Mark and Rose Cole sat in stunned silence as Jake's words washed over them, their hearts breaking with each revelation. They had never imagined that their son could be caught up in something so sinister, so dark. But as they listened to his story, they felt a fierce determination rising within them to rise to the occasion and meet the moment. They quickly realized it was an harrowing experience their son had being through alone over the past three months.
And in that moment of vulnerability, Jake found a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness that threatened to consume him. His parents rallied around him, their love and support a beacon of light in the midst of his despair. Jake's Mother, Rose Cole was particularly incensed because she felt that even in the cybercriminal world, there should be honor, a certain respect level, and maybe a code of conduct and ethics among them. She strongly believed that children and teens should be off-limits but then she thought to herself that criminals are what they are, criminals and shouldn't be trusted, especially with kids, and they hardly ever have any integrity.
Together, Jake's parents gently and subtly admonished him for his reckless actions and for battling the criminals all by himself for months. They afterward turned their fury to his tormentors and vowed to stand by Jake's side, to fight for him and with him against the shadowy forces that sought to constantly extort, bully, and destroy their teenage son's life. They knew it wouldn't be easy, that the road ahead would be fraught with obstacles and challenges. But they also knew that they couldn't let fear and shame dictate their actions. They had to confront the darkness head-on, to shine a light into the shadows and expose the truth for all to see.