Lethal Deception

1

 Injuries were ever so common in young Maliah's line of work, she just had to tough it out and use strong pain meds. But this particular injury was starting to make her question her very, unique job. As she walked out her front door, she pushed those thoughts away and started focusing on the medication starting to work its magic. She rubbed a hand over her chest, and sure enough her bruised and broken ribs were no longer sore to the touch.

As she pulled out the list of things she needed to buy from the nearby market, she organised them into categories, fruits, veggies and snacks. And as she approached the hustle and bustle of the market, she changed course towards the fruits section trudging carefully on the mud. She spent an appropriate time picking each fruit up, searching for the perfect fruits. She purchased those and got a bag and did that for the veggies and snacks.

beep, beep

She picks up her phone and finds out there is no notification greeting her on the page. She put it back in her pocket and picked up her burner phone she had a fresh new message,

BOSS

Same spot, 30 minutes

She put the phone back and started walking at a faster pace towards her small home that wasn't that far from the market. By no time she was at home knocking at the door.

"Hey darling, did you find everything" Her mother, Sandra had done her hair while she was gone, putting her long red locks into a beautiful crown at the top of her head. She steps into the house and closes the door behind her, gently placing the bags on the floor

"Yes, I found everything you and Royce need for the next couple of weeks" She hesitated, " I think I'm going to go on another trip, but by the time Roy gets better he'll be able to buy more food since I know how busy your schedule has been since taking those days off to look after him." She awkwardly smiled.

"When are you leaving?" she asked sceptically.

"Well-" She scrambles for a lie as she won't know until she meets her boss, Henry in a

couple minutes.

"It hasn't exactly been confirmed, I'll get the phone call in about an hour to confirm the seats on the plane".

If there was one thing she knew, it was that her missions took her all over Europe. Since she was so young and could blend in as a

16-year-old teen almost anywhere, she was a vital asset to Henry as the jobs that tended to make the most money were the ones that needed young females.

"Well, I know you don't like to tell me where you're going but-"

She already knew where this was going.

"Mama, I already told you I can't remember. I signed a contract." She said it leaving no room for questions or further lies.

Her mom slowly shook her head and slowly pulled Maliah into a hug. She melted into her mom's arms, her body urging her to say all the things she never did. Her mom thought that Maliah was a model, which is more than the total opposite of what Maliah was, or ever could be.

Maliah didn't even know how her mom believed her, she was in shape and had a beautiful toned body but she believed she didn't have the looks, or the habits to be a model. She was content with the way she looked, her body was made to keep her living, not to look perfect.

She pulled away, looking her mom in the eyes and genuinely smiling for the first time in a while, and for the second time that day she questioned her job.

She questioned the lying and barely spending any time at home just because of the additional zeroes added to her paycheck, she questioned the choice of dropping out just at 16 to help her family with money.