instructions and were now sitting quietly amongst the other customers..both of them looking for an opportunity to make a move that would allow them to gain the upper hand in the situation...There was none, and they both realised any false move could result in someone being shot or killed..neither of them were willing to take that sort of risk.

The men stood together for a moment..whispering something and nodding towards the group of terrified hostages.

"You..Come with me!." One of the men said..nodding to Mia.

Mia rose and moved towards the man obediently..all the while her body tensed, looking and hoping to find the opening she needed..but with the other man's gun trained on the other people she found there was nothing she could do except comply.

The gun man marched her towards the cash registers and pulled a bag out of his pocket. "Fill it!" he ordered, keeping the gun trained on the young woman.

Mia began to comply, stealing glances towards Connor..hoping he could come up with a plan, but knowing for now there was nothing they could do but wait..and obey.

Connor breathed deeply..keeping himself calm and controlled, his senses alert for the slightest opportunity he could see..he looked towards the play area, feeling relieved that both children seemed to be oblivious to the drama happening inside.

Mia emptied the first cash register and moved to the second one..She attempted to open it, but it appeared to be locked.

"Hurry up!" the man demanded..he stepped towards her and grabbed her by the hair, pressing the gun to her head.

"I can't open it." Mia replied.

"Try again." the man snarled.

Connor's eye's widened..not at the gun that was shoved against Mia..but at the little boy who now stood watching the scene being enacted out between Mia and the second gun man..The little boy's eye's widened as he watched the man grab Mia's hair...his little face set into an angry and determined scowl as he headed through the doorway and back inside.

Connor wanted to call out to the boy..he wanted to run over and scoop him up and take him out of harms way..but all he could do was watch in horror as the child headed towards Mia and the other gun man..His horror doubled as Lian suddenly became alert to what was happening and followed the little boy.

Neither gunman was aware of what was happening..the one facing Connor had his back to the children..and the other was standing side on, concentrating on Mia..And as the children got closer Connor doubted he could see them over the top of the counter anyway.

"Get the damn thing open!" the second gunman shouted as he gave Mia's hair a vicious shake..causing her to grunt involuntarily in pain.

All of the sudden the man let out a scream, he slammed the gun in his hand down into the little red head that had attached itself firmly to the back of his leg with little teeth that seemed entirely too sharp to be human...The little boy fell to the floor momentarily before latching onto the mans calf muscle in a similar manner..at the same time as Lian rushed forward and slammed her head into the mans back..knocking the gun from his grasp..Within seconds Mia had the man face down on the floor, her knee in the centre of his back, and his arms cruelly twisted behind him. She glanced across relieved to see Connor had been able to take advantage of the distraction the childrens attack had provided and had the other gunman disarmed and secured as well.

"Are you okay Aunty Mia?" Lian asked concerned.

"I'm fine kiddo, I..oh shit.." Mia's voice trailed of as she saw the blood that trickled down the side of The little boy's face from where he had been struck with the gun.

The boy smiled broadly at Mia and patted her hair, then reached down to give the gunman a resounding slap on the back of the head. "Bad man." he declared, following through with another slap, before turning on his heel and running back towards the play area, intent on returning to his earlier game.

end part 13