Cheryl Treadway and her boyfriend, Ethan Nickerson, had got into an argument whilst he was holidng a knife - and reportedly high on crystal meth.
Nickerson then took Cheryls phone away from her and allegedly threatened to kill her.
She was eventually able to convince him to let her leave to pick up her two young chidlren from school, but he accompanied her in the car and brought the knife along to keep her from running for help.
According to WFLA, Cheryl persuaded Nickerson to let her place an online order for a pizza - and, in a stroke of genius, the mother decided to ask for help in the only way she could.
The frightened mum-of-two ordered a small pepperoni pizza and included the notes "Please help. Get 911 to me," and, "911hostage help!"
The local Pizza Hut recognized her as a frequent customer and flagged the comments, contacting local police.
"We've never seen that before," said Pizza Hut manager Candy Hamilton to WFLA.
"I've been here 28 years and never, never seen nothing like that come through."
When police arrived on the scene, they escorted Cheryl and one of her young children to safety, before convincing Nickerson to come out peacefully.
The other two children were then rescued from the house, unharmed.
Nickerson has now been arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a weapon without intent to kill, battery, false imprisonment and obstructing justice by depriving communication to law enforcement.