Chapter 1

Lyla

I slipped through the delivery bay in the prison and darted outside. There was a full day of classes and session in front of me and I needed a few quiet moments to myself. I'd politely eaten breakfast with the other therapists as I normally did. But the never-ending stream of work was getting to me. A damp and cool breeze tickled at my skin. It was nothing but trees and water around here. It should have been beautiful. But somehow it just highlighted how far we were from civilisation. It wasn't just the prisoners that were trapped here in this weird combination of far away from everyone and cramped into a place with too many people all at the same time. In theory, since I worked at the prison, I could organise transport into the nearest town and back. That was expensive and difficult, though. And the people in town weren't the friendliest.

I walked to the treeline and listened to the leaves rustling. My breath slowed and my shoulders relaxed. I managed a few quiet minutes before the bell ringing in the prison behind me, jolted me out of my thoughts. Tension immediately crept back in and I rolled my shoulders, trying to ease it out. I needed a break. An actual break. We all had access to some paid leave, in theory. But Cospire would sigh and moan and complain about the schedule and consistency for the prisoners until we gave in and didn't take it.

I looked back at the grey building. When I arrived 4 years ago, I'd been a peppy, enthusiastic young woman. Where had she'd gone? I'd never cared about mates or anything like that. I just wanted to make a difference. Second chances and rehabilitation were important to me. I'd seen the difference having those chances had made to my brother. But I hadn't realised all this would wear me down so much. A pang of sadness hit me like a gut punch. I missed my family.

For now, all of that was irrelevant. I had things to do, and everyone expected energy and enthusiasm. I pasted my mask back on and turned back to the grey prison before jumping with shock as I came face to face with Cerys.

"You okay, Lyla?"

"Oh, you startled me. Yeah, of course."

"It's ok to not be ok."

I waved her away, unable to find the words.

"Lyla, maybe you should take some real time off. Visit family. You are wearing yourself down to the bone. We can all tell how much you miss them. And this place…. Well, you're made for a busy, bustling life where you don't feel constrained. So, I know this isn't ideal."

She wasn't wrong. I met her gaze. She was quiet, but she was perceptive. I felt my shoulders fall and the pressure lift slightly, even at the thought of taking leave.

"You know how Cospire is about things."

Cerys snorted.

"Honey, since when have you ever bowed to what Cospire thinks? You chewed her out last month for palling up too much to Delaney. If you being reluctant to tell someone off isn't a sign of how tired you are, then I don't know what is."

She was right. I'd never held back from speaking my mind before. What was I doing? I pulled myself up straight.

"You're right. Once I get the next scheduled batch of yoga classes done, I'll take a week. Maybe two. Screw Cospire."

A small trickle of optimism swelled inside me. I'd write a letter to my brother and parents to let them know and hopefully I'd get to spend a good amount of time with them. I bounced on the spot as I imagined hugging them all.

"There we go," Cerys said with a smile. "There's our girl."

I wrapped her in a quick hug and bounced back into the building. It wasn't all magically better. But I only had to make it a few weeks. I could do that. What could go wrong in this predictable, boring place in the next few weeks?