Layla The Spy

By Faye Carlisle

Layla has lived most of her life in The Compound, an island refugee camp. Every year two refugees are allowed to leave for government jobs in Mayland.

Layla leaves the compound with Raf, one of the popular boys at school. However, things are not as they seem. Layla and Raf soon find out they are expected to go back to their homeland, Hanan, as spies.

Raf likes Layla but it's not so easy when he is supposed to be her brother.

Then the president's son Zayd takes an interest in Layla and things get really complicated.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Faye Carlisle
• Release date: Aug 31, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215154731

Book preview

Chapter 1

I nibble at my toast as my mother pours me some orange juice. I look at her, but she can’t meet my eyes. My father is reading the bulletin, pretending he doesn’t care. There’s still no envelope on the doormat. The orange juice is vinegar in my mouth. Today I find out if I’ve passed the tests, whether I’m the one girl that gets to leave the compound this year.

My mother looks unusually tired today as she moves around the kitchen, busying herself. Typically, I would help her, but I know she doesn’t want me to. I head to my bedroom to get my books ready for school. Pulling my bag out from under my bed, I hear my parents whispering but can’t make out what they’re saying even though my bedroom is just off the kitchen. Our apartment is tiny; two bedrooms and a kitchen. We got lucky. We were one of the first families to arrive here. One of the first families to be confined when no one else would have us.

I put my History homework in my bag and pull on my thin cotton jacket. I look in the mirror and shrug at the reflection. Tufts of dark brown refuse to behave, and there are dark circles under my eyes from a restless night. A mass of freckles like a crop of mushrooms has developed beneath my eyes, which is unusual for Hanans. Most people have dark olive skin. My mother says I take after my grandmother who I’ve only seen in one old photo. It looks like it’s going to be another hot day, so I apply some sun cream to protect my fair skin. I try to slip out but my mother, in an uncharacteristic display of emotion, pulls me towards her for a hug. When I close the front door behind me, I inhale a lungful of damp air and run down the three flights of concrete steps. On the corner between the blocks, I can see my friend Iona leaning against the wall. 

Did you get a letter yet? she calls from across the street.

I shake my head and move closer. No, what about you?

Iona kicks a stone across the street and follows it with her eyes. No, but I haven’t got a chance anyway.

Iona is often sick, and they’re not willing to consider anyone with less than pristine attendance. I change the subject. Come on, let’s see if we can get some manacakes before everyone else gets there.

Iona smiles and links arms with me. Manacakes, a kind of sugared bread, are a treat; saved only for special days in the year. We get to the school van, and there are already a few kids waiting. The talk is of who will be chosen. I hear my name before they notice me.

Layla is sure to be chosen, Zaki says.

I’m not sure about that’ I reply.

Zaki swings round. Oh. Didn’t see you there Layla but you know it’s true.

I swallow. What happens if I’m not.

You’ll just be like the rest of us then. Stuck here forever.

Staying at the compound feels both claustrophobic and comforting at the same time. I wouldn’t have to leave my parents or friends. I’d farm the land like my parents and everyone else. Maybe I would marry, but I wouldn’t be allowed to have children. Perhaps that’s a good thing. But I’d be always under guard. And if I left? I felt a bubbling sensation in my stomach. I didn’t want to think about it unless it was a reality. Stuck here with my family and friends, I say. It’s not so bad.

I take two portions of sugared bread off the van lady and sit down on a wall. Not feeling hungry, I pass most of my share to Iona. I think I’d miss you too much if I left.

Iona frowns. Don’t be a fool. If you get that ticket, you need to take it. 

I shrug. I don’t know why we’re even talking about this. Let’s leave it until we all know.

In the morning, we have Maths, and I absorb myself in algebra. Working through the figures helps me forget the letter almost. At break, I find a corner with Iona, and we chat about other things. But I can’t help but look at Firshan and Zara. The girls who might get to leave instead of me. I know I’m better at the academic stuff, but I wonder whether they did better on the psychological tests. 

Mrs Peterson discusses the History of the conflict between the Hanan sects. You can tell that she disagrees with Ira’s dominance over the Sofis. Her sympathies are with us. The displaced Sofis who have nowhere to go. I hand in my History homework, and she smiles at me. At the end of the lesson, she pulls me aside quietly. Have you heard yet?

No, I reply, looking down. 

She pats me on the shoulder. I’m betting on you.

I’m not sure what to say, so I mumble, Thanks. I didn’t realise so many people thought I would be chosen.

After school, I want to rush home, but I wait for Iona as I usually do. I tap my foot against the wall as Iona rearranges books in her locker.

Iona shuts the door with a slam. I hate Iras.

I nod my head. Mum and dad say they would have killed us if we hadn’t fled.

Iona’s eyes flit up to my face. You know if you get out of here, you could do something.

Maybe, I say.

You must, she says, grabbing my arm.

We walk along in silence for a while.

You know even if I was chosen, it’s not easy to bring down a regime single-handedly.

She grins. I know.

That’s the good thing about Iona, she’s always encouraging but not too intense about things. I’m the serious one. 

It doesn’t take us long to get home because I’m walking faster than usual. 

Call round as soon as you know, she says.

Okay, I reply, taking two steps at a time up to my apartment.

I put my key in the lock and push the door open. There’s an envelope on the worn, brown mat. I place it on the table, debating whether to wait for my parents to get home from the fields. I get a glass from the cupboard and fill it with water. Slowly sipping my drink, I stare at the envelope until I can wait no longer. With a deep breath, I open and unfold the letter.

Dear Layla Myson,

You have the honour of being awarded a place at our government training academy. You will be escorted from the Hanan compound to the mainland with one other student on August 14th.  Please meet us with your belongings at the headquarters at 11 am. You may only return every six months to the compound to see your family. 

Yours sincerely,

John Myson

Head of Hanan Operations

I carry the letter to the window and reread it. My stomach somersaults. Looking at the blue sky, I feel like I could float upwards. I’ll have the same freedoms as the people I’ve seen on the TV. My parents will be proud, but if I leave, I will hardly see them. Pacing around the apartment, I read the letter again and leave it on the table for my parents to see. I get my key. It’s time to tell Iona.

I walk to Iona’s apartment, which is only one block away and looks almost identical to mine. I pass the kids playing with their balls and hoops on the street. A ball comes to my feet, and I kick it back to them with a smile.

As soon as she sees me, Iona knows. I knew you’d do it, she says, hugging me.

I’m glad you did, I reply. 

I’m going to miss you, she says, holding my hand. 

I squeeze her hand tightly back. You’ve got other people. And Havi.

She skips up to sit on the wall. Yes, I’ve got Havi, but that doesn’t mean I won’t miss you.

Havi is a boy in our class, and Iona has been into him for ages, but they’ve only recently started going out. It means I won’t feel quite so guilty about leaving.

I wonder which boy they’ve chosen, I say.

Iona stroked her chin. I reckon it will be Raf, Abir or Mo. I guess you’ll end up getting pretty cosy with whichever one it is. If my money was on it, then I’d go for Raf.

I fold my arms.  I don’t think leaving with one of them will make us automatic friends.  I picture Raf in my mind. He has dark hair and green eyes and the girls are always whispering about him. He’s also my main competition in tests. Sometimes I beat him, sometimes he beats me but where he outshines me is poetry. 

Iona touches my arm gently. Whoever it is, you’re going to be travelling with them to the mainland, and he’ll be the only one you know from here. That means something.

I massage my temples. I suppose so. The enormity of what I am going to do hits me, and I swallow hard.

Just be friendly, Iona says.

What do you mean, be friendly? I ask.

You know. Just be open.

I am open, I reply.

With me Layla, but we both know you’re a bit closed to other people.

I’m not.

When was the last time you hung out at the rec?

I shrug. It just seems like a waste of time.

Iona spreads her hands out in front of her. Exactly.

I grin. Okay point taken.

When I get home, mum and dad hug me, and then we start making arrangements. It seems more comfortable that way. That night mum comes into my bedroom and strokes my hair like she did when I was younger. 

I’ll miss you, she says.

And I’ll miss you too, I choke.

But this is a great thing, she says. You’ve got a chance to make a life for yourself out there.

I know, I reply. It’s just that I don’t want to leave you behind.

Your dad and I have each other. Don’t worry about us.

It will be six months before I can come back.

She kisses my forehead. ‘You’ll be learning so many new things it will fly by. Now go to sleep.’

After my mum leaves the room, I lie in bed trying to imagine the future, but I don’t have much to grasp on to. 

That night I have a dream about getting on a boat to the mainland, but as we leave, it gets stuck on the rocks. The captain tells me we have to go back and that it’s my fault because my grades weren’t high enough. I argue with the Captain that it can’t be my fault and that I must go. Tears run down my face as I tell him how disappointed my parents will be if I don’t go. Then Raf turns up smiling and says, ‘Leave it to me." They have a conversation, and before I know it, we’re being guided onto the boat by the Captain.

Chapter 2

It’s the last day of school. There’s going to be an assembly, and I know I’ll have to get up on the stage and give a speech. It’s what’s expected. I replay the words that past students have said in my mind looking for inspiration.

At school, everyone stares at me as I walk in. They’ve heard it’s me that’s been chosen. 

Iona grabs me by the arm, Guess what?

What? I ask.

Raf is going with you. 

You thought it’d be him, I say, heat burning my cheeks.

He’s so hot, and you’re leaving with him, Iona grins. 

I wince. I don’t think leaving the compound with someone is something to get worked up about.

You never know what might happen.

I roll my eyes. I don’t think I’m his type anyway.

I wouldn’t be so sure, Iona says. Look who’s coming this way.

I turn to find Raf walking in my direction. His collar is turned up, and his bag is slung over his back. 

Hi Layla, he says. Looks like we’ve got a pass out of here.

Yes, it feels strange.

It’s a lot to take in, but I always knew you’d be chosen, he replies.

I shuffle my feet. Thanks. 

I thought we could have a chat before we go, he says.

Sure, when do you want to meet? I ask.

How about after school today? 

No problem. I’ll see you outside.

I watch Raf walk away, and then I look at Iona. 

Iona arches an eyebrow. I told you a lot can happen.

We have one lesson this morning, a tutorial and then assembly. In English, we’re finishing off work on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. My favourite part is that Viola disguises herself as a man, and this gives her the freedom to make a new life. Her only downfall is that she falls in love with the Duke and marries him. When Mrs Matthews asks us to write an alternative ending, my Viola travels the world instead.

After the lesson, I’m told to go and see the headmistress. Mrs Carmichael gushes as she tells me how pleased she is that I’ve been chosen and that I need to grab hold of the opportunity. Then she informs me that I need to write a speech for the assembly and dismisses me. I walk back to the tutorial room and sit at the back, trying to think what I’m going to say.

Some of the previous students who’ve been chosen have been smug, and I want to avoid that. What I want to say is that I’ll do my best to change things for everyone, not just myself but I don’t even know whether that’s possible. 

The assembly follows the tutorial, and I find myself sitting at the front next to Raf. He smiles at me sympathetically. We clap through a long list of students receiving awards for everything from academic subjects to sport. Raf and I don’t win anything. That’s because we have already achieved the highest prize in everyone’s eyes. 

Finally, our names are called, and Mrs Carmichael talks about our achievements and why she thinks we’ve been chosen. I stand up with Raf and walk up to the front as people clap. Raf speaks first. He recalls his first day at school and how he was looked after by his first teacher, Mrs Bugle and how throughout his time here he’s felt cared for and nurtured. He promises to repay their investment by helping others in the future. Mrs Bugle wipes a tear from her eye. This is why Raf is so popular; he knows what to say. My speech is much shorter than Raf’s. I mumble thanks to all my teachers and how I will make the most of the opportunities given to me. Then I say that I will do my best to change things for the better outside the compound for all of us. People clap at the end of my speech, but it is a stilted, awkward clapping.

School breaks up at midday today but most of the students in my year will have to start work immediately around the compound. Iona has got a job in the local shop. If I’d stayed, I would have been picking vegetables like my parents. 

Raf meets me outside school at the oak tree. He suggests we walk towards the far fence. That’s where we’re most away from people. 

So how does it feel to be leaving? Raf asks.

Strange, I answer. Like I’m free. But also sad. Sad to be leaving my family and friends.

It’s kind of the same for me, maybe not as sad to be leaving my family. You know I’ve only my aunt here, and I’m not sure she cares whether I stay or go.

I chew my lip, not knowing what to say. I’m sorry.

Don’t be sorry, I’m used to it. My aunt brought me here after my parents died. She’s tried her best, but she’s got her own problems.

I can’t imagine what it would be like to not have parents who loved me. Sometimes it feels they care too much.  I fold my arms. I feel guilty about leaving my parents. Guilty about being chosen.

Yeah. It feels wrong that we’re the only ones able to leave while everyone else is stuck here.

We finally reach the perimeter fence. It didn’t take long. It’s not like the compound is that big. It houses about five thousand people in one square mile.

We sit on a large rock and stare out through the wire. Tomorrow I leave, and I will be beyond that fence, where the grass and trees seem to go on endlessly. The sky is dark and cloudy today, but the air is hot and humid.

Have you packed your things? I ask.

Raf arches an eyebrow. I’ve not got much to pack.

Me neither. I pause. Do you think they’ll give us clothes and things where we’re going?

I guess we’ll be earning money and can buy our own things.

I heard that they’re going to train us for a government job.

Raf nods. Yeah, I heard that too.

They educate us at the compound because they believe they should, but it’s not like we can do much with it. I’ve never really thought I had a choice before on what job I could do. Sometimes, I didn’t know why I studied so hard. Maybe it was a love of learning, but I know that part of my motivation stemmed from wanting to win. To be the chosen one. That makes me sound ruthless, but it’s the