Secrets We Keep

Prologue.

Black, gold and silver masks. Nobody can recognize me at all... right?

I glance at the analogue clock on the right side of the ballroom, 11:09 PM is shown in big, bold numbers. I adjust my silver mask, which matches my flowing silver gown and gloves. I can't be recognized. Not unless I want to be-

"Lorrie...?"

I freeze at the familiar voice. I turn my head to face him. To face Malachi. To face my partner in crime. To face the man who got me pregnant... and left me. "What the hell do you want?" I say in a whisper as I adjust my mask once again. No matter how startled I may be, I can't be recognized.

His hand finds my cheek and brushes it softly. I hate to admit it but his touch is magnetic. I look down at the marble floors, remove his hand from my face and walk away. "Go back to your post, Malachi."

He steps back with a dramatic gasp. "Malachi...? Ouch. You never call me by my full name, what are we, strangers?" I roll my eyes at his dramatics.

What a waste of time... I think to myself as I walk back to my post. I mustn't get distracted. I stand at my post, after all, my only duty here is to take the diamond from the safe, leave before the midnight dance, and not get caught. Easy.

I watch and wait at my post, eyeing the crowd of arrogant, rich people dressed in glamorous, fancy ball gowns. "For a party of unknown identity, these people dress up way too much." I whisper to myself.

"I know... these people have too much money, they should donate to those who need it... like us!" Malachi whispers back at me. I stare at him with annoyance and grab him by his sleeve.

"I said that you should stay at your post... STAY AT YOUR POST."

I release his sleeve and give him a state of warning. I give him a sharp look and point back at his post—the corner across from me. "Stay. There. Or do you need me to show you where to go?" I drag him by his tie and fling him to his post. For a pregnant lady, my strength is unmatched. "And stay."

I walk back to my post for the third time. For a woman, degrading a man who happens to be OLDER than me, is a weird feeling. I can't tell if it's power I feel or it's just annoyance. But anyway, Malachi doesn't matter, the diamond is all that matters. My identity is all that matters.

"The diamond!" I shriek to myself, drawing the attention of a few people. I cover my shock with a smile and once their prying eyes turn away, I look for it. "Where did it go..?! Where is it? I'm dead. I'm a dead woman." I breathe and try to relax, after all, it's not the baby's fault I lost the diamond, they shouldn't suffer for my mishap.

I rummage through my bag and look for my walkie-talkie, my only communication with the rest of my team. "Hey, Will? Are you there?" I whisper to the walkie. I glance at Malachi and point at him to come here.

"What is it..? And where the hell is the diamond-"

"Will...? Answer the fucking intercom!" I quietly yell, hoping nobody is drawn to me, or the missing diamond.

I look helplessly at Malachi, who stares at me with confusion. I don't blame the guy, one second the diamond was behind me, in its safe, and now, it's gone? I'd be just as confused.

"Lorrie. What's the matter with you?! Do you have the diamond with you? Are you on your way back to the base?" Will yells with his normal low, raspy voice. "Do you?!"

I bite my lip nervously and think of an answer to tell him. Either I tell him, and I die, or I lie and I die. The options aren't very broad. "Uhm, well, funny enough... we lost the diamond." I reply, anxiety taking over. Well... this is the end of me, I suppose. I think to myself.

"YOU WHAT?!" Will screams through the walkie-talkie. "Leave the masquerade. Come to the base. IMMEDIATELY." He leaves the intercom.

I hold the walkie in my hand, looking down at the floor. "Hey... it's okay-" Malachi says, placing his hand on my shoulder.

I yank his hand off my shoulder. "No, it's not. You might be used to disappointing Will but I'm not, okay. Just... stay here. I need to go back to base." I grab my bag and adjust my mask. I may have lost the diamond, but at least I wasn't recognized.

❀

"Lorelai." Will calls on the other side of the room. I remove my mask and gloves and place them on the entry counter. Anxiously, I walk towards him.

"Will, I-"

"Where's the diamond?" He asks, talking over me. I quickly remembered that my words are meaningless to him, I'm just a pawn in a bigger game. I'm replaceable.

I look up at him with a sigh. "Will, I don't know. I was standing at my post, Malachi... We were standing at our posts, I stopped watching it for one second and-"

"You stopped watching it? Why did you stop watching it? In that one second someone, ANYONE would and could take it! It's a fucking diamond, Lorrie!"

I look at the ground. I can't look up at him– not while he's yelling at me. I can take the lectures, but I won't let him see me cry. Not again.

"...sorry," I whisper. "I won't lose another gem again."

He laughs.

"What makes you think that I'm going to send you out on another mission? Another task? That's one thing I've always liked about you, Lorrie... your humor. Too bad your humor won't get me back the diamond." He says walking towards me, his hand now caressing my cheek. He yanks me forward, his face inches away from mine. "You're a pretty one Lorelei, you know that, right?" He leans in to kiss me, our lips inching closer and closer, but then there's nothing. He grabs my badge from my sleeve and throws me down on the floor, staring at me. I clutch my stomach, praying that my baby is okay.

"You monster!" I yell at him, my hand not leaving my belly, as I get up and slap him in the face with all the might that I have.

"Me? A monster?! I gave you this job when you practically begged for it!" Will snaps back, slapping me harder than I did him. "Ungrateful bitch."

I feel my face, cuts and bruises on my cheek, arms, and lips. Nothing new.

"...oh and Lorrie. You're fired. You better hide somewhere I won't find you because if I find you... you will pay.